Aftermath
by
Hillsong UNITED [MAIN REVIEW]AFTERMATH is the highly anticipated, 11th full-length album and second-ever studio recording from Hillsong UNITED that released Feb. 15, 2011....
Sanctus Real [We Need Each Other] | Posted September-24-2008
[Main Review]
Sanctus Real returns again with their fourth album titled “We Need Each Other”. In 2005 Sanctus Real won the Dove Award for “Best Modern Rock Album of the Year” for Face of Love as well as many other nominations. Throughout all their success they have also obtained five #1 hits and eleven Top 5 hits. Their newest album recaptivates and shows us why Sanctus Real is rated as one of the best Christian Modern Rock groups around.
We Need Each Other is actually a laid back album, the only rock-style song is Track 1, and the rest is simple and meaningful.
Track 1—“Turn On The Lights” it starts the album saying that we are the light of the world and that it is truly time to allow our light to shine in our worship, walk, and witness. We are the light of the world. So we need to be effective in our purpose; to witness and spread the word of the Living God.
Track 2—“We Need Each Other” it explains to us why we need each other and that everyone needs someone. It tells us that we need someone to get us through the good times and the bad times, no one needs to be alone. No one.
Track 3—“Black Coal” is a unique and very interesting way to look at an unsaved person. The song starts off by saying “Do you believe in the restoration of a broken life?” and goes on later to say,
“It’s so sad when something so radiant is kept from the light
‘Cause I’ve seen divine transformation that Jesus provides
And like a jeweler with a lifeless gemstone, yeah, He can make you shine
You could be a…
A diamond in the black coal”
This is truly fascinating. For you could be covered in darkness and all you have to do is turn to Jesus and he can mold you, clean you, and turn you into a diamond. Something that will sparkle when hit by the light and will be so radiant.
Track 4—“Whatever You’re Doing (Something Heavenly) is a song that describes the transformation process that is discussed in Track 3. For once you surrender everything to God is the place where you can truly find peace and know everything is going to be okay…you just have to have faith. The chorus of this song says it all; it is the basis of your transformation and yes once again you have to have faith,
Whatever you’re doing inside of me
It feels like chaos, but somehow there’s peace
And it is hard to surrender to what I can’t see, but I’m giving into something heavenly
Track 5—“Sing” is more aimed at the church in my opinion, the song constantly throws the idea of singing as one in unison, so the word unity popped into my head. Then at the end of the song it expresses peace, simplicity, and unity. This is where we need to be, not constantly fighting each other and going back and forth on the little things; but look at the big picture and be the light in the darkness, for the darkness will flee when the littlest light is present.
Track 6—“Leap of faith” is a song literally about taking a leap of faith and not giving up, just hold on to your faith and believe that everything will be okay. For all you need is the faith of a mustard seed to move mountains.
Track 7—“Lay Down My Guns” is a song that works on two levels, the thought process came from our soldiers in Iraq that serve us each and everyday and they use this on he basis to discuss spiritual warfare. You are in spiritual warfare as long as you serve the Lord, Jesus Christ; it is the way the devil tries to tear us down. The song then goes on to say, “lay down my guns and lift my hands, Surrender to love and live again.” This is powerful, for if you remain in the light and on the path of righteousness, you will one day leave the war and have everlasting peace and joy in Heaven; with all your brothers and sisters in Christ.
Track 8—“Eternal” portrays how everything on this earth will one day fade away, but you will always have your heavenly father.
“And in this marriage of our hearts there is no, “death do us part”
For you are eternal, and I am eternally yours”
For God will never fade away, he is the same yesterday, today, and forevermore. As long as we serve him wholeheartedly we will be truly eternally his.
Track 9—“Half Our Lives” wants us to focus on and reflect on the past. What have we done? Have we used our time effectively? Did we make a difference?
Track 10—“Legacy’” asks a huge question, what will you be remembered for? What will be your legacy? Will they see Christ? It is time to stop living in the humanistic nature, even though we are humans. But according to the book of Ephesians we are to imitate Christ, we are to be Christ-like; and Christ was not of this world, he was perfect. So what will they say when you are gone, will you just be a memory or will you be a history maker?
This whole album is a powerful, powerful testimony of the way we are to be, and I strive that this whole album will be as real in my life as the words are in it
CLOSING THOUGHTS
________________________________________
Once again this album is terrific. In my opinion, it explains a lot and is a basis for the way a Christian should be. For you must witness to others, surrender to God, fight the war over your soul, and let your light shine. Do not be afraid to strap on the Armor of God and let your light shine; for where there is light, darkness cannot be. For God sent his only son Jesus to us, a man who knows no sin and yet became sin for us. Jesus died for you and I think today we take that for granted and get caught up in our everyday lives. Jesus is a history maker and everything will be okay, for we are in his hands. So I have to ask you again, what will be your legacy?
We need each other, for support, accountability, and to just get through the day to day ordeals. We are always in Spiritual Warfare and we can always use a friend. So let’s all stand together and be one in the body of Christ, unified in what we do.
Review written by: Barry Collins
(barry.collins@christianmusicreview.org)
Review can also be found at:
http://www.christianmusicreview.org/sanctusreal_weneedeachother.html
This review has been reprinted on NRT with permission from ChristianMusicReview.org. Click here to visit ChristianMusicReview.org today!
Group 1 Crew Delivers With Sophomore Effort | Posted September-24-2008
[MAIN REVIEW]
My brother-in-law Chris Mercado, also known as ‘Crescendo’ on Orlando’s indie Christian hip-hop scene first introduced me to a musical acquaintance of his who he had produce some of his tracks that he had written and recorded simply named Manwell. Little did I know, the same Manwell would go on a year later to form a national hip-hop group called Group 1 Crew. When G1C started out before being signed by Fervent Records in 2006, they were simply known as Group One. The group consisted of Manwell Reyes, Pablo Villatoro and Blanca Reyes (no relation to Manwell). The group released their highly successful and Dove-award winning self-titled debut on Fervent in February of 2007. From the time of the release of their debut they have garnered radio success with such singles as “Love Is a Beautiful Thing” & “(Everybody’s Gotta) Song to Sing”. 2008 brings the release of their highly anticipated sophomore release, Ordinary Dreamers.
Let me first start off by saying that while growing up, hip-hop was not really a style of music that I was particularly fond of, unless of course you consider MC Hammer & Vanilla Ice hip-hop. That was basically the only hip-hop (or referred to as ‘rap’ back then) that I had been familiar with. After listening through to G1C’s debut and seeing them in concert a few times in the past year, it was a sound and style I had been unfamiliar with prior, to something that had a great message and probably some of the catchiest music tracks out there. Ordinary Dreamers offers a little of both. First off, for anyone who enjoyed their debut, the sophomore effort picks up where they left off. At first, the hip-hop lingo kind of went over my head but after going back and looking over it, (and having the ‘rhymes’ explained to me), I could better understand the message.
The album hits it off with the techno hip-hop track, “Movin”. My interpretation of the song is that as brothers and sisters in Christ, we need to keep out faith movin’, witnessing to those we come in contact with. “You don’t have to wait anymore its all yours for sure, let your faith walk it out now, walk it out now”
8-bit Nintendo chirps start out the next track that caught my attention, “Gimme That Funk”. Music is the universal language that really brings people of different diversities together. I like how the song refers to ‘the funky rhythm’ as a ‘medicine’ of sorts to those who need it. The track is definitely catchy, but its message can be discerned different ways.
One of the emotionally and heart-felt tracks on the album would be “Tonight”. The song speaks of someone who has lost someone close to them and how their relationship with God helps them through it. While the situation portrayed in the song may not be the same as one in your life, I think we relate to it or have known someone who has endured a loss. It’s important to know that our faith in Christ helps us to overcome those tough situations. I have known people who I thought have been taken too early, but I realize that God is still in control and has a purpose for everything. We just have to keep our faith and trust in Him and realize that sooner or later, everything will be alright. I like the chorus, how it refers to God’s healing of our feelings as a ‘lullaby’. “Tonight let every tear you cry and everything wrong inside, bring you to me and I will be your lullaby cause even in the hardest times you only need to realize, what you mean to me so let me be your lullaby”.
The first single from the album, “Keys to the Kingdom” has an interesting concept. The condition of today’s world often reminds me of what Jesus said in Matthew 4:17 when he says “Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.” Through our relationship with Christ, we have the ‘keys’ to the kingdom. I like the wording found in the verse, where it compares a Christian who has become back-sliden, to someone who hasn’t ‘lost’ the keys, but simply ‘misplaced’ them. I like that, good analogy.
“Closer” is probably the furthest song from being hip-hop, more bordering on a praise & worship song. The song, whose message talks about having a closer relationship with the Lord, reminds me of a lot the Psalms in which David asks and desires to be closer with God. “Take my life, I need you now / Draw me closer draw me closer / I’m on my knees, I’m crying out / Draw me closer I want to be closer to You”. The song really shows off Blanca Reyes’ amazing vocal ability. There are two hip-hop female vocalists that just mesmerize me with their God-given ability, one being tobyMac’s Nirva Dorsaint-Ready and the other, Group 1 Crew’s very own, Blanca Reyes. “Closer” is probably my favorite cut on the record. Great song.
The message of “Critical Emergency” is a constant reminder of the state of our society. There are people out there caught up in addictions, addictions that are impossible to overcome without God’s help. If only the world would turn to God, things would be better. But, the Lord has given us free-will to make our own choices, lead our own lives without Him if we so choose. It’s the condition of our world that would be categorized in other words, a critical emergency. A critical need for God to intervene. It’s only going to be able to continue for so much more time, and then it will all come to an end. As Christians we need to help those who have fallen, show them the way and show them that they need not to continue in their sinful ways. There is a God who is there for them, a God who loved them enough to send His very best to bring us closer to Him. The song is right, we’re in a critical emergency situation and we need the Lord’s ambulance (Jesus) to come and save us before its too late.
[CLOSING THOUGHTS]
I’ll be honest with you. While I wasn’t sure at first at how I would like the album, I have to say that I enjoyed Ordinary Dreamers. I’m not that used to the style of music (hip-hop) and I had to really pay attention to what the album’s message was saying, through it’s hip-hop lingo. But, although it may be worded differently then a traditionally CCM album, I can assure you the message was there. I was impressed with the writing and overall talent that this group brings forth. In the times I have seen them while they’re on tour; it’s very evident as to what these guys (and girl) are all about. Although Ordinary Dreamers may be different then what you’re used to, it’s got a good message and probably some of the catchiest music tracks out there. I enjoyed it and would recommend at the very least taking a listen to what Group 1 Crew has to offer and decide for yourself.
This group is blessed with the talent, and Ordinary Dreamers portrays that talent without compromising what they’ve set out to do and that’s to win people to Christ with their encouraging messages and stories. It doesn’t matter if the vehicle for that message is hip-hop, rock or pop, G1C delivers in its sophomore effort. Good job.
Review written by: Jay Heilman (9/15/08)
This review has been reprinted on NRT with permission from ChristianMusicReview.org. Click here to visit ChristianMusicReview.org today!
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