Few recent “Christian” bands have generated the buzz Mute Math has. Bursting onto the scene in 2004 from the ashes of Earthsuit, with the release of their Reset EP to wide critical and commerical acclaim. It seemed as though “Christian music” finally had their “great white hope,” a band with spiritual content resting on the foundation of actual creativity.

Many have been anxiously awaiting their full-length debut (though at 7 songs, the Reset EP was certainly a strong foot foward), which is finally here, though currently available only at the live shows or from two select online retailers.

So, the question on everyone’s lips: has the wait been worth it, Is it worth the hype? Yes and no. Yes in that what’s undeniable is that this is a special group. Every once in a while it becomes apparent that a band contains that magical mystery mixture that so many lack. U2 has it, the Beatles had it, that unique pairing of talent with personality that percolates creativity. This band has it and bathes in creativity. No in that it reigns in some of the creativity and experimentation hinted at on the Reset EP. But even with that, this release is well worth seeking out.

At the release of the EP, it was apparent they were operating on a different level than much of the “Christian market.” Whereas much CCM has been content to rehash and recycle, Mute Math seems genuinely passionate about creativity. But that comparison is exactly part of what’s plagued them. They don’t want to be known as a “Christian band,” and so they’ve actually separated ways with Word/Warner Records because the label was pushing them hard in the Christian market. Paul Meany explains in the Tucson Weekly:

“I used to be in a very overt Christian band, and I think once we started Mute Math, and there were spiritual undertones in the music–and we’ll openly state, yeah, we’re Christian–we watched how the Christian division of Warner Bros. just ran with it. And they ran with it faster than Warner Bros. ran with it in the general market.”

Clarifying why Mute Math doesn’t want to be considered a “Christian band,” Meany says:

“All of the sudden, we began to see ourselves getting pigeonholed into this particular world that we weren’t necessarily proud to be associated with, because we aren’t really fans of the music or fans of the cause of the music,” said Meany. “We don’t fit into that. We’re not trying to preach through our music; we don’t have some kind of evangelistic agenda with what we’re doing.”

Though he doesn’t explicitly say as much, many of us lament the lack of creativity in much Christian music. I can only imagine being an artist passionate about creativity having many doors shut in my face because I’ve been labeled by marketers rather than by my art. Having been freed from the confines of labels and stereotypes, the brings a unique sound, somewhere between a hybrid of the Police, Achtung Baby era U2, Jimmy Eat World, and the David Crowder Band. Granted, they’re not reinventing the wheel, but they are bringing to it some new contours.

However, it must be admitted that the full-length does not fully deliver on the promise of the EP. Whereas Reset was genre-defying, Mute Math becomes genre-defining, hammering out a consistent sound for the band, but in the process, they’ve lost some of the genre hopping experimentation that drew so many in to begin with. They’ve settled into what Christianity Today calls “progressive from liberal use of electronic samples and effects, yet retro with reliance on Rhodes electric piano, keytar synth, fluid guitar, and a powerhouse rhythm section.” Picture David Crowder with a little more emphasis on the electronics. It is a consistent, identifiable and mature sound and does seem to be a band “finding itself,” it’s just a bit more “consistent” than was the Reset EP.

Lyrically, the themes are not overt but well-within a Christian worldview. “Typical” for example, laments “I know there’s got to be another level,” and “Chaos” (seems to) point to God, “I know you stay true when my world is false/Everything around’s breaking down my chaos/I always see you when my sight is lost.” While not Scripture, it’s also not AC/DC. Meany succeeds in writing lyrics that present the Gospel’s impact on all of life without beating the listener over the head with the message. Those wanting more explicitly expressed faith might be disappointed, though I’d encourage them to dig a bit deeper and stop asking Christians to continue preaching the Gospel to other Christians to a funky beat.

In the end, it must be remembered that this is technically the first full-length release for the band, and as such, it is an incredible debut, one which promises many more avenues to exploring. Bottom line: highly recommended.

• Visit Mute Math’s official website (myspace).
• Read Christianity Today’s review of Mute Math’s self-titled debut.
• Read Christianity Today’s review of Mute Math’s Reset EP.
• Read Christianity Today’s interview with Mute Math after the EP release.
• Read the Tucson Weekly interview.
• Read my previous piece discussing Mute Math and the Tucson Weekly interview