The Day of Small Things
Alli Rogers
April 25, 2006
Alli Rogers
April 25, 2006
Alli Rogers returns with her sophomore full-length album “The Day Of Small Things”. On this highly anticipated album we see some familiar tracks that appeared on the “One [EP]” and a whole lot of new goodies. Alli displays the same genuine and honest emotion that she showed on “Always Eden” but musically the songs have shifted a little more towards the storytelling type. Inspiration is drawn from both the religious side and the personal experiences. With the right amount of musical emphasis and her amazing voice, Alli Rogers gives these songs a life of their own.
The Day Of Small Things
The album starts with the title track. This is one of the three songs I might want to have played on my funeral. The subtle guitar emphasizes the lyrics of this song perfectly and Alli sings it with nice, fragile emotion that is just right. “The plans that we make seem so big/But you’ve shown me that we’re never alone/and your spirit will stay by our side”
If I’m Brave
This song reminded me of Derek Webb in a way. Derek Webb is in many aspects a similar musican as Alli Rogers drawing from similar inspirations and venturing in a similar folky singer/songwriter style. If I’m Brave is a song that speaks to me. One of Alli’s best qualities is that she can make you think about it. The themes she sings about aren’t new, they’re as old as the world, but because Alli sings with such honesty and compassion, it will hit you right where it should.
Hope
Hope is one of my favorite songs on this album. Hope is a miraculous thing, and we all know what hope feels like. And Alli found a way to put it to words.
For The Morning
This song is piano-driven instead of guitar-driven. I like the imagery in the song, but the song itself is probably not one of my favorites on the album. It reminds me a little of Kendall Payne, a singer/songwriter I am a big fan of. Both she and Alli have the ability to lift songs to a higher level through their beautiful voices and lyrics and because they both sing from their hearts. For The Morning is genuine and Alli’s voice breaks and is strong in the exact right places but I miss a bit of the connection I feel with other Alli Rogers songs.
Tanzania
Song #5 on this album, Tanzania is one of my absolute favorite songs on the album, and I believe it has radio potential too. It’s an eye-opening song and makes us realize that even though everyone is struggling with something, there are always people who are having a worse time. “And someday I will live/in a house that’s built by/hands that hold the world”
One Body
A song straight from the Bible. This also appeared on the EP that Alli released before this full-length. It carries on quite well, but since it is so religious it kinda narrows down the way to interpret it.
Wings On My Back
Wings On My back was a song that I didn’t really like in the beginning, but it has grown on me a lot. I still think it could’ve been better, but the simple and almost eclectic sound actually does justice to the song.
Fearless
I absolutely adore Fearless, it has a bit of a country feel to it. And it also reminds me of my favorite Dutch band Twarres. Especially at the time where you can hear the backing vocals. For me, this song was the absolute highlight of the album, but decide for yourself.
Iowa
Iowa was my favorite song on the “One [EP]” and it’s still one of my favorite Alli Rogers songs. I think this should be played on radio as it just works. It’s an easy song to like.
The Family Is Fine
This is the song that stuck out to me when I first listened to the album. It’s a great song. You can hear the hope, pain, sadness, the longing and the wonder in Alli’s vocals. This is without a doubt Alli’s best storytelling song.
Liar’s Dream
This song is quite beautiful. It’s not the most amazing song, not even the most amazing Alli Rogers song, but it is a typical Alli Rogers song. Do you know that song on an album that you often forget about, but then when you listen to it, you feel like: hey that was pretty good, how did I forget about that song? Well, that’s this song for me.
Praise The Lamb
About this song, I’m just gonna copy what I said about it on the EP, as I feel the same about it still. Praise The Lamb is pretty much a gospel-like song. I often do like the sound of gospel songs, but since I’m not very religious I don’t really connect to the lyrics. As an archaeologist it’s probably my inquisitive nature of finding out about the origins of mankind and such that made me see indiscrepancies in the stories and legends concerning pretty much any religion. Where the messages of religion are very true and admirable, and advertize virtues that modern-day society should think of now and then, religion itself has never really got a grip on me. But to get back to this song. The confession-like, vulnerable vocals & lyrics bring out the best of this song. It’s not entirely my cup of tea, but I do recognize it’s a strong song, and the piano supports it very well.
“The Day Of Small Things” is slightly different than it’s predecessor but shows that Alli Rogers, out of the dozens of rising singer/songwriters, is in for the long run. She has the talent and she’s genuine. There’s not much to dislike in her music, and a whole lot to like. Her themes of everyday life, love, hope, respect, faith, and so many other things we all recognize is nothing that others haven’t written about before, but she does it well, and lyrically, Alli is one of the strongest songwriters around. Her lyrics are like poetry, without getting in the way of the song itself. That’s a gift!
The Day Of Small Things
The album starts with the title track. This is one of the three songs I might want to have played on my funeral. The subtle guitar emphasizes the lyrics of this song perfectly and Alli sings it with nice, fragile emotion that is just right. “The plans that we make seem so big/But you’ve shown me that we’re never alone/and your spirit will stay by our side”
If I’m Brave
This song reminded me of Derek Webb in a way. Derek Webb is in many aspects a similar musican as Alli Rogers drawing from similar inspirations and venturing in a similar folky singer/songwriter style. If I’m Brave is a song that speaks to me. One of Alli’s best qualities is that she can make you think about it. The themes she sings about aren’t new, they’re as old as the world, but because Alli sings with such honesty and compassion, it will hit you right where it should.
Hope
Hope is one of my favorite songs on this album. Hope is a miraculous thing, and we all know what hope feels like. And Alli found a way to put it to words.
For The Morning
This song is piano-driven instead of guitar-driven. I like the imagery in the song, but the song itself is probably not one of my favorites on the album. It reminds me a little of Kendall Payne, a singer/songwriter I am a big fan of. Both she and Alli have the ability to lift songs to a higher level through their beautiful voices and lyrics and because they both sing from their hearts. For The Morning is genuine and Alli’s voice breaks and is strong in the exact right places but I miss a bit of the connection I feel with other Alli Rogers songs.
Tanzania
Song #5 on this album, Tanzania is one of my absolute favorite songs on the album, and I believe it has radio potential too. It’s an eye-opening song and makes us realize that even though everyone is struggling with something, there are always people who are having a worse time. “And someday I will live/in a house that’s built by/hands that hold the world”
One Body
A song straight from the Bible. This also appeared on the EP that Alli released before this full-length. It carries on quite well, but since it is so religious it kinda narrows down the way to interpret it.
Wings On My Back
Wings On My back was a song that I didn’t really like in the beginning, but it has grown on me a lot. I still think it could’ve been better, but the simple and almost eclectic sound actually does justice to the song.
Fearless
I absolutely adore Fearless, it has a bit of a country feel to it. And it also reminds me of my favorite Dutch band Twarres. Especially at the time where you can hear the backing vocals. For me, this song was the absolute highlight of the album, but decide for yourself.
Iowa
Iowa was my favorite song on the “One [EP]” and it’s still one of my favorite Alli Rogers songs. I think this should be played on radio as it just works. It’s an easy song to like.
The Family Is Fine
This is the song that stuck out to me when I first listened to the album. It’s a great song. You can hear the hope, pain, sadness, the longing and the wonder in Alli’s vocals. This is without a doubt Alli’s best storytelling song.
Liar’s Dream
This song is quite beautiful. It’s not the most amazing song, not even the most amazing Alli Rogers song, but it is a typical Alli Rogers song. Do you know that song on an album that you often forget about, but then when you listen to it, you feel like: hey that was pretty good, how did I forget about that song? Well, that’s this song for me.
Praise The Lamb
About this song, I’m just gonna copy what I said about it on the EP, as I feel the same about it still. Praise The Lamb is pretty much a gospel-like song. I often do like the sound of gospel songs, but since I’m not very religious I don’t really connect to the lyrics. As an archaeologist it’s probably my inquisitive nature of finding out about the origins of mankind and such that made me see indiscrepancies in the stories and legends concerning pretty much any religion. Where the messages of religion are very true and admirable, and advertize virtues that modern-day society should think of now and then, religion itself has never really got a grip on me. But to get back to this song. The confession-like, vulnerable vocals & lyrics bring out the best of this song. It’s not entirely my cup of tea, but I do recognize it’s a strong song, and the piano supports it very well.
“The Day Of Small Things” is slightly different than it’s predecessor but shows that Alli Rogers, out of the dozens of rising singer/songwriters, is in for the long run. She has the talent and she’s genuine. There’s not much to dislike in her music, and a whole lot to like. Her themes of everyday life, love, hope, respect, faith, and so many other things we all recognize is nothing that others haven’t written about before, but she does it well, and lyrically, Alli is one of the strongest songwriters around. Her lyrics are like poetry, without getting in the way of the song itself. That’s a gift!
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