Break the Silence continues to impress music industry professionals. Guestlist Magazine reviewed the album in glowing terms. Here is one of the better quotes from the review, but read the whole thing because the author makes many excellent points:
"Fantasia won the year that Jon Peter Lewis was on the show, but is that a bad thing? Fantasia has done all of nothing and Jon Peter Lewis just released what will no doubt be one of the most talked about albums of 2008 with "Break The Silence." Point, check, and match to Jon Peter Lewis. What a great album."
Here is another excellent review from Rodney Ho of the the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Rodney also interviewed Jon, but here are his comments on the single "Break the Silence":
"Here’s the video for his new single 'Break the Silence' and honestly, it’s a pretty darn good song with top 40 potential. . . . His voice actually sounds much deeper and textured than I recall from season three."
Update 6/3/08: Lindsey Parker's review of the single and Jon's music From Yahoo Music's Reality Rocks blog: "Jon Peter Lewis Simon likened him to a "pen salesman," but I'd buy anything this boy was selling. He's one of my personal favorite all-time runners-up, and season 3 got a whole lot less interesting for me once this goofball stalled in eighth place. He's since moved to Los Angeles to pursue music, and has released a couple of albums that unfortunately few people other than myself have noticed. But I still love me some JPL. Here's his latest not-at-all-bad video."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass.. It's about learning to dance in the rain."
Excellent review! I'm so glad people are beginning to see jon's talent. Some things are worth waiting for, and the music we've heard in the last couple of years definitely falls into that category.
Interesting review. I hope more people listen give positive review.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Favorite quote from 2007: Some people are like a Slinky ... not really good for anything, but you still can't help but smile when you shove them down the stairs.
Here is another excellent review from Rodney Ho of the the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Rodney also interviewed Jon, but here are his comments on the single "Break the Silence":
"Here’s the video for his new single 'Break the Silence' and honestly, it’s a pretty darn good song with top 40 potential. . . . His voice actually sounds much deeper and textured than I recall from season three."
**************************** California Christmas this year.
I had posted this on the interview/article thread, but I am going to put it here too in order to keep the best reviews of the album songs all together. Laura Tucker, who has also interviewed Jon, gave the single "Break the Silence" an excellent review. Here are some quotes, though the whole article is well worth reading:
"If we were to play American Idol with it, Randy would be telling "Dawg" that he could see the song being released today and making it as a hit record, and Paula would be telling Jon she enjoyed the way she could hear his emotions coming out in the song. Simon would be telling him it was his best so far and that he actually kind of liked it.
All of those critiques would in fact be correct. It definitely has the feel of a hit and is one of Jon's best to date. One of Jon's hallmarks has always been the way he could pour himself into a song, and that seems to be something he hasn't lost in his efforts to have his music released more mainstream.
Break the Silence has me yearning for more. I want to hear the rest of the album, although I'm sure it will be just as good as the new single. Maybe we'll even have another first, the first to release an independent album, then come back with an even more successful second attempt."
**************************** California Christmas this year.
Jon's single "Break the Silence" was recently praised by Lindsey Parker, who writes on music for the popular Yahoo Music site. Check out what she says about Jon in a recent blog entitled "Not Everyone Can Be Chris Daughtry". Here is what she says about Jon:
"Jon Peter Lewis Simon likened him to a "pen salesman," but I'd buy anything this boy was selling. He's one of my personal favorite all-time runners-up, and season 3 got a whole lot less interesting for me once this goofball stalled in eighth place. He's since moved to Los Angeles to pursue music, and has released a couple of albums that unfortunately few people other than myself have noticed. But I still love me some JPL. Here's his latest not-at-all-bad video."
And then she posted the video for "Break the Silence." This blog has 710 comments already, so it clearly is very influential. Add your own comments about Jon's new album, his voice, etc. You can choose to be an anonymous Yahoo Music Lover when you post, so let everyone know that Jon's music is noteworthy.
**************************** California Christmas this year.
Reviewer says: '...Lewis should be on the Top 40 instead of selling his wares on a piddling little indie label – really, the set’s only major problem is Lewis’ occasional dependence on platitudes like ”Even in your darkest hour / You’re still beautiful.”'
Hmm... While I agree that there are some pop-song platitudes on the album, I take exception to the idea that the above line is one of them. A platitude is a remark that is flat, cliche, hackneyed, or trite.
The above line is not a platitude. The above line is a sentiment that is not expressed enough to be flat, cliche, hackneyed, or trite. Sure, you'll hear things like, "in your darkest hour, don't give up," or, "in your darkest hour, I'm there for you," or, "in your darkest hour, know you'll get better." These can be somewhat flat, cliche, hackneyed, or trite. These are typical platitudes.
But to me, being "in your darkest hour" means that you may be very sad and miserable. People in this condition tend not to take care of themselves, dress carelessly, etc. That is the type of image that "in your darkest hour" tends to bring to mind-- hardly an image associated with beauty.
So when the line in question comes around, it sounds to me like, "even when you're in a horrid state, I know you're still a human being; you're still good enough." That's very different from saying, "even when you're in a horrid state, it's not the end of the world," which is what is more typically expressed.
I kind of wish it were indeed old hat to tell people that, at their lowest, they're still whole and worthy of love. Sadly, it's not.
All this is not to say that I am against platitudes. Indeed, I think they are overly maligned. If you are going to speak the truth, my friend, there are probably going to be some platitudes. There are only so many basic truths.
In a review of Jon's new album Break the Silence, Billboard Magazine's Jill Menze calls Jon's personality "endearing" and the album a "solid effort" with a noteworthy mix of songs, including "guitar-fueled pop/rock" and "heartfelt acoustic numbers."
**************************** California Christmas this year.
Originally posted by iris: I kind of wish it were indeed old hat to tell people that, at their lowest, they're still whole and worthy of love. Sadly, it's not. [/SUPERCILIOUS RANT]
could not agree with you more on this point.
for my own rant...about the generally very positive Billboard article...why the heck are they dissing on "came here for"? that is one of my favs! randomly catches me and makes me start crying in spite of myself halfway through. and "everybody falls"? fabulous song. is like a huge warm musical hug...lol. don't those people like hugs? maybe it's time to do a "Free Hug" campaign outside the Billboard office?
*grumble, grumble* people don't appreciate the finer things, *grumble, rant, complain* best tracks on the album getting panned, no wonder the music industry is in such bad shape...
Hahah. Agree... nothing wrong with "Came Here For" or "Everybody Falls." But apparently this reviewer thinks that "Make You Feel My Love" is original to Garth Brooks, so... grain of salt and all that.
Originally posted by iris: Hahah. Agree... nothing wrong with "Came Here For" or "Everybody Falls." But apparently this reviewer thinks that "Make You Feel My Love" is original to Garth Brooks, so... grain of salt and all that.
Maybe they do need a hug.
yeah...saw that too...lol. maybe they need a hug and a music history lesson!
I have to agree "Came Here For" is one of the best on the album. It is one of four of my favorites off the album and only because I can not dwindled my tops picks down any more then that. This album is brilliant!
Does "Came Here For" remind anybody else of the the Irish band "The Cranberries" btw?
As far as reviewers go, there is not a person around me that doesn't think that music now a days is disappointing to say the least. These people push this stuff too like it is better then sliced bread. One hit wonders only having a hit because there is nothing else out there better to offer and the like. As long as the general public gets a hold of the good stuff, then it doesn't matter what they say. In fact, I wouldn't be shocked AT ALL if naysayers turn around and say they unrated it and really loved it the whole time.
I kind of wish it were indeed old hat to tell people that, at their lowest, they're still whole and worthy of love. Sadly, it's not.
... There are only so many basic truths.
[/SUPERCILIOUS RANT]
I like to think of myself as a person who tries to tell people they have worth and value even in their darkest hour, so that part of the song hits deep with me.
Also, one basic truth that I want you to be aware of is this:
YOU ARE A MOST MAGNIFICENT PERSON, AND I YOU!!!
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Favorite quote from 2007: Some people are like a Slinky ... not really good for anything, but you still can't help but smile when you shove them down the stairs.
Jon's single "Break the Silence" was recently praised by Lindsey Parker, who writes on music for the popular Yahoo Music site. Check out what she says about Jon in a recent blog entitled "Not Everyone Can Be Chris Daughtry". Here is what she says about Jon:
gah...the sound on all those videos isn't working for me. :-(
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Favorite quote from 2007: Some people are like a Slinky ... not really good for anything, but you still can't help but smile when you shove them down the stairs.
Originally posted by Kat Okon: I have to agree "Came Here For" is one of the best on the album. It is one of four of my favorites off the album and only because I can not dwindled my tops picks down any more then that. This album is brilliant!
Does "Came Here For" remind anybody else of the the Irish band "The Cranberries" btw?
THANK YOU! "Came Here For" is wonderful! And, now that you mention it, it does seem a tad bit Cranberry-ish
I 
you Iris! 
