Guardian - Almost Home (revisited)

I think this album is all about expectations. If the expectation (and hope) is that they will bring forth another Miracle Mile, you will be so disappointed that you will hate this record. Likewise, if you like more metal than regular rock, this is not gonna work for you. However, my tastes are shifting as I get older. I find that like other kinds of music along with metal. With all that said, I think this album is fantastic. That doesn't mean that I wouldn't love the band to come back with a more Miracle Mile kind of sound - I would, but it does mean that I can appreciate the band for what they are now. They remind me of Whiteheart - not in sound, but in style. An album by Guardian now will be about 1/3 ballads or slow songs and 2/3 mid-paced or rockers. There's a ton of emotion in this record. Jamie does a great job singing here. The songwriting is top notch. I'm enjoying this record quite a bit.

Where was the 2/3 mid paced and rockers?  This was closer to 1/3 rockers.  I still can't stand it.

Look at the new album by The Union Of Sinners and Saints.  Now, that is rock done by a bunch of aging musicians.  Sure, it is more mature, but it still rocks.  Much of what Guardian did would have fit musically on a Third Day worship album.  Bloodgood managed to bring the edge.  Saint continues to deliver.  Stryper is better than ever.  So, my expectations were not met.  I didn't want "Miracle Mile 2".  I would have loved something more akin to "Buzz".  That's a rock record--not metal.  They just dropped the ball on this one for me.  If they put out anything else, I doubt I'd buy it without it being a full on rock record.

Older/veteran bands like Stryper, Saint, and Bloodgood continue to rock harder than ever. Guardian mellowed out a bit. They are catering to the top 40 crowd. I would love for Guardian to release an album similar to their first 3 albums which is their best but I highly doubt it. I listen to Almost Home one or twice and it has been shelved since. There are 4 or 5 rockers on it and the rest are mellower tunes. I prefer straight up rockers. I didn't like Bottle Rocket that muck and Almost Home is a little better. It is definetly no First Watch or Fire and Love.

Hated "Almost Home" the first time I listened to it and still can't stand it. This album was the only time I ever participated in a kickstarter campaign. I will never do that again!

CCM....not rock, not metal, not good.

The campaign wasn't run right, either.  While Guardian tried to give regular updates, it shouldn't take two years after funding to get the album done.  I've done several other Kickstarters since then, but I've never had to wait more than a couple of months after the drive is over to get the album.

Then, after the two year wait, it was like, "Ummmm, is this what I really waited for?  Can I get a refund?"

I love everything by Guardian, I like this album too. But i understand why the people was  upset, they wait forever for a hard rock record and they give a album with a bunch of mellow songs.

Good album, but nothing to write home about.

I am sorry, but I will have to disagree with all you guys. I LOVE that album. We know that after Miracle Mile Guardian hasn't released anything heavy, so I did not expect nothing like Fire and Love, which is my favorite Guardian album. Guardian usually plays lots of ballads in their álbuns, and it wasn't diferente with this one. I don't care, as I think Guardian is the best christian rock band to make ballads.

In fact, the only Guardian álbum that I really regret purchasing was Bottle Rocket.