The 13th Tribe
by
For 3500 years, the tribe has searched for redemption and reconciliation to God. Afraid to die, but tired of living, they’re sole desire is to execute God’s judgment in the hope of gaining...
The Last Plea Bargain
by
What would happen to the legal system if suddenly every defendant demanded a trial by jury? With over 90% of cases settled by plea bargain agreements, if defendants were no longer willing to work...
The Generous Mr. Lovewell
by
MercyMe GENRE: POP/ADULT CONTEMPORY/ALTERNATIVE
LABEL: INO RECORDS
RELEASE DATE: MAY 4, 2010
RATING: 5 OUT OF 5
Review By Brian Hall
I have a lot of respect for MercyMe. Of all the AC bands out there,...
Philmont's "Oh Snap EP": A Review | Posted September-10-2008
by C.E. Moore
Random. That’s how I would describe Forefront’s newest signing Philmont’s Oh Snap EP, which serves as a 17-minute primer for their forthcoming 2009 debut. One moment they sound like a punk band in the same vein as bands like Green Day and Relient K. The next moment they sound like a melodic rock band like Maroon 5 while attempting to be as contemplative as Chris Rice. Maybe that’s the point. It’s an EP. Maybe it’s meant to be a random sampling of who they are trying to be as a band. Question is, does Philmont know who Philmont is trying to be as a band?
“I Can’t Stand To Fall” kicks things off and is a raucous, noisy teen anthem-in-the-making. Lead singer Scott Taube belting out, “Tear down these walls/I’d climb but I can’t stand to fall without You/Tear down these walls that separate us now/I can’t make them fall without You,” as fellow band mates Josiah Prince (guitar) and Todd Davis (drums) grind things out on their respective instruments. They don’t break any new ground from a creative standpoint. “The Difference” is, quite literally, more of the same. When this track came on I really hadn’t noticed that the songs had changed. “Another Name” is where the band changes up their style and moves out of the punk genre and into the modern rock genre, producing a strong ballad. Honestly, I think the band would do better to stick to modern rock, because the sound here is a bit fresher than the overdone punk thing. “My Hippocratic Oath” is an amalgamation of the two styles and didn’t win any real points with me beyond Prince’s great guitar licks. “Photosynthetic” is a good piece of writing and ends the EP on a solid punk rock note.
I’m hoping Philmont’s Oh Snap EP isn’t all there is to the band. They show a lot of promise and continue Forefront’s youth-oriented paradigm shift, but this sampling of songs sound just like every other pop punk band I’ve heard over the last four years. When their full-length album drops in early 2009 let’s hope there’s a little variety mixed with musical maturity.
This review has been reprinted on NRT with permission from The Christian Manifesto. Click here to visit TheChristianManifesto.com today!
First The Dead: A Review | Posted September-02-2008
by C.E. Moore
Forensic entomologist Nick Polchak is back in yet another bug-addled murder mystery. Fresh off his last hair-raising adventure chronicled in First The Dead, which found Nick solving murders in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, in Less Than Dead we now find Nick solving a peculiar case in the mountains, foothills, and backwoods of Endor, Virginia.
As the earth is being excavated to make room for a new mega-shopping center in Virginia, a long-forgotten graveyard is unearthed. The problem is, some of the graves contain more than one body—a casket with an extra body buried on top. Further complicating matters is the fact that the land upon which this mall is being built is owned by front-running presidential candidate, Senator John Henry Braden. This precipitates the FBI becoming involved and fans of Downs’ previous efforts will be glad to know that Plaguemaker’s Special Agent Nathan Donovan is spearheading the investigation, giving readers more of a sense that Downs’ world is all interconnected.
As the story progresses, Nick, ever the idiosyncratic outcast, finds a kindred spirit in “The Witch of Endor,” an outcast in her own right who has retreated to the mountains of Endor, Virgina, where she seems to have mythical powers over dogs. Of course, Nick isn’t one to believe in myths and unravels the mystery of this fellow outcast while unraveling the mystery of the double graves that are increasing in number. Both individuals have quirky personalities that are fleshed out rather well.
Downs has a peculiar knack for making everything so realistic—from the characters to the unfolding situation. There was never a moment in the story where I thought, “That could never happen.” He keeps his stories firmly entrenched in reality and Less Than Dead is no exception to that rule. In fact, his portrayal of Senator Braden and his wife, Victoria, were so real that I had to remember that its Obama and McCain that are currently running for president, not Braden.
Tim Downs continues to impress in his Bug Man novels. With each tale he takes us further and further into the quirky psyche of a man who continues to find himself in crazy, mixed-up situations. Polchak comes across as a fully-realized character, complete with strengths, weaknesses, quirks, and a sarcastic disposition. Full of twists and turns where nothing is as it seems and everyone has something to hide, Less Than Dead is Tim Downs’ best book to date.
This review has been reprinted on NRT with permission from The Christian Manifesto. Click here to visit TheChristianManifesto.com today!
Charlie Hall's "The Bright Sadness": A Review | Posted September-02-2008
I have always considered Charlie Hall to be the most underrated worship leader to come out the 268generation, the minds behind the Passion conferences that are so wildly popular among twentysomethings. Everyone goes ballistic over the David Crowder Band (“Remedy: Club Tour Edition” - August 19) and Chris Tomlin (“Hello Love” – September 2) whenever they come out with a new album. Yet, lyrically, I have always felt as if Hall were the better of the three. Now, he returns to the airwaves with his fourth studio effort. “The Bright Sadness” features 12 new tracks that are guaranteed to make the worship rotation in every postmodern worship service within two weeks of its release. While not reaching the heights of “Flying Into Daybreak,” there are certainly several gems to be considered on Hall’s most recent offering.
“Chainbreaker” starts things out on a particularly high note as Hall reminds listeners that if they are in Jesus then their chains have been broken. It is destined to be a modern classic worship piece in the tradition of “Indescribable” and “O Praise Him.” The instruments are strong, Hall’s vocals shine through the din, and the lyrics are solid. The second track, “New Year” is a ballade-esque number that “was written after a long period of difficult pain and confusion,” according to Hall and looks forward to leaving behind things of the past and toward a bright new future.
“The Second Alive” and “Hookers And Robbers” are the kinds of songs I point to in order to make my point that Hall is a fantastic psalmist for a new generation of worshippers. The former is probably one of the most rock-infused songs I’ve heard out of the worship quarter. It’s great stuff that could burn up the Top 40 if it tried. The latter is…well…it’s called “Hookers And Robbers!” What more do you want? Either way, it’s a song written to those on the fringes, imploring them to ‘Come as you are.’ Inspired by excerpts from ‘The Book of Common Prayer,’ the album’s closer “Mystery” is by far the best track on the album. It is beautifully written and beautifully delivered. The instruments melt together with Hall’s smooth and reflective voice, providing a symphony of praise to the Father.
The major “miss” on the album is“Thrill.” To be honest, it’s one of those tracks that makes me scratch my head and wonder, “What were you thinking, Charlie?” It’s kind of hokey, cheesy, and so many bad things that people have come to associate with Christian music. A song like this may have been popular in the mid-90’s from the likes of Maranatha, but I expect more from Hall.
The majority of “The Bright Sadness” is pretty stellar. Again, I don’t think it reaches the heights of his previous studio effort, but even a lesser effort from Hall eclipses the efforts of his contemporaries. Fans of his earlier work and modern praise and worship will greatly enjoy the album. Not only that, they’ll greatly benefit from listening.
This review has been reprinted on NRT with permission from The Christian Manifesto. Click here to visit TheChristianManifesto.com today!
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