Dreamers
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SHINEBRIGHT Shine Bright Baby, the best thing out of Orville, Ohio since Smuckers, is just one more example of why Brandon Ebel is the King Midas of the Christian Music industry. We have infectious pop tunes, a danceable...
Release The Panic (Deluxe Edition)
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RED I guess everybody is entitled to make a less than stellar album. It's just that some bands have gained an aura of invincibility. Red is one of those bands. Three albums, three "experiences"....
Rest
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Beckah Rest isthe title of the newest release by Dance artist extrordinaire Beckah Shae. Fans of Destiny might be at a loss for words here, though. Rest is...
If it's broke.... | Posted September-20-2010
The Anatomy of Broken is the second release by 2007 10th Place American Idol Finalist Chris Sligh. Clocking in at just under an hour in length, it is quite long by current standards. Not helping matters any is that of the fourteen songs on the album, ten of them are of that perfect "Air Conditioning" genre (Adult Contemporary) that so easily goes on in the background that you don't pay much attention to it. Let's just say I wouldn't pop this CD into my car for a long road trip home.
The track listing (58:40)
Only You Can Save
In the Weak
Our Love
One
Scars
Taking it Back
Catching Up
Naive
Chasing down a name
Beginning (Not the end)
Sunny
Still You Love Me
Love is the Answer
Broken (Beautiful)
I'm not a follower of American Idol, so I can't tell you if 2007 was a particularly weak field, talent wise. I can say that this CD falls far short of a great album, by my standards. Since Kelly Clarkson launched the American Idol phenomenon (and is still the best of the crop IMHO), a lot of Idol castoffs have found refuge in CCM, among them Mandisa, Brooke Barretsmith, Phil Stacey, and Chris Daughtry). This one places near the bottom for me.
They say you never get a second chance to make a first impression, and my impression is set. A weak three stars is my final rating.
Revolution Now | Posted September-13-2010
The saying goes that close only counts with Horseshoes and Handgrenades. Knoxville, TN Christian Heavy Metal Band Disciple gave this title to their eighth full length studio release to indicate that they had no intention of letting success go to their head and "mail in" the new album. They didn't just hit the target with this release, they obliterated it.
The Track Listing:
Dear X, You Don't Own Me
Watch it Burn
Invisible
The Ballad of St. A
Shot Heard Round The World
Collision
Battle Lines
Remedy
Eternity
Revolution: Now
Deafening
Worth The Pain
The opening track Dear X, You Don't Own Me is a description of the New Creation that we are in Christ. Throughout the song, Lead Vocalist Kevin Young describes his "relationship" with Pain, Shame, Hate and Anger, and makes his break with them, as the Bible says, there is now no condemnation to those of us who are in Christ. The song contains this memorable bridge
"Go ahead, put a target on my forehead, you can fire but you've got no bullets. I was yours, I'm not yours anymore, you don't own me."
The intensity doesn't let up for Watch it Burn, but the band briefly slows things down for the Best Song on the album, the Skillet like Invisible, which seems to be a companion piece to Whatever Reason from their previous album, Southern Hospitality. Both songs seem to be drawn from the parable of the prodigal son. A drum solo segues this song into The Ballad of St A, a metalcore masterpiece, which then flows into The Shot Heard Round the World, a battle cry with "Our Bloody Fists Raised to the Sky."
Quickly becoming my favorite is Eternity, a hard rock song about heaven. The biblical imagery is breathtaking.
"...where the shadows are never discovered, tears are nothing more than a memory, death isn't alive any longer. We'll awaken to eternity." But lest we think this band has its head in the clouds, we are reminded that, despite the trials, life is worth living. "It's worth the pain."
I've tried to make this review brief, because in my opinion, there isn't a bad song on this album. Rather than blather on an on, let me say 5 Big Stars. I would give more if I could. Still deciding on perfect album status. The Shot Heard Round the World? To quote another track, it's deafening.
From Starbucks to Stardom | Posted September-13-2010
Light Up The Sky, the third major release from Texas Alternative Christian rockers The Afters is a pleasing 10 song blend of worship music and entertainment. I was first introduced to the band via a free download of Someday from their debut album I Wish We All Could Win. Suffice it to say this album is a bit mellower. The mellower sound has gotten more polished, however, so you could call it artistic rock.
The Track Listing:
Light Up The Sky
Lift Me Up
Start Over
Runaway
I Am Yours
Life is Sweeter
Say it Now
We Won't Give Up
Saving Grace
For The First Time
According to Wikipedia, Lead Vocalist/Keyboard/Guitars Joshua Havens and Vocalist/Guitarist Matt Fuqua worked at the same Starbucks in Mesquite, Texas, which may be one of the best things ever to come out of a Starbucks.
Light Up The Sky starts out its thirty eight minute journey with the title track, a worshipful anthem to the love of God, and one of the three early release singles, the other two being Runaway and We Won't Give Up. Lift Me Up continues the worship theme
"You lift me up when I am weak, your arms wrap around me, your love catches me, so I'm letting go."
We move into rock with Start Over, the second loudest song on the album (We Won't Give Up being the loudest). We slow down again with Runaway, which has become my favorite song on the album, a take on the parable of the Prodigal Son. Back to worship we go with what is sure to become a Youth Group favorite
"You gave your life for mine, to have you by my side, I won't look back anymore, I am yours."
Life is Sweeter is a song about Heaven where "life is sweeter on the other side" and then Say it Now, a song about personal forgiveness and not letting the sun go down on your wrath. Rock anthem We Won't Give Up follows and then a song about God's Saving Grace.
Light Up The Sky is not technically a Worship Album, though you will have a hard time staying out of a worship spirit while listening to this CD.
Not Blown Away | Posted August-16-2010
There are albums that blow you away when you hear them for the first time, and then there are those that make you, well, we wont go into that right now. Then there is an album like No Far Away, the debut release by Chris August. I call Adult Contemporary music, which this is Air Conditioned, for obvious reasons. Adult Contemporary (aka Easy Listening) makes one comfortable, blends into the backround, sinks into your subconscious (these are the songs you can't get out of your head) and are played on elevators everywhere.
No Far Away is 11 songs of relationships (You and I), betrayal and forgiveness (7 x 70), and the wonder of God in creation (Starry Night), my favorite on the album. He even attempts to do a Bible in a Song Track (Battle) but can't pull it off as well as DA T.R.U.T.H. The Song that sticks in your head is Loving You is Easy, especially when your brain starts swapping things with ABC by the Jackson 5.
All in all No Far Away is a passable Pop/Adult Contemporary CD (drops August 24-He must be happy it wasn't released in September). I predict it will do well. It is a typical AC, comfortable, inoffensive, blends well, and 3 of 5 possible stars. There will be better Pop albums. I was Not Blown Away by No Far Away
Fun is Fun, and so is this | Posted August-16-2010
The Changing of the Guard, the 12th Studio Release from Starflyer 59 (a.k.a Jason Martin) continues the Starflyer 59 tradition of expert songwriting combined with what could best be described as As Ethereal Synth-Alternative Rock. While more introspective and less "spiritual" sounding than Dial M (2008) there are nuggets to be mined for the careful listener.
An adherent of the maxim "Always leave them wanting more", TCOTG gives us 10 songs that clock in just over 30 minutes. The track listing:
Fun is Fun
Shane
Time Machine
Trucker's Son
The Morning Rise/Frightening Eyes
I had a song for the ages
Coconut Trees
Cry Me A River
Kick the Can
Lose My Mind
Starflyer 59 has always been on the periphery of my musical experience. I knew they existed, enjoyed the music from time to time, but never considered myself a "fan". As such I only have two albums Silver (1993) (Hold onto your wallets, it's the corrected version, not the ones printed Starflier 59) and Dial M. I usually gravitate to the music of the other half of the "brothers Martin" Joy Electrics Ronnie. As such, I had no idea that Trucker's Son was biographical, I only thought it an enjoyable send up of Coal Miner's Daughter. (A country music reference from someone who hates country music). The rockiest song on the album is Cry Me A River, most of the album is a easy listening, if not understanding.
As I said before, you may find gems here if you look. One gem is in the final cut, Lose My Mind. Listening to the song, it is obvious he is not talking about going crazy. I prefer to think that he is talking about the process of renewing his mind. He is "losing" his mind and putting on the mind of Christ. But that's just me.
Ever the perfectionist, just like his brother, he even apologizes for the album on his album. He may say he has a "song for the ages written on some pages at home.", but if he does, that's going to make an awesome 13th.
I give The Changing of the Guard a solid 4 Stars, one star subtracted for its brief running time. Will it be among the best of 2010? Maybe not, but there are four whole months to go, and this album tends to grow on you.
Going Public with the Jesus Freak | Posted July-13-2010
It is a law of nature that if a being does not adapt to the conditions around it, death is inevitable. The same can be said in the music industry. While constant tinkering with musical styles is not a prelude to success, most successful bands embrace elements of various musical fads as necessary to remain in the forefront, and discard them when they become obsolete. A band to tightly tied to a passing fad usually dies with the fad. In the CCM world, the most glaring example of successful adaptation is Petra, which in its original lifespan of 1972-2005 embraced everything from rockabilly, bluegrass, pop, electronica, and even hard rock, and now in 2010, after a five year hiatus, will return to its most beloved lineup of Bob Hartman, Greg X. Volz, Louie Weaver, and John Slick and Mark Kelly as Classic Petra.
Born Again, the Latest release by The Newsboys, is notice that they have no intention of passing away any time soon. It is a 12 song transformation.
Born Again
One Shot
Way Beyond Myself
Impossible
When The Boys Light Up
Build Us Back
Escape
Miracles
Running to You
On Your Knees
Mighty to Save
Jesus Freak
The first studio release since the ascension of former DC Talk frontman Michael Tait to lead vocalist, most astute listeners will say that the Newsboys now sound like Tait or DC Talk. IMHO this is not a bad thing. The DC Talk vibe most clearly exists on the title track and When the Boys Light Up. Classic Newsboys songs are Miracles and the two worship cuts Build us Back and Running to You. They even veer into the techno/dance arena with Way beyond Myself. Far from a disjointed mess, the various styles are expertly blended into a new and improved Newsboys.
The album closes with two cover songs. A rock version of Hillsong's Mighty to Save is sure to get your blood pumping and (don't tell me you're surprised), a new version of Jesus Freak, with KJ-52 stepping into the Toby Mac role. I think it holds up well to the original.
A thread not easily broken | Posted May-08-2010
I was first introduced to The Letter Black via the Tooth and Nail Podcast and was impressed by the Song Hanging on By a thread, which they previewed. When the EP came out I popped it into my CD player, and they say, it knocked my socks off. I thought, these guys have talent. This could be the start of something big.
Boy can I call it. Hanging on By A Thread should be a slam dunk for Best New Artist honors at the doves and grammys next year (not sure how eligibility works out) 13 Songs, 3 Ported from the EP, 10 Originals, most done in TLB's signature dual lead vocal. Styles range from AC(Best of Me, There'll come a day) to hard core thrash (wounded). Shepherding by Skillet and Red won't hurt either.
I'll say it in advance and I think NRT's Bill Lurwick will agree, this is one of the Best Albums of 2010.
The Best is Yet To Come | Posted February-15-2010
I must confess to being somewhat unfamiliar with Stellar Kart, so I went into this weeks preview with an open mind. My biggest question this week was whether to give out 4.5 or 5 stars (mostly because I was deprived of hearing two songs this time. I went with 5 despite not hearing Spirit in the Sky or Something Holy)
Stellar Kart seems to be an adherent of my First Commandment of Worship Music, namely, "It's not worship until your ears bleed".
Everything Is Different Now is 10 Songs of Ear Ringing Worship. The Songs are all scripturally sound and the beat is pleasantly loud. Except for a few covers (the aforementioned Spirit in the Sky, Something Holy, and an awesome cover of Audio Adrenaline's Until My Heart Caves In) the music is original. My Favorites are the Title Cut, Rescue and We Shine, but they are all good.
I do not doubt it will be on my Best of 2010 list, I just wish I could have heard it all. I guess I will just have to get the album.
Good Things Come... | Posted February-03-2010
For Those Who Wait, the third release by Florida Hard Rock Band Fireflight, picks up where Unbreakable left off and barely slows down. From the Opening Title cut to the closing ballad "It all comes down to this" we are treated to the best Female Fronted Rock this year. When not screaming out some of the most deep and spiritual lyrics out this year, vocalist Dawn Michele slows things down for songs like "He Sees You" and showcases an ethereal voice similar to Evanescence Amy Lee or Plumbs Tiffany Lee.
I am placing this album on my Short list of Perfect Albums, which currently include Chasing Furies with Abandon, Skillet Awake and Evanescence- Fallen. I am placing it as My #1 album of 2010 and I dare anyone to try to knock it off.
All is not lost | Posted January-25-2010
Losing All is the latest release by Nashville, TN based Day of Fire, and it is 13 songs of Enjoyable Southern Hard Rock, a la Disciple. Unlike disciple, however, this isn't very spiritual. Only Song 13, Dark Hill could be labeled Christian in the strict sense, because it mentions Jesus. The strangest song is the love ballad Airplane, which still has me puzzled as to its ultimate meaning. The album seems to build a little too slowly for my taste, and seems to leave the best songs for the end. I'll take any release by Disciple (Southern Hospitality for example) and extinguish the fire for now.
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