'It’s slightly disconcerting listening to Jon reinvent himself as a folkie singer-songwriter after years of hearing him in rocker mode.'

George Luke reviews the latest albums from Jon Foreman, Paramore, Justice and Ron Block

Use the links to buy the albums from amazon.co.uk and Christian Aid will receive part of the sale price

Jon Foreman: Fall & Winter

As Switchfoot’s lead singer and chief songwriter, Jon Foreman has already been responsible for a body of work containing some truly profound songs.

Nevertheless, he feels we haven’t heard the real Jon Foreman yet, so he’s set about rectifying that with a series of four solo EPs, each one taking a season of the year as its theme. The first two instalments – Fall and Winter – have just been released as a double CD.

It’s slightly disconcerting listening to Jon reinvent himself as a folkie singer-songwriter after years of hearing him in rocker mode. For most of the twelve songs, all we have is Jon’s solo guitar – occasionally accompanied by strings or a horn section.

Over this stripped-down sonic backdrop, Jon explores human weakness, suffering and death. The lyrics to “White As Snow” are lifted straight from Psalm 51. Jon isn’t the first artist to set that confessional psalm to music, but unlike some of the others, he doesn’t sound sufficiently guilty to really pull it off.

One thing Winter does really well is convey that sense of bleakness and utter cold we associate with the season. There’s enough relative warmth in the songs on Fall to prevent an all-out freeze – but only just. I’m now looking forward to summer more than ever.

• Buy Jon Foreman – Fall/Winter

Paramore: Riot!

American emo band Paramore are on a sold-out tour of the UK throughout the month of February. A single, “Misery Business”, has been released to coincide with the tour; it’s taken from their second album Riot!

The Tennessee boys (and girl) overflow with youthful energy and passion. Every now and then, cracks appear in their angst, big enough for their faith to shine through. You catch glimpses of it in the lyrics of “We Are Broken” (“What must we do to restore our innocence/Give us life again‘cause we just wanna be whole”), “Miracle” (“It’s not faith if you’re using your eyes”), or “Born For This” (“We were born for this” repeated ad nauseam).

Paramore were nominated for a ‘Best Newcomer’ Grammy Award for Riot! Sadly, they were one of the many casualties of the Winehouse juggernaut on Grammy night. Better luck next time, guys.

• Buy Paramore – Riot!

Justice: Cross

My other big Grammy letdown was the French dance duo Justice not winning any of the three they were nominated for. Still, I can take some consolation in the fact that one of those awards (best video) went to Johnny Cash.

Justice’s meteoric rise has been exciting for several reasons – well, mostly for Kanye West’s childish outburst when his video lost out to theirs at the 2006 MTV Europe Awards.

They’ve certainly been good news for Christian music, because let’s face it, Christian music hasn’t had a really high-profile techno act since Moby declared himself to be a “lover of Christ” back in the 90s.

Justice – aka Parisian DJs Gaspard Augé and Xavier de Rosnay – can’t be accused of not wearing their faith on their sleeves. Certainly not when their debut album Cross is littered with tracks bearing biblical-sounding titles such as “Exodus”, “Let There Be Light” and “Waters of Nazareth”. The album takes its name from the giant illuminated cross which forms the centrepiece of the stage set they use for live performances.

The most accessible track on Cross is the international hit “D.A.N.C.E.” with its annoyingly catchy ‘Chic meets Sesame Street’ groove. Sadly, too many of the other good grooves on Cross are obscured by a bass synth sound that could cut through concrete. Still, you’ve got to hand it to Justice; they’ve proved that Daft Punk weren’t a one-off.

• Buy Justice – Cross

Ron Block: Doorway

While Alison Krauss has been busy collaborating with him out of Led Zeppelin, the rest of her band Union Station have had some free time on their hands. They’ve certainly been putting it to good use, if Ron Block’s album Doorway is anything to judge by.

Ron has been Union Station’s guitarist and banjo player for the past 15 years, during which he’s been responsible for the Gospel songs that frequently creep into the band’s repertoire. Doorway is his second solo album.

Ron’s specialty is bluegrass, but he’s not a purist; he’s happy to slip into country or even blues if the need arises. His moody guitar work on “Love’s Living Through Me When I Do” is simply stunning, the song itself a sharp contrast to the light-hearted “Along the Way” and “Be Assured”. “Things Aren’t Always As They Seem” gives an account of Jesus’ life in a nutshell – again with stunning guitar playing.

Doorway makes a great soundtrack for some deep contemplation, with jiggy banjos and fiddles kicking in at just the right intervals to stop you getting too deep. One fan recently described it as “a revelation”. I agree wholeheartedly.

• Buy Ron Block – Doorway

Use the links to buy the albums from amazon.co.uk and Christian Aid will receive part of the sale price

• Buy Jon Foreman – Fall/Winter

• Buy Paramore – Riot!

• Buy Justice – Cross

• Buy Ron Block – Doorway

• Read other Tunes columns