A Good CD, But Not Great
Posted May 09, 2009
By StellarKart,
The Newsboys are releasing In The Hands Of God. Thankfully, Furler is still featured on vocals. The album begins with the energetic opener "The Way We Roll." Using imagery ranging from the band's humble beginnings to their superstar status today and crediting the Lord for their success, this one ends up becoming a contemplative song. Following "The Way We Roll" is "No Grave." This song really shows the serious side of the Newsboys, and it's possibly the best track on the record. A mature and welcomed addition to the Newsboys' list of hits.
In these last few years, it's become a trademark of the Newsboys to include at least a couple of worship songs on every release, and In the Hands Of God is no exception. "Glorious" is a great original, acknowledging the Lord's greatness in light of our personal failures. The title track is in the same vein, which discusses how we can rely on God in times of trouble. "Lead Me to the Cross" is the one cover song on the record, originally done by Hillsong United.
Speaking of disappointing song choices, "This Is Your Life" and "My Friend Jesus" prove to be the most surprisingly lacking tracks on the record. Just like Switchfoot's song of the same name, "This Is Your Life" urges listeners to "treat yourself and others right" and to "do what you know you should." While these lyrics ring true, I can't help but be slightly unimpressed with the lack of lyrical sophistication on this track that the Newsboys are known for. "My Friend Jesus" is just plain odd, (anyone who has heard "Shine" knows exactly what I mean). It follows the tale of a disgruntled consumer calling technical support only to fly into a rage when he's put on hold multiple times. It's a very different track compared to the rest of the record, and though it may have been successful in being different, it wasn't necessarily different in a good way.
The album closes with "Dance," a trance-influenced electronic track, and finally "RSL 1984." This album seems to begin and end on the contemplative side, with both tracks relating the band's past and journey together with a thankful note. As the fourteenth album from the band, it's an appropriate start and finish to the album. View All Music And Book Reviews By StellarKart | View StellarKart's Profile
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