One Of Their Best | Posted August-02-2007
Audio Adrenaline returns with their sixth studio album, Lift. According to lead singer Mark Stuart, Lift is in the same vein as bloOm, the group's first Gold certified record. Listeners will hear a more serious, and vertical message in the title track and in songs like "Ocean Floor," "You Still Amaze Me" and "Glory." Their trademark youth group friendly appeal is still evident in anthems like "Rejoice," "Lonely Man," and "Summertime." Definitely building off the momentum generated by their greatest hits record that included the smash hit "Will Not Fade," Lift is powerful guitar pop that pleases the ear throughout the entire length of the album.
Solid Debut - But It's A Little Dated Now | Posted August-02-2007
I love this record. The first release on the Audio Adrenaline started FlickerRecords.com, 23-year old Riley provides some fresh new sounds on his debut album. This Canadian singer, songwriter and producer provides 11 songs that speak of the simplicity of faith and the complexity that some try to associate with God. Songs like "Sunray" and "Greater Than" talk about the beauty of the world around us and how God is the center of everything we touch and feel. Riley likes drum loops and creates some great catchy beats layered with acoustic guitar. Truly a talent.
ATS does lack in some areas | Posted August-02-2007
Although their first attempt is a very valid one, ATS does lack in some areas. Musically, this album is very comparable to Dave Mathews Band, but the vocals are just too quite to give the album the full sound it deserves. Combining a diverse group of ethnicities, musical talents, and contrasting instrumentation, they manage to add up a dynamic band that's bound to have exciting live shows. For a heavily-hyped debut effort--and for a CD that nearly spat itself out of the player during the first listen--All Together Separate consistently gets better with each listen. And with so many layers... don't be afraid to give yourself a while to appreciate them all. I give this album a B+.
A Brash Display Of Raw Energy | Posted July-01-2007
Dishonesty, lies and brokenness are demolished by truth, love and boldness in the debut release from Flicker"s female-fronted rock band Fireflight. With The Healing of Harms, a brash display of raw energy colliding with a beauty that heals, melodic vocals soar like a shining hope. Highlights on the album include "You Decide," featuring Josh Brown of Day of Fire and "It's You."
Repetitive But Still Solid | Posted July-01-2007
Ripen will again bring you deeper into Shawn's daily life, and will have you listen repeatedly, and along the way you'll find places of your soul you didn't know existed. In an effort to simplify his music, Shawn's lyrics take on almost a repetitive nature with chorus consisting of few words, however, the worshipful style continues to impress and expectations are high for his third album.
A Nice Surprise | Posted July-01-2007
A nice surprise to this year's release schedule was the addition of a Jennifer Knapp live CD, recorded on the "Back Forty Tour" in Spring '01. The album includes 13 favorites including a 14 minute version of 'Undo Me" that sounded incredible. We may never hear from Jennifer Knapp again, but this live album gives justice to the songs that we'll remember for years.
Will Draw You Into Worship | Posted July-01-2007 See The Morning is everything you loved about Arriving and all that you have come to expect from Chris Tomlin. This album was titled to describe God's faithfulness. He is as sure as the rising sun. No matter how dark it gets, the morning will come. This new music is sure to draw congregations and individuals into a time of worship with its easy to sing music that inspires the soul.
A New Perspective Gives Bebo His Best Yet | Posted July-01-2007
Bebo has always been one of the most open and honest songwriters in Christian music. His albums capture the true place where he is at, and for the longest time, he was one "eHarmoney.com spokesman" away from becoming our industry's poster boy for the lost, single soul searching for their long lost mate. His recent marriage has brought new perspective on his world and it is has translated into songs like "Into The Day," "Bring Me To Life" and the stirring first single "I Will Left My Eyes."
"I wrote a lot in my earlier days from turmoil and loneliness," Bebo says. "A lot of that had to do with being single and living on the road without much of a home. The funny thing was that when this began to change and I entered into a season of my life where, for three or four years now, I've understood what peace is, that made me worry a bit too, because I didn't know how to write from peace. I'd never done that before."
One of the most striking changes on the new album is the inclusion of other musicians. In fact, an entire band showed up to help record the new songs. Instrumentalists on Between the Dreaming and the Coming True include: Adam Lester on guitar; Tony Lucido playing bass; Ken Lewis on drums; Gabe Scott on accordion; Shane Keister at the piano; among other extraordinary musicians. String arrangements were done by John Painter. Bebo, along with Painter, arranged horns on "I Know Now," with Painter playing French horn, trumpet and trombone on the song. Norman and Ingram took control of co-producing ten of the eleven tracks on the project, enlisting the talent of Glenn Rosenstein on "The Way We Mend," a song Norman wrote with Dave Barnes. The result is that choruses soar, drums thunder, and the piano lets loose drapes of brilliant texture bathing Norman's message with a more vivid light. The final outcome is one of Bebo's best albums to date.
First 10 Seconds Tell You This Is Their Best Yet | Posted July-01-2007
It's amazing what a little production can do. Skillet's previous efforts have been solid, but fans of the band noticed an immediate change within the first 10 seconds of the first track and single "Rebirthing." If I had a list of "Top 10 Song Intros In 2006," this song would top that chart.
With classic rock riffs, swirling drums, monstrous hooks, and undeniably catchy choruses, Skillet has produced a fusion unlike any other release this year, making their fifth album one the year's best releases. Their hints of old school progressive rock mixed in with modern alternative flourishes on songs like "Rebirthing," "Better Than Drugs," "Falling Inside the Black," "Looking for Angels," "Whispers in the Dark," "The Older I Get," the title track.
It's nice to hear lead singers John's wife, (and "Keyboard Entertainer Of The Year") Korey take a more prominent role with vocals on this album. She adds a great a layer to some of the songs and brings an edge that complete most tracks. Overall, this album leaves little to be desired, and after completing 11 songs from the same artist, that's a great feeling to have.
The Best Album Of 2006 | Posted July-01-2007
Typically for me, musical surprises come from unknown bands or debut artists that have received little or no attention. I always find excitement when expecting "just another band" and instead experiencing one of the "best albums of the year." After four years of wading in the modern praise and worship explosion, Newsboys return to their pop roots on their fifteenth album, and the result is, well, exciting.
I've stated before that I'm a simple man when it comes to music. My favorite albums in past years have been ones that have allowed me to embrace the moment, forget about my surroundings, elicit smiles throughout, temporarily remind myself of my lack of dance floor skills and when the albums over, contemplate what recently soaked my ears in and who I can share it with next. "Go" did all of that for me on the first run through, and has continued to surprise me from a band that has not done so one of their albums since 1998's "Step Up To the Microphone."
This is a fun album that is accessible to a wide range of audiences while keeping the message real and focused on the mission Newsboys have always been called to do. They are what they have always been. However, on "Go," they have released a collection of songs that have created one of their best offerings in years, and it's great to see them continue to reach audiences around the world with such a strong message of hope and encouragement for what lies ahead.
KevinMcNeese_NRT's Music and Book Reviews 
