Fri Oct 14, 2005
Album Review - Soul's Chapel by Marty Stuart
Artist: Marty Stuart and His Fabulous Superlatives
Album: Soul's Chapel
Label: Superlatone
Release Date: October 25, 2005
I've always been a fan of Marty Stuart, in most of his various musical endeavors. He's done everything from bluegrass to country to rockabilly to... well, you get the idea. His latest project, "Soul's Chapel", combines the best in gospel songwriting with electric 'southern soul' to make one of the most enjoyable and pleasing listening experiences I've had!
There's so much great music on this one, it'd be hard for me to spotlight one song over another. The whole album has this wonderful 'southern soul' groove to it that just makes me want to keep listening and sing along. Needless to say, this one's gonna stay in my player for a good long while before I get tired of it.
This album has that comfortable feel of classic sounds blended with great songs of faith. If you like good southern soul music with a good back beat and a good groove, you'd better buy this one as soon as you can. I promise you won't regret it! Go Buy It!
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Thu Oct 13, 2005
Album Review - Miracles by George Huff
Artist: George Huff
Album: Miracles
Label: Word
Release Date: October 11, 2005
If you want to know the truth, I loved George Huff when he was on American Idol. He was the happiest, most joyful person I had ever seen on that TV show, and I even caught myself asking what it was he was so happy about all the time! Well, if his first album is any indication of things, then it is obvious to me that he finds his joy in the Lord!
This is, in my opinion, the best full length put out by any of the A.I. folks to date, let alone one of the grooviest discs I've heard as of late. All of the tracks are very well done, and suit George's singing style very well. My favorite track on the album is the first, "Real Love (I Got It)", with a totally driving hip-hop sound that works very well for George.
This is a great album by a great new artist. You'd better keep your eye on George Huff, because we'll only be hearing bigger and better things from him in the future. If his first album sounds this good, just wait until the next one! Go Buy It!
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Wed Oct 12, 2005
Album Review - Music Inspired by The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe
Artist: Various
Album: Music Inspired by The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe
Label: Sparrow
Release Date: September 27, 2005
I've always been a huge 'Chronicles Of Narnia' fan, ever since I first picked the books up. Even back then, I always thought the books could be made into a great movie, if ever produced by the right folks. Now that I know the first movie will be coming out on December 9, 2005, what's a fan to do until then? How about listening to this cool disc entitled, "Music Inspired by The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe"?
Since the artists on this project reads like a 'Who's Who' of Christian music, you'd expect nothing less than a stellar project. And guess what? You'd be exactly right! This disc is full of great original songs from Jars Of Clay, Steven Curtis Chapman, Jeremy Camp, Bethany Dillon, Delirious?, Rebecca St. James, tobyMac, Nichole Nordeman, David Crowder Band, Kutless, and Chris Tomlin.
My favorite tracks from the album are 'Waiting For The World To Fall' (Jars Of Clay), 'Hero' (Bethany Dillon), 'Open Up Your Eyes' (Jeremy Camp), and 'Turkish Delight' (David Crowder Band). 'Turkish Delight' wins my kudos for being the most disco influenced track on the project, while still managing to sound completely awesome!
This is a great project that will be a great listen even long after the movie goes on to be Disney's highest grossing film ever (well, that's my guess at least). Go Buy It!
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Tue Oct 11, 2005
Album Review - Add To The Beauty by Sara Groves
Artist: Sara Groves
Album: Add To The Beauty
Label: INO Records
Release Date: October 4, 2005
If you like well written songs, great female vocals, and great music, then you should check out Sara Grove's latest album, 'Add To The Beauty.' I'm not usually a big listener to female soloists, but Sara Groves has fast become one of my new favorites. She has her own voice that's easily distinguishable from other artists, but it's polished enough to sound great with any musical backing.
There's a nice variety of songs on here to choice from, none venturing too far from what you'd expect from a good pop album, but enough variety to keep it very interesting and well rounded. I've listened to this album several times through, and it just keeps getting better every time!
If you've been searching for some great Christian pop/contemporary female artists, you'd better add Sara Groves to your list. In fact, why don't you go on ahead and Buy It?
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Mon Oct 10, 2005
Album Review - Life Is A Church by David Phelps
Artist: David Phelps
Album: Life Is A Church
Label: Word
Release Date: September 27, 2005
If there is no other certainty in Gospel Music, there will always be this constant: Bill Gaither will always be able to find talented singers for his group that will later move on and have great solo ministries.
Well, even if that's not always the case, it is the case with David Phelps, a former Gaither Vocal Band member. David's newest project, 'Life Is A Church', is full of great songs and sounds that remind us that every part of life is an act of worship to God. I'd be hard pressed to pick any one song that I liked the best off of this one, but here are a few: 'Legacy Of Love', 'That's What Love Is', 'The Name Lives On', 'Power', 'Life Is A Church'.
This is a great album to listen to from start to finish, because the flow and continuity from song to song is wonderful. David has done an outstanding job on his latest outing, keeping up the high standards he has set for himself, and raising the bar for all that follow. If you are addicted to the sounds of contemporary Christian music performed by one of the best in the business, you need to add 'Life Is A Church' to your collection. Go Buy It!
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Sat Oct 08, 2005
Album Review - Lifesong by Casting Crowns
Artist: Casting Crowns
Album: Lifesong
Label: Beach Street Records
Release Date: August 30, 2005
Like a lot of folks, I was a huge fan of Casting Crowns' first album. It had great songs, great messages, and it was unlike most albums out at the time. Instead of focusing on making 'pretty' songs about nothing, these guys spent their energy on songs that meant something, songs that preached for themselves.
'Lifesong' continues in the same vein as their self-titled debut, and edges further up the ladder on all counts. The song writing and production are great on this one, and they pull no punches in their songwriting. 'Lifesong' feels very much like a really good sequel to their first album, not straying too far off the beaten path they've already established, but venturing out just enough to be new.
I found this great quote by Mark Hall, the lead singer and founder of the group. This really sums up what makes these guys so unique in the industry:
"All of life is worship. If we're not careful we will 'praise worship' and 'worship praise.' We begin to look at worship as an experience when, in reality, our corporate worship is simply the culmination of the life we should be living all week long. The songs on this new album try to look at what a life of worship looks like. Whether we are called to 'Praise God in this Storm' or simply 'Love Them Like Jesus' we must begin to see all of life as about Him and not us. That is what we want to say to the church this time around."
If you liked their first project like I do, then your sure to like this one too. Go
Buy It!
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Fri Oct 07, 2005
Album Review - Another Journal Entry by BarlowGirl
Artist: BarlowGirl
Album: Another Journal Entry
Label: Fervent Records
Release Date: September 27, 2005
I know I've asked the question more than a few times, "Where are all the awesome female fronted Christian rock bands at?" We've got some awesome solo ladies, and some kickin' female members of bands, but how many female fronted Christian rock bands to you know of?
If you aren't familiar with them, then let me introduce you to BarlowGirl, the rockin'-est three sisters in Christian music. Their new album 'Another Journal Entry' is full of great songs, ranging in topics from God to purity to dating. The music on this album is rockin' (can you say rockin' too many times in an album review?), and the harmonies are as good as any out there. I mean, can you really beat three sisters who play and sing in a band for the glory of God?
If you dig female fronted Christian ROCK bands, then you need to check out BarlowGirl. Don't file these girls away in your 'pop/contemporary' folder, but be sure and add them to your heavy rotation! Well, what are you waiting for? Go Buy It!
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Thu Oct 06, 2005
Album Review - Look To You by Hillsong United
Artist: Hillsong United
Album: Look To You
Label: Integrity Music
I've been on an amazing live album kick this past week, and I've searched and sought after the best ones I could find to tell you about. This album, 'Look To You', is one of the best and I encourage any worship music fan to get this one.
I have yet to listen to a bad Hillsong project, and this one is no exception. The album kicks off with some great driving, sing-a-long worship tunes that I wasn't familiar with, but by the time the songs were over, I was singing right along with them! I had my speakers cranked at my computer, and I'm glad no one else was around, because I was worshiping and praising Jesus lust as well as the folks I was listening to on the CD!
This is a very good live worship project, full of great songs that any church would do well to add to their song list (if p&w is there thing, of course!). All this talking about 'Look To You' is making me want to listen to it again, so while I go and do that, why don't you go and Buy It!
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Wed Oct 05, 2005
Album Review - Blessed Be Your Name: The Songs Of Matt Redman, Volume 1
Artist: Matt Redman
Album: Blessed Be Your Name: The Songs Of Matt Redman, Volume 1
Label: Six Step Records
Release Date: July 19, 2005
When I first saw this project I thought to myself, "Ok, another Matt Redman project with a bunch of songs that I already have on other albums. I'll check it out but I'm not expecting much more than an average project." After I listened to it, I realized I was totally wrong on plenty of counts!
This album has every single one of my favorite Matt Redman songs, all performed live and captured beautifully. I'm usually a bit leary of live recordings, especially those of songs I already have studio recordings of, but these live versions go above and beyond the studio tracks, making me feel like I'm at a worship event with Matt Redman leading the way.
I could go on and on about how much I like this project, but instead of rambling for a while, why don't you just go buy it ! It's a necessary addition to any worship collection.
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Mon Oct 03, 2005
Album Review - Bone A Fide by T-Bone
Artist: T-Bone
Album: Bone A Fide
Label: Flicker Records
Release Date: September 27, 2005
This is the latest release from "The King of Conscious Rap", T-Bone. This kind of disc isn't normally something I get into, but the more tracks I listened to, the more I found myself noddin' and getting into the songs. This is a very well produced album, with kickin' tracks and meaningful messages in each song and around every corner. This album goes a mile a minute, so you better be paying attention while you listen!
Here's a great quote from T-Bone's bio, on his website:
' What T-Bone stands for is nothing short of a planetary spiritual revolution with all praises due to God. Without preaching, T-Bone speaks in the fiery, lava-like flow of Hip Hop, running over and penetrating everything in its path to sear in the concept of a better way of life. '
If your lookin' for some Hip-Hop with a positive Christian vibe, then look no further than T-Bone's latest, 'Bone A Fide'. Go Buy It!
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