Speckled Bird, the 1994 release from Christian alt-rock quartet
the Choir, is comprised heavily of material from a 1993 issue,
Kissers and Killers. Much of the music is plodding and rather aimless, rarely achieving the evocative moodiness that the group seems to desire. Lyrically, the band's Christian leanings are subtly incorporated, but they often overly rely on repeated images such as flowers, clouds, and birds to define situations and relationships. There's just precious little on
Speckled Bird to attract the listener's attention. The chugging, churning "Never More True" is engaging, but other potentially strong tracks like "Gripped" and "Weather Girl" cannot rise above the somnambulistic nature of the melodies. Unfortunately, the most memorable thing about
Speckled Bird is the striking cover image of model Lisa McDermott as a caged bird.