Description

She is a studio album by the Swedish hard rock band Jerusalem, independently released on Pierced Records in October ‎2010. The album was recorded during 2009-2010 at Eagle Nest Studio in Gothenburg, Sweden; with the band producing and arranging. Mixed by Daniel Fossum, Alexander Ramböl, and Ulf Christiansson at Eagle Nest Studio. All music co-written by the band with lead singer Christiansson providing lyrics.

Featuring founding member Ulf Christiansson on guitar and vocals as well as the long term rhythm section of bassist Peter Carlsohn and drummer Michael Ulvsgard, Jerusalem mainstays since the early eighties Can’t Stop Us Now era.

The album can best be described as a musical continuation of Prophet in that the group maintains a distinct U2 vibe, although with fewer modern overtones and a greater propensity towards classic melodic hard rock.

Output from the Swedish veterans has been sporadic in recent years, but band leader Ulf Christiansson has resumed the band for this latest release. With an album clocking in at 70 minutes of music in 13 tracks, the band appears to be trying to make up for their absence. Sticking with their more recent melodic rock style, rather than reverting to their original harder edged leanings. Opener «Calling On» begins proceedings in the vein of The Who, while «Come On» is probably the heaviest track on the album, and the most passionate that Christiansson gets after an uninspiring lyrical start (line one – “Come on” x5, line two – “Come on” x4 “yeah”). After this the pace drops, and the songs become less easy to distinguish. Despite this the band settle into some grooves on tracks like «Suddenly» and «Amos 5», and this is where they appear to be happiest. The title track tries to be sweeping and epic, but falls a bit flat. Lyrically the band are more focussed on spiritual matters than they have been on previous records – “You are mine, I called you for a purpose”, “make me holy, like you’re holy” («Crown The King»), “We’re not ashamed of the King” («Come On»). Despite sounding quite like U2 on too many sections, this is a return that should receive a warm response from those who recognise Jerusalem’s massive contribution to Christian rock down the years. [Graeme Crawford, Cross Rhythms, July 2011]

Ulf Christiansson at the age of 60 is not resting one iota on his laurels. God has burned a deep passion within him to share Christ with those who are lost and destined for an eternity apart. I still remember the seeking eyes of the lead singer, desperately pleading with those attending during their In His Majesty’s Service tour in 1985. It was like the man was possessed of an ancient truth that he was commissioned to breathe upon the masses that would hear. Granted, what had drawn me to Jerusalem’s music were the blistering metal-tinged hard rock, the sweltering guitar work, and the unflinching message I had embraced from Warrior. In concert, there was almost this baseline groove that Ulf would catapult from to preach his commissioned message that was beyond the traditional altar call of the times.

Catapult now 30 plus years ahead since being introduced stateside through Lamb & Lion, then Refuge Records, and Ulf’s vision continues. It is a reinvigorated project that sounds every bit as fresh as it did 30 years ago. Man, he does not sound 60!

She opens up with a thundering wall of guitar and rhythm in «Calling On». «Come On» buries any notion of an aging rocker mellowing out as he using an almost modern blues rock chant to help deliver the message. «I Want To Leave Her» has an almost U2-like vibe, but broader if possible. Favorite cuts are «Supernatural», «Amos 5», and «The Story Of D». Clocking in at 71 minutes, there is nary a soft spot as this plays like a book you can pick up over and over again, never getting bored with the internal theme. The passion of the early days still exists, but with a reckless abandon. [thecannyshark, The Phantom Tollbooth, December 2010]

> Apple Music (https://music.apple.com/us/album/she/458404485)

CD tracklist:

01. Calling On – 5:00
02. Come On – 4:30
03. I Want To Leave Her – 6:04
04. Suddenly – 5:12
05. Supernatural – 6:46
06. Save My Life – 3:47
07. She – 6:30
08. Amos 5 – 5:20
09. Crown The King – 5:50
10. The Story Of D – 7:00
11. Heaven – 5:48
12. The Greatest Party – 4:48
13. Standing At Jericho – 3:07