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www.caedmons-call.com

“There is a geography to redemption, a way in which the ideals of grace and renewal make themselves real in this world. All of creation is groaning for redemption, and we join in that chorus.”

These sentences appear in the introduction to Caedmon’s Call’s newest album, “40 Acres,” and describe the themes of this band’s music. They have built a strong following through extensive touring of college campuses, a practice that brings them to Calvin Saturday night, May 1, at 8 p.m. in the FAC. Caedmon’s Call, who formed in 1992 at Texas Christian University, have exhibited remarkable talent, producing music with a folk-pop sound and lyrics that dig into the inconsistencies and struggles of the Christian faith. Their desire to make quality music instead of merely “using music as a platform for their ministry” sets Caedmon’s Call apart as a creative and musically responsible band.

The band’s name originates in a seventh-century British story about shy young Caedmon, who gains musical ability through a divine vision and writes a hymn. Following his lead, the band has produced two albums for Warner/Alliance (a self-titled release and “40 Acres”), as well as an enhanced CD and two indie releases.

Despite their growing popularity, Caedmon’s Call remains faithful to their college-age audience, seeking to break young adults out of adolescent faith (or doubt) and force them to think deeply about Christianity. Their songs paint an honest picture of the uneasy tensions within the Christian faith. “Center Aisle” is a wrenching song about suicide; “Shifting Sands” confesses the hypocrisy and inconsistency of our all-too human faith. The band’s sound is as good as its lyrics. Combining folk-rock and alternative elements with a broad range of “real” instruments, the band creates a rich, diverse sound matched by the vocals of Derek Webb and Cliff and Danielle Young.

While Caedmon’s Call’s self-titled album is lyrically and musically raw, “40 Acres” has a more polished sound, featuring smoother voices, less-rambling lyrics, and more upbeat themes.

But like earlier albums, “40 Acres” cries out a longing to go home, away from the “used-up cities of cement dreams and strip-mall seductions.” The album responds to that yearning by finding seeds of grace, germinating redemption.