Indie Rock Show Review
by Sonia V.

Goodbye Audio – Run to You  (2003)

“Who needs a major label when you sound this good?” was my first thought upon listening to this smashing new self produced & released CD, “Run to You” by Goodbye Audio.  They must have had similar conclusions which have now resulted in their own independent record label “Holiday Records”.  Goodbye Audio may be a new name, but the personnel should be very familiar with it’s members composed of previously signed artists.  With Chris Shandrow on co-lead vocals (previously played guitar for Myrrh’s Miss Angie and former lead singer of Pamplin Records’ “The Frantics”), Jimmy Wise, and husband & wife team Louis & Stacy Lux (former fronters of Organic Records’ band “Stereo Deluxx”), this new band says “goodbye to the old sound” and hello to an incredible new combination. 

The first track “In This Place’ sets the tone and the message Goodbye Audio wants to get across to it’s listeners – “this is about worship”.  So much so that they don’t even want to list who plays what on their CD so people will be more focused on worship and not the vanity aspects that so easily entangle superstar namedroppers and trophy toters.  Although I have a good idea who does what from the crumbs I’ve gathered on the internet, I’ll leave those details out respectfully. 

Goodbye Audio’s “Run to You” is high energy modern pop/rock worship CD at it’s best.  It’s the kind of stuff you’ll hear at a major youth conference concert, but not at the country church down the road who still think Amy Grant’s “Unguarded” is cutting edge.  Let me define “modern worship” for you.  You know a long time ago when the phrase “contemporary Christian music” was how you described really cool music?  Well, unfortunately too many people who weren’t cool ruined that definition.  Let it be heard:  It should be listed in the music dictionary after “modern worship” – see “Goodbye Audio.”

With a fresh sound to the Christian music industry which so desperately needs it and production that equals the excellence of any signed band, “Run to You” offers a unique combination of modern rock and tastefully placed electronic music within.  On top of that, it’s a male/female co-vocal band which is hard to come by these days without someone eventually going solo.  Balancing and blending two strong front vocalists is tough in any band, but Goodbye Audio has managed it brilliantly with Chris and Stacy.  While Chris tends to boldly lead the more “Sonic Flood”/Lifehouse/Jimmy Eat World” type songs, Stacy sticks to the more ambient and electronic driven tracks mixing a vocal innocence like that of Leigh Nash from “Sixpence None the Richer” along with the conviction & drive of Shirley Manson of “Garbage”.  The songs are solid and consume you upon the moment of first impact. 

The hot trax on this CD are hard to choose, but out of the goldmine, I’d have to say it’s a close tie between the first three trax.  However, my car CD player is automatically stuck on “You Are” which closely resembles Jimmy Eat World with an emo hook that will knock you out.  “In This Place” & “Falling”, although a little more on the electronica side of things, are a close second place tie.  Like I said before, “In This Place” sets the tone of the album making the statement of worship which is themed throughout the entirely project, cleverly combining electronic programming with rock guitar driven power.  “Falling” is more on the electronic side of the coin and is the most cross-over worthy tune on the album.  “To Know You More” is a close cousin to P.O.D. & Linkin Park mixing heavier rock sounds with scrapes & electronic noises.   You’ll get a little bit of everything in this eclectic collection with everything from No Doubt to P.O.D., including an acoustic worship song, but altogether, a blended sound that is like none other in the Christian worship scene.  It’s a must own from a band that’s going places.  But more importantly, a band that has an unmistakable message of worship.

Goodbye Audio has pulled out all the stops to make music that is unique and relevant to a new generation of worshippers.  Although I’m sure they’d rock the roof off any coffeehouse, this one’s meant for wide open spaces like C-stone.  Gimme’ some more.