The Way of the Door

Composed, recorded and produced in his home studio in Boston, does the debut album from this former Christian singer live up to its brilliant first single “Love-Inflicted”? Early reviews appear to be promising. “Pretty damn good,” claims one UK critic. “What it lacks in major label production it makes up in consistency,” pens another. The aforementioned “Love-Inflicted”, a tantalizing piece of synthesized trance-pop, has already found support at numerous independent radio stations around the world after it was released on iTunes everywhere in June. In fact, the single garnered enough attention that Chris was offered music publishing and licensing deals off that track alone. Its successor, the pulsing techno number and second single “Love is a Game”, is even better, a throbbing dance song that could easily prove to be a favorite on dance floors everywhere, and one that has been handpicked to be released onto mainstream radio and in US dance clubs through a hit production duo who've worked with Britney Spears, among many other top superstars. The Way of the Door is, undoubtedly, a record that should be played from start to finish in its given order because the songs tell a story. “Love-Inflicted” expresses concern and doubt over a one-way relationship: "I gave away love without condition," Chris coos in a breathy, layered voice, "But now I am in a position/I can't help but stop and question/Because you've raised my suspicions." The startling instrument-barren “Is It Really Better?” questions whether being in love is really worth it in the end. “Diamond Ring" investigates whether young marriages are conceived out of desperation and the sexual benefits rather than true love. In “Love is a Game” Chris compares love to playing a game he'll participate in no longer, begging others jilted in love to “drop the dishes, leave the dirt and join me on the dance floor" and to "forget feeling, leave pain behind." On the pulsating electro track “Right State of Mind” he reveals the events leading up to a relationship’s downfall before angrily belting out “I’m so over you” and concluding that he's "finally in the right state of mind.” The sad, sparse electronic ballad "The Worst" is, like "Is It Really Better?", one of the surprises here; although it isn't entirely devoid of instrumentals as its predecessor, "Worst" puts emphasis on the lyrics (which angrily wish a former love "the worst that ever was") and a haunting vocal. The title track "The Way of the Door" offers up pained lyrics about never letting someone's excuse-filled pandering get in the way of showing them out – evident in the main scathing line “Every word you’ll ever say I’ll never let get in the way of the door” – and powerful singing, and its placement at the end signifies the album's overall message of self-empowerment. The bonus track “Blue Planet” is the only instrumental here, a soothing confection that rises and falls like the seas themselves. Though it may be of a genre not known for seriousness, The Way of the Door is meant to be taken seriously. PRESS REVIEWS: "Lyrically, it's one of the more interesting albums of its genre to come along in a long time. Focus has been put on real emotion and genuine feeling, so despite its crafted electronic sound The Way of the Door still comes off as quite organic." "'Love-Inflicted' is the perfect song for those moments when you need a song to take you away somewhere romantic, somewhere in the clouds, where the beat of the music and the rapture of the vocals cause your body to take on a transcendent vibe." "Superb." "Not an album to miss out on!" "Highly enjoyable, consistent and satisfying." "'Diamond Ring' is deliciously evil. 'The Way of the Door' is itself a hit." "Chock full of potential hits, The Way of the Door is thrilling."