It's A Shame They Went Unnoticed | Posted June-30-2007
Probably one of the most underrated albums of 2002, The Fault Is History is an amazing step in the right direction for Urban/R&B Christian music. SoulJahz is comprised of siblings Joshua (22), Je'kob (20) and Rachael (17) Washington. Determined to overcome and overturn the messages that society presents to their generation, the group combines a barrage of music and styles that is both eclectic and relevant to where music is going today. SoulJahz' debut album is layered with Rachael's beautiful "Lauren Hill-like" harmonies along side her brother's tag team rapping that can easily give mainstream trash-talker Ja-Rule a run for his money. Combined, they sound very much like an energetic City High. The creativity present on cut after cut is what makes this album so special. From amazing interludes that contain poetic cultural ravings reminiscent of the poetry found on Kevin Max's Stereotype Be, to the beautiful ballads to the high energy groves, SoulJahz deliverers what sounds more like a group who has been around for awhile versus a debut national release. Produced by Tonex and Chris Rodriguiz, highlights on the album include "The Color Of Hate," "Poor Man" and the energy driven song "Jubilee."
One Of The Best Of 2002 | Posted June-30-2007
Bebo Norman pretty much has the formula down pat. To say that he's reached perfection might be too bold, but nothing seems to be going wrong on his third album, Myself When I Am Real. The worse thing that might ever happen to Bebo is for him to find the love he's been writing about for three years now. The absent relationships have been inspiration for the majority of his songwriting and this time out is no exception. Songs like "Beautiful You" and "Falling Down" are built around this theme, but Bebo says it best in "So Afraid." "I am so afraid that I'll find myself alone / Looking for a savior, looking for a home." But what Bebo does so beautifully is fill the empty void of love with the promises of God. Bebo also presents his career song with "Great Light of the World," a song that dynamically builds into a beautiful ballad that inspires chills on the spine. "I'm half a man here / So come make me whole / Oh great light of the world / Come to impart / The light of your grace to fill up my heart." Bebo Norman is wonderful at taking angst and directing it towards the heavens, where we are supposed to be bringing our burdens. He presents honesty and an openness with both his faith and his world around him that is simply unmatched in today's music. It's easy to pass on Bebo's music as boring and uninspired, but there are so many layers to both his music and his storytelling that to say that would simply be acknowledging that no time has been spent with the record.
An Incredible Debut By tobyMac | Posted June-17-2007
Completing the round of debut solo records from the members of dc talk, tobyMac delivers an album that completes the three pieces (rock, art and hip-hop) that make up the most successful Christian rock group in history. Momentum is everything we ever hoped for in a solo record from Toby, and then some. It's innovative, introspective, witty, humorous but most importantly, vertical. Songs like "In The Air" and "Yours" speak of sharing your faith and simply giving your life and everything you are to God. Momentum is all over the map musically, but the flow is just as smooth as Toby's rhymes. Tracks like "Get This Party Started," "Yours" and "Momentum" border along the same lines crossed by P.O.D., which "Love Is In the House" and "Irene" rely more on a melodic grooves. You know how some albums grow with you in time? With samples of familiar hooks combined with catchy rhymes and layered with gritty hard rock guitars, Momentum feels like an album you've been listening to all your life.
Chick Rock Is So In | Posted June-14-2007
Chick Rock is so in. It's obvious that Christian music is embracing the power of a girl with a band with new releases from Superchick, new Fervent Records band Inhabited (releasing July 12) and highly anticipated new releases this fall from Barlowgirl and Plumb. Now, if we could only talk Adrienne Liesching, formally of the band Benjamin Gate and currently enjoying motherhood with husband Jeremy Camp, to make a solo album, we'd be sittin' good.
Another artist looking to put the smack down on the male dominated genre is Krystal Meyers, whose debut album released June 7, 2005. It kicks off with the lead radio single, "The Way To Begin" which has lived at #1 for the past five weeks, and doesn't slow down. Throughout the album, the production is solid, the music takes unexpected turns that keep your attention and it sounds instantly familiar thanks to the same production team that brought commercial success to mainstream counterpart Avril Lavigne.
Some say that's a bad thing, frustrated with the constant comparisons made between Christian and mainstream artists, but we can talk more about that later. For now, trust me when I say that this is promising to be one of the best releases this summer.
For now through next Monday, NRT is giving our subscribers an exclusive opportunity to preview five full length songs from the album so you make up your own mind! I invite you all to take a couple minutes and enjoy this music. Click here to subscribe or confirm your subscription to NRT and get ready for some great music. I'd love for you to come back to this post and share your thoughts on what you hear. We'll talk soon.
Great Album - But Not Their Best | Posted June-14-2007
I've been a fan of Big Daddy Weave since their debut national release came out back in 2001. Since then, the band has certainly solidified their sound through better production, but their heart and passion has remained true to form. Big Daddy Weave is a worship band with original music. Their lyrics are vertical in nature and their music rouses a desire to turn out everything around you and focus on the grace and mercy of our God. Few artists and groups are able to do that as good as Big Daddy Weave. Their ability to guide the listener into a state of worship within the first two songs is pretty amazing. And when I say worship, I don't mean sitting there with your eyes closed, swaying back and forth to pretty, melodic tunes of praise. Most of the time, it's "shut the shades, close the door, make sure no one's looking and rock out" type of music. Think Napoleon Dynamite without the moon boots.
Big Daddy Weave's third album on Fervent Records finds the band expanding sonically with the rousing intro "What I Was Made For" (one of the best songs I've heard from the group, although it goes by too fast at just under 3 minutes) and the equally rocking "For Who You Are." Fred Hammond stops by for some Sunday morning church on "Killing Me Again" and the band threw on their worship duet "You're Worthy Of My Praise" with label mates BarlowGirl. The rest of the tracks, and I mean every single one of them, are solid reminders of God's strength, power and solidity.
So with their third album, the bases are certainly loaded with great music. I expect their fourth at bat to be nothing less than a Grand Slam. Speaking of What I Was Made For, I'm the king of cheesy analogies. And I'm ok with that.
Packed With More Heart | Posted June-12-2007
If there ever was question before, Casting Crowns certainly solidified their spot as one of the top Christian bands in recent years. And we're just one week into the release of their sophomore album.
With over 71,000 units scanned in the first week, their new album, Lifesong, debuted at No. 9 on Billboard's Top 200 album chart, surpassing sales of new CDs from Bob Dylan and Eric Clapton. In the digital world, they broke records for Christian album downloads and the first single landed at No. 12 on the mainstream Digital Album chart. For those of you keeping track at home, it's the highest first-week sales for a Christian act since Nov. 2003.
So how does a band less than two years old accomplish such a feat? By doing what so many artists are not these days: creating great music. Lifesong is packed with more of the same heart that drove their debut album past one million units sold and shipped three number one songs to radio.
"The songs on this new album try to look at what a life of worship looks like," says Mark Hall of Casting Crowns. "Whether we are called to 'Praise God in this Storm' or simply 'Love Them Like Jesus' we must begin to see all of life as about Him and not us. That is what we want to say to the church this time around."
Not unlike their debut, Mark slams some hard hitting balls straight at the church with challenges of continuing to reach out, standing strong in faith and staying true to the call on songs like "Stained Glass Masquerade" and "Does Anybody Hear Her." "I don't think it bothers the world that we sin," Mark continues. "I think it bothers the world that we act like we don't."
Stand out tracks on the new album include "Love Them Like Jesus" and what is sure to be their next #1 radio smash, "Praise You In This Storm," a song that still sends chills down my spine after multiple spins. "As your mercy falls I raise my hands, and praise the God who gives and takes away." That's a line that can drive a grown man on his knees, especially with the events Americans are facing with the hurricane tragedy. "Set Me Free" is a welcome harder edge to this band that lives comfortably in the contemporary genre.
On an almost perfect album, the only unfortunate misfire on the album is quickly forgivable. "In Me" moves right along until a child starts singing the chorus. "Shhhh, the grownups are singing. Interrupting is rude." But trying to find fault in the other tracks will prove fruitless.
Casting Crowns has released one of the best albums of the year that is both musically and lyrically solid in every way, shape and form.
Top Of My List For Favorite Albums | Posted June-12-2007
The new project from Plumb is one of the best albums I've heard in a long time. In fact, since I received the pre-release back in April of 2005, I have yet to come across a more well-rounded effort by any group or act in the Christian music marketplace. The album that came out on February 28th is the exact same project I've been drooling over for ten plus months, and while I now understand the delay (Tiffany Arbuckle gave birth to her first child a few months ago), it's been frustrating to not enjoy the album along with other music fans. Well, my selfish wait is over.
Chaotic Resolve is a rarity in today's single driven music world. Every track has something to offer from the pop-driven love songs like "Real Life Fairytale" and "Blush" to the emotional ballads dealing with real-life issues like "Cut" and Jekyll & Hyde." The majority of this album is up-beat with songs like "Manic" and "Motion" carving out a new pop-rock nitch in Christian music, while other songs like "I Can't Do This" and "Better" provide industrial undertones that bring back fond memories of discovering Evanescence all over again.
Plumb has always had a way of connecting to her listening audience on a real level by singing about real life, and her new material is no different. But it's her subtle content on this album that impresses me most. Plumb's ability to create a cohesive and flowing album out of a multitude of themes and topics is not easy to do. She goes from songs about lifelong love to emotional turmoil. One of my favorite lines is in the song "I Have Nothing." She sings, "Why do I put so much time, on things I'll leave behind, that were never mine?" There's a lot of truth and challenge behind those sixteen words.
The new album has already produced two Christian radio hits ("I Can't Do This" and "Better") along with a video for the yet-to-be-released song "Cut." If it would have been released last year, it would have certainly topped my list of favorite releases. While we're only a sixth of the way through 2006, it's going to take something pretty special to uproot Chaotic Resolve as the best album of the year. It's certainly been worth the wait.
Talented Artist And Great Debut! | Posted June-12-2007
BEC Recordings, home to Jeremy Camp, Kutless and Falling Up among others) is quickly turning into a respectable and solid label. Mainstay, the latest act with the BEC stamp of approval, continues the label's streak of signing talented artists and groups.
Produced by Aaron Sprinkle (Kutless, Pedro the Lion, Anberlin), Mainstay's debut album, Well Meaning Fiction, is full of melodic, thought-provoking songs that will challenge both the believer and nonbeliever alike. "Absolutes are everywhere," singer Justin Anderson says, "and hopefully our music will allow everyone to think beyond themselves and get in touch with a Higher Purpose."
It's these absolutes and key themes of sin and repentance that set the tone for the entire album. Between the grinding guitars and ethereal piano nuances throughout "Mirrors" is encouragement to turn away from the emptiness of the world and filling in the gaps with faith that penetrates much deeper than temporary remedy. The momentum building "Yesterday" attempts to curb listeners out of longing for pointless nostalgia in favor of seizing each new day in Christ, while the speedy guitars and harmonies throughout "This Could Be" serves as an anti-stress out anthem of spiritual sustenance. Then there's the riveting "Take Away," a lushly brimming ballad about the sovereignty of God and His ability to transform people's hearts away from humanity's sinful state.
Mainstay's debut does find the band setting comfortably into a familiar sonic tone and by the end of the album, you find yourself wondering if you've heard the song already. However, given that Mainstay has obviously mastered the art of writing a decent hook, that's not such a bad thing.
Pure Hit After Hit | Posted June-12-2007
For those that struggle with their music being peppered with originality, humor and words like "snap," "peeps" and "crunk," the debut album from the Atlanta group Family Force 5 is something you can snub on your way to safer tunes. Formed two years ago, Family Force 5 features three brothers, a couple of their friends and some of most mind-blowing combinations of punk, rock, funk and mind-altering grooves that's guaranteed to get you moving no matter where you are at. Business Up Front, Party in the Back is pure hit after hit with the album peaking in the center with "Love Addict" and "Earthquake."
One of the first things you'll notice when going through the album is the complete absence of ballads. Every track gains speed with energy unmatched by any other release I've listened to in years. The only thing missing from the equation is the extreme lack of Christian content from this Gotee/Virgin Records release. There's an acknowledgement that love's "sent from above" and the song "Replace Me" is pretty blatant in its message of renewal through Christ, but other than that, it's all about girlfriends, breakups and having fun. There's nothing wrong with that, and of course every song is done without question to taste, but some may take an issue with this. I actually enjoy seeing guys put out some decent music without "Christianizing" of every other line. I'd rather have the pop radio filled with believers singing about every day issues we all face as humans (not Christians) than the trash that's current polluting the airwaves.
Bottom line: is you're a fan of pop, rock or hip-hop, you're not going to be able to put this one away. Give is a few spins, prepare to hear something near and unique and then "get crunk."
Mission Accomplished With Debut Album | Posted June-12-2007
When Third Day discovers a band, Mac Powell produces the record and then says that lead singer Shawn Lewis of Hyper Static Union is "hands down, the most talented guy" he knows, well, I pay attention. Artists have made plenty of mistakes hand picking and recommending before (remember Jaci Velasquez's Michael Cook or Michael W. Smith's Taylor Sorensen?) so I approached this latest find with caution. However, after just six tracks when my wife entered my office and stated "Who is this? This is some of the best Christian music I've heard in a long time," I knew it was something special. A few complete spins later, I was also on board.
The first single, "Sunny Days," spent a complete 30 minutes on repeat and the rest of the album has quickly found it's way into my musical rotation. The album is a combination of Lenny Kravitz and Shawn's voice is a polished version of the late Scarecrow & Tinman's lead singer (going a few years back). Shawn's also got a great range with a falsetto that seems to complete any song. Shawn says, "Ultimately we are about the craft of songwriting, and occasionally we are able to incorporate all things funk and rock into a sensible, three-and-a-half minute package laced with a passionate melody. We feel inclined to produce music that requires people to 'tune-in' mentally and spiritually. We want the audience to consider certain things about their salvation, the state of the world, their hearts and their relationships." Personally, I would say mission accomplished.
KevinMcNeese_NRT's Music and Book Reviews 
