Pieces of a Real Heart
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Sanctus Real Since releasing Say It Loud on Sparrow records Sanctus Real has been a consistent voice is CCM. Hits like "Things Like You (Everyone's Everything)," "I'm Not Alright," and "We Need Each Other" have...
Breaking The Silence EP
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The Letter Black Known as Breaking The Silence, The Letter Black or a Flyleaf/Fireflight re-make, one Tooth and Nail’s newest artists have now provided fans with their first project, Breaking The Silence EP. The band is...
Forget And Not Slow Down
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Relient K Forget And Not Slow Down sis not a Relient K album. Yes, on the side of an album is says ‘Relient K’, but comparing this release to Relient K’s career is difficult. This Relient K uses five new weapons...
Another hit for Relient K | Posted December-18-2007
Basically Let it snow Baby... Let it Reindeer is a chance for fans who didn't pick up Relient K's previous Christmas album to get it again. Only this time its better, with six new tracks. Making the total count sixteen songs plus one bonus song.
The songs from the former Christmas album, Deck the Hall, Bruise your Hand, will remind fans of a punkier style of Reliet K, especially on "12 days of Christmas", which is done in an amazing three minutes and thirty seconds, and "angels we have heard on high". For the most part Releint K only makes the non Christ's birth songs ("Deck the halls", "12 day...", and "we wish you a merry Christmas") faster, with the exception of "angels we have heard on high".
"Silent Night/away in a manger" are good redoes of the classics, and they set up brilliantly for the soft yet terrific "I celebrate the day". The sad "I hate Christmas Parties" would be a pathetic song if it didn't sound so great. There is a clear change in sound in the new songs than the older, despite "sleigh ride" and "I'm getting nuttin for Christmas". The sound of new tracks "Merry Christmas and here's to many more" and "Boxing day" are more refined as they sound great.
The song inspired by the Chronicles of Narnia: the Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe "in like a lion (always winter)" was released on their Apathetic EP, and it's perfect on the album. The music is slightly more instrumental than punk/rock, which is a good thing for the Christmas album, as the best songs, and most likely to get attention, is the softer music. Releint K must have been on ten cups of coffee when they did "Handel's Messiah", and they must have been taking lessons from the Beach boys on "Auld Lang Syne".
The tone of the album (on tracks "merry Christmas and here's to many more", Bowing day", and "Auld Lang Syne") is for joyful Christmas and a great new year. The fact that the ending, a word from Matthew Thiessen and Matt Hoopes, of the CD (not counting the bonus song) has nothing to do with Christ's birth is disappointing.
A totally un politically correct Christmas album which is the best of the year. A great bunch of new Christmas songs and original renovations of Old classics All equals a master piece for Relient K
Skillet no longer in Comatose | Posted November-09-2007
Before Skillets latest album, they were a below average rock band who was not very popular, but now with the release of Comatose, their first three singles of their album ("rebirthing", "the last night, and "older I get") have been smash hits, as Comatose was the best rock album of the year.
In the past Skillet had used some techno music, but had mainly been a harder rocking band, but Comatose has a much more refined rock sound, but a main reason the album was so popular was lead singer John Cooper's lyrics. It's clear that from the first song to the title track that the music is incredibly good. "Rebirthing" and "Comatose" are very impressive rock songs. But some of the rock is a little too hard as Cooper resorts to yelling on "better than drugs" and "falling inside the black" which fall into the back of the album.
A sturdy rock song "whispers in the dark" shows fans that Skillet can offer solid rock music without sounding the same as the previous track. One song that doesn't quite fit is "those nights' which is a punk song, and it does not go well with John Coopers voice, but is still a cool song. "The last Night" is also a great rock song about However Skillet saved the best rock tune for last on "looking for angles" which is brilliantly done I everyway and is the highest point of the album.
Another part of what distinguishes Comatose, aside from their rock sound, is their lighter music, which is brilliant and adds the perfect balance to the album. the lighter songs are: "older I get", "yours to hold" and "don't say goodbye". Each one is great, having their own sound that makes them flat out amazing which really makes them the rock on which the album is built. Coopers vioce is good but is over done when he yells at a few points in the song.
The lyrics are another fantastic part of the album, and the most important. "Rebirthing" and Comatose has similar messages about wakening up to God, and the "older I get" is a great song about relationships with people. The good rock tune "The Last Night" is the powerful song about a friend who talks someone out of suicide. "Looking for angels" has some of the best lyrics you can find in a song. The rest of the songs, while not all talking about God, are positive and mostly meaningful.
Skillet has emerged as a top Christian Rock group by making every song, from beginning to end worthy of a listen. "Comatose" gets gets high marks for when the music fades there will be the strong messages they send.
A step down | Posted November-02-2007
After a very solid rock album Phenomenon, Thousand Foot Krutch followed it up with the Art of Braking a much anticipated album. The problem with a big hit is the band has to come out with another CD al least as good in quality, if not better.
Some of Thousand Foot Krutch's best moments on the Art of Braking is the solid rock tunes like their singles "Absolute", "move" and the title track, unfortunately the singles are pretty much the best part of the album, because everything else is simple and not that impressive rock. "Stranger", "go", and "slow bleed" are not bad but they don't have the life that the singles have,
Over all what keeps the album from sinking into a "just a couple good songs CD" is the title tracks excellent sound and pace. Also the song "hurt" is super, along with the smash hit "breathe you in"; both are light but very well done and are the high points on the album. But for the most part the rest of the CD is just okay.
The bands Lyrics are another annoying part on the album, as it seems in a few songs that Thousand Foot Krutch just throws in extra lyrics to make their songs rhyme. However there some good stuff on the album like "hurt" and "breathe you in", and there is some clever song writing to.
Art of Braking is a good rock CD, but Thousand Foot Krutch did not make this one a Phenomenon.
A waste of time | Posted October-18-2007
Pillars third album, The Reckoning, sounds more like a debut album, than a popular Christian rock group. They did a shirt from their usual rock sound to a screamo sound; unfortunately the transition was not very smooth.
The album is quite disappointing because their best song is their single "where ever the wind blows" and it's not even rock, to make matters worse is the fact that the radio version is better than the one on the album. The songs "Resolution", "sometimes" and the single "everything" are the best rock songs on the CD. But after that the music isn't really worth mentioning, that includes the title track.
The screaming kills a fair share of the songs, that and the little difference between songs, which pretty much over shadows and highlights of the Reckoning. Pillar, however, showed some skill in song writing, as a lot of their songs are meaningful and have good lyrics, although "angle in disguise" is a bit weird.
A step back for Pillar musically, while their writing might have improved, fans might be writing off the Reckoning of their list.
A new sound, but still a great album | Posted November-09-2007
Five Score and Seven Years ago: the name has few meanings. First it's their fifth studio release, and it's the first time they have used five members on an album. Secondly, seven years ago Releint K came out with their first self tiled album. The most important thing for the fans is it's another Hit for the increasingly popular Pop/punk/ rock group.
It was evident from the first single "forgiven" that a new sound was going to be in use on this album, and it was a switch to a more punk sound to a more refined style. Five score and seven years ago, unlike other Reliet K CD's, the CD does not have very many lights out songs, which may be because most of the songs are top notch. "Forgiven" is a spectacular sounding song, but it doesn't sound like tradition Releint K, but "why don't you come out and say it" and "bite my tongue" will remind fans who is singing.
The disc has two heavier songs, like other releases, which are "devastation and reform" and "I need you", which are very good. The single "Give" is about the lightest song one the album, and the only one with a remotely worshipful tune on the album. While "faking my own suicide" has a clever sound but its gets old quickly, it's similar with "I'm taking you with me" in that it falls of the album as weak. "The best thing" and the single "must have done something right" have a punk sound and are very fun and up-beat.
"Crayons can melt us for all I care" and "plead the fifth" is the joke of the CD, both of the songs does not break a minute thirty combined. So the band had their joke but when it came to the last song on the album this got mostly locked in. "Deathbed" is a superb sounding song, as they used a bunch off different types of music for the long song, even Jon Forman of Switchfoot came out to help. Deathbed is Releint K's pinnacle song right now, both lyrically and musically.
With Releint K having hits on mainstream music, they certainly didn't compromise their standards with writing songs. Relient K set a personal record with four songs that are about girls, which is disappointing. However God shows up in the album more than once, and just good lyrics surround the CD. "I need you" and "Give" are firm songs, and so is "forgiven". Mathew Thiessen does a good job as always of having smart lyrics to his songs, but on the redemption "Deathbed" he did his best.
The special edition has a bonus DVD about the group performing acoustically at Capitol records headquarters, where they perform a number of different songs from past and present. "I so hate Consequences" was not great, especially since they cut out the end of the song. Most of the songs were, of course, better un-acoustic, but it was interesting is watch. They also preformed a new song.
With their fifth studio release, its unsure weather or not Releint K will keep with this sound or go back to the 80's style of music. Five score and seven years is good Releint K album, but not the best.
A perfect Christmas album, in October! | Posted October-09-2007
Ah, time to sit back and enjoy the sounds of the season-in October. That's what Jars of Clay is doing with their newest album Christmas songs, a fourteen track CD with some great new songs and great performing of classics.
This album may bring back memories of older Jar of Clay from start to finish. "Winter Skin" is a great sounding Christmas tune and "in the bleak midwinter" is another impressive new song. "Evergreen" and "The Gift Of St. Cecilia" are both instrumental. "Wonderful Christmastime" is one of the best sounding Christmas songs.
The album sounds very classical at parts; even the new songs have a classical tint to them, which sound good. "God Rest Ye, Merry Gentlemen", "Heard The Bells On Christmas Day" and "O Little Town Of Bethlehem" are some of the classics that they master on their album. "Christmastime Is Here" and "Love Came Down At Christmas" are not great.
This album will be a leading holiday CD this year, so sit back with some hot chocolate and spin Jars of Clay Christmas songs on December first.
Blink: Plumbs back | Posted October-03-2007
Blink by Plumb is a collection of songs that Tiffany Arbuckle wrote while was a new mother, leaving a different type of music from Plumb that we may not have been expecting.
The first fact about this album is it is not rock, unlike other plumb releases. The only song with an a decent beat is "sleep" and that's not rock at all. However it does let's Plumb emphasize her powerful and great vocals more. The music is mostly light, like the first track "my sweet my lovely", but still sounds good.
Her first single off of this album was a hit "in my arms", but she may struggle to put any other hits on the radio because of the similarity of style of music and the almost unchanging themes of her songs. "God will take care of you" sounds almost like a hymn, and "always" sounds like plumb we have heard before but on a more regular basis. The title track "blink" is one of the best songs on the album; the rest is pretty runs the same style of music.
The lyrics are all about a mother with her children, which is very touching at times, but it does get a little repetitive. "Always" is a good song reflecting motherhood and "me" talks about being blessed with children; a song which is pretty meaningful in this time. Everything except for, and even somewhat, "God will take care of you" is about motherhood in someway.
A different album by Plumb than we are used to seeing, as she takes us down a different path of music and lyrics to where Plumb is very passionate. This album will likely attract new fans but might turn older ones way.
Good | Posted October-03-2007
The Indie rock band Nevertheless' debut album Live like we're alive is a good start. Frontman Joshua Person vocals are a big part in the pop/rock act, but it's raw, and with most songs, are a little too simple. But still is very good.
The music is not the best but their first single "the real" sounds great, unfortunately that is about the best sounding song. Patience and devotion", "time and "losing innocence" make up the core of the CD. The title track "live like we're alive" is the hardest song but it tells listeners that they are not hard rock.
Slower songs like "it's me", "lover", and "O' child" are pretty good but could be better. Nothing on the album is amazing but it's all pretty good. Unlike a lot of opening artists focus on their music and let the lyrics slide a little, but Nevertheless does not shy away as all their songs are meaningful.
"the real" and live like we're alive" has similar, solid messages and "time" is good too. Highlights of the album are the songs "lover" and "losing innocence" which show that a big strength is in song writing. Even a song about a girl (perfect chemistry) ends up focusing about God.
A very solid debut, as Nevertheless really showed a lot of potential in all areas. The music is not perfect yet but expect Nevertheless' next CD to be even better,
A wasted effort. | Posted April-19-2008
Superchic[k] is on a mission. A mission to inspire, empower, and entertain their listeners, and help them believe in themselves. It's been two years since their last album and sadly, it only has ten songs. However they also seem to have gotten a grasp on how to make their music into hit songs, and Beauty from Pain is no exception.
The music is flat out amazing, a similar style of girl rock like Barlow Girl and Avil Livgne, and plenty of pure flowing tunes and beats, with hints of hip hop. The album opens with "anthem" a very fast paced, up tempo girl, rock song; plus it's a single. The hip hop style hit single "pure" is solid, and "Bowling ball" is an upbeat pop song, which is snappy. Again the hip hop shows up on "stories", which features tobyMac (who has it on his CD Diverse City), but the song is a little bland and could have used a little more life.
Lead singer Tricia Brock has impressive vocals and they show on the upbeat songs "wishes". The title track is arguably the most impressive song musically on the album. The song is mainly piano but it picks up a little percussion as the song moves, and it has a really emotional sound to it clearly a strength of this band. The single "its on" is another upbeat girl song, and the chorus really picks up for the song "suddenly". On the smash hit single "we live" it's light rock with a little bit of the hip hop in the bridge, nothing terribly impressive but it gets the job done.
The opening song, "anthems" has some feminine overtones "Here's to the girls on their boards with bruises and scars/Here's to the girls whose fingers bleed from playin guitar" but the song is pretty forgettable, same with "it's on". "we live" sends a strong, but Godless message, about living for today, the way it's set to is similar to "stories". Superchic[k] encourages girls to steer clear of bad relationships ("suddenly" and "wishes"), but still the lack of God in the lyrics is a little disturbing. The only time God's name is even mentioned is on "Beauty from pain", but it's vague and his presence in the lyrics is nil.
vocalist/guitarist Melissa Brock says "The title Beauty From Pain sums up those relationships. We all go through these hard times, but in reality, there is a beauty in that pain because it makes us stronger people and prompts us to lean on God in a way that we never have before." Really? Well it's really hard to tell with lyrics like Superchic[k]s. the music is impressive but the their mission to inspire and empower girls over shadows it.
Good morning Falling Up | Posted April-14-2008
Exit Lights seemed the album for Falling Up to break the trend they set in Crashing and dawn escapes, which was not enough diversity between songs. Exit Lights (a remix CD) fixed those problems while slowing certain songs down and consecrated other songs, but now Falling Up's newest CD Captiva did the same only with 12 new songs.
The music is from very light rock to at best medium rock, but the best way to categorize Falling Up's irregular sound is alternative rock. The opening song to their album is "A guide to marine life" which combines Jessie Ribordy great vocals and the light but complex rock; together it's amazingly good, possibly the best on the record. The single "Good night gravity" has a hint of punk in the song, and hotel aquarium is a good alternative rock tune. Despite the solid music, the title track "Captive" isn't as good as some of the songs surrounding it. "Helicopters" has a techno sound, and although "maps" is solid the more routine rock sound doesn't flatter Falling Up.
The transition though their remix album is clearly revealed in on "How they made cameras" which has impressive soft, complex. "Good morning planetarium" is a compact rock song, but Murexa is the most solid rock song on the album, as its fasted paced tune never slows down. After getting past the rough verses, reveals an amazing song, in the light, "Drago or the dragon". The Band's greatest musical achievements lie at the end of the album, as the music on "Arc to the Achilles" is flat out spectacular. If it's possible to get better, it would have to be the last track "the dark side of indoor track meets", which takes the solemn mood of the entire album to a new high. Oh yeah, the light, but heavily complex medium rock is incredible also.
Whether the lyrics are the weakest part of the album or the strongest, at least it can be said it's the most interesting. Falling Up must like to keep their lyrics mysterious, with song titles like "Arc to the Achilles", "Drago or the dragon", and "Good morning planetarium" it's clear that nothing is regular and ordinary on this album. and "Good morning planetarium's" lyrics are about salvation, and the band makes the message easy on "how they made cameras" with its lyrics ('Now salvation sings/Life that Jesus brings'). But lyrics like "Watch me float by, a bending, arched and sweeping sight/Now play it backwards and I swear you will see me misty eyed" will ensure that fans will keep guessing at Riborys hidden meanings. Hint: gravity plays a big part.
Falling Up has solved most of their problems on Captiva, as the band is definitely moving more away from the routine rock sound of their first album Crashing to a more sophisticated sound. Clearer lyrics would have been nice, but it is part of the appeal, lets hope though it does not drive fans away. And although the only really radio friendly track is "good night gravity" This alternative rock group is on to something golden.
Nathan's Music and Book Reviews 
