Presents The Christmas Classics EP
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House Of Heroes In lieu of last year's turning point for the band, House of Heroes has been doing their darnedest to make sure you remember them, all through a series of three 3-song EPs. First it was acoustic, then it...
Family Force 5's Christmas Pageant
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FF5 (formerly Family Force 5) It seems that every year I hear yet another person expressing their hate for Christmas music. After all, it's the same classics spelled the same different ways, by the same voices. For these people, there's...
Hello Hurricane
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Switchfoot I'll admit it. After such a long drought of a solid album (their whole career), and the recent draught of even a decent album (Since 'Beautiful Letdown'), I kind of gave up on Switchfoot. Add to that the...
Kearney Delivers Like UPS | Posted July-17-2007
I first heard Kearney when the Weekend 22 did a feature on him back in 2004, or least I think it was 2004. The show was doing a new artist spotlight on the guy, and my ears were wide open. There's almost nothing better nowadays than a fusion of genres, and Mat Kearney mastered the fusion with his first album. However, like most fusions, it didn't catch on.
Fast forward to 2006, and Kearney signed to the same label as John Mayer, Kearney had gone mainstream. He released a semi-new album, and the public ate it up, and is still savoring the flavor that is "Undeniable" after his Christian fans had been savoring it for two years.
Mat's fusion with his music really creates some real gems, i.e. "Undeniable", "Bullet". But don't forget his catchy, emotional tunes, i.e. "Crashing Down", "Nothing Left To Lose".
However, his mainstreamness does present a problem, while there is nothing wrong with it, he has to learn the lesson not to tour with people like Kelly Clarkson. Although the mistake came back to bite him, he needs to learn not to majorly associate with such sad saps.
Overall, I've like Kearney for the past two years, and I'm just happy he's getting some attention, even if it is from mainstream. Hopefully, he can build on his success, and show the fools on the top 10 charts how real music is made.
It's More Than Just The Hair | Posted July-17-2007
Since I started getting into the phenomenon known as American Idol back when Carrie Underwood was singing, I had major trouble picking somebody I liked. I only liked Carrie because she looked better than Bo Bice, she also had the better name. The next season wasn't much better, Chris Daughtry was OK, but most of his songs were unknown to me.
Then, this past season came, from his audition Chris Sligh had me hooked with his sense of humour and unique voice. He sang MuteMath, and covered the legend that is dc Talk. However, America wasn't sold, he was voted off early. However, he's back with his hometown band, and he bring his vocals, and his approach to music with him, but keeps his love for God. The result is one of the best debuts in a long time.
"Hero", "Know" "In A Moment", are just of few of the amazing highlights off this album. Let's face it, there is little originality in the world of Christian pop and rock these days. To cure your summer music blues, to find something refreshing and original, look no further, you found it.
Note: that's my review below, but due to technical problems with the site, it didn't use my username with the review.
tobyMac and The Mac Is Back, No Slack | Posted July-14-2007
It took awhile, but the master finally made it on his own. This is in short a near-perfect album. There's something for everyone here, and more. But, you can't experience the true joy of this album without listening to the CD through some very good speakers, turned way up. This is truly some great driving music.
The album is everything you want and more. It's catchy, it's rockin' but it also slows down, the beats are INCREDIBLE, but most importantly almost every song is memorable. You won't forget this album anytime soon.
However, the only thing keeping this album from being perfect is Trudog. Yes, the kid is cute, and sometimes funny, but he's been on every single record. We need a break from the dog.
Other than that, the album is a must-listen. However, I wouldn't recommend buying the album until the fall, when the special edition comes out, according to this very site. Get this, and you're sure to maximize the money you spent. So far, one of the best albums of the year. Is there anything the Mac can't do?
Overused, Overdone, Overrated | Posted July-14-2007
There are only 1.5 songs on this album that are any good. Yes, I know that people will read this and write me death threats, and reasons why I'm insane, but it's true.
"If We Are The Body" is the only great song on the album. It had a good beat, an off-beat message, and is done in such a way that it saves itself from being like the rest of the album. This is actually still my favorite Casting Crowns song, still. Well, actually it's still the only song the band has done that is great, still, after 4 years. Sad.
The song that is half-good is "Voice Of Truth" which is a great song, but when you hit the chorus, the song dies, and all your love for it withers. However, when the song is used in "Facing The Giants" is works out beatifully. The reason the verses are so great is a great message, combined with Mark Hall's lone vocals. The key word here with Hall's vocals is lone. If Mark Hall reads this, then paste this word all over, and remember it. Say it to yourself, lone. Say 'I have lone vocals'. Good, if you can remember this, and apply that, then you're officially a great singer. But the key word is apply.
The thing is that Mark Hall has very distinct vocals; a special gift if you may. Use the gift well, and any song will be elevated to a whole new level, more so than most other singers can do. However, use the vocals combined with another, i.e. "Who Am I" the song dies. No matter how great the message is, how great the music is, the song will die as soon as the vocals are mixed. Casting Crowns has not figured this out, and as a result they've made terrible quality music for 4 years. I just heard their new song, and they still haven't fixed problem.
Overall, the CD only has 1.5 songs worth your time. That's it. The rest are overused, overdone, and overrated. To save you time, the rest of their work is the same. So, until they fix these problems, they will NEVER get any of my love, and they will NEVER be a great band.
There is a debate among fans about re-releases. On the one hand, you get goodies like acoustic versions, new songs, and a DVD disc with music videos, etc. But, is it really worth buying the CD again if you already have it, or paying ten extra bucks compared to the normal edition, if considering the purchase? After all, you can live without it, right?
The preferred method for introducing new material is the Relient K method - by releasing an EP after the main event comes out. Another way is to release the special edition simultaneously with the album, so buyers can choose. But too often you have to buy the CD all over again; and once you've done that, it's tough to trust them with the next CD (I'm still holding out on buying the latest Hawk Nelson, for fear of a future "Special Edition" release).
This time around, Relient K goes with the simultaneous release. But, differing from other special editions, they choose to add no songs to the audio portion of the album, but instead opt just to add a DVD to the mix, which contains the making of the music video "Must Have Done Something Right," as well as the video itself. It also features commentary and exclusive acoustic performances.
It starts off with six acoustic performances in the legendary Capitol Record Studios in Hollywood California, which clocks in at almost exactly 30 minutes. This portion reminds me of Jeremy Camp's "live" acoustic album in late 2005, with the whole coffee house vibe to it. This really is the highlight of the special edition, because you get to see the raw talent of the band, from all the member's vocal talents, to their amazing instrumental versatility. It starts out with a couple performances from mmhmm, including "I So Hate Consequences," which also fuses a little of "Life after Death and Taxes" with it, and a performance of "Who I Am Hates Who I've Been," whose acoustic performance was left off Apathetic EP. After a little banjo pickin' on "Faking My Own Suicide," we move on to one of Matt Thiessen's big inspirations 'The Beach Boys,' and a cover of their classic "Sloop John B," which is fun and finely played. Next are two tracks from the actual Five Score and Seven Years Ago album, including one of my personal favorite Relient K songs, "Give," which is played very well, but not to the emotion it was on the album. However, this rendition still shines here. The last performance is "Devastation and Reform," which is a fine addition, but one of their singles like "Forgiven" or "Must Have Done Something Right" would have been a better choice instead. Taking a rock song like this down to an acoustic form is risky; it ends up just uneven, and comes out with mixed results.
In between the acoustic performances are brief commentaries on making the album, the 'Beach Boys' as inspirations, the versatility of the band, and a commentary on "Devastation and Reform." At the end of the performance, Thiessen comes out and tells everyone watching 'thank you,' and hopefully they'll do more stuff like it in the future. I personally think it would be great to even release a full album or DVD of nothing but acoustic performances, and maybe some more bonus features.
Up next is a making-of feature on the "Must Have Done Something Right" music video, which runs almost 8 minutes long, and fuses the making of the video, commentary on the video, and commentary on the song itself. The commentary is fun, and unlike a movie commentary you might find on a DVD, the band actually talks about every scene in the video in-depth while on the set, explaining every move of the video. This can get repetitive at times, but the humor of the band keeps you interested. However, the continuous loop, and the mixture of other songs from the album as the background music is also repetitive and gets annoying after awhile, and could have done better by using more than just snippets of the songs. Right after the making-of is the actual video, which follows Matt's quest to impress his girl by trying to retrieve a soccer ball which is being kicked all around Los Angeles. It's fun and maybe one of the most creative the band has made so far.
Overall, I wouldn't recommend anybody buying it unless they were a Relient K fan. There just isn't enough for the casual listener here. Out of the four music videos they've made so far, only one is included. And as with most re-releases, more could have been added, such as a "meet the band" featurette, special tracks added to the actual album, or the making of a song from Matt Thiessen's head to your ears. Wishful thinking, or can more really be done? After all, every re-release could have done more, and to my knowledge, none have been perfect. That said, it's aimed toward fans, and to fans I highly recommend. Relient K has built an outstanding album here, and this is the icing on the cake.
After the release of mmhmm in 2004, Relient K got major mainstream attention; MTV, The Tonight Show, and other venues now featured the band for the first time. The band also captured the attention of one Todd Mark Rubenstein, one of the leaders of "The String Quartet Tribute," a group that puts the classical spin on everyone from "The Beatles" to "U2," "Good Charlotte" to "American Idol," over 200 albums in all, with Rubenstein doing over 40 of those himself. That's right; your favorite Relient K songs have been turned into classical music.
Now, before you click away, at least find a sample of album first. If you don't like what you hear, or if you're not a fan of classical music in general, you'll most likely not like this project. This review, however, is for the rest of us.
The way that the group works is they go note for note on the songs, replacing the band's instruments with violins, cellos, and the occasional drum. But, the obvious first question is, does it work? Well, one advantage is that it puts more emphasis on the emotions of the music itself, with songs like "Getting into You" and "Jefferson, Aero Plane," this works well. However, there is an exception with "Let It All Out," which was primariy vocally and lyrically driven, not quite as musically reliant. The quartet's version, being all music, doesn't work as well.
Surprisingly, taking on guitar driven songs such as "Softer to Me," "Failure to Excommunicate," and "Pressing On" gives new angles to the songs, and more of an appreciation for the melodies that Matt Thiessen is able to craft with each one. And although not a string instrument, the drum plays an important role on the album as well, especially with "Be My Escape." The drum's presence gives the song more depth, and more bang for the buck, but it only comes out when needed. The string treatment also does fan-favorites justice. "Mood Rings," "Sadie Hawkins Dance," and "In Love with the 80's" still remain as fun as ever, even without the lyrics that made the songs.
I recommend that you listen to Relient K's versions of the songs, then the string versions; so you can gain a greater appreciation for the album and the songs. Otherwise, if you don't know the songs, it's just a nice album for background music, and a nice modern alternative to the legends that composed symphonies with just a piano, and their mind.
Overall, if you're not a fan of classical music, then you'll probably pass this one up. However, if you're willing to give it a try, then I highly recommend it. With most cases in the album, the string tribute does each song justice, and adds new depth to them. A worthy tribute of a band that will go down as legends in CCM history, all I can hope for is The String Quartet Tribute to Relient K Pt. 2.
CRANK EM' UP! | Posted July-12-2007
Try this: put this CD in your car, and CRANK IT UP! This is the type of CD you actually want you non-Christian friends to hear. This music invites you to loosen up, and lose your mind in dancing. The beats and raps are nothing short of incredible. And these guys are not afraid to be different, just look at their names! Now, this music might stun you at first, but after a few listens you will be singing the praises to Krunk Rock. ROCK ON!
By the way, get the special edition, it's the icing on this delicious cake.
The Gems Are Real Gems | Posted July-12-2007
When Relient K debuted their self-titled album in 2000, there wasn't much to look at. Yes, the band had potential, but there were not many tracks to write home about. Following up, the band released their second EP, The Creepy EP.
The first two tracks are preview tracks for The Anatomy of the Tongue in Cheek, so looking back, these tracks really offer nothing if you already own the CD. "Operation" is the only studio exclusive; this song's style reflects their debut in the verses, but Anatomy in the chorus. The song's message is a plea for God to give us an operation to extract our pride and remove the hate. Overall, the song is just okay, but it starts to grow on you after listening a few times.
The last three tracks are the real highlights. Up first is an acoustic version of "Softer to Me," which greatly improves on the original. The real key is the raw emotion of the song, just Matt Thiessen and an acoustic guitar conveying the plea""Life could you be a little softer to me." This was my favorite track from the debut, and my love for it only deepens with this version.
The most interesting find is the demo for "Jefferson Airplane," which is distinctly different from the final version, in that the second part of the chorus is totally changed, and the last couple of minutes don't exist. The final version is probably better, but this is fine in its own right. The final track is a unique version of "Pressing On" which is not only acoustic, but back porch acoustic, complete with lawnmower sounds and all. Overall, the EP is really a nugget in the second half, and must-have for a Relient K fan, especially since it is incredibly rare and almost impossible to get.
Still The Same For Apologetix | Posted July-11-2007
If you haven't heard of Apologetix by now, then you're missing the best independent band in Christian music. A cult group that has followed Weird Al and made parodies out of popular songs, but unlike Al Apologetix uses the parodies to preach the gospel by giving the songs biblical meanings. In the past the independent band's material has been less then up to par in terms of quality, but has done the best with what they've been given, and it's the same for Wordplay.
First up, "Somebody Sold Me" ("Somebody Told Me"" The Killers) which showcases the great part about what the band does; taking bad songs and giving them Christian lyrics but essentially keeping the music of the song. "None Too Ladylike" ("1985"" Bowling For Soup) is chock full of references to Madonna, Star Wars, among other things. "Save Your Voice (Quiet Down Boy)" ("Ride A Horse (Save A Cowboy)" "Big & Rich) takes a fun country rock song and adds the message of praising God when it's not popular in the world. The lead singer, J. Jackson recorded the song twice with a different voice for each male singer, making the song well rounded. "Boulevard of Both Extremes" ("Boulevard of Broken Dreams""Green Day) is a dead ringer musically, but the vocals are distinctly different, while not bad, not a great copy.
"Heavenly Hill" ("Beverly Hills""Weezer) is one of the weakest songs on the album, but it's not even a bad parody. The problem is it doesn't do the song justice, it's a poorly executed copy, but that said, it's still a good song. "Bone Digger ("Gold Digger""Kanye West) and "Superficial" ("Superstitious""Stevie Wonder) are the highlights of the album, being exact copies meant to be played loud. I might even go far as to say that the parodies improve on the originals. Did I just say that aloud?
"Ephesians" (The Reason"Hoobastank) and the albums closer "Singled You Out" (Figured You Out"Nicleback) are more examples of bad copies voice-wise. The parodies just don't do the songs justice. "Want It Dead or Alive" (Wanted Dead or Alive"Bon Jovi) is the albums last highlight with question salvation dead or alive?
Overall, an album with bumper-to-bumper parodies, 20 songs in all; most great songs, but others just don't do the originals justice. Sometimes the quality can be less than stellar, but the album is gold. If you haven't tried the band yet, give them a try. You won't be disappointed, but it helps more if you actually know the songs parodied. (I don't listen to Joe Walsh very mutch.)
"Even the band admits they hate it." | Posted July-11-2007
When the band made their debut in 2000, you could hear the crickets chirp. The album was evidently written by teens, which is forgivable if you grew up in the 80's, but the rest of us didn't get it. Nancy Drew, Matchbox 20, Marilyn Manson, Back to the Future, Charles in Charge, and 17 Magazine"all referenced in the music"made focal points of the songs. While some are amusing and witty, "'It's three a.m.,' she said. 'Who are you Matchbox 20?'"
Other references are irritating and utterly pointless. The vocals lack, and while glimpses of tune are visible, most are simply forgettable. "Softer to Me", the highlight is an edgy rock song that croons the plea, "Life could you be a little softer to me. ... This world is hard, it's cruel, and I wish it could be ... softer to me."
Overall, the album is amusing to a degree, but it's juvenile, and this all but murders the album's good points. Even the band admits they hate it.
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