:)

I used to cringe a little whenever “Lose My Soul” came on the radio. It was like the song that wouldn’t die.
Every week I used to listen to CCM Radio Magazine, and every week it was somewhere in the top 5.
(Funny I didn’t get tired of “Give Me Your Eyes”; it topped the list for, what was it, 14 weeks in a row?) Up to
this point, the only tracks I’d heard out of Tobymac didn’t make much of an impression on me. Needless
to say, Tonight was not I was expecting. In these 13 compelling tracks, you’ll find honesty, faith, passion
and humor.

One neat thing about this album is there are plenty of duets. In fact, it begins with one; the rock-infused
"Tonight" featuring John Cooper of Skillet, whose voice doesn't GRRRR so much. You got to wonder how
they picked the song order on this album, because this one's about surrender. And that's where you've
got to start. Nice. Matthew Thiessen is a great addition to "Wonderin'". I already liked his guest vocals on
John Reuben's "Nuisance" and enjoyed this song of musing about what's next in God's plan. A little
acoustic guitar fix is a good thing. You’ll also find a touching testimony in “Changed Forever” (with Nirva
Ready) of a life changed because of God’s love.

"City On Our Knees", the released-well-in-advance single, is an ethereal "(wor)'ship-hop" (you heard it
here first![?]) song that pictures everyone coming together as the body of Christ. If the next single isn't
"Get Back Up", I'll be surprised. A music video-ready, radio-friendly song that reassures the lost and
afraid that you can always come back again. With the last lines “This is love callin,’ love callin,’ /Out to the
broken this is love callin’” I picture someone picking up a ringing phone. “Hold On” is a pop-hop in the
same vein, except it’s addressed specifically to a girl.

The unusual title “Hey Devil” may cause some of you to do a double-take; the song is actually Toby telling
Satan to get lost and quit tempting him. Little unconventional to say it quite that way, but it gets the point
across. A lot of electric guitar on this one. If you’re expecting “LoudNClear” to be a whole song, it’s
actually a short track starring one of his kids(?). I couldn’t help smiling.

A winsome combination of faith, hope, love, and fun, Tonight will leave you with a smile on your lips and a
beat that won’t let go long after you press the stop button. (And that’s without putting the album on
repeat!!)

And now for an original RAP-vue:

Maybe I’m just a Canadian girl
Hardly know squat ‘bout the hip-hop world
Got thoughts worth sharing, done well, done right
Reviewin’ what’s new with Tobymac’s Tonight
Yeah, don’t usually send it to you this way
Got creation flippin’ out my head today
Cuz I hearin’ this tune that just won’t stop
It’s alive in my head let it rise to the top
(Here we go)

“Tonight” yes me like cuz surrender’s the theme
‘Bout wantin’ what’s real from a God unseen
Cooper’s voice in the b/g; can you beat that?
Loses the “argh” for the sake of the act
Liftin’ spirits now with playin’ “Get Back Up”
Madio fo’ radio, say love’ll be enough
Single we’ve been hearing long, “City On Our Knees”
No surprise WOW chose it cuz we knows its peace
In a world now frenetic
It’s practically prophetic
If you don’t get it
You’re gonna regret it
“Hey Devil” a kick to the curb
Like he been asking give me the bad word
Don’t flaunt your apple
Just shut your trap, y’all

“Hold On” slowing down to say wait where y’are
Dontcha know hope’s homing in on your heart?
Testimony ‘tween the lines “Changed Forever”
Speaks a life wrong-track leaving
Ties with lies they all severed
Throwaway maybe to some, “LoudNClear”
Would we’ver think to give these kids an ear?
Found it adorable, me; changa paces
(Advice: don’t say that word to their faces
‘Less you’re some kinda cheek-pinchin’ auntie
If you do, runnin’ shoes come in handy!)
“Wonderin’” ‘s sweet and I ain’t teasin’
Bringin’ out a way cool side o’ Thiessen
‘Coustic string twang don’t hurt no way
Restrospect, smacks of regrets what to say

These are my faves, there’s a few other flaves
I’ll cut to the chase let me say that I rave
And if you no likee how this proj is done
Blame my vocab, should be me you go shun
Swipe your card, type the PIN, or just slam down some cash
Ain’t gonna be dumpin’ your bucks in the trash