Gable Price and Friends is a band that I was previously unaware of until about June, I discovered them on YouTube and fell in love immediately. I have listened to them at minimum once a week since then, I was so in love with their lyrics and the spirituality of them. Finally, I had found a band with a sound that I loved that I can hit shuffle on and force the whole church to listen to before the service begins.

I eagerly recommended them to my colleagues, this band has to be played on our station. I was even more impressed with the response we got from their label who not only was excited to share their previous music but let us know all about their new music that was coming. A band I just discovered already with more music on the way I’m sure to love? I was ecstatic. About a month passed and then I got and read the press release for the album. Three paragraphs in “the band is redefining their sound” uh oh, I though, I hope they aren’t going the Hawk Nelson route and leaning into a more poppy sound. I continued reading, “less spiritual” they’re going the Judah & The Lion route.

I was disappointed, but I remained hopeful. I had heard some of the new singles and they sounded great. Even if a band becomes less spiritual in their lyrics, it doesn’t mean they aren’t Christian or aren’t good. I had to adjust my expectations. Luckily, I had only known their music for a few months, so I was still coming at it as a new fan instead of someone who had known them as the bad boys of K-Love.

Once I listened to The Consequence of Being Alive, I fell in love. The sound was everything I wanted. The lyrics may not be as spiritual, but they were positive and relatable. While some songs deal with tougher issues, this album was an encouragement.

The album begins with Upside, longing for a world where not everything needs to have an upside. Sometimes bad or negative things happen, there is no positive element to it. It’s a song that attempts to accept that, challenging the silver lining. But life is like that. There are trials that you have to go through, and that’s what makes life worth living.

The second song, Brother Jack, is one that I have listened to almost fifty times since it released, or at least that’s what my phone tells me. It is a catchy song that emphasizes the importance of staying positive, optimistic and having a clear head when facing challenges. It’s a song about resilience, determination and hope in the face of adversity.

Caleb Chapman (Colony House) makes an appearance in the writing credits of the next song, Tough Love. The song itself has a bit of a Colony House vibe. The sound stays true to Gable Price and Friends in this exploration of the complexities of love with the idea that love is a gamble that is worth the risk.

I LOVE TO STRUGGLE, is making it into my regular rotation. The song itself is about finding a strange sense of comfort in the struggle and difficulty that comes with the challenges of life. It again touches on themes of resilience in the face of hardship and a willingness to keep pushing forward despite the difficulties. At the very end, after the song is over, they include audio of someone using the Lord’s name in vain which some of their previous fans will not enjoy.

Treason acknowledges the struggles of dealing with mental health issues but also questions the glorification of being broken or suffering for the sake of art. I think the message of this song is hope. But, it does a poor job of getting that message across if that was its aim.

The next song, I Don’t Wanna Live Like This, was co-written with Judah Akers (Judah & the Lion). I’m gonna take a moment to say that I love how they put this album together. Each song flows into the next quite well and I have to commend them for that. This song is no exception, a plea for authenticity in a society that places a high value on success and material possessions. I Don’t Wanna Live Like This song is one that I will have on repeat for a while.

Jesus Christ (Hold Me Steady) is closer to what I was expecting from this album when I first heard a new one was on the way. It is a great acoustic song and as a former camp counsellor, I can tell you that this song will be played at Christian summer camps after devotions and around campfires. This song conveys a sense of vulnerability with the singer acknowledging that he hasn’t lived his life how he should and is asking for forgiveness and reconciliation with Christ.

Jon Foreman appears on the next track How It Sets You Free. Gable Price co-wrote the song with Jon Foreman and his brother Tim Foreman. I’m a huge Switchfoot and Jon Foreman fan, however, even on my second listen it took me a bit before I realized that that was, in fact, Jon Foreman singing. The song sounds like it could have been a bonus song on Switchfoot’s album Fading West or EP The Edge of the Earth. The song itself is about how facing the truth is the only way to move forward in life. 

I am not surprised by Lucky #17, these are Christians in a band, and if Colony House and Fiction Family have taught us anything, it’s that there has to be a love song on the album. This one is optimistic, upbeat and talks about the importance of holding onto hope and faith in love. It’s a beautiful song that acknowledges that while there are difficulties, he is confident in their relationship and willing to take a leap of faith. 

How Did We End Up Here is quite the juxtaposition of the previous song, dropping us in the middle of a relationship that is in crisis with the future of it being uncertain. To me, this song shows that Gable Price has a range when it comes to writing lyrics, and I love that he is showing it off. The guitar in this song is also incredibly catchy and worth a listen.

Now we come to the titular track, The Consequence of Being Alive. It is the last song on the album and perfectly encapsulates the album in three minutes and forty seconds. The song gives off a feeling of nostalgia and introspection, it encourages the listener to appreciate the people and moments in their lives. It reminds us that life is a journey with both highs and lows and encourages us to embrace it all.

While this album certainly wasn’t what I was expecting considering their previous work, I am in love with this album. I could and likely will end up listening to the album as a whole many times. The themes of hope, resilience and appreciation for everything that happens in our lives are strewn throughout the album, it is a certified banger. Some songs didn’t touch me quite as much as others did, but when I finished the last song I wanted to listen to it again immediately. If you haven’t listened to this album you should, it is fantastic. I’m giving it nine out of ten emus.