The Oaks Our Fathers And The Things They Left Behind. Release Date : 2006. Label: Independent. Rating: Beneficial. (Screw points. To each his own!) As something that was billed to me as an effort to raise awareness and be a glimpse into the world of towns and villages in far off lands that may be struggling with those sorts of things you see when you come across those World Vision commercials on TV, this album feels too sunny and weak. To me, listening does not make a statement or urge me to action or even really make me terribly aware of anything. It's just like a day in the life type of thing. Some of the songs are pleasant. The latter part of "For Hugh Thompson, Who Stood Alone, My Lai Massacre, Vietnam, 1968" (whew, emo song title or what?) is chimey and nice. Still not particularly, 'worldly' but it sounds rather more like lying about a grassy meadow over a picnic. The religious overtones drive me a bit up the wall though. Are they really necessary? It makes the album more self-serving and less away from the true cause than it was anyhow. The female vocals behind make the songs sound like ballads from a Disney movie. I don't mind that. The most stunning part of the album is the whistful guitar overlapping villagey sounds - finally the point is made! - in "Survey for a Distribution of Winter Clothing." There's some interesting bits about a guy's father who saw a lot of things unconventional to the western world that he urges his son to learn by. So that's cool. But it still seems like the main goal of the album that was heralded to me earlier is just blurred in this effort. However 50% of album sales go directly to Afghanistan aid, so it's a good thing to pick up regardless. Song of choice : I like "The Sins of my Fathers" and "Epilogue. Celebration." -Andy Scheffler Elsewhere The Oaks website Published : January, 2007.