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Music Reviews WOW Hits 2005
What happens when you put Christian superstars ZOEGIRL, Jaci Velasquez, and Stacie Orrico on the same album? You get Wow Hits 2005. This newest installment in the Wow music series features some of the greatest names in Christian music on a 31 song, two-disc set. This is a must have for Christian music fans. With its 15 No. 1 singles and an additional 11 top-10 charting cuts, WOW Hits 2005 delivers the best in Christian music. Here’s a list of just some of the artists featured on this CD set.
Scoop up a copy of WOW Hits 2005 when it hits shelves October 5. You’ll be glad you did.
TobyMac
Wecome To Diverse City One of the
more popular forms of music is rap/rock fusion. This style is epitomized by
groups such as Kid Rock, Limp Bisket and POD. Its time to add a new name to
this list: TobyMac. His lastest release entitled, Welcome To Diverse City,
catapults him to the top of this musical genre. Although a
Christian release, the positive music on this album is sure to find fans in
the mainstream music world as well. With straight-up rap songs like, Chatchafire,
and rap/rock fusion hits such as The Slam, the music world will soon
know that TobyMac is a force to be reckoned with in mainstream music. However,
this album is much more than a simple rap or even a rap/rock fusion album.
True to its title, many other threads pervade this musical masterpiece. Songs
such as Gone, reflect a contemporary alternative sound, while Diversity
City has a definite funk sound. All in all, this album is a solid release
that should inhabit the music collection of every serious music lover,
Christian or not.
Everlife
Everlife If
you are a fan of great music, place a big red star on your calendar on August
24th. This is when the self-titled debut release by Everlife is set
to hit stores. Driven by solid rock songs like “Take A Ride” and “Heaven
Open Your Eyes” and ballads like “Evidence” and “Lead My Way”,
sisters Amber, Sarah and Julia have produced a rich melodic masterpiece
infused with beautiful harmonies and powerful lyrics. Although
comparisons will be made with groups such as Lillix, Liz Phair and even
ZOEGirl, Everlife proves through the creativity and diversity found within
this album that they defy such comparisons and firmly establish themselves as
a force to be reckoned with in the Christian, Pop and Rock genres.
Absoulte Smash Hits Fervent Records From Fervent Records comes one of the best Christian music compilations of 2004. Entitled, Absolute Smash Hits, this two CD set is simply incredible! The twenty-five track collection features multiple Grammy and Dove Award nominees such as Jennifer Knapp, Ginny Owens, Todd Agnew and Plumb. This project provides listeners with some of the greatest Christian music available from a variety of genres such as rap, alternative, hard rock and pop. There is something for everyone on this double CD set. If you are a fan of great music, pick up a copy of this CD when it becomes available on July 13. You'll be glad that you did!
Bethany Dillon
Bethany Dillon This album can
easily be summed up with one word-Wow! You can’t help but be amazed by this
album. Although only a young teen, Bethany Dillon has a talent that most
musicians only dream of. As you listen to the depth of the lyrics and the
vocal quality contained within all of her songs, it is difficult to believe
that this Ohio native is only fifteen years old. Her strong acoustic-rock
sound and her incredibly apt lyrics have drawn comparisons to other great
women musicians such as Jennifer Knapp, Sheryl Crow and Sarah
McLachlan. Bethany embraces her
youth and draws from it to create powerful songs that deal with everything
from peer pressure to self-esteem to the emptiness that material possessions
can offer. It is her youth that makes her songs accessible and applicable to
people her own age as well as the general public. "The people who
come up to me after shows are girls in college and high school,” Bethany
relates in her bio. “Every
night I have a good conversation with girls my age.
They relate to the music because I'm not singing about being fifteen
five years ago. I am
fifteen." If you enjoy great
music, whether you’re fifteen or one hundred and fifteen, pick up the new
album by Bethany Dillon. I just hope that people outside the Christian music
circle have the opportunity to hear and embrace this wonderful new talent! To hear music from her new album Click Here.
BarlowGirl
BarlowGirl There aren’t too many young musicians who can be considered folk legends. However, with the popularity of the song Barlow Girls, by Christian artists Superchic(k), came notoriety and eventually a record contract with Fervent Records for the group known as BarlowGirl. Their self-titled debut shows the world that they are ready for prime time. These three sisters from the small town of Elgin, Illinois belt out some amazing rock tunes such as Harder Than The First Time, Never Alone and Clothes. BarlowGirl has produced a fun, rock-centered record that you can to listen to from front to back countless times and never get tired of it. However, despite the enjoyable nature of the album, the album is not simply fluff. Through their lyrics, the members of BarlowGirl tackle difficult subjects such as trusting in God, dating and the need in all of us to feel like a superstar. If you like great rock musicians such as Liz Phair, Lillix and Avril Lavigne, you’ll love this freshman release by BarlowGirl.
To listen to some samples from their album, log on to the Fervent Records website.
The Other Side Of Something
Sara Groves We all have
the urge to ask the tough questions from time to time such as “why do bad
things happen to good people”. In
her new release entitled, The Other Side
of Something, Sara teaches
listeners that wrestling with the difficult issues and searching for answers
is part of a healthy relationship with Christ. Stylistically,
this album is a bit of a departure for Sara Groves. Instead of strictly
adhering to the concept of recording only what can be reproduced on stage,
Sara expands her musical horizons by introducing more special effects and
musical aids on this album. “I’m
utilizing things that I like to hear in music like special effects and things
like that that I don’t always duplicate live. These things give the album a
more full feeling. In the past I have been viewed as a more acoustic player,
writer and storyteller. This is the next step. I want to keep moving and I
just want to keep playing.” Along with her stylistic growth, Sara Groves continues to grow
thematically in her newest release. Although some critics have labeled The
Other Side of Something as a dark, morose album dominated by questions,
Sara Groves’ newest release is a musical account of her own personal
journey. This album is a wonderful chronicle of Sara’s struggle with the
darkness that permeates our world and the answers that she found in her
conversations with Christ. “I want to
be faithful in my role. My place is to question and to say that it is okay to
ask God the hard questions. This album documents a season of wrestling with a
lot of different things and the answers that the Lord gave me. Songs such as Like
A Skin and The Boxer start out with a feeling of defeat, but they
end with a place where you are coming out of a corner and you’re swinging
and you’re not done yet. You
are going to fight the good fight.” After listening to The
Other Side of Something,
it is easy to see why this is the best album that Sara Groves has produced so
far. It is exciting to see an artist take risks and grow musically. Look for
this album to be featured when next year’s list of Dove Award Nominees
are announced!!! If
you enjoy great music dominated by a strong acoustical sound, you will love The
Other Side of Something.
If acoustically dominated music is not your thing, pick up a copy of this
album anyway. It will surprise you! Sara draws from her own experiences and insights in an effort to help others grow in Christ. Through her music, Sara teaches listeners that wrestling with the difficult issues and searching for answers is part of a healthy relationship with Christ.
To Listen to clips from this album, log on to Sara's Official Site
Passion: Hymns Ancient and Modern
Fresh from the past, "Passion: Hymns Ancient and Modern" is a celebration of the centuries old confessions of the Church, rich songs of faith and tradition that have anchored believers through the ages. Though almost all over 100 years old, these classic hymns pulse with new life as lead worshippers Charlie Hall, David Crowder Band, Nathan and Christy Nockels, Chris Tomlin and Matt Redman fuse old and new in their unique styles—artistry and history wed seamless expressions of praise to the God of the ages. Recorded live, "Passion: Hymns Ancient and Modern" is just that. The lyrics hail from generations past, some dating back to the early church in Jerusalem in the 4th Century AD. Yet the sound is what you’ve come to expect from Passion—inventive, textured, acoustic driven, powerfully energized, fresh. The church is at its best telling the unrivaled story of God in language contemporary culture can relate to and absorb, while embracing the heritage of faith which has anchored believers through all generations. Fresh from the past, "Passion: Hymns Ancient and Modern", seeks to do just that—celebrating 14 historic confessions of the Church—each wrapped in modern musical skin, yet echoing the anthem of centuries of worshippers gone before. Merging both old and new, the heartbeat of Passion lead worshippers Matt Redman, David Crowder Band, Charlie Hall, Chris Tomlin and Nathan and Christy Nockels is to steer both traditional and modern worshippers from the danger of discarding rich treasures that have guided the Church through ages past or being bound by tradition in a way that robs us of the privilege of passing our faith to the emerging generation. Inspired by perhaps the oldest surviving Christian hymn, "The Phos Hilaron", "Passion: Hymns Ancient and Modern" champions confessions that are centuries old, and in the case of this particular hymn, have their roots in the earliest days of the Christian church in Jerusalem. As early as the 4th century, "The Phos Hilaron (Hail Gladdening Light)" was already considered ancient, being a mainstay of evening prayers in a tradition known as the lighting of the lamps. At that time in Jerusalem a candle was kept perpetually burning in the empty tomb of Christ, its glow a symbol of the living light of Jesus. As Christians gathered to worship, the candle was brought forth from the tomb, its bright, solitary flame calling the church to celebrate the Risen Lord. In an attempt to recover our past, allowing it to inform our future, Passion has shared this tradition with tens of thousands of worshippers from coast to coast, reciting the recovered 4th century verse of "The Phos Hilaron" and offers a modern hymn adapted from the original text. Generations have come and gone, but the unfading Light of glory shines the same. Skillet
Collide Anticipation builds as the disc retracts into the player.
Everything fades away as the CD player loads and reads the album. Finally, the
silence is shattered by the strength of powerful rock chords and crashing
drums. Track 1. Ten tracks later, it is easy to see why Skillet has racked up eight
#1 hits and eleven Dove nominations. Collide, the newest offering from
Skillet demonstrates why this band continues to be a huge force in Christian
Rock. Their newest album is a melodic masterpiece filled with bone-crunching
guitar rifts and heart-wrenching rock ballads. Skillet’s newest offering is on par with Stabbing
Westward, Puddle of Mudd, Nickelback and many other powerful rock groups.
However, true to their roots, there is much more to their music than
great guitars and crashing symbols. John Cooper, the group’s front man,
admits that Collide is also an album with a message. “The only real focus that I wanted to have for the record was to
write songs that deal with modern day issues,” Cooper admits. “We’re
addressing recurring situations that God’s put in our heart to help young
people deal with them. Collide fits into our overall focus, which has always
been singing passionate songs about God that people can relate to and be
inspired by. It’s always been our hope that those who hear about Christ for
the first time on one of our records will find something of life changing
dimensions revealed to them." Whether a fan of mainstream or Christian rock, put this CD in your
player and prepare to be blown away!
Jump5
Accelerate
The guys and
gals of Jump5 are back again with their newest release, Accelerate.
Through remakes of old favorites such as Shining Star, We Are Family and
Walking On Sunshine as well as some new material, Libby Hodges, Chris Fedun
and the rest of the members of Jump5 provide listeners with a
high-energy sound that showcases the continuing maturity of their sound. “We’re
more excited about this album than anything we’ve done before,” Libby
Hodges, 16, says. “We’re accelerating to a new level—with our music,
with our performances, and in our own individual lives. It may sound a bit
clichéd to say, but we’re growing up, and our music has never been more
real or more relevant than now.” “Being real
and not apologizing for who you are is a huge message on Accelerate,”
Chris Fedun, 17, says. “Real friends don’t pressure you to be someone
you’re not. They like you and accept you because of who you are.” If you like
ZOEGIRL, A*Teens and Stacie Orrico, pick up a copy of Accelerate. You
won’t be disappointed! Here
are some music clips courtesy of Sparrow Records-
Salvador
Worship Live
It’s easy
for any artist to create an incredible album in the studio. There are a
plethora of techniques that engineers and producers employ to clean up the
sound. Almost anyone can sound good when these guys get finished. However,
there is one avenue that separates the good artists from the great artists:
the live performance. When an artist or band performs live, all the crutches
are gone. They are left to stand on the power of their musical ability alone. Worship
Live is a powerful, energetic album/DVD that shouts to the world
that the members of Salvador are a great group of musicians.
“Stylistically, Salvador as a group has established a reputation for
musicianship and pouring everything we have into each song,” observes Nic
Gonzales, lead singer of Salvador. “Those songs really showcase our
live energy and hopefully bring what we do on stage right into your ears and
face via stereo system or TV.” Salvador will
keep your feet tapping with their wonderful brand of Latin flavored rock. From
the first track to the last, Salvador
is a musical feast for the senses. Even if you are not a fan of the Latin
sound, Salvador
will impress you with their version of old favorites such as “Here I Am
To Worship” and “We All Fall Down” as well as a multitude of original
songs. Although typically not a fan of the live album, I would strongly recommend Worship Live. Purchase the CD or the DVD, put it in your player and prepare to be impressed!
ZOEGirl
Different Kind Of Free
Once again, ZOEGirl
delivers a masterpiece with their newest album, Different Kind Of Free.
Although their current album moves from the dance beats of Mix Of Life to
a mixture of alternative pop/rock, a bit of R&B and a dash of funk, their
message remains consistent. True to their mission, Different
Kind Of Free continues to tackle important cultural issues such as
self-esteem, eating disorders and suicide. Throughout the entire album, the
women of ZOEGirl communicate a sense of freedom and empowerment for all
people, but especially for women. “I think that it is important to do that,
especially for females because a lot of times girls look at things differently
than guys do” explained Alisa Girard of ZOEGirl. “We
can empower them to feel good about themselves and who they are in Christ and
help them to make better decisions in every aspect of their life.” This album is one that Girard
is especially proud of because she believes it is a true reflection of who
they are both as individuals and as a group. “Each album has been a great
evolution from the one before it and I think every artist has to do that or
else you get stuck in a rut and you keep on recording the same thing. What we
tried to do this time is to keep evolving from where we ended up on Life. This
album is the best representation of who we are as individuals and the group
identity. It’s taken us about 4 years to define that identity and make it
all gel together. I think that this album is the product of all those
experiences.” As ZOEGirl continues to
entertain us through their music, they are committed to continuing to tackle
tough social issue affecting women today. “We believe that our role is to be
honest. It’s letting people know that we’re not perfect; it’s letting
them know that we all have needs and desires to be stronger, and to follow God
more. That’s what our role
is…being an example to follow.” If you are a fan of ZOEGirl,
Different Kind Of Free won’t disappoint you. If you are not a fan of ZOEGirl,
this album will make you one! Here
are some clips of the album courtesy of Sparrow Records.
Ten Shekel Shirt
Risk
Ten Shekel Shirt
bursts back on the scene with a solid follow-up to their 2001 debut album, Much.
Their new album, Risk, is a great blend of strong lyrics, rich melodies
and a wonderful acoustic rock sound. As
band member Lamont Heibert puts it, Risk is an album of exploration
that has allowed Ten Shekel Shirt the opportunity to take a slightly
different path of exploration while remaining true to what matters most. “The band’s goal in making
music has always been to create a place where people feel the safety and
freedom to meet with God,” explains singer/songwriter Heibert. “So often
meeting with God has to happen in worship, but it can happen while reflecting
on a loved one, spending time with good friends or reaching out to those in
need. That’s what this record is about.” Click here for some audio tracks from Risk courtesy of Inotof Records.
Jill Phillips
Writing On The Wall Powerful, Beautiful and Honest are only a few of the adjectives that can be used to describe this sophomore album by Jill Phillips. Writing On The Wall is both a musical and lyrical masterpiece that challenges listeners to reflect on themes such as tragedy, helplessness, and patience while enjoying Phillips’ wonderful Pop/Folk sound. Phillips is joined on this project by some of the greatest musicians in the Christian music genre such as Bebo Norman, Andrew Peterson and Stephen Mason of Jars of Clay, Matt Slocum of Sixpence None the Richer and the very talented producer and writer, Phil Madeira. In 2002, CCM readers voted Jill Phillips as that year’s pick for best independent artist. As Jill joins the Fervent Records family and releases Writing On The Wall on August 5th, there is no doubt in my mind that we will see many more great things from this artist. It’s a sure bet that if you like artists such as Sheryl Crow, Lisa Lobe and Jewel, you will be amazed at this awesome effort by Jill Phillips. Here are some clips to whet your appetite, courtesy of Fervent Records.
Switchfoot
The Beautiful Letdown If you haven’t heard of the band, Switchfoot, then you must be living under a rock. Over 40 of their songs have been used on major television shows and TV movies. Along with their 2001 Grammy nomination for their album, Learning To Breath, Switchfoot has also been nominated for numerous Dove awards. However, all of this is ancient history. Time for some current events and the group’ latest album, The Beautiful Letdown. This is an album that defies comparison. It is an incredible work of art, both lyrically and musically, that places Switchfoot on par with any of the top Alternative Rock bands of today. The Beautiful Letdown is an album that is just as at home within the Alternative Rock realm as it is in the Christian genre. It is no wonder that singles from this album are skyrocketing up both charts. As the group’s press release puts it, “The Beautiful Letdown is about real life: the good, the bad and the ugly. It’s an honest attempt to reflect on the great and terrible aspects of being human, the tension of our existence. The Beautiful Letdown is where meaning and hope invade our greatest and worst moments. The Beautiful Letdown is where we live, who we are and where the future begins.” The only bad thing about this album is that it’s not twice as long. When you listen to it, you’re always ready for more. Buy two copies because you will play this one until it melts! If this one doesn’t win a Dove Award and a Grammy, there is no justice in this world. Listen to a few clips courtesy of Sparrow Records
Everman
Everman by Charles White Out of Texas
comes a wonderful, fresh sound from the band, Everman, and their debut,
self-titled album. With a sound reminiscent of powerful acoustic groups such
as Counting Crows, Dave Mathews Band, and Downhere, Everman delivers an effort
on par with any of the aforementioned artists. You can’t
help but feel uplifted by the albums fun, upbeat tracks and moved by the
powerful acoustic ballads peppered throughout their Grammy worthy debut
effort. The group’s strong commitment to Christ and the Community of the
Faithful is evident in every radio-ready track on this album.
Plumb
Beautiful Lumps of Coal by
Charles White A talented
artist with a very unusual name, Plumb, aka Tiffany Arbuckle Lee, has
released a wonderful new album entitled Beautiful Lumps of Coal. With
powerful, haunting tracks like Sink N’ Swim and strong rock ballads like
Free and Real, it is no wonder that Plumb’s latest album is skyrocketing up
both the Christian and Pop charts. More of a
musical journey than a collection of songs, Beautiful Lumps of Coal
invites the listener to travel a path of discovery and challenges each one of
us to examine the Beautiful Lumps of Coal in our own lives. Through her
music, Plumb encourages people to reflect on their hardships, which she
refers to as “beautiful lumps of coal”, and realize that these hardships
have made us who we are today. If you like
Jewel, Natalie Merchant and Susan Vega, you will love Beautiful Lumps of
Coal. downhere
So Much For Substitutes by Charles White
The
newest musical sensation to hit the American airwaves is a band simply named downhere.
Named for their efforts to be much more down to earth than traditional rock
stars, downhere’s sophomore release, So Much For Substitutes,
delivers a powerful rock sound that is on par with groups such as Three Doors
Down, U2 and Pearl Jam. Their
music combines a strong sound with powerful lyrics to tackle a diverse group
of topics such as selfishness, loneliness, joy and faith. Jason Germain, the
group’s singer and lead guitarist, describes their music as having something
for everyone. “It
has an element everyone can understand. Just as Jesus spoke in parables, we
try to have two layers to what we do: both the real, tangible, accessible
element and the deeper spiritual implications.” What
downhere has produced in their sophomore album is a lyrical and musical
masterpiece that will not be contained within the bounds of the Christian
music genre, but will instead break forth and inspire listeners within
mainstream rock as well. downhere’s sophomore release is a gem that every
listener should add to there musical collection and hold close to their heart. Check
out these great retailer for the latest in Christian books, music and videos.
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