“Going Under” by This Beautiful Republic, Wednesday, March 13, 2024

Tooth & Nail Records became a front-runner in the race for general-market-ready Christian Rock. Feeding bands like Anberlin, Mae, and The Almost to major labels and supporting Underoath as they shaped the world of metalcore, the label defined a generation of Christian music. No longer were rock festivals giving Christian Rock the stink eye. But as the label’s marketing expanded to the general market, some complained that the message of the bands had been watered down. The name of Jesus rarely appeared in lyrics printed in the Ryan Clark-illustrated flyleaf in the crystal jewel case. That’s where Flicker Records and ForeFront Records came in, offering bands with distinctly Christian lyrics. That's where we meet ForeFront Records' This Beautiful Republic.


DOUBT HAS NEVER PROVEN ANYTHING. This Beautiful Republic formed in 2004 when alumni of Toledo Christian Schools in Toledo, Ohio joined California drummer Cameron Toews. After the band’s lead singer left the band, energetic singer Ben Olin joined the band. The band signed to ForeFront Records in November 2006 and released a debut EP, Casting Off, in January 2007. In April, the band released their debut album, Even Heroes Need a Parachute. The pop-punk sound was new for ForeFront Records, which except for Stacie Orrecio’s mainstream success earlier in the decade and TobyMac’s solo career, had failed to keep up in the ‘00s. The Allan Solomon-produced project had a fresh energy for the Christian market. Solomon had many Christian records credits including Flicker Records’s Everyday Sunday and Sparrow Records’ Sanctus Real. The band released songs to both Christian Rock radio and Christian Hit radio, with “Going Under” being their biggest hit on Christian Rock radio and “Jesus to the World” on Christian Hit radio, reaching number 5 and 25, respectively. 


FAITH AND FEAR ARE MUTUALLY EXCLUSIVE. This Beautiful Republic released two albums, with Perceptions released in 2008, a year after Even Heroes Need a Parachute. A feature with Aaron Gillespie of The Almost and Underoath on the song “My God” gave the perception that the band was gaining momentum. But with the shifts in the music industry, Christian Rock was becoming less marketable. This Beautiful Republic didn’t have a crossover-ready sound as their lyrics often twaddled Christian catchphrases. Shortly after the band released Perceptions, lead singer Ben Olin announced leaving the band. In 2010, the band left ForeFront Records and broke up in 2011. On some occasions, I remember this band. I saw the band at Cornerstone in a small tent and was charmed by Olin’s stage presence. There was an intimate feeling in a small afternoon crowd, the band dressed in the bomber jackets that they wore on their first album’s cover. Somehow, after the show, Ben added me on Facebook, which none of the bands did. He was a cool guy in a slightly less cool band. And while the lyrics may not hold up, I will always hold that concert in my fond memories. 














Read the lyrics on Genius.



 

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