Album Description

Debut album from band founded by veteransinger-songwriter-guitarist Luke Brown. A classic pop rockalbum with character, depth and unmistakable spiritualedge. Squint/Warner Brothers. 2003. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

This band rocks.
This band kicks it in. Great guitar work.

wow
I haven't heard alot of Strange Celebrity, but enough to really like. I recently heard about the band on an advertisment for "Remedy" on the back of CCM magazine. A couple of days ago I was visiting a local christian book store and i saw it there. I listened 2 it and i just love it! no complaints on this one-- really good. Yeah, a little like 12 stones but not enough to be posers. really good cd!

PERFECT RANDOM BUY
I was perusing some new music out of sheer boredom, and I'm much a fan of bands that have some bite to their lyrics and their melodic choices. I'm not a huge fan of 'pop' rock, and so I've been really jaded with a lot of music that's out these days. HOWEVER, S.C. caught my eye - checked out their website ... and listened to the first song on the cd, "Free," and I was completely hooked. It's the first time I've heard a band IN A LONG TIME that gets better with every listen. It's the kind of band that has the ability to get in your veins. It's the Coldplay/Dave Matthews talent of the mainstream...maybe now the radio won't make me cringe. Amazing debut. 5 STARS.

Simply Great Listening
These guys remind me a little of 12 Stones. Excellent vocal and harmonies. A little hard edge to it. I especially recommend Free and Ruin. A couple of great tunes. Some nice acoustic guitar work as well.

Amazing
This is one of the best albums I've bought in a long time. There isnt a bad song on here. Each one has alot of meaning to it and amazing depth for a debut album. Songs range from the soft and melodic "Someday" to the rocking "I can't breathe". If nothing else the album is worth getting just to listen to some of the lyrics. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Who said Christian bands can't rock & roll? One of the best releases in the late '90s, if not the decade, Audio Adrenaline's Bloom is laced with hard-driving grooves and riveting guitar licks. The opening "Secret," "I'm Not the King," and "Memoir" prove the former, while "Never Gonna Be as Big as Jesus," "Good People," and "Walk on Water" demonstrate the latter. And through it all, the band reminds us that they know a good melody when they hear one. The powerful presence of singer Mark Stuart is apparent throughout as he showcases his classic FM-radio rock voice, now an Audio Adrenaline signature. You'll also love the cover of Edgar Winter's "Free Ride," which never sounded so fresh. --Michael Lyttle ... Read more

Reviews (38)

Solid, bare-knuckles rock
When they hit the studio to record this album, Audio A set out to make an album that they could easily reproduce in a concert setting. The result is a good, solid bare-knuckles rock album. Unlike most christian music, it isn't overproduced, isn't afraid to be really loud, and is a lot of fun. They've stopped trying to be DCTalk -- no rap here -- and it's a good thing. This is a rock n' roll band. And not a bad one at that. I think this disc is better than Don't Censor Me, and probably better than Some Kid of Zombie. Though that's a close race. The key to enjoying Audio Adrenaline is to turn it up loud and not think about it. So the lyrics aren't all that great. Play it loud enough and you'll hardly notice. Barry Blair's guitar is gutsy and quick, most of the album is catchy and...a lot of fun.

Best of Audio A
After two funkish sounding albums, Audio Adrenaline released their first great hard rock album Bloom. This album is full of great rockers, famous radio hits, and many other suprise tracks.

Secrets: Great way to start out the album. Good rocker w/ good vocals. (9/10)

Never Gonna Be As Big As Jesus: One of the hits off the album. Good solid rock song. (9/10)

Good People: Very catchy, upbeat song. (8.5/10)

Not The King: Awesome rocker. Features great rock vocals. (9.5/10)

Walk On Water: A little laid back. Good lyrics, good vocals, good song. (8/10)

See Through: My favorite off this album. Awesome hard guitar rift, great chorus, good message, and a great ending. (10/10)

Free Ride: Great upbeat cover song. Good guitaring and vocals. (10/10)

Man Of God: Good ballad w/ a good chorus and heart-felt vocals. (8/10)

Gloryland: Another good rock song. (8/10)

Jazz Odyssey: Mildly funny, but no. (4/10)

Bag Lady: Decent song. Good lyrics. (8/10)

I Hear Jesus Calling (Demo): Good song. Catchy. (8/10)

Memoir: Another good rocker. (8/10)

Great rock album with a diversity of songs. Overall the best Audio A album, features great guitaring, vocals, and percussion.
Worth the money.

Audio Adrenaline Blooms as band
THE BAND
Audio Adrenaline, for those who don't know is a very hot rock band in christian music with a stream of endless hits and a giant fan base. Audio Adrenaline didn't get good just recently though. The band has been through many changes over time, but contunue to bust out solid rock. This apropreatley titled album is just as good now as it was then.
THE ALBUM
This album is renown as one of the breakthrough albums of christian rock and roll. Audio A broke out with mega-hit single Big House on their second studio effort, Don't Censor Me. On Bloom, Audio Adrenailine truely blooms.
AA's "funk rock" style is strong here with very addictive melodic guitar riffs and the voice of Mark Stuart compliment each other well. The lyrics are rich and inspiring.
THE TRACKS
Some of the highlights of this collection include the lively opening track "Secret" which sets the tone for the album, the ending cut "Memoir" about the point where Mark and the band are in their kife and how their lives are in bloom and "Never Gonna Be As Big As Jesus", the hard rockin' "I'm Not The King" and the thoughtful and inspiring "Walk On Water" from the the greatest hits album. Oh and one more thing. Don't forget that the band hand has a sense of humor. Great rock and a few suprises.

Bloom Shines
Since the first time I heard this album in Junior High, I have enjoyed Audio Adrenaline. Bloom represents some of the best Christian Rock avaliable. From the incredible bass of Will in "I'm Not the King", to the vocals of Mark on "Free Ride", this album proves that Christians have great taste in music, and that they have talent to show it. Buy this album if you want to be impressed.

A lot to like with this Rock & Roll CD
This is great Rock and Roll music. So often a CD has at best 1 to 3 songs that you really like, and the rest get deleted when you make up your best of mix. I only deleted 2 of the 13 songs from this CD when I compiled my AA cd.

Bloom was released in 1996. AA followed this CD up with Some Kind of Zombie that has 7 good songs out of 10. Which ones did i like? Doesn't matter, because we all have different favorites But I will say my two Favs are both on SKOZ.

It is rare for bands to stay together, but AA has a website audioa.com and they still tour! ... Read more

Album Description

This Grammy-nominated, Gold selling group continues tobuild on the momentum of their 2001 release, 'Resonate'.'Cry Holy' shows why this group defines the term modernworship. INO. 2003. ... Read more

Reviews (15)

Time to take it in another direction, guys.
SonicFlood sells records because of an awesome legacy. Their first cd revolutionized worship music and kicked it. Even their live cd, while basically all the same songs, was equally good. Then, for reasons known only to them, the band broke up. Everyone went their own direction, except the bass player who became the lead singer. Now imagine what would happen if Ringo Starr decided to release a new Beatles album without the rest of the band and you get the idea of what you're hearing here. As with their last cd "Resonate", the guys have a different sound from the one that made the band name famous. Unfortunately, the songs on here that are covers of famous worship songs fall flat. There's really nothing new added to them to stamp them "SonicFlood" as there was with the first cd. As a result, the best songs they do on here are the original ones, and it's only when they step into the "familiar" songs that it crashes and burns. No doubt they do a fabulous job doing these songs live, but it just doesn't capture the energy on the cd. "God is Great", "Famous One", and "Here I am to Worship" are great songs in their own right, so you really won't waste your money buying this if you like them. "Cry Holy" and "I Will" are good songs too. All in all, I think these guys need to just drop the name and begin as their own. Two of the three members of Big Tent Revival are in the band, so maybe they should go that direction. The name isn't helping them because the bar has been raised so high that they just don't seem to have the dynamic to reach it anymore. Nothing new here, but if you liked "Resonate" you'll probably enjoy this one too.

Great CD! Highly recommended!
I got this CD for the song "God is Great". I was deciding between this CD and the Hillsong CD (which also contains a version of that song) and I am glad I chose this one!

I do not have any other Sonicflood CDs so I cannot compare, but there are tons of great songs on this CD, "Cry Holy", "Everyday", "Unconditional", "Rushing In", "I Will Exalt The One", "Satisfied" and "God is Great" are my favorites. I like the Chris Tomlin version of Here I Am to Worship better ... but the version on this CD is still pretty good.

Overall I was really happy with this CD, and am now going to have to (eventually) get the other Sonicflood CDs too :)

Sweet communion with God
I bought Sonicflood's debut album back when it was the only Sonicflood album out, and liked it okay, but it was never one of my favorites. It was quite uneven, I thought, some good songs and some uninspiring songs.

For that reason, I guess, I wasn't inclined to get their subsequent albums. But I did end up getting "Cry Holy," albeit not with great expectations.

Boy was I surprised! What a difference from the first Sonicflood album! Immediately I liked this one much better! Upon looking at the credits, I discovered Jeff Deyo was gone, and in fact I've heard Jeff Deyo's first solo album, and I didn't like it at all, so as far as I'm concerned, it's just as well that Jeff Deyo left Sonicflood because I like better the direction the band has gone without him. By the way, I've now also heard Jeff Deyo's second album, and although it's a little better than his first album, I still don't care for it. There's a lot of energy there but I cannot relate to it worship-wise, not to mention the musical weaknesses of his albums.

From reading the reviews of others here, I've learned that all of the original members of Sonicflood have departed except for one. It seems some reviewers are perturbed that this band uses the name Sonicflood, when it's not the same band, and they forever miss Jeff Deyo. I suppose if you were a big Jeff Deyo fan, then you're better off buying his solo albums than buying this. As for saying this band does not live up to the name Sonicflood, I don't get it, because I like this far better than Sonicflood's debut. (I haven't heard any other albums besides the debut and this one.)

I like every song on this album. The music is beautiful, repeatedly leading me to a time of intimate communion with God. Song after song dwells on the greatness of God as well as his wonderful love.

Something that I find especially pleasing about this album is the guitar work. The guitars on here add such richness to the songs. There are only two songs on here I had heard before--"Here I Am To Worship" and "Famous One." On both of these, the beautiful guitar embellishments make them my favorite versions of these popular songs. The eloquent guitar sounds add to the worship experience, making beautiful music before our glorious God.

In my growing up days, people in church would find that a particular organ solo would enhance their worship experience. I was never much for organ; I liked electric guitar. These days I go to a church where the electric guitars are very strong and upfront, so I'm used to the ways in which the guitar can add to the beauty of worship. So many worship albums I get, the guitar is so much in the background that the album sounds wimpy and lacks character. This album shines above most worship albums because the guitars are not buried in the background but are a central contributor to the worship experience.

While the guitars on this Sonicflood album are not cruncher-killer, they are upfront and full of beauty. I feel as I worship while listening to this album that I am surrounded by opulent sounds of guitar floating up to the majestic God, or at other times in joyous communion with him, surrounded by beautiful sounds as if in a sonic garden.

There have been some complaints in other reviews about the singer's voice, calling it "whining" and displaying "little heart and emotion." I don't feel this way at all. I think the vocals are very fitting to the overall sound of the band. As I follow the words and engage in worship, I feel full of emotion. If the singing were bad or lacked emotion I would not feel that way.

I like every song on this album, but I would like to mention two highlights. The climax of the album is "God Is Great," which soars in elation and praising of God. "Rushing In" and "Love Of My Life" are two songs that are particularly sweet in their expression of communion with God, experiencing his love.

This album is one of my favorites of 2003, and definitely one of my favorite worship albums. I am certain that I will enjoy this for years to come.

This would have been better
Sonicflood has always delivered great songs and better versions of modern worship songs, but this CD came as a dissappointment to me, the vocals were sung with little heart and emotion and did not sample Rick's range very well, they were mostly sung in a comfortable key, the guitars sounded over produced and made you feel they sounded the same through the rest of the disc, and songs like Famous One and Everyday were slower than their original versions.

Sonic26
I think they received some pretty harsh poll results.
I think the CD is pretty good. It is smooth sounding. It's one of those music CD's you have to keep listening to, to understand there musical style. You know how you listen to music, you may not like it at first but then you keep listening and it grows on you. That's this CD. It is a GREAT CD...

Worth buying... ... Read more

Reviews (11)

Not bad for her second time around
On Amy's second album, she didn't really expand too much into new territory, but she nailed down some Christian staples that still stand today. "My Father's Eyes," "Faith Walkin' People," "Giggle" and "Fairytale" are great inspirational songs, and Amy's sweet, soothing voice makes it the perfect album to play on a rainy day while you're cleaning the house. She's come a long way, but it's fun to remember her roots and listen to the past.

Early Grant album shows promise but doesn't quite get there
Most of the songs on this album are forgettable, but it's worth getting for "Father's Eyes" and "Faith Walkin' People," which are closer to Grant's usual standard. "O Sacred Head" is an interesting track--Grant and her two sisters singing Bach in a cappella harmony, punctuated at appropriate (and unplanned) moments by rolls of thunder. These are pretty much the only songs on the album that stand up to repeated listenings, but Grant's fresh, clear young voice helps the others considerably. Not bad for a teenager surreptitiously making an album as a surprise for her parents while studying full-time at college.

I think the Father liked "My Father's Eyes"
Amy Grant's second release, MY FATHER'S EYES, became one of her best known albums. It spawned Amy her first #1 hit ("Father's Eyes"), and sold over 95,000 copies. Which was pretty good for a Christian artist in 1979. I personally like the words in "Father's Eyes" (And when I'm called to stand and tell just what you saw in me/More than anything I know/I want your words to be/She's got her Father's Eyes). It gives Amy Grant a sense of innocence. My favorites on this CD are "You Were There", "Giggle", and "Never Give You Up". Throughout the early '80s, MY FATHER'S EYES was labeled as one of the most popular albums in Christian history. Then in 1982, AGE TO AGE took the spotlight from this album. But overall, it's a pretty good album.

My Father's Eyes her second album
Amy Grants second album should have been part of the first album but I believe she wanted to savor the moments of her music by taking her time and releasing it separately. My father's Eyes reminds me of her first album. It's so beatiful her voice is still the same never changes even til today. Her songs are so uplifting and spiritually moving. I definitely recommend this album and her first album as well. But not to forget the other albums she did after this one are also something to brag about. In other words I recommend her other albums as well.

Wonderful CD
This CD is an absolute jewel. This is by far the best Amy Grant Christian CD. She has since gone downhill and has made an absolute mockery of the Christian faith. I would love for her to go back to this simple time and sing more of this type of music. ... Read more

Reviews (31)

SONICFLOOd's live praise album
I was rather disappointed in this album.

Being a big fan of Sonicflood, I was hoping for something more like their first project. This sophomore project wasn't worth the effort spent to go pick it up, in my opinion. (we got it free)

However, SONICPRAISE did have its high points:

I Want To Know You: One of my all-time favorite songs ever. SF was the group that first introduced me to this lovely praise song. Good guitars and drums, though the vocals weren't good, like through the rest of the album.

Before the Throne of God Above: This is an excellent song that I'm hopelessly trying to learn to play and sing. The intro is a bit long but it's one of the few songs on the record that has good vocals. I enjoyed the uniqueness of the piece in itself and the eloquent phrasing and lyrics.

Carried Away: I had never heard this song before SONICPRAISE. When I rented their first CD (I never buy CDs if I can help it) I was so obsessed with the song 'My Refuge' that I never even heard this song. It has excellent guitars and drums and I can't wait to rent their first CD again so I can hear the studio version.

This CD is a renter. I'm glad we didn't have to pay for it.

Awesome songs!
I just purchased this CD a few months ago as my first Sonicflood CD and have found that, while some CDs have a few great songs and the rest are OK, this CD is full of hits. They are all very inspiring and lift me up with the great Christian rock that Sonicflood puts out. I fell in love with both the lyrics and the instrumentals, and it all comes together to make terrific music. My favorite song on this CD is number 9, "Lord I Lift Your Name on High," but all of the others are great as well. They all stir up feelings in me that just fill me with the beauty of God through the music. The band sings with so much energy and enthusiasm, and you can tell that they are all wonderfully absorbed in giving God their all. Not only that but the spontaneous worship that is in the middle of the CD lets you connect with the band and all join together in giving praise to God. I highly recommend this CD for anyone who is willing to give Christian rock a shot because you will surely not be disappointed with this excellent music and worship.

As good as it gets ...
This review isn't very long. All i want to say, is that i'm on my 2nd Sonicpraise album ... due to the fact that the first one isn't playable anymore (not by abuse). The cd simply was played 24/7 doing a long period.

It's a cd you'll never get tired of listening to. I know, I'm not!!!!

Sonicflood's "Swan Song"
When Sonicflood's live album "Sonicpraise" was released in early 2001, the original Sonicflood band had already fallen apart at the seams. The turmoil within the band delayed the release of this album for almost eight months (The original release date was for August 2000). It's a miracle that "Sonicpraise" even saw the light of day but Praise God, it did. After all the delays, this album was truly worth the wait.
"Sonicpraise" was recorded live in late 1999 in Holland and Nashville. The performances captured on this album are stunning and demonstrate just how on fire for God the band really was. Beginning with a solid uplifting version of "Open the Eyes of My Heart" and ending with the Jeff Deyo original "I Have Come To Worship", "Sonicpraise" will leave you asking for more. A true highlight of the album is a continuous praise suite beginning with Track 5 "Holy One" which leads directly into a spirited version of "You Are Worthy Of My Praise" which is followed by nearly 10-minutes worth of "Spontaneous Worship". Here, the band really lets loose and there's even some audience participation. This leads directly into a rousing version of Delirious' praise classic "Did You Feel The Mountains Tremble?" which goes seamlessly into a fabulous rendition of "Lord I Lift Your Name On High". Phew! This counts as nearly 40-minutes of the album's 73-minute running time and in my opinion is the main reason why "Sonicpraise" is a must have. Other highlights include "In The Secret" which has more punch to it here than on the first album, the almost ELO-esque "Carried Away" and a wonderful interpretation of the hymn "To The Throne Of God Above". Of course, I can't forget "I Could Sing Of Your Love Forever", another Delirious cover, which Jeff Deyo duets with Lisa Kimmey from Out Of Eden. This is a breathtaking performance which will bring a person to their knees.
Like I mentioned above, "Sonicpraise" is a miracle of an album. This is one of the best live worship albums out there and no music collection is complete without it. It's a shame that the original Sonicflood couldn't stick together. This album shows exactly what was and what could've been with this band. Jeff Deyo has since gone solo and has released an excellent debut album entitled "Saturate", Jason Halbert and Dwayne Larring are now involved with production work. Aaron Blanton now plays drums in the band By The Tree. Bass player Rick Heil, who was not an original member of the band, assembled a new group of players and formed a new version of Sonicflood in which he is now the frontman. The new Sonicflood is completely different than the original band and in some instances, is weaker. However, there is no denying just how special the original Sonicflood really was. One needs to look no further than "Sonicpraise" just to see how true it really is.

Amazing
This is by far one of my favorite CDs. First, I must clarify, this is a LIVE CD. It is NOT a "best of" CD. And as far as live CD's go, this one is excellently mastered. If you want a truly incredible worship experience, buy this album, find a comfortable place, and just worship away. People buying this CD just to get every single Sonicflood CD, or just for the new songs, or just for the sake of musical enjoyment might find themselves disappointed, because yes, it does repeat songs off of their first album. However, I would recommend this album over the first one for the sole reason that is shows the passion these guys have (or had...since the band as we knew it is no more...), and while no recording can do any band justice, this one sure shows that the holy spirit came in power. The first listen was amazing enough to brighten my whole week. If you're looking for a good worship album, this is definitely one of the best out there. ... Read more

Reviews (43)

PLUS ONE'S THE BEST!
This cd Was SOOOOOO GREAT.
One of my friends was obsessed with them and i thought that it might be a good idea to try this cd and see if i liked it! AND I TOTALLY LOVED IT!!!
I was traveling and listening to it on my headphones...and i wouldn't take it out it was so great!!!!
Now I totally love all the guys of Plus One...AND all their songs. Their songs are so uplifting and healing...they are wonderful songs about our lord God.
I am a christian and i really like contemporary christian but i DO like other things. But this cd by far has been my favorite Contemporary Christian CD.
"Let Me Be The One" is my favorite song on the CD. It talks about how God helps us when we're weak, hurt, afraid, and alone.
All of these songs help me to realize how wonderful our God is. I would reccomend this to people who are christians and who aren't. To people who aren't the songs would be meaningless. But maybe they could help them realize how wonderful God is.
Along with great messages about God the cd is full of WONDERFUL music. They incorporate a lot of different styles into their music and that's what makes it Great!!!
I would reccomend this to anyone young or old...christian or not!!

completely satisfying
This CD combines great positive, uplifting lyrics with crazy new beats and slow tender melodious mixtures. Plus One is a very talented group of young men trying to break the unfortunate 'Boy-Band' mold that all young male groups are placed into. Most of the songs are actually written by the band members and it's nice to see songs that are attractive to the ear and bring a message that's not about some girl or party or the same ol thing everybody else is writing about. If you want to support artists who are true, original, and deserving of record sales, this is the ablum for you to purchase. I have actually met Nathan of Plus One and he is an extremely talented, down to earth, fun loving typical guy, and I'm sure the other 4 guys are the exact same way. Job well done boys.

My fav. band
Plus one has been my favorite group for the past couple of years. When I first heard The Promise I thought "I have to get a copy!" So I did. I listened to that for about a year before getting Obvious for Christmas 2002. Now I know all the songs by heart! I have to admit my sister and parents hate this CD. But they don't care if I get my head phones and listen to it. The great songs are Camouflage (an energetic song about not hiding our faith from others), Use me (a song that says how we want to be used by God), Let me be the one (this one tells us how much God wants to lead us and protect us and help us get through), Under the influence (this song is a broadcast that we love God and how he helps us to become more than we are), You (this song talks of a person who thought he didn't need God but found him and realized how wrong he was), I don't care (this song says that we don't care what others think of our faith but that we will do whatever God wants us to do), Kick me (this song tells the Christians that put others down because that other person has made a mistake to not blame them because they themselves have stumbled down the path and taken a wrong turn), Going crazy (this song tells how hard life is without God and His guidance and how we can't live without Him), Start to fly (this song is meant for people who don't have a deep enough connection with God and not enough faith and how they shouldn't give up because what's happened in their past), Calling down an angel (this is for those who have doubts about God and how He's going to help them find that He is true), Forever (Forever is a long time to be without you in my life, I wanna keep you by my side 'cause forever is a long time. The chorus), and Who am I? (Who am I without God? What could describe it better?). And ten of these great songs are written by the band members. I think anyone from about age 8 to age 20 will love this (provided you're christian).

This is just what people need.
In this world nowdays people don't care about God and that he created them and don't even give God a chance you should because he can really help your life so I encourage anyone that isn't going to church or doesn't know God to read this message.And get this CD it has great songs and the words are just magical and make you feel good plus is a good way to help youjust know how much God loves you!

Biggest Fan
Ever since Plus One came out, I've been their biggest fan.

I liked their first CD "The Promise" but "Obvious" was much better. The songs "Forever" (which i listen to almost everyday), "You", "Let Me Be The One" and "Who am I" are great if you like NSYNC And Backstreet Boys.

I giv this favorite CD of mine 5 stars! ... Read more

Reviews (11)

A must for any serious guitarist, or any serious musician
I've been playing guitar for 31 years and can honestly say I have never heard anyone play in so many different voices in one song, the way Phil Keaggy can and does.

Listen to March of the clouds. In the beginning he starts with a single line, melodic lead which he expands into a rolling, crescendo-ing, over-dubbed double lead. This builds into an explosion of rapid fire, scaling leads that just bring tears to my eyes (I wish could play it, but at least I can feel it!). Then he follows it with gentle volume swells that slowly bring you down as they roll into a classical style of chording and octaves which leads back to the original theme as the song fades. The most incredible facet of this guitar players' expertise is he can reproduce these tones and touches, live. If you can't deal with his christian lyrics, buy this album, as well as "220", "beyond nature", "acoustic sketches", "master & musician", and definitely, definitely a MUST "ON THE FLY".

Sit back and be amazed - you will not believe these recordings are all of the same guitarist.

Phenomenal work
This CD is derivative of the whole instrumental Windham Hill mood that was popular during the late 1980's and Phil Keaggy tells us how it should have been done.

His guitar work is brilliant as usual but his arrangements on this album are pure beauty. My favorite piece, "I love you Lord," is simply the most beautiful instrumental praise music I have ever heard.

Magnum Opus
I am not Christian.
I am not a guitarist, though I am a professional musician.
I am not a'Keaggyhead'...

But this is, easily one of the best collections of compositions I have ever heard. In particular, and I need to single this one out, 'March of the Clouds' is as perfect a collection of sounds a human being can put together. As a song, it has everything...ethereal imagery, slow gradual volume and tone. Again, it is....well it is my favorite song. I do not listen to New Age in particular - I am well rounded but - I heard this song about 10 years ago...and either a song touches you or it does not....this one reached in me and pulled something out...something only this song can. Buy it. Experience it.

Keaggy at his best
This is my favorite album by Phil Keaggy. As everyone knows, Keaggy is an incredible guitarist, but this album displays his gift for composition and arrangement as well. The title cut is a masterpiece acoustic guitar composition. March of the Clouds takes the listener on an emotional musical journey through the skies and back to earth. While the album cover is reminiscent of the 80s Windham Hill look, the blending of acoustic and electric guitars with piano and synthsizers in this recording are uniquely Phil Keaggy's.

Sorry to rain on this parade, but...
after all those glowing reviews I was ready to be wowed. Well, Keaggy has "chops" (technique) up the yin-yang. Some of the cuts are even very nice and sweet. But for the most part, I found this album boring and VERY reminiscent of Wyndham Hill aimless, nearly tuneless, noodling, arpeggiating. I keep looking for a worthy successor to Robbie Basho (e.g. Falconer's Arm, Venus in Cancer... now included on "Bashovia"): a guitarist with depth of vision, melodic inventiveness and depth. When you find her or him, please let me know. ... Read more

Amazon.com

As an icon of the '60s peace and love movement, this long haired flower child sang in a voice only helium could seemingly induce. Melanie's high pitched squawking is both a period curio and a disarmingly gentle weapon. The tracks assembled here vary in quality. She was given to novelty songs ("Animal Crackers," "Brand New Key") but was at her interpretive best with something as difficult as the Rolling Stones' "Ruby Tuesday." These 18 tracks include several songs emblematic of her era--"Lay Down (Candles in the Rain)" about Woodstock and "Peace Will Come (According to Plan)"--that shed light on an often overlooked singer-songwriter inextricably linked to a specific era. --Rob O'Connor ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Melanie's Magic
Perhaps no singer/songwriter of the "Woodstock Era" was more misunderstood than Melanie. For those who have forgotten, yes, Melanie did appear and sing at the infamous outdoor gathering in New York. Alone with an acoustic guitar, she captivated the audience. The experience would inspire her to write one of the finest blends of folk, rock and gospel songs ever: "Lay Down (Candles in the Rain." It summed up the magical feeling of peace and love that Woodstock was intended to represent, and it became Melanie's first top ten hit. Disaster--of a sort--struck Melanie when "Brand New Key," a rather "cute," bouncy song from her exceptional "Gather Me" album became a number one hit. No one wanted to take Melanie seriously after that. And that is a real shame. There is power, strength, and emotion in Melanie's voice; her lyrics are beautiful and moving. She is a songwriter of incredible depth, feeling, and warmth. Unfortunately, most of the record buying public is unaware of this. This "Best of" collection is a good introduction to the tunes that Melanie and her record labels hoped would be hits. There are tracks included here that should have been million sellers: "Love to Lose Again, Together Alone, the Good Book, Leftover Wine." Every one of these a stand out. The actual chart hits are here as well: "Lay Down, Peace Will Come, The Nickel Song, Bitter Bad."

Melanie continues to record and perform today, and her voice is as powerful as ever. If you have the opportunity to see her in concert, by all means take advantage of the opportunity. You will be overwhelmed by the warmth and sincerity of this amazing musician. For those of us who are long time fans, we always look forward to any new release from Melanie; it is always a treat. If you purchase this CD, it will introduce you to the beginning of what Melanie was and is all about. To truly capture her talent, you need to track down all her album releases, many of them not yet released on CD--hopefully someday.

The Last Great Folk Singer of the Sixties
Okay, so she was really too young to have performed in the Sixties, but that title still rings true for me. Melanie is one of those artists that a lot of people might not remember, but everyone who does must remember her fondly. After all, what other artist had her mother chaperone her at Woodstock? She had her "cute" songs like "Nickel Song" and "Brand New Key," but for me it is always "Lay Down (Candles In The Rain" that reminds me of Melanie. "Beautiful People" and "Look What They Done To My Song Ma" got some decent airtime but "Leftover Wine" might be the choice discovery for you on this "Best of Melanie" album. The lady could do heavy even better than she did light. Melanie was also one of the best cover artists of her time, as she amply demonstrates on the Stones' "Ruby Tuesday," James Taylor's "Carolina in My Mind," and Dylan's "Mr. Tambourine Man" and "Lay Lady Lay." There are several Melanie compilations around, but this is the only one that has all of the above songs. It is also one of those albums whose song will take you back to when we were golden.

Vintage Melanie
This is one of those music collections that has the ability to transport you back to another time. If you weren't young and looking for answers back then, you can learn a bit about the issues of the late sixties and early seventies by Melanie's music. Listen closely for the social reflections as only she can vocalize.

lovely album, lovely artist
my mom first introduced me and my sister to melanie a few years ago. i didnt take much notice then, but when the movie Boogie Nights came out with "Brand New Key" in it, i fell in love with her. i started listening to my mom's record "Four Sides of Melanie," and then finally bought this cd. i love it!!! my only irk is that i think her songs could be so much better without the background choruses, especially in "Lay Down (Candles in the Rain)." but i think the whole cd in general is great, the best part being that there isn't one song on it that i don't like!

you can't not love her
This is the first album I obtained to begin my "Melanie" collection, and the one that made me the huge fan I am today. Her beautiful lyrics and down-to-earth sound are a must-hear if you're a folk lover. "The Best Of" album is just that, the best of, my favorite being "The Good Book". If you're a fan, or a wanna be fan, this is the album for you. ... Read more

Reviews (69)

Awesome guitar riffs,hard hitting grunge,great cd
An awesome cd,with a few kinks.Too many slow songs,and there wasn't much to the lyrics;but other than that,I loved the cd.Audio Adrenaline goes through a number of styles(the majority of the songs being alternative/grunge rock).Rock/pop(Original Species,People Like Me,Flicker,God Shaped Hole),okay songs.Ska(Blitz),good song.Grunge(Chevette,Zombie)awesome songs!!!Alternative(Lighthouse,New Body)more awesome songs!!!And they even expirement with a little punk on Superfriend(probably my favorite song).Also be sure to check out an Audio A concert,they are incredible!!!!!!

The best Audio Adrenaline CD by far!!!!!
"Some Kind of Zombie" is the best Audio Adrenaline CD yet. "Some Kind of Zombie" and "New Body" are among the harder songs on the CD and are the best in my opinion. Of course, you gotta love "Blitz," with special guests the Supertones, because it's a fun song... especially with Will playing the Yak Bak at various moments throughout. :) Audio Adrenaline does a good job of evening out religious and not-religious songs in this CD. "Blitz" and "Chevette" are just plain enjoyable tunes with no clear religious message, yet "Some Kind of Zombie" and "Lighthouse" definitely make you think about the role Jesus should be playing in your life. If you've liked older Audio Adrenaline outings, that is DEFINITELY not a guarantee that you'll like this one, but all fans of DC Talk should enjoy "Some Kind of Zombie".

This is Cadillac Rock and Roll
OK AA is one of my three favorite Christian bands and this CD has my two favorite songs from AA..

Chevette, tho its up on blocks, the car still rocks,
and the title song SKOZ.

Now you have to ask your self, do you just go buy the best of cd HIT PARADE or do you buy their two killer CDs Bloom and SKOZ, or all three! I don't see Jazz Odessey, New Body or Original Species on the best of CD, just to name three that I like. This group is still together and touring so check them out at AudioA.com.

Zombie Rocks
SKOZ rocks like Bloom with the fun sound of Underdog. It has a variety of songs from all out rockers like SKOZ and Superfriend to lighter songs like God-Shaped Hole and Original Species. Here's a song to song review:

Chevette: A fun song to start the album w/ a good chorus.(7.5/10)

New Body: A great upbeat rocker that could of fit on Underdog.(8/10)

Some Kind Of Zombie: Best Audio A song ever.(10/10)

Original Species: Decent, but too slow.(6/10)

People Like Me: Fun song.(8.5/10)

Blitz: Great fun rocker.(9/10)

Lighthouse: An Audio A power ballad. Good guitar/chorus mix at end.(9.5/10)

Flicker: Very catchy. (9/10)

God-Shaped Hole: A little slow, but still good. (7.5/10)

Superfriend: Awesome, fast-paced rocker. (9.5/10)

Over all one of Audio Adrenaline's best albums, and well worth the money.

Mildly entertaining
This is probably the most interesting thing Audio Adrenaline has put out. "God Shaped Hole", "People Like Me", and "Original Species" are good alterna-pop songs with nice melodies. There's a strong classic rock vibe throughout, but it's not as overwrought as in their earlier material. Alas, most of this album is terrible, with cliched lyrics and one-dimesional songwriting. If you're just getting into music and looking for some good spiritual rock (two things most people shopping for this album probably have in common), get something that will still mean something to you in a few years, such as Plankeye or Switchfoot, or, if you're feeling ambitious, Pedro the Lion. Trust me. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Literally coming out of nowhere, FFH and their major-label debut, I Want to Be Like You, took the contemporary Christian music industry by storm during the first half of 1999. CCM radio jumped all over "One of These Days," as well as the title track, indicating the immense accessibility of this foursome. Similar to Duncan Sheik's light-rock stylings, there's a free and easy feel on this release that won't confine the limited vocal range of lead singer/songwriter Jeromy Deibler. Plus, he's ably supported in that area by bandmates Jennifer Deibler, Brian Smith, and Steve Croyle. Longtime FFH fans will recognize the novelty of "Big Fish," an independent hit for the band several years back. The album takes on a stronger praise-and-worship vein in the latter half, buoyed by "Wholly to You" and the concluding "Power in His Blood." Overnight success? Sure, but seven years of touring and singing is one long night. This band has made itself ready with I Want to Be Like You. --Michael Lyttle ... Read more

Reviews (31)

FFH - I Want to Be Like You
I heard two of FFH's songs on Christian radio before I bought the "I Want to Be Like You." I concluded that the songs were not really my style, but they had an awesome sound to them and their lyrics really hit close to home. I bought the CD, expecting nothing more than just another contemporary Christian album. Instead, I got an explosive message with the best sound that has come from a quartet ever. FFH doesn't beat around the bush...they get straight to the point and add acoustics that give you "them goosebumps." I definitely reccomend this CD to ANYBODY who prefers ANY kind of music. I'm into Christian rock/metal, but this CD still brings tears to my eyes at times. 5 stars isn't enough!

What A CD!
FFH is an incredible band! There message is totally focused on Christ and about giving all the Glory to God. The songs are extremely catchy and the lyrics are straight TO the heart. This album really challenges and encourages Christians to, like Proverbs says, lean not on your own understanding, but to trust in an AWESOME GOD! This is a great album to witness with! FFH is certainly making headway in Christian music, and this CD shows exactly why.

FFH - I Want to Be Like You
This track is not only awesome but very uplifting. With songs like " I'm Alright " and " One of these Days " your sure to be inspired to take a whole new view on life or atleast your day. From slow calm songs to Up beat songs , This album is for any time and should surely make your day!

Overall...simply amazing
This was one of my very first Christian Cd's that I recieved and I loved it when I first got it several years ago, and I still love it even today. It ulifts your spirit and brings you closer to God. I've had times where I have struggled with being a Christian,like most people have, but listening to the cd has just given me courage to keep going on. The first song on the track, "One of These Days" just reminds me that I have such a treasure up in Heaven waiting for me, and its just...awesome.

If you have listened to FFh's other cds and liked them, then you would definatly like this one. I still say, after listening to all three of their cds, this one is still by far the best.

~FFH Rox!!~
they're kool! and they have awesome voices!! my fave songs are *One of These Days*, *Take Me As I Am*, *Fall To You*, *I Want To Be Like You* and *Big Fish*. I hope to see 'em in concert soon. !~Rock On FFH~! ... Read more

Reviews (42)

The Newsboys Best !
Ah,What good memories I have listening to this CD.Sittin' in the car listening to The Newsboys through the car stereo,and enjoying every minute of it!But this was not one of the most played Newsboys CDs in the car.I'd probably say that I'm Not Ashamed got played more.Going Public was always a favorite of mine,and the only reason it got played at all was because of the hits.You know,Shine,Truth And Consequences,Spirit Thing,and the list goes on.Musicly Going Public sounds softer,easier to take in,especially with songs like Be Still backing that theory up.Still,that doesn't take away the tempo of Lights Out,and the title track.Lyricly,hmm...well I can say one thing about it:I always figured out what the songs were about.When I first started listening to The Newsboys I must have been 6 or 7 but now that I'm older I actually care what the songs are about,and believe me,I enjoy the songs much more now that I know what they're about.The song that I absolutely l-o-v-e is the epic Elle G. The song ends somewhere around five minutes,so you know it's the longest song on Going Public.Personally,I like longer songs as long as they're good.A bad six-minute song is worse than a bad three-minute song you know.All in all,Going Public has a lot to offer,and I recommend it highly. I hope you found my review helpful.

OVER PRODUCED? ALL SONGS SOUND THE SAME?
This CD has to be one of the best ever. And, by the way, there are three CD's out ahead of not ashamed. Look at Step up to the Microphone, And Take me to Your Leader. How can you say what you did? Shine is the most popular song EVER!!!!!!!!! Spirit thing, Real Good Thing, they are all great. Don't EVER mess with my favorite band, also known as the best band in the world. All their ablums are great, so why dont you go get one of the new one's. Cuz NEWSBOYS, YOU ROCK ON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Now they're going public!
I must say, this album is easy to get addicted to! It has a unique style of music that a lot of other artists don't seem to have. If you want my opinion on the songs...
"Real Good Thing": I can't see why anybody wouldn't like this song! It has great lyrics, great sound, and a great feeling. VERY fun.
"Shine": Finally, the signature song of the 'boys! Strangely, I used to get bored whenever I thought of this song. Now, I'm in love with it! It's a VERY fun, VERY exciting song. As awesome as it is on the album, it's 100% better when it's live (I was able to see the Newsboys in concert at their Adoration tour). You can tell that these guys have TALENT!
"Spirit Thing": The song that I barely remember from when I was very young. It seems like everybody loves this song! It has a really good tune, sound, and feeling. I love the guitar at the beginning.
"Let It Rain": I love this one! It has a very relaxing sound and feeling. I LOVE the chorus. Great worship song!

"Going Public": Finally, the title track! It seems like nobody really talks about this song a lot. I LOVE the intro, the lyrics, and the sound. Great back-up vocals, too! I LOVE it!
"Truth And Consequences": I LOVE this song! I've gotta admit, it's got a really catchy tune. Awesome lyrics, sound, and beat!
"Lights Out": WOOHOO! This is probably the fastest song I've ever heard in my life. If you like fast beats, then you'll LOVE this song. It has the best vocal and instrumental arrangement. It's a VERY fun song!
"Be Still": This song actually isn't bad. It has a feeling that's a lot like the feeling in "Let It Rain". It's also a VERY good worship song. It's pretty calm, too. Don't forget, I LOVE this one, too!
"When You Called My Name": This is the kind of song that can stick around in your head. It's kind of quiet, but I like this song that way. There are some points where there is NO sound what so ever for about 1 or 2 seconds, just incase you think that it's skipping. I REALLY like the lyrics. Great tune, too! I LOVE this one as well!
"Elle G.": This is a great song for the end of an album! If I had to pick any favorite Newsboys songs, this would surely be one of them! I really like the tune and the lyrics; the lyrics tell a really interesting story. I LOVE this one, too!

Overall, I recommend this CD to anybody who has just gotten to know the Newsboys a couple days ago (that would be if you're reading this review a couple days or so after you found out about the Newsboys), or to anybody who is FAN of the Newsboys. ENJOY!!

Newsboys Best
I have several Newsboys CDs. They usually have one song I love and the rest I never listen too.
This one is different. This is their best.

Awesome
I would have to say this is one of my favorite albums of all time, it was the first actual cd I ever owned(before it was all cassettes, remember those, of michael w smith and such). I didn't listen to much music growing up until I got Going Public when I was 13, and it made me love music. It probably helps that some of my best, memorable times were around that age and this album brings back a lot of great memories, but aside from the personal resons for loving this album, it's still a great buy even today. I think the lyrics to Elle G are some of the best I've ever read, and the Newsboys style is very original, and it's hard to find original music these days. I'd say it lies somewhere in between dance and rock. Now, I listen to tons of music, anything from Bruce Springsteen to Sublime to Beastie Boys to The Chemical Brothers, and favorites include Newsboys, Live, Our Lady Peace, Switchfoot, Black Lab, The Music, Oasis and so on. I listen to both christian and non-christian music like many people my age, and at times when i find myself doubting my faith, the Newsboys are always there for moral and spiritual support. So, I don't really know what I'm trying to say in this review that would convince other people to buy the album, but if you tend to like any of the bands I mentioned, appreciate music in general(aka you don't make ignorant comments like, "rap is crap" without any justification), and like music that lifts you up instead of brings you down, than Going Public, or any Newsboys album for that matter is most definitely worth the purchase. ... Read more

Album Description

For fans of Linkin Park and Incubus. From an independentlyproduced 3 song EP, the band's first single '3 TimesDenied'garnered the #3 position behind P.O.D. andLifehouse on Christian Rock stations. 10 tracks. 2002. ... Read more

Reviews (16)

38th parallel
well, wow. that's all i can really say about this band. and it took a looooong time for me to actually like them, i listened to them a little bit with my friend, but i never really liked it much, until i found myself downloading all of their songs. then, i had to buy the cd. here's my review...
1. hear my cry-amazing opener, sounds a lot like linkin park, but that's not bad, i like linkin park too.
2. turn the tides-captures the feel of the whole cd, "life sucks, the world is a bad place. but....Jesus is here for us." but it doesn't say it in a "daisies in the prarie" attitude.
3. higher ground-very melodic, one of my favorites, i love the mixture of the acoustic and electric guitars.
4. clouded-this song was what got me into the band, i love this song, very dark, but very hopeful. the riffs are hard hitting.
5. who am i?- great hip hop/hard rock song, also remeniscent of linkin park, great song.
6. horizon-this song is amazing, it has the perfect mix of hard rock, rap, and choral singing, it is beautiful. i love the lyrics as well.
7. state of mind-absolutely brilliant song, throughout the whole thing, both of the lead singers just play off each other, mixed with hard hitting guitar riffs, and lyrics that hit the soul. a wonderful song.
8. you are my god-this is, hands down, my favorite song in the entire world. it starts off with a melodic guitar riff, then, moves into talking of depressing things, but there is hope, at the end, the chorus is met with a screamed "show me now!" that just makes you close your eyes, and you get goosebumps.
9. wither-this song is extremely sad, as well as brilliantly written, perfect transfer of melodic singing, and hardcore rap/rock singing.
10. 3 times denied-great song, with a ton of energy, i love the lyrics as well, a great song. (sounds a lot like turn the tides)

all in all, this album gets 5 stars without question. i love this cd, i love this band. peace outside peoples!

Can you say obsessed?
This album is amazing. I had heard of the name around, but I'd never actually listened to their music. I first heard them in my youth pastor's car... and I was hooked. I had been searching for a long time for a Christian band who had the sound of Linkin Park. I found this in 38th Parallel, but I have to say I like their sound better. It's awesome, and the lyrics are incredbile. I have been listening for this CD for about 2 weeks straight and I can't get sick of it. I strongly recommend this to any rock fan.

Great Christian Rap/Rock CD
This is a very good, solid CD. People have compared them to Linkin Park and to some degree I agree but they're not exactly like them. They go in a different direction... a more rock approach without the samples and wierd sounds. Which doesn't mean it isn't great. They have the duel lead vocalists like Linkin Park and 311 that play off each other very well. The only problem I have with this CD is that is is kinda short... only 10 songs. I'm jonesin' for more 38th! I have to say that "You Are My God" is one of the best songs I've heard... the end really hits hard and puts a lump in my throat. Other great songs are "Horizon", "Wither", and "Who Am I"

Hard hitting music for fans of Linkin Park or Staind!
Every day I am looking for a new christian band to listen to, and for so long I've been looking for a Staind sound-a-like, I heard that 12 Stones was like Staind, wrong, they sound like Nickelback, which is pretty good because i like(d) Nickelback and Kutless which sounds kind of like Creed and very little like Staind but not completely. But I have finally stumbled upon 38th Parallel. This is a group I had heard on a CD sampler I bought at WalMart, and they sounded too mainstream to me. But I finally had the nerve to pick this up and I couldn't believe my ears. 38th Parallel while more like Limp Bizkit rap wise, has a good beat, great instruments and a good singer. The lyrics are uplifting (especially You Are My God, which is the best song on the album). I'll give you an explanation of each song

1. Hear My Cry- Starts out like a Staind song with some cool keyboards, and then it immediately jumps into a Linkin Park, rap verse. Pretty good track. 9/10

2. Turn the Tides- Sounds alot like Pillar, but it also sounds like Pax217. 10/10

3. Higher Ground- at first sounds dumb but once u give it a listen it is a very powerful worship song in a way. 9/10

4. Clouded- too short to even recognize. Like Linkin Park. 8/10

5. Who Am I?- Another Pillar sound-a-like. The rapper sounds a lot like Jimmy Pop, the lead singer of The Bloodhound Gang, its funny. 10/10

6. Horizon- the song that got me into the band. very cool. 10/10

7. State of Mind- sounds like Nickelback when it opens. Cool song. This is where they sound like Staind. 10/10

8. You Are My God- my favorite song! 10/10

9. Wither- Is Stryper in the house. Opens with a good little Stryper sounding solo and really pumps into a Staind grunge sound. 10/10

10. 3 Times Denied- Kind of like Linkin Staind. 9/10

Check this CD out you won't regret it!

Passion for Christ
I went to college with two of the guys in the band when I was at Iowa State (Aaron and Shane). After watching them tour locally for a few months and hanging out with them, I got to know their hearts well...these guys love Christ and want to see Him made known in our generation! The lyrics on this album are probably some of the realest you will ever hear.

There is not one track on this CD that is lacking. Covering topics ranging from AIDS to spiritual renewal, Turn the Tides shows the band's diversity.

"For my money, I don't know if it gets any better than" 38th's Turn the Tides...5 out of 5 stars! ~am ... Read more

Reviews (17)

Melody Master
When considering the many gifts and talents of Phil Keaggy, one must first recognize that this guitaist is an artist who can capture the musical intrupretation of a beautiful heartfelt emotion far better than most. His ability to create melodic themes that seep their way with repeated listening into your conscience and linger with pleasurable and quieting enjoyment, set him apart from the masses. I have owned, loaned or given away to "special friends", more of this paticular album than any other...... It has a unique way of draping itself around me when playing in the background, that sets my mood positive and allows my day to pass productively. I recommend this album to anyone who appreciates fluid acoustic guitar with infectious lilting melodies.

Memorable, melodic, reflective, and warm
I have been listening to this album for more than ten years, and the music held within has yet to dull or fade in it's effects on my spirit and conscience. Keaggy masterfully crafts deeply moving and fabulously rich music without becoming ostentatious, without becoming busy or flashy. Simple yet complicated, still yet flowing, grand yet approachable, the rich acoustic rhythms offer moments of deep reflection and intense exhilaration. This is by far the VERY BEST acoustic guitar album I have, I also dare write that it may be one of the best albums I have. Keaggy's gift approaches that of the 17th & 18th century composers, whose music I love as well and whom also share in the characteristics I attributed above to Keaggy.

This is a must have.

Incredible Acoustic Guitar
Beyond Nature is an acoustic tribute to C.S. Lewis, and Phil Keaggy again delivers an album full of incredibly beautiful and strongly crafted instrumentals. The focus of the music is the alternate tunings he uses throughout the album, as he showcases his talent for finger-picking guitar. Keaggy is one of my favorite musicians, and this is one of my favorite albums.

Truely a remarkable album...
This is one of those albums that has never really left my player since I bought it 4 years ago. Keaggy is truely a master of his craft and his songs bring a smile to my whenever I hear them. This is album calmed and relaxed me during some of the most stressful years of my life. Really beautiful and I cannot recommend it more highly.

One of my favorite CDs!
I saw Phil Keaggy in concert (in Knoxville, TN in the late 70s and again in Southern California in the 80s) and, like everyone, am quite impressed by his talent. THIS is the CD that puts it all together for me. Like MASTER AND THE MUSICIAN (another GREAT album) each song paints a mind-picture for the listener. This is one I listen to often and (some days) over and over. Another one of my favorites is his album LOVE BROKE THROUGH...a great example of Phil's guitar work and vocals in one of the BEST early Christian rock albums. ... Read more

Amazon.com

A concept album, Cave of the Heart finds John Michael Talbot's Franciscan-styled Catholicism roaming not in the idiom of pantheism, yet utilizing a multiplicity of cultural traditions, language, and musical phrasing in unveiling the mystery of Christ spirit. From the opening anthem "Smaller Than Small," part of a triad based on the tenets of what Judeo-Christianity calls "natural religion," through to Book of Revelation songs including the anciently inspired "Kyrie," and reverentially meditative works such as the updated "Philippians Canticle," Talbot mindfully integrates sound theology with musical acumen. Tightly layered harmony vocal stacks feature contemporaries Phil Keaggy and Michael Card. The former also brandishes electric and acoustic touches alongside Talbot's welcome return to blues- and folk-inflected steel-string guitar. Highlights are the classically prayerful "Devotion," Talbot's elegantly orchestral rendering of Psalm 23 (written for his mother's funeral), and a gorgeous pair of a cappella motets on which he sings all the parts. --Paige La Grone ... Read more

Reviews (11)

Talbot at full throttle
I am astonished at the genre of musical styles covered on this JMT recording. I was hesitant to buy, but am most pleased with my purchase. JMT rocks with Phil Keagy & Michael Card on "Smaller than Small", all the way to the rich contemplative acapella tapestry on "Kyrie Motet".

Talbot continues evolve in his ability to move amongst musical styles and deliver authentic music. Highly recommended!

5 stars isn't enough for this CD
John Michael Talbot brilliantly combines various styles of music and religious beliefs in this collection of great, easy-to-listen-to songs. The songs are calm, peaceful, melodic, intriguing, and attention-getting all at the same time. This is something to listen to for easy meditation. I am a big fan of Talbot's simple, soft, guitar-with-voice combination songs, but I was equally attracted to these songs. I just bought this CD, and fell in love with it after listening to the first song. This CD isn't solely for Christian, because he combines Christian tradition with works from other religions that make it interesting to see the correlations between the faiths. This might be a little too slow for pre-teens and for some teens, but this is excellent for anyone older than that, especially those looking for some relaxing music.

Follow the Theme
As usual John Michael's music is excellent. But I continue to choose his cds for the themes.

"For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities--his eternal power and divine nature--have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse." (Romans 1:20).

John Michael begins with a section of "natural religion". He explores the idea that nature and the world religions contain an element of revelation of God's majesty. But he does not water down the Christian faith by merging it with world religions. Just the opposite, he then brings the hearer to a fuller revelation of God through the incarnation of Jesus Christ.

I'm Blessed
This album moves me with God's Spirit. It is more than just excellent musicians and excellent singing. This album is a prayer in the truest sense. It glorifies God and raises the spirit within you to such a level that it is hard to describe. All the songs are good but my favorites are 'Kyrie' and 'Philippians Canticle'. Guess I just have to get the rest of his albums.JMT's music will put you in a very good place in this crazy world.

Two thumbs WAY up!
After seeing John Micheal perform these songs at my church, I just HAD to get this CD. More modern and "rock-y" than many of John Michael's past albums, this cd will definitely rock you with God's love. Absolutely wonderful! ... Read more

Amazon.com

At the tender age of 14, Stacie Orrico is poised to become aninfluential voice of her generation; her debut release Genuine not onlyunveils a dazzling voice, but it radiates her generation's slick, urban popcool. Discovered at a Christian artist seminar in 1998, Stacie was signed toForefront Records at age 12 and has been working with industry heads, fashioninga career since. The songs on this project speak honestly and practically toStacie's peer group about issues of Christian living, and its urban flair fitsright into the mix of mainstream radio. Competing side by side with the likes ofBritney Spears, Stacie's first single, the groove-heavy "Don't Look at Me,"points to Christ as the only true example of perfection and virtue. Thisinfusion of God's truth into today's urban pop brings a refreshing perspective.--Israel Button ... Read more

Reviews (83)

Solid Debut
Here's a summary of each song:
1.Ride 4/5-Busy song that has a slow start,but speeds up quickly,becoming a unique,funky song.

2.Don't Look At Me 5/5-My personal favorite on this cd.Has an edgy,infectious beat and a good message.

3.O,O Baby 4/5-Definitely the most danceable song on this cd,but I don't like the chorus.

4.Without Love 5/5-Best ballad I've ever heard.Who would've thought that someone could take a Scripture passage and make such
a good song out of it?

5.Stay True 5/5-As far as songs with attitude go,this is one of my favorites.The background music alone makes the song worth it.

6.Genuine 5/5-This is the perfect blend of pop/R&B,and another one of my personal faves.It has a cool,clean sound and a great message.Also,the music video rocks.

7.With a Little Faith 2/5-I used to love this track,but it's played out.Too upbeat for my taste.

8.So Pray 4/5-Very R&Besque :).However,it could even pass for a
song with Chinese words.

9.Holdin' On 2/5-Repetitive,boring,and nonsensical.

10.Restore My Soul 0/5-I struggled to stay awake the first time I heard this piece of crap.I challenge you to listen to this song.

11.Confidant 3.5/5-Upbeat nightclub track that will grow on you if you give it time.

12.Everything 4/5-Tender ballad that can appeal to secular and Christian audiences alike.

13.Dear Friend 3/5-Sweet,but slow.

Grand Total:47/65
Contains weak filler tracks,but some songs alone are worth purchasing the cd for.Definitely worth a listen.

I CAN*T BELIEVE HOW GOOD THIS IS!
Stacie Orrico is amazing! I can't believe how much talent she has...After listening to her cd only once, I know that it's a must have for everyone..
Her voice is absolutely beautiful comparable to the likes of mariah carey and celine dion. It is so hard to believe that this is her FIRST cd - lyrically her songs are so devoted to God, and she has a talent that makes the words shine through and really mean something to the listener.

Although I was at Creation West and she was one of the performers along with Rachel Lampa, DC TALK, Newsboys..etc..
I didn't attend her concert - I wasn't interested in that kind of teen pop, and I'm still not really that interested in the genre - but her music is so AWESOME! It is hard to be ignored...I feel like such a fool for missing her performance!!!
I only stopped listening to lots of secular music lately - but she is WAY better than Britney and Christina and all of those teeny boppers!

She is a rising star - I'm lovin this cd, but I cannot wait until her sophomore cd!
:D

Stacie Orrico
Genuine is the debut disc from alternative CCM artist Stacie Orrico, which combines her positive Christian convictions with musical inspiration, embracing the pop/urban influence represented by Christina Aguilera and Lauryn Hill. Orrico deals with tricky lyrical issues (insecurity, peer pressure, anorexia) while musically sustaining mainstream crossover appeal. To her credit, Orrico co-wrote "Don't Look at Me," "Genuine," and the disc's closing track "Dear Friend," exclusively.

Christian Music Rocks
I think stacie orrico,s music is awsome i don,t go to church at all because in Australia we don,t have much of religion here but after hearing this album i think i,m turning religous.
Stacie Orrico has an awsome voice an appearence to fall for what more could you want.
I think i,ve fallen in love with her.
Great job Stacie.

I like it
The sound might be a bit outdated but I still like it. Her new cd "Stacie Orrico" is much more superior to this one. My favorite songs on Genuine are: Without Love, Genuine, & With a little faith. If you're a fan of Stacie then you might like this. It's a great debut. ... Read more

Reviews (80)

Amy's Long & Winding Road as a Maturing Artist ...
Amy Grant has one of the most distinctive voices - and vocal styles - in music today. She can take a ballad and wring fresh tears from eyes that have long-since dried. She can take a beat and effortlessly make your fingers snap and your toes tap. I was concerned, however, that her more recent albums were almost too polished & pop-culturized (if that's even a word). My biggest fear was that Amy Grant would become a sanitized, homogenized, pre-packaged commodity. How wonderful to be proved wrong!! On "Behind the Eyes", Amy is weaving a complex, touching, and heart-wrenching story ... each song's story seems to lead right into the next. Interesting that there doesn't seem to be any genuinely "upbeat songs"; though I can't say that I feel sad after listening to the album. The arrangements are just right ... not too much, not too little. She resonates with a depth of soul and spirit that is welcome to these old ears o' mine!

Thank you, Amy ... thank you for showing what a tremendous talent and thoughtful person you really are.

An introspective Amy at the crossroads
I think comparisons to LEAD ME ON are inevitable. But this is really a new Amy Grant -- actually, an Amy-Grant-in-progress looking at life from the crossroads. This introspective release is brave, sad, vulnerable and hopeful all at the same time. One of my favorite cuts is "Cry A River" -- a really beautiful chorus, and surprising subject matter for a "gospel-pop princess": deep regret over the right love at the wrong time. Musically, she packages -- and not always neatly -- her lyrics in primarily acoustic arrangements with some cool bass lines and a few jangly guitars. Apart from "I Will Be Your Friend" and "Leave It All Behind" those breezy '70's choruses are gone. "Takes A Little Time" makes you think of Tom Petty's guitars. But the closer, "Somewhere Down The Road", really brings it all together. It is an amazing expression of the sometimes fragile but ever enduring hope and faith that keep you going when you see life for what it really is -- the pain and joy of the journey.

Straight from Amy's Heart to Mine
In this cd, Amy reveals some of her deepest, sadest, most human feelings and weaknesses. Behind the Eyes let's the listener know "you are not alone in feeling this way." Everyone has their up times and their down times and it takes a truly amazing artist to share the down times so openly with her audience. That is exactly what Amy Grant does, she shares her life through song with her audience. She has done it for over 27 years now. For years Lead Me On was my favorite Amy Grant cd, but then Behind the Eyes came along and knocked Lead Me On into second place. I have all of Amy's albums including the 2002 Legacy and the 2003 Simple Things. I enjoy them all, but Behind the Eyes will always hold a special place in my heart, just like Lead Me On does.

This album has a more acoustic, rock, raw sound that House of Love or Heart In Motion, which shows Amy's style has a wide range. The song writing on this cd is frank, real, honest, and yes sometimes painful, yet still hopeful. Behind the Eyes can be summed up in one word: bittersweet. The journey of life is often bittersweet over the years and that is exactly what this cd collection shows. The tracks Turn this World Around and The Felling I Had are favorites of mine. They are so honest. I hope God blesses you with this album as he has me.

The human side of Amy Grant
This is a different but good cd. I belleve that CCM intially called it "the real unguarded" or something to that effect. This is way more real and "Unguarded" than the cd she that held that same name. On Behind the Eyes, you can see the human side of Amy in her songs and lyrics.

Amy Grant's best CD
This is my favorite Amy Grant CD. I spent a month in the hospital. During that month I listened to this CD everyday. I will always cherish it. "Leave it all behind" is my favorite song. I also love "I will be your friend" and Cry a river". All of the songs are good. Some people take personal attacks against Amy because of her failed marriage. These judgmental people are hypocrites. Thay claim to be Christian, and then judge her. It reminds me of the story in the gospel of John where the Pharasees brought a woman to Jesus who was being accuse of adultry. Jesus said nothing. All Jesus kept doing was scribbling in the sand. He was probably writing out the evidence of guilt of those who were accusing her of sin. One by one they all left, leaving Jesus and the woman. I will not judge Amy Grant. I have always enjoyed her music. This one CD stands alone as her best ever, as far as I am concerned. It moved my heart and helped me through a very difficult time in my life. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Twenty or thirty years ago, if anyone had tried to imagine what worshipwould sound like in the 21st century, he or she probably would have been wayoff. What Delirious has brought to life with its 2000 release Glo isnothing less than a perfect depiction of worshipful expression in a newmillennium, something no forecast could have predicted. Blending the mostcelebrated aspects of their previous records, Glo combines the electronicspace-rock ofMezzamorphis with theeuphoric worship anthems ofKing of Fools andCutting Edge. The exotic songcraft and production together fashion thisotherworldly journey, and crest with Martin Smith's divinely awestruck andheaven-desperate temperament. Although Delirious has been in the worshippingbusiness since the early 1990s, each member has retained a focused passion thatclearly is unfeigned and likely to cause an internal double take within thosewho attempt a causal listen. Even the floaty electronic textures of Glo'sballads carry an energy that will not let one drift from the path that the songsare taking. This extravagant response of worship to an infinite God is unmatchedby any other worship artist. Delirious fans already will hold a high opinion ofthe band, but this disc exceeds even lofty expectations. --Israel Button ... Read more

Reviews (57)

An incredible worship experience!
When you hear the Delirious is releasing another worship cd, then you immediately know it's going to be good. All that's left to ask now is: "How good?" The answer is simple: "Incredible!" This cd is unique in that there are 4 "Glo" cuts that are spontaneous worship times when the band was finished with a song but felt led to continue playing and flowing afterward. Definitely not your usual studio album! Several great songs on here, as well as an updated "Jesus' Blood" from the "Mezzamorphis" cd. "Awaken the Dawn" is great, and the first song "God You are my God" is fabulous! No doubt you'll be hearing these songs rotate through worship services of churches everywhere before long! I know they'll be in our youth services very soon!

A must-have worship album
Delirious? is one of the most talented worship bands out there. This CD is really an important CD to have for all worship music fans. It is a revolutionary sound that is going to help define worship music for years to come. This is the worship of the 21st century, and it is great. This CD isn't the most enjoyable to just listen to straight through, but I don't think it's really meant to be. By listening to some of the songs on this CD (such as Investigate and Hang On To You) you can gain a perception of how talented this band is. Both of these songs are incredible musically and lyrically, as is the rest of the CD. This is truly an original, unique, and revolutionary CD.

"High Church" Modern Worship
I got this album in mid-2001, and sensed that it was something special, but it just never hit the right mood for me. Then in late summer 2002, when I was reading about the Orthodox and Catholic churches and church history, this album hit me in the right spot. I call this "high church modern worship." 

The opening song sets the tone with a call to worship in Gregorian chant. Then the electric guitars begin and the sung words, "God, You are my God...." Other words from this grand opening song are, "I've seen Your power and Your glory; You've let me see You in the sanctuary...." What also makes this a good opening song is the phrase repeated by the background choral singers, "Come to the house of God." This is a song that just sets the tone for a time of awe-inspiring worship of the Powerful One. It's very classy music. After the main portion of the song, as Delirious? is known to do from time to time, they just continue to play, no words, just in continued worship, expressing their awe of God.

The second song features the "church people" singing "Holy is the Lord." Then for the next two songs, things quiet down, and these are the types of songs that Delirious? does that normally put me to sleep, but on this album, there is such a special sense of worship about it, I don't completely lose it, although more often than not I skip these tracks. Things waken up again on the fifth song, "My Glorious," which is a strong, grand, powerful statement of God's power: "God is bigger than the air I breathe...God will save the day, and all will say 'My glorious [God]...'" We sing this song quite frequently at the church I go to (Ann Arbor Vineyard).

The next three songs are mellow again. Sometimes I listen to them, but I ALWAYS skip "Hang On To You," which is dreadful Barry Manilow type music. What were they thinking???

The third mellow song, "Intimate Stranger," has a quiet worshipful instrumental lingering at the end, and then suddenly, excitement bursts forth as the next track begins, "Awaken The Dawn." The chorus of this song goes, "You are the Lord, the Savior of all, God of creation we praise You." This is a very grand, majestic song. And something else special about this? An important instrument in it is bagpipes! Now when is the last time you heard bagpipes in a modern worship song? But it works. It's quite awesome, especially at the end of the song when they go into one of their extended worshipful instrumental meanderings again, and the bagpipes come to the forefront.

Like all Delirious? albums, this one is highly variable in quality--in my book anyway--with great fast songs and boring slow songs--but this is by far their best album ever. The good songs are so good, they make the whole album strong enough to put it at #5 on my list of Favorite CDs of 2002. This is an incredible worship experience. I have played this album a lot--and continue to play it--mostly just my favorite tracks, but those 4 songs I love are 27 minutes in length, enough for nearly any trip in the car around town. Some whole albums I have are not much longer than 27 minutes, so there's plenty for me to enjoy with just these four songs.

This album is such a Delirious? masterpiece that I doubted even they could follow up with anything as good. And in fact, their follow-up album, "Touch," is nothing of the experience that "Glo" is, although it does have a different focus so it's hard to compare directly. 

When you are in the mood for high church worship using modern rock music, when you're in the mood for majestic, grand worship of God, this is the album to listen to.

Perfect
This cd is nothing short of perfect. I love how the whole cd flows together like a soundtrack. I call it a soundtrack for worship. There's a song on this album for everyone. For someone struggling or for someone joyful. My favorites are "Investigate", "My Glorious" and "What Would I Have Done". This is the type of cd that you can never bored listening to and you can worship along with. Buy this cd and experience one of the best cds you can get.

The best worship album I've heard.
Spectacular disc bringing worship to a whole new level. The problem I have with the worship bandwagon today is that it's so...cliche...and too contemporary. Delirious avoids these problems and makes worship ROCK and ROLL with "Glo". Not much else to say. The track, "My Glorious" is so breathtaking and powerful, it must be heard. That is all. ... Read more

Amazon.com

As with its extremely successful predecessors, WOW 1998 gathers a selection of the most popular songs by the hottest artists gracing contemporary Christian music that year. The two-disc set has one disc of sacred pop music (the red CD) and one of sacred rock (the black CD). Featured are the likes of Rebecca St. James, Jars of Clay, and Petra on the first; 4HIM, BeBe and CeCe, and Anointed on the second. "Difference" by Jaci Velasquez, the acoustic flavorings of Caedman's Call, and DC Talk's supremely hummable "Colored People" are standouts on the red disc. Steven Curtis Chapman, Point of Grace, and Bryan Duncan let loose on the black disc. Each song, including relatively subdued turns by Sandi Patty and Kathy Troccoli, complements the whole, giving Christians a spiritual option to the less flexible tunes of Sunday mornings and the tried-and-true hits of yesterday's contemporary Christian music. --Paige La Grone ... Read more

Reviews (25)

Great cd, I really liked it...
The "WoW 1998" cd is and amazingly good cd. The artists include such people as Amy Grant, DC talk, Newsboys, Jars of Clay, Point of Grace, Carmen and other such music artists. The songs in this cd are incredibly clear lyricly and have strong messages to deliver to people. Such songs as "Reality," "Missing Person," and "Colored People" make the first disk and incredible listen. The second disk with the songs "Let Us Pray," "Circle of Friends," and "Up Where We Belong" make the second disk worth listening to as well. In short, the cd and the layout of it, is amazing, and if you ever get the chance, listen to it and be amazed.

A perfect sampler
The WOW series is the perfect way to sample CCM music. This 1998 CD is one of the best. I first discovered Caedmon's Call because of this CD. I also found Third Day. Plus, you get Michael W. Smith, Rebecca St. James, DC Talk, Jars Of Clay and much more. A total of 30 tracks makes this a good pick. In fact, it is hard to say which one is the best. This one just helped me find artist that I had never heard before.

One of the best WOWs of all time
The balance of musical styles is perfect. A unique variety that's very mainstream, very hip. Give this one a listen, and you'll be humming "Colored People", "Hope To Carry On", and "Missing Person" around the office all day.

best wow yet!
these are the best wow albums in order:
1.wow 1998
2.wow 1997
3.wow 1999
4.wow 2000
5.wow 1996
6.wow 2001
7.wow 2002
thank you and god loves you.

WOW 1998
I enjoy buying these double CD's because they give you a great idea of what the best Christian song's were for any particular year. I have the CD's for 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000 and 2001. Invariably they have some of my favourite artists on such as Steven Curtis Chapman, Twila Paris, Sandi Patty, Michael W. Smith, Avalon and many more. ... Read more

Reviews (49)

Petra's Return to Rock
If you've been disgusted with the "modern rock" or "praise and worship" or other incarnations of Petra in recent years, today is your lucky day! This CD is ROCK 100%! Bob Hartman is back in a big way, writing or co-writing every song and handling guitar duties with a power and creativity that we haven't seen in any of Petra's earlier recordings. Even so, I hear lots of hints of Unseen Power in this CD; after a concert months before album release I was told by John Schlitt himself that this new CD is like Beyond Belief and On Fire! combined. I would have to say that John is underexaggerating... this is the rockiest Petra album EVER!

John himself did a great job at lead vocals; you can tell he was enjoying himself. The album was produced by Peter Furler of Newsboys, and in the wake of the departure from Petra of well-loved and missed drummer Louie Weaver, he also handled drum duties professionally and with style and class.

For those of us who care a lot about the lyrics, the songs on this CD are challenging, thought-provoking, and Bible-based. Scripture references are provided, in true Petra style, for every song, although if you know your Bible you can find things in the songs from areas of Scripture that are not even mentioned. The basic theme of the album is living your life for God, and the ups and downs of every Christian's walk.

This one is EXCELLENT! Don't wait... click "Add to cart" right away!

Awesome Rock Album!
I've been listening to Petra since the Greg X. Volz days with songs like "Not Of This World" and "Graverobber." When my brother bought "Back To The Street," which was the first album with John Schlitt, it took some getting used to. However, I grew to love Petra even more and by the time their second John Schlitt album came out "This Means War!" came out, that album is just awesome! "Jekyll & Hyde" is Petra's best rock album since "This Means War!" There are so many great Petra records, "Beyond Belief", "On Fire", "Unseen Power", but I thought into the later 90's, with albums like "God Fixation" and "No Doubt" musically they sounded good, but it sounded like something is missing. After 2001's "Revival" Petheads were clammering for a rock album! "Jekyll & Hyde" delivers that after at least a decade long wait! The songs, "Jekyll & Hyde", "Perfect World", and "Test Of Time" are especially good. The only criticism I've read is it's a short album, which I do understand. At somewhere between 30-35 minutes, it's unusually short, but an awesome rock album none the less. With Bob Hartman back and guitars, Schlitt still showing his power vocals, and the Newsboys frontman producing, Petra shows not only that they can still rock for guys in their 50's, but it shows their continuing passion for what the music is about, that Jesus Christ is our Lord and Savior! Keep the fire going boys!!

The Roaring Return of Petra
I am quite simply blown away by this CD, it is unlike anything Petra has done before, aggressive, hard-hitting, earth shattering rock. Turn up the volume, roll down the windows and share this!

Only a couple of short-comings
I was ecstatic to learn that Petra had finally gone back into the studio to do some real hard rock-n'-roll. This album definitely does not dissapoint with the power that comes bellowing out of your speakers.

John Schlitt's voice sounds awesome, as usual. He brings back that gritty high-octane sound that got the fans hooked back in the day, before they went through nearly a whole decade without doing anything really edgy.

Also, it is great to hear Bob hartman playing the guitar parts again. We missed you Bob. Not to short-change the other guitar players that they have had since, but there is only one "Bob Hartman of Petra".

Another plus: Have Tony Palacios of hard-rock/heavy-metal's "Guardian" produce your album, your bound to have some real power.

My two criticisms of this album: (1) It is too short because (2) there are no guitar solos. I mean, bring B. Hartman back and have T. Palacios produce your album, and have no guitar solos??? A little odd.

Anyway, get past that critique, and you still have a great album that is actually a little heavier than anything else they have ever done.

This is the PETRA I remember!!!
I grew up listening to Petra, and God used them as the ultimate catalyst for bringing me to Him. I've always had a soft spot in my heart for them, buying every album I could. However, "Jekyll & Hyde" is the BEST thing they have done in a decade!

I cannot tell you how disappointed I had become learning that new Petra albums in stores were just a rehash of older songs. I've lost count how many Petra compilations there are out there.

This album has all of the driving rock sounds we've come to love about Petra. It seems they "wandered in the wilderness" in the '90's, but now they've entered the Promised Land with this album!

Thank you Petra! You've renewed my faith in my favorite Christian band! Keep rockin'! ... Read more

Amazon.com

Having broken out of the shadow of DC Talk, Audio Adrenaline has truly evolved into a band locked into their own sound, and they shine like the sun on the band's fifth studio album. With Underdog, they maintain their humility through musical discipleship, but that doesn't preclude the band from having fun--their sound is now distilled to an infectious guitar and keyboard-sweetened rock with enough heaviness and soul to temper the tender sentiments rendered. The title cut, fuzzy, rhythmic rock & roll with rough edges, is one that'll get stuck in your head for days. "DC-10," long part of the band's repertoire, makes an appearance here, rockabilly-style. Jennifer Knapp's poignantly rendered guest vocals add just the right touch to the scratch-and-loop-laden treatment of the hymn "It Is Well with My Soul," and "Get Down" is a radio friendly gem that'll have listeners bouncing around like mad. --Paige La Grone ... Read more

Reviews (89)

Good Christian Rock!
Underdog is an awesome cd. The boys really display their musical abilities in this work, as they showcase several different styles of music, which is one reason I really like this cd. With their "usual crank it up rock," some swing, a little dance pop, and some coffee house jazz, it keeps your ears burning for more. Among the songs, they do a remake of Pete Townsends' "My Love," and have Jennifer Knapp singing backup in an eclectic, but beautiful version of "It is Well With my Soul." When I'm in need of a pick up, I often listen to this. A few of the messages in this cd..... You get down, God lifts you up; Be His hands and feet by doing His work; Do ya know where you'll spend eternity?!; There's more important things in life than frettin' over such petty things as houseplant care and how "undignified" some Christian music may sound (you have to listen to The Houseplant Song to dig it. Sounds strange at first, but it's pretty cool)! If you're looking for some good Christian rock...this is your ticket.

Excellent album but no 5stars
Audio adrenalin is on a streak of 5 great albums in a row all rated 4 or 5 stars by me. This is the weakest of the five, but still an excellent album.

Why 4 stars? This album is full of 3 and 4 star songs, but lacks that super star song that they always seem to come up with on the other albums.

Also, 5 of the songs on this album appear on the best of.. HIT PARADE. So the question arises, with so many of the best songs on HIT PARADE what is one missing by not buying this album. For one, you'll miss Its Over. It is a great, end of concert song that I love with the chorus going:

-Say good night to, all the friends who, Rock and Roll beside you-.

You also get a couple of good 3 star songs: Good Life, an up beat, feel good song, and This Day.

The 4 star songs on this CD are Mighty Good Leader, Underdog, Hands and Feet and Its Over, the first three are on HIT PARADE.

A 2 star song DC-10, which was on their self titled album, appears on this album and again on HIT PARADE.

Great Band, Great CD!
Audio Adrenaline is a band that has such a wide-range of capabilities. They have the ability to jam like Van Halen or create a fun song with more of a message than slamming guitar riffs (not sure if riffs is the correct term); this CD is a mix of both abilities. But I bought this CD for one song in particular - "Get Down". That song and that video was one of the first contemporary Christian music works to inspire me to turn to "almost exclusively" Christian music.

Now, let's examine the CD song by song:

#1. Mighty Good Leader - Not a bad song, but some parts are a little bland and the song seems like it was rushed together. Could have flowed a little more - too choppy. But, hey, it's Audio Adrenaline; even their bad songs are good.

#2. Underdog - Nice message, fast-paced. It sounds a little too much like the singer is talking instead singing. But, hey, it's Audio Adrenaline; even their bad songs are good.

#3. Get Down - The first song I ever heard by Audio Adrenaline. This song is incredible fun! If you haven't heard this song, you need to. One of the best "slow beat to fast beat" and back again songs of all time. I have seen AA live twice; this song captures their amazing stage presence; can you say ENERGY?

#4. Good Life - This song showcases Mark Stuart's amazing voice; it is the most unique voice out there. Mac Powell of Third Day is the only one close to Stuart in this category. This song is a little slow, but every CD has to have a few slow ones.

#5. Let My Love Open The Door - This is a remake of Pete Townshend's song; it is performed brilliantly by AA. Wow - love this remake, and you will too!

#6. Hands and Feet - Not only is the music video great, the song is too. We have to be the hands and feet of Jesus. We really need to go where God calls us; where we are needed. This song had to be written by God and handed to AA. This song tugs at my heart every time I hear it.

#7. Jesus Movement - One of those FUN songs that I really just can't get into. I don't like the whole Spanish-style-background music. They could have left this one off the CD and I don't think we would have missed it. But, hey, it's Audio Adrenaline; even their bad songs are good.

#8. DC-10 - Fast-paced 60's rock & roll beat with a good message. This song can bring a smile to your face; I just picture the guys in the band flying around the stage with white T-shirts, blue jeans, and oil-slicked hair while performing this quick-paced diddy.

#9. It Is Well With My Soul - Bring it down a little - serious business here. Moving song, featuring the absolutely beautiful voice of Jennifer Knapp. She is an amazing artist. I love the fact that she works with so many other artists to create great music for the Lord!

#10. This Day - Once again, a great slow piece honoring out Lord. Stunningly simple and moving. Good show AA. Giving each day to the Lord - breath in, breath out - watching the day begin.

#11. It's Over - Good song about the drawing to an end; the show is over and I loved it. We need to stay focused on Jesus even when we are not at a Christian concert. We need to take that love, inspiration and excitement with us where ever we go.

#12 The Houseplant Song - Yes folks, rock and roll will kill your house plants. Oh, the humanity!

Great CD!
See ya next review!
www.therunninggirl.com

Underdog comes out on top
Let me give you some background. I am a Christian music enthusiast. I've always enjoyed singing along to Jars of Clay, Switchfoot, Caedmon's Call and Audio Adrenaline. I never really had a favorite band....until Underdog came out. As my music collection swells out of control Underdog remains my favorite album. Simply put, this CD rocks. Every track is a winner. No fillers here.

In addition to all the great rock sounds there is also a duet with Jennifer Knapp covering "It is Well with My Soul". It's a beautiful rendition. I had this CD in my car for nearly a month without switching, and I still pop it in regularly.

If you want a safe bet for a great christian rock album, look no further. It doesn't get much better than this.

Good Singing and Songwriting
Unlike a lot of Christian Rock/Pop bands today, Audio Adrenaline writes most of their own songs which I really admire. And they came out with another great original album.

Though Audio Adrenaline's music is a little poppy, which I generally dont like, this music has a perfect mix of rock, pop, an just plain catchy tunes.

Overall, this album is highly recommended to all. ... Read more