By David Appelt

I am always weary when someone tells me “you have to listen to this a few times before you start to like it.” That being said, John Mark McMillan’s new album Borderland is proof that some music is an acquired taste: and there’s not a single thing wrong with that.

Like many, I heard the first single drop and was instantly hooked. Unfortunately it was not the same love at first sight for the rest of the album. Honestly, I only made it through four songs the first listen. I stopped because it was different, very different than what I thought this album should be. The funny thing is that the consistent move to oppose conventional wisdom is what makes the album so interesting. The album is new, different, and a great product from a fantastic indie artist.

The album is made for the musician, not the listener. JMM wrote these songs how he wanted them; from the ground up to the extended interludes, because he wanted to like them much more than he cared about anyone else liking them. Once you give the songs enough listens to understand the stories that are being presented, you will fall in love with the album. After, you will wonder why you ever felt differently. I went from barely getting through four songs to a serious love for each of them. The album is not made for singles, and it is not made for radio play, but it is definitely one of the best albums of the year.

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The intro track brings you into shades of Bon Iver while each word demonstrates amazing songwriting ability (especially if you are a lyrics guy, such as myself). Track two is the wonderful single “Love at the End.” The next two songs, “Guns/Napoleon” and “Future/Past” are fantastic ballad-style songs. The title track tops my personal list; “Borderland” is both musically and lyrically engaging. The only downside is that the order is a bit frontloaded. While “Heart Runs” and “Visceral” end the album memorably, the ones in between might slip through the crack (if those were any stronger it might be a 5-star album). The second half is still entirely worth your time, but the songs won’t reach the same highs as the first half.

The music mostly gets its roots from modern indie and 80’s rock/pop. It won’t sound like anything else in your library. Lyrically, the songs are complex and a work of art; but, they aren’t as accessible as most. It may take a couple of listens for these songs to grab you, but the wait is entirely worth it.

Score: 4.3/5

For Fans of: Bon Iver, Bruce Springsteen, Kye Kye, Gungor.

Buy the record on iTunes.