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If You Haven't Heard This Album Yet, WHAT'S WRONG WITH YOU??? | Posted August-27-2012
What can I say about Jesus Freak that hasn't already been said? It's the most revered Christian music album of all time, it changed the face of the Christian rock genre, and it's still looked upon fondly to this very day. You need to listen to this album as it's an essential part of Christian music history.
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Score Another One for the Independent Artists | Posted August-22-2012
Project 86's latest album Wait for the Siren is a rip-roaring good time. It manages to have some tracks that are among some of the most heavy songs they've produced and some that are the lightest. There are incredibly written "fight" songs and incredibly written softer songs. It's lyrically smooth, with most songs talking about specific Bible stories. It's an incredible listen and only gets better with every repeat. Wait for the Siren ends up being one of the best albums of the year.
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I Fought the Record Label and the Record Label Won | Posted August-22-2012
It only felt like yesterday that Adam Young of Owl City put out his sophomore album All Things Bright and Beautiful. That's probably because it was yeasterday, proverbially speaking. ATBAB was released just over about 400 days or so ago and now we get to look forward to his third outing The Midsummer Station. Does this album continue the trend of fun electro dance pop music that Owl City is known for? Does Young craft more lyrical poeticism that makes these songs have more depth and meaning? Yes... kind of for the first question and not really for the second question. Yes there are some fun sounding songs on here but the beats don't sound up to the level and quality that Owl City provides. See, All Things Bright and Beautiful didn't sell all that well and the label, Universal Republic, basically made Adam to make an Owl City album that would sell. That's why this is coming out so soon after the last album and that's why you hear Carly Rae Jepsen, of all people, being a guest vocalist on one of the songs. Lyrically, Adam tries to write more of that excellent poetry that was apparent on the previous albums but the label influence appears here as well and what he ends up with is just your average pop song lyrics minus the sex references.
The Midsummer Station is an album that screams label influence. The electro sounds Adam Young is known for end up sounding like any other mainstream pop album and the lyrics aren't as deep as they were in previous albums. Songs like "Embers," "Silhouette," and perhaps the best track of the album "Take It All Away" show us the Owl City of old and are the highlights of the album. As it stands, The Midsummer Station is probably my least favorite Owl City album to date.
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A Complex Album That Pays Off In the End | Posted August-14-2012
The Classic Crime has discovered Kickstarter and have used it to their advantage in order to bring us another special gem. Phoenix, at first glance, might throw some people off thanks in part to the track listing which includes such song titles as "Let Me Die," "Dead Rose," and "Beautiful Darkside." It's only when you listen to the lyrics that you relize the album title makes sense with the overall theme of the album, rising from the proverbial ashes to begin anew. The lyrics to every song are wonderfully written and reinforce the theme nicely. The overall sound of the album, a mix between the darker sound of The Silver Cord and the more lighter Vagabonds, also reinforces the theme well.
Pheonix is a surprise in and of itself. It might take a few listens to actually get the theme of the album but it's worth it once you do get it.
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It Changed The Game In 1992 And Still Holds Up Today. | Posted August-11-2012
What's to say what's already been said about this album. It's fun, catchy, memorable, and nostalgic. It has only gotten better with age and is a must hear for anyone who wants to get a feel of what dc Talk was like before they changed the face of christian music with Jesus Freak.
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"Tension" Doesn't Have That Much Tension | Posted August-11-2012
Tension is a much different album than Dizmas's previous one, On A Search In America. While that one had a more hard rock edge complete with screaming vocals, this one tones it down a little and gets rid of the screaming entirely. While this new direction is interesting, it didn't hold my interest that long as most of the songs are slow ballads that brought any momentum to a halt. It's a good effort by the band to try something new but while the album starts off strong, it peters off and becomes more of a generic rock album.
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Music For the Current Generation | Posted August-11-2012
An Epic, No Less brings a new approach to worship music that hasn't been explored before. They use Owl City-esque beeps and boops mixed in with more traditional guitars and drums to make them stand out from the crowd. The songs are fun, catchy, and meaningful and the younger sound will draw in more fans. Echo of Love is a great introduction to the band's style. It's very accessible to the younger generation and an all around fun album.
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The Best Album Since Satellite | Posted July-23-2012
It's been quite a while since we last heard from P.O.D. After the disappointing When Angels & Serpants Dance, it seemed like the band had run out of steam musically. But after a long break they finally put out a new album and it is worth the wait.
Murdered Love manages to be the best P.O.D. album in the last 10 years. The guys have gone back to their Satellite days which means that this album rocks harder then the last couple of albums. Most of the songs on this album manage to be pretty good but there are a few ("West Coast Rock Steady" and "Bad Boy") that just fall flat. These tracks contribute nothing to the album's overall theme and just feel like padding. I got the mainstream retal version that includes the controversial final track "I Am." Personally, I liked it. It had an emotional center and got a point across. The multiple uses of the F-word actually ends up fitting with the song nicely in that it fleshes out the struggle going on within the main character.
Overall, Murdered Love is a much needed ray of light in the discography of P.O.D. While there are a few tracks that fall flat, the rest of the album reminds you of the good old days of the band. It rocks hard, has hopeful lyrics, and shows us that even 20 years later, P.O.D. can still bring it.
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Can't Go Wrong With Immortal | Posted July-21-2012
Immortal is the latest album by For Today and continues to showcase what the band does best, bring salvation and hope through brutal riffs and powerful vocals. No new ground is broken here but it's still a great listen. The vocals are strong, the production is polished, the instruments are fast and furious, and the lyrics are as positive and hopeful as ever. All in all, more of the same but it still sounds very, very good.
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Album of the Year (So Far) | Posted July-21-2012
Cold Hard Want is a phenomenal album. You can hear the heart and soul that was put into it. Every track stands out and manages to be unique. From the simplicity of "Out My Way" to the epic sound of "I Am A Symbol" the guys in House of Heroes have managed to push the bar higher in the rock genre. The lyrics are some of the best the band has written yet and vocalist Tim Skipper sings them with such passion and emotion that it feels like the song comes to life.
Cold Hard Want could very well be the best album that House of Heroes has made thus far. Every song stands out and has amazing replayability, Skipper's vocals have never sounded better, and the lyrics are some of the best stuff the band has written yet. It will be hard to follow up on this album but I trust the band to deliver.
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