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...
More than a bunch of noise | Posted September-21-2007
If a CD was graded by how much the artist smiled, Jessie Daniels would get and F. But that is not the case and her self titled debut is far from failed.
The music style is pop/rock which, for the most part, is rather impressive for an opening album. Jessie Daniels voice is very good. Most of her songs are up-beat and have snappy tunes like her first two singles ("the noise" and "everyday"), but her lighter stuff is also pretty solid. The heaviest songs on her CD are the single "what I hear" and "hello/good bye", which Daniels goes a little over board with.
"What happened" and "next to you" are pretty smooth pop songs which is the CD is built around. Some of her lighter music includes: "it's a wonder" and "hold me now". At the end of the disc there is a remix of the song "hold me now" featuring Tom Pellerin from Overflow. It's a little odd that the remix would be of a soft song to a soft song, with no apparent change.
Although Jessie Daniels uses Gods name as much as Kelly Clarkson, He is still implied and is the main factor of the album. However, most of her songs are a little shallow, with none that have stand out lyrics. "hello/goodbye" and "What happened" are not bad, but could be taken for pathetic. Though "next to you" is silly the messages of the CD are firm.
Jessie Daniels with her first album is already ahead of some of her peers; her debut is surprisingly impressive on most musical areas. Her the lyrics could stand for some improvement, but after this CD there should be a large welcoming for her second album.
Rawk Fist!! | Posted September-17-2007
Thousand foot Crutch's second album Phenomenon, is easily one of the best Christian rock CDs.
Without being too hard or too soft, Thousand foot Crutch does a great job with the music, as they really put a lot into each song. The singles "bounce" and "rawk fist" are very solid songs, as they really set the tone for the album. "This is a call" is a softer song which is also made with the same quality as the rest. The title track might be the best, as the beat, and flow of the song are terrific. There might not be enough diversity for some listeners who might think the twelve tracks sound too similar.
The lyrics are not as great as the music, but still are solid at parts. "this is a call" and "last words" are great messages among others. However is seems that the band just puts words in their songs to make them longer at times. Also the feel of the album is that thousand foot crutch just wants to rock, without putting anything into their lyrics.
The lyrics are a bit iffy, but overall Phenomenon a tremendous rock album from Thousand Foot Crutch which is arguably their best.
Hello Rocket Summer | Posted September-17-2007
If you want something a little different than you might want to check out the Rocket Summer and his second album Hello Good Friend.
Bryce Avary's music is roughly pop, but it has a wide area of music, as there is a verity of instruments played, most notably the piano. Most of the music is up-beat, with "around the Clock", "brat pack", and "story" being very good songs. Other up beat tunes which are not as good is: "Tell Me Something Good", "Destiny" "and the single Show Me Everything You've got".
The softer songs on the album are also good, the short but nice "Move to the Other Side of the Block" and "Goodbye Waves and Driveways". "Never Knew" is the best song on the CD which borders on rock. Bryce's voice may be the make of break it about this album as his singing is not very impressive.
On Hello good Friend, the lyrics are creative and good. "Treasures" teach us to lay our treasures in heaven, while "never knew" discusses not judging people before you know them. While God is no mentioned much by name his is clearly on the scene ("around the clock", destiny" and many more). "Story" and others like it, fill the album with solid lyrics all the way.
Over all the Rocket Summer's Hello good friend will not appeal to everyone because of his voice and music, but for those who can stand it will enjoy a nice, creative album which stands on solid ground.
A unrefined Toby | Posted September-05-2007
Momentum, the first album from Toby Mac when he went solo, is a rock' in rap/hip hop album with some good lyrics to back it up.
Toby Mac has a wide verity of the before mentioned music on his large CD, most of which is very creative but also a little raw. Toby Mac rock/raps on the tracks "what's going down", "get this party started", and the title track "momentum" all which sound very good. The even heavier songs "extreme days" and "yours" are over done, thus not that impressive.
Toby Mac's hip hop/rap tunes include "J train", "Irene", and "some ones watching me" which are simple and not very fun. On the other hand "in the air" and "love is in the house" are more up beat and better sounding that helps bring a balance to Momentum. After that, there is a lot of wasted space on Toby Mac's eighteen track CD, which is the biggest down fall of the disc.
Momentum passes on some great messages, as Toby Mac ha a good grasp on present culture, which is showed on the song "what's going down". He also packs good layrics up and down his CD, like "in the air" and "momentum" among others. Even though there are some meaningless songs on the album, Toby Mac's primary focus is the Allmighty.
Some great stuff on Momentum, but most of it is only good or not impressive, as there is a lot of wasted tracks. But Toby Ma debut still packs a punch with his rap/rock tunes and his great lyrics.
Nothing left to lose by getting this album. | Posted May-21-2009
What could alienate people from getting Nothing Left to Lose is the fact that Mat Kearny’s debut album Bullet contains six of the thirteen songs on Kearny’s latest. That could discourage fans who were blown away by “undeniable” and “train wreak” and the other stellar adult contemporary tracks on Bullet, but those who do choose to pick up the album will not be disappointed with the add-ons mixed with his first albums best..
Mat Kearney’s genre would be called contemporary with some rap, but terrific would be another way to describe his music. The hit single “undeniable” has more of the rap beat to it but was ear friendly enough to be a hit with superb music. The single “Bullet” is a rap song all the way but the chorus and pre-chorus are both accessible and the beat moves along quickly enough that one would think Kearny was born to rap. The Kearnys emotional voice adds a tremendous boost to his already sound songs, particularly on the title track which is phenomenal.
Those songs which did not get as much exposure are non the less fantastic. The soul riveting “renaissance” is beautifully crafted from every stage of the song and the adult contemporary, emotional “in the middle” which is a terrific pace to the song especially the refrain. The emotion and maturity of “can’t break her fall” is just wonderful, as every facet of the music is crisp. “Girl America” is a more oddball tune with it’s guitar driven tune which beat is similar to a rap tune though the bridge is incredibly strong.
The single “crashing down” doesn’t have the flow that other songs do but the emotion and the solid music keep it good. similar to “crashing down” is “wait” where Kearny employs a more solemn tune that is more melancholy than usual. The extremely potent ballad “all I need” is almost entirely piano driven but the sentiment and intensity in the song, chiefly the bridge is spectacular. Lesser ballads like “Won't Back Down” and “what’s a boy to do” are good but get shadowed by better music.
The lyrics are a piece or work as it shifts from Kearny’s seemly reluctance to show his faith to the point where it slaps you in the face. The mature “girl America” should not be taken lightly but is well crafted song that eventually points to the solution in very clear language (‘And I can see we've strayed so far/A king born under that morning star/As a crown of thorns was placed to erase/And his palms and sides were pierced with spears/He hung in love just to draw you near’). The shady “can’t break her fall” is up for interpretation and will probably cause some head scratching; one thing for sure about the song is that it’s clear the singer wants to help the girl who is in trouble.
After those two songs it’s clear sailing from the blatantly obvious rap worship song “undeniable” (‘It's undeniable how brilliant you are/In an unreliable world you shine like a star’) to the hopeful “won’t back down”. Sacrifice is stressed on “bullet” is an extreme degree (‘I would take a bullet for you/I would lose it all, I'd take my fall/To show you it's for real’) while lessons on pressing forward appear on “in the middle” and “nothing left to lose”. Don’t be surprised if you hear “all I need” at a wedding some day.
Some might be suspect because of “Can't Break Her Fall” and some of Mat Kearny mainstream lyrics but in reality he sings not about moral things but biblical themes. That and the before mentioned problem is the only real reason that fans should not get a incredible group of songs called Nothing Left to Lose.
Almost there is not even close | Posted September-03-2007
Mercyme grabbed everyone's attention with their hit single "I can only imagine", but one song doesn't make a good album, which is shown on their Debut CD almost there.
Mercyme's music tends to be praise and worship, but they could be considered light rock. "I worship you" and the singe "here I am" are more up-beat. "I can only imagine" is a good song that is simple, but has a very appealing style to it. Other than that most of the songs on Almost there are simple and repetitive, which is shown on "bless me indeed" and "cannot say enough".
The lyrics are only okay. The song "here I am" is not bad, but "I can only imagine" is not very deep. Everything else on the CD is shallow, and in some cases their songs are (house of god and bless me indeed) theologically wrong.
Almost there tails of as the second half of the album rolls along, leaving merecyme's super CD a lot to be desired.
not great | Posted August-29-2007
Everyone has to start somewhere, and for Todd Agnew it was Grace like rain, a praise and worship album.
Grace like rain is by no means incredible, most of Todd Agnew's tunes are simple and don't have a lot of depth. Most of his songs are light worship songs, like "come all ye sinners", "shepherd", and "you are" to name a few. "Reached down" and "Romans 12:1" are more up beat, but the tone of the album is soft. The singles "this fragile breath" and "grace like rain" are the best form this CD.
The message of the album is that we are sinners and we all need forgiveness and a savior. That is great, but Todd Agnew breaks it down into most of his songs, leaving those songs a little weak. But other than that the lyrics are solid, but nothing amazing like Todd does on other albums.
Todd Agnew's songs are generally not fantastic sounding in terms of music, but his lyrics are. In Grace like rain neither are impressive
A Relient K album we would like to forget | Posted August-29-2007
When Relient K themselves admit that they wish they hadn't made their self titled debut, than there can't be anything spectacular on it.
The pop/punk sound is quite raw as every song sounds like it could use a tune up. But there are some songs that are up-beat and fun like "hello Mcfly". The single "wake up call", my girl friend", and "everything will be" are all fun but none of them are songs that are great. "Softer to me" is a good rock song, but after that everything on the album is mediocre.
Relient K doesn't take much seriously on this CD, but it is still clear for whom they are playing music for. "staples", "hello Mcfly", "wake up call", and "Softer to me" are all meaning full, but most of the other meaningful songs are some what shallow. Also as is typical of Relient K, they goof off for fun, leaving some tracks less than meaningful.
At best Relient K's self titled album is fun and up beat, but fans might be the only ones listening to this CD
Smile, it's a fun one. | Posted August-27-2007
Run the Earth, Watch the sky is a fun worship/contemporary/pop album by Chris Rice.
The mix of different types of music bring a odd taste to the album, as one minute you could be sitting down admiring one of his soft worship tunes, and the next minute you are dancing to his pop tunes. The more fun, up-beat songs include "me and Becky", "everything's ok" and the popular single "other side of the radio". "Wonder", "circle up" and "untitled hymn (come to Jesus)" are all good worship music. The impressive song "smile is very enjoyable because it is very well done in every way. Overall most of the songs never break good.
Chris Rice's lyrics are solid, but nothing jaw dropping, as this CD just brings the attention to the wonder of God. But "me and Becky" has an important message. "Smile" is one of the several songs that will have you listening to the lyrics.
Run the earth, Watch the sky does some clever things, but most of the album is pretty simple, but fun to listen to.
pretty good hard rock album .5 | Posted August-27-2007
Project 86's Songs to Burn your Bridges by, should have been renamed "song to explode your stereo, as the CD is a repetitive hard rock album which is a pretty good hard rock CD. Most of the songs annoy the souls of ordinary folks, but those who love the hard to understand rock tunes will enjoy this CD especially. After listening to Songs to Burn Bridges by for twenty times you get to understand a few words and pick out a few songs that you like above the rest, which will probably include "spy hunter", the opening track. The words are hard enough to understand, without trying to decipher the messages, which are close to impossible. Don't expect to get much out of this album expect some good hard rock tunes and a injured ear, but Project 86's Songs to your Burn Bridges by, is a better hard rock album than others.
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