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JOHN MELLENCAMP TACKLES LIFE'S STRUGGLES

This is the latest offering from that doyen of a man who is the cool all-American rock star but who also has a deep social conscience. I first became a fan of John Mellencamp in the late 1980s when he produced such classic albums as Scarecrow and The Lonesome Jubilee. On the inside cover of the latter album, there is a verse from the first chapter of Ecclesiastes which says,

     “Generations come and go, but it makes no difference. The sun rises and sets and hurries around to rise again. The wind blows south and north, here and there, twisting back and forth, getting nowhere. The rivers run into the sea but the sea is never full, and the water returns again to the rivers, and flows again to the sea…everything is unutterably weary and tiresome. No matter how much we see, we are never satisfied; no matter how much we hear, we are not content. So I saw that there is nothing better for men than that they should be happy in their work, for that is what they are here for, and no one can bring them back to life to enjoy what will be in the future, so let them enjoy it now.”

    NILS VON KALM takes a look at John Mellencamp's take on Life, Death, Love And Freedom... | more... |

TOBYMAC'S FIRST LIVE DVD SHOWCASES HIS BEST

dcTalk helped me become a Christian. I saw their Welcome to the Freak Show live concert on VHS and couldn’t believe they were a Christian band. Surely Christian music had guys in braces playing harps and singing, “Hallelujah,” all the time. Right? Wrong-thankfully. I loved that album and listened to the tape so many times I destroyed it. Then when Jars of Clay, Newsboys and delirious came along all my misconceptions about Christianity were swept away. Contemporary Christian music has been an integral part of my life since.

     dcTalk’s last album of new material, 1998’s Supernatural, was certainly a fitting swansong from the groundbreaking boys, and the demand for an immediate re-union was high. I don’t think many people expected TobyMac to be the most successful solo artist after the split. With the soaring voices of Michael Tait and Kevin Max “that guy that does all the rapping” had to work hard to get noticed. But he did, and it paid off.

    KRIS BATHER takes a look at TobyMac's first live DVD... | more... |

THE BEST THE JARS HAVE TO OFFER (AND THAT'S SAYING SOMETHING!)

Bring together titles like Flood, Show You Love, Crazy Times, Worlds Apart, Frail and Love Song For A Saviour and you have a set that represents millions of album sales worldwide, a whole bunch of movie soundtracks, and, no doubt, the soundtrack to a few people's lives.
      Jars burst onto the scene [pun possibly intended] in 1995 with their platinum selling self-titled album, fuelled by the massive success of the single Flood. Relentless writing and touring ensued. The beautiful thing about their story is three-fold: 1, they sound like nobody else I can think of; 2, the lyric is always uncompromising in its artistic depth and its spiritual reality, and; 3, they sound like nobody else. It’s true and it’s worth noting twice.
      Recently the boys have become independent artists again and, as such, we get to see this collection come to light.

    JUSTIN MICHAEL finds much to impress on the Jar's best of... | more... |

ALL THE BIG NAMES COME TOGETHER FOR THE PERFECT BBQ STARTER

Although I’m still sure that most compilations get listened to a few times and then popped on the shelf for posterity or an upcoming family BBQ, this one has quite a few gems that you may want to rip into your player for future jogging expeditions.
      There are the regulars here including Newsboys' In Wonder, Stephen Curtis Chapman with Miracle Of The Moment, Chris Tomlin’s always popular version of Amazing Grace and tunes from Barlowgirl, Third Day and Jeremy Camp. All of the tracks have been hits in the US and at least half should be well known to Aussie 'n Kiwi Christian music radio audiences.

    JUSTIN MICHAEL finds the perfect album to have a snag with... | more... |

SINGING WITH A PASSION

OK, hands up if you love the Passion movement?  Haven’t heard of 'em?  Bet you have.  Try this; hands up if you’ve seen any messages on DVD lately from a guy named Louie Giglio?  Hands up if you’ve sung How Great Is Our God with the hymn of How Great Thou Art attached?  Now hands up if you’re au fait with names like Tomlin, Crowder, Redman and Hall.  Chances are, you’ve heard of from the Passion movement and just don’t know it yet.
     Well, each year, this university-based outreach movement in the US pulls together a conference, makes a pretty amazing recording and let’s us listen in once it’s all put together. God Of This City is this year's effort (Oh, and PS, it’s going on tour and will arrive in Sydney live later this year). These songs were recorded at events in Atlanta, Boston and Chicago and significantly, the title track was a collaborative effort credited to ‘Bluetree’. 

    JUSTIN MICHAEL on the Passion movement's God Of This City... | more... |

AUSSIE INDIE SPECIAL

OK, just in case you’re wondering, 'indie' is simply short for independent artists. You may see a record label listed, but generally it’s the artist’s own record label or one that is not referred to as ‘major’ just yet (one of those things that yours truly has always stamped on the back of recorded products). Anyhoo, here’s three that have floated across my desk lately that you will find most likely via the wonders of the world wide web...

    JUSTIN MICHAEL listens to recent albums from Andrew Ironside, Levi McGrath and Andy Pobjoy... | more... |

THE BIG HITS KEEP ROLLING WITH THIRD DAY'S SECOND CHRONOLOGY

Take a moment and contemplate, if you will, titles such as Cry Out To Jesus, Nothing Compares, Creed, Show Me Your Glory or Come On Back To Me. Would you be shocked to find they were all taken from one artist and all in the space of five years?

     With album titles including Come Together, Offerings 2, Wire and Wherever You Are, Third Day have certainly staked a claim as the most influential Christian rock band of the past decade. Show Me Your Glory is just one of those songs that has reached people through radio and other media as well as church life. This chronology CD/DVD pack includes the brilliant, and some would say signature tune (taken from the band's hero Rich Mullins) Creed. It also brings to life the southern rock of Come Together and Come On Back To Me as well as the worship anthem God Of Wonders.

     JUSTIN MICHAEL finds Chronology, Volume Two has hit after hit after...Well, you get the picture... | more... |

PAUL BALOCHE'S OUR GOD SAVES WILL GET YOU SINGING

OK, so you may only know the name Baloche for the song Open The Eyes Of My Heart, or Above All, but if you’ve never gone any further into the catalogue, you really are missing out. Mr B has an amazing gift for marrying simple song structures and universal worship themes in melodies that are so singable you won’t even realise you’ve never heard the song before.

     There will be comparisons here with Tomlin and crew, and lyrically, it is hard to articulate exactly how Baloche is different. Judge for yourself, but it seems to me that each of the worship writers we hold in esteem share a commonality of studying the ‘art’ of the congregational song as well as carrying an uncompromising desire for music to be part of their personal worship as well.

     JUSTIN MICHAEL shares his enthusiasm for Paul Baloche's latest... | more... |

TANYA GORDON'S VOICE SPARKLES IN BRAVER THAN YOU THINK YOU ARE

If you’ve been hangin' out in 'Brisvegas' over the last few years, you would know the name Tanya Gordon from the Christian contemporary music scene as well as the Christian radio environs. Yes, there were the radio singles, but she also makes a good day time DJ I’m told. Sadly though for Brisbanites, she has stepped back from her radio seat.

     Either way, it’s the music we’re talking about, so let’s go with that. The title is all you need to get what’s going on lyrically here. Braver Than You Think You Are is a collection of six tunes that are aimed at encouragement and growth. It’s not so much ‘grow up and get on with it’ as it is a sympathetic hug and some warm chicken soup on a winter's day.

     JUSTIN MICHAEL on Tanya Gordon's Braver Than You Think You Are... | more... |

EDWIN DERRICUTT'S ALBUM FOR "GENTLE SUMMER EVENINGS"
New Kiwi on the scene, Edwin Derricutt, hits the wider listening audience with his album Symmetry.

     The immediate thing most Aussies and Kiwis alike will hear is a sonic reminder of a fella named Colman. From the guitar style to the notes on each song as to which part of the world they were written in. There’s something so familiar about this record; something that might be called acoustic-folk-pop. It’s a welcoming sound that makes this such an easy one to spin.

     The arrangements are sparse, the lyrics full of colour and metaphor and Derricutt’s voice could be a mix of Paul Colman, Jack Johnson and Pete Murray.

     JUSTIN MICHAEL is impressed by Edwin Derricutt's debut album, Symmetry... | more... |

THE ROBBIE SEAY BAND'S "UNPREDICTABLE BLEND OF LYRICAL MUSINGS ON GOD"

There’s something about the voice that’s just, well, hard to put your finger on. It’s welcoming somehow. There’s a joy in the music that just makes you want to listen for the layers underneath.

    When I spun the CD, I was expecting congregational songs, but instead, somewhat like stablemate David Crowder, the Robbie Seay Band serves up an altogether unpredictable blend of lyrical musings on God, the universe and everything all wrapped in pop music that has nothing of the copycat sound that pervades Christian music all too often.

   There’s a hope about these songs. New Day muses "and if you’re like me, you need hope, coffee and melody; so sit back down, let the world keep spinning round..it’s a new day; oh baby, it’s a new day".

     JUSTIN MICHAEL trys to put his finger on what it is about the Robbie Seay Band's new album that appeals... | more... |

TODD AGNEW ASKS SOME CURLY QUESTIONS

I think if you take one part Tom Waits, one part Nick Cave and one part Ben Harper you might get somewhere near the vibe of Todd Agnew. I’m sure there’s a better way of describing it, but somehow this slightly theatrical yet country/blues-driven album leaves it hard to pin down and intriguing to the point of must-listen.

     There is a personal search going on in this record from song to song that puts Better Questions firmly in concept album territory. It’s no Star Turtle or Ziggy Stardust discovery, but it is dealing with concepts that are obtuse and seemingly unattainable to many a Christian. Things like, ‘can the church be united?’, ‘what if Jesus meant everything He said?’, ‘do we chose or are we chosen?’ and ‘do we need to defend the faith or share it?’.

     It seems that Agnew is not asking the audience as much as he is asking himself some of the curly questions and we get to hear his journal.

     JUSTIN MICHAEL on Todd Agnew's latest album, Better Questions... | more... |

STEVE GRACE LOOKS FORWARD TO BETTER DAYS AHEAD

In an age where the church is trying to find new language to give the same beautiful message, there are some voices that have become clearer simply because they refuse to be quieted by time. Steve Grace is one of them. Twenty years on, a gold record under his belt (Children Of The Western World) along with hundreds of miles, nations and gigs, and now on tour with his sons in the band, Steve is still preaching with a few simple chords, a gravel-tossed voice and a sense that he has to keep singing.

     For those who haven’t been paying attention, this is the first album for Steve in a few years after taking an extended sabbatical from touring. Now based part of the year in America, part in Australia, the Grace family is on the road again with a bunch of new folks and the sense that there are indeed Better Days Ahead.

     JUSTIN MICHAEL catches up with an old friend... | more... |

JAMES MORRISON'S GROOVIN' CHRISTMAS

This is Mr Morrison at his smooth 'n grooviest. Difference? It’s been seasoned.

    For those who have had the privilege of seeing JM live, you will know that there is rarely a bad night and when there is, there’s a joke to go with it. Here, you won’t get any wrong notes, but you will hear the cheekiness and fun that JM and the band bring with them when they jam.

     The titles are familiar: Away In A Manger, Silent Night, Joy To The World, and so on. The difference is now you can swing, samba and shuffle your way to the presents on Christmas day.

     I think my favourite is the latin take on Mary’s Boy Child. The virtuosic playing we’ve come to expect from Morrison is laid on and there’s a drum solo the Buena Vista Social Club would be proud of. It’s two-and-a-half minutes of fun that’ll have you shaking your presents to find a percussive sound rather than figuring out what they are!

     JUSTIN MICHAEL looks forward to a Christmas with James - and his trumpet... | more... |

TAKING WORSHIP TO "A DEEPER LEVEL"

An emotive experience; a worship journey; a political statement; and, a musical gem.

  Israel Houghton is a name I often find the congregation is unaware of until I mention titles like Friend Of God, Rejoice In The Lord or Lord, You Are Good. It’s at that point that most people smile. Israel is renowned for these songs of affirmation that contain great melodies, shout outs and challenges for all muso’s that try to replicate what New Breed present.

     Live: A Deeper Level has all of that and more. It includes the live hit, Say So, the rasta stylings of With Long Life, featuring T-bone as well as the encouragement of I Know Who I Am featuring Chris Tomlin.

     JUSTIN MICHAEL listens to a "remarkable" new album... | more... |

RSJ'S LIVE ALBUM BRINGS A NEW DIMENSION TO HER MUSIC

With a unique voice, a unique story and a unique take on 'God-rock', you’re sure to find something to like about RSJ. She’s the girl that has been waiting and praying for her darling while achieving huge things in the Christian music scene around the world and flying the Aussie flag all the way.

     In 2006, RSJ released what was a watershed album for her, If I Had One Chance To Tell You Something. It was a refreshing take, both musically and lyrically, on some familiar themes. Plenty of zeal, commitment to telling the Gospel story and artistic integrity.

     The live show gives new dimension and a certain new reality to the lyrics. RSJ is a passionate performer and delivers her message with a poise that shows the years of experience she has under her belt.

     JUSTIN MICHAEL takes a look at the latest album from one of the "hardest-working ladies in Christian music"... | more... |

PARACHUTE BAND'S NEW LINE-UP MAKE A YOUTHFUL DEBUT

It was at the end of '06 that there was some wholesale change at Parachute band HQ. Long time leaders Wayne and Libby Huirua along with juliagrace finished up and handed over the reigns to the five fellas you see on the cover of this new disc.

     Mark De Jong is the name behind everything Parachute and you’ll see the next generation coming through here. Sam De Jong is on the kit and adding some guitars to the mix as well. There’s also Chris De Jong doing the jacket design and photography, and Jane De Jong throws in some BV’s.

     Add to this the new sound of Omega Levine’s vocal, the mod rock sounds of the band and you’ve got an altogether new sound for Parachute.

     JUSTIN MICHAEL says Parachute Band's new album is a 'breathe of fresh air'... | more... |

PHIL JOEL'S BOOM-CHAKA-LAKA ROCKIN' GOOD TIME!

Hot on the heals of the reinvention of ex-newsboy Phil Joel as a leader in the deliberate people movement comes the part of Phil you probably suspected was there but never thought you’d see. Yes, it’s Phil Joel the kids entertainer!

    This ain’t no Wiggles record and it bears no resemblance to anything Bob the Builder has re-mixed recently. This is indie-pop-rock for kids. This is shout outs, hooky little claps, horn lines and random bells and whistles surrounded by the effervescent pop-melodies Phil is renowned for.

    Still, me, I’m a big kid, so I tried this one out on my 18-month-old lad to see if he could catch on to the deliberate kids vibe. Now, Noah can’t say more than "Mummy" and "broom" (in reference to every vehicle on wheels he sees) but his body language was the deadset giveaway that Joel may just deliver on his promise of a "boom-chaka-laka rockin’ good time"!

     JUSTIN MICHAEL says that all Phil Joel needs is a skivvy color of his own... | more... |

TAKING THE TIME TO SAVOUR MATT REDMAN'S BEAUTIFUL NEWS

Soul Survivor has introduced the church to some of it’s most honoured song writers over the last decade or so. Matt Redman is a name synonomous with church life today thanks largely to a little ditty he wrote a while back titled The Heart Of Worship.

     He is one of those rare writers who has been able to tap into the global conscience of the church through music. The artist's job is to express the things the rest of us have always wanted to articulate. The worship songwriter's task is made all the more challenging when you realise they write so that we can sing something of the divine and of the super-natural; something of the relationship of God to man. With Beautiful News Redman has once again given us an album driven by a writer inspired by the search.

     The titles of the songs are clear indicators of the themes: Beautiful News, You Never Let Go, Yes And Amen, Fearfully And Wonderfully Made, Blessing, and Thank You For Healing Me.

     JUSTIN MICHAEL hears Matt Redman's heart in Beautiful News... | more... |

CASTING CROWNS UNASHAMED ABOUT THEIR MUSIC WITH A MESSAGE

If you’ve never heard Casting Crowns before, you may not know that they are a group of passionate musos birthed out of leading youth groups. You may not know they have always been willing to put mini-sermons in their music. If you didn’t know before, all you need do is spin the first track of The Altar And The Door.

    What This World Needs is a challenge to how we show Christ to our world. It is not backward and it does not pull punches. It is a rock track that includes young people speaking about how we could share our faith - “we can be passionate about what we believe, but we can’t strap ourselves to the Gospel cause we’re slowing it down. Jesus is going to save the world but maybe the best thing that we can do is get out of the way”.

     JUSTIN MICHAEL finds Casting Crowns latest a "gutsy" effort... | more... |

TIM HUGHES HOLDS NOTHING BACK WITH A STRAIGHT-UP ROCK ALBUM

Tim Hughes, yep, the bloke that penned a little ditty called Here I Am To Worship, just got a new kick in his step. Happy Day is the track that boots this record to life. It’s a happy-rock tune that just makes you want to pop your iPod in your ears and go for a run around the block in time with the drum beat. Of course, you may also like to grab your guitar or piano and thump the tune out yourself. After all, the chords are in the liner notes!

     In an era when congregational songs are becoming more hymn-like in their word count, Hughes seems to cut back and continually offers simple statements such as in Be My Everything where these words are the entire chorus and the refrain is simply, “Christ in me, the hope of Glory”. Or Holding Nothing Back, a co-write with Delirious’ Martin Smith, where the pre-chorus states “Nothing's gonna hold me back” four times.

     Tim Hughes' latest inspires JUSTIN MICHAEL to take his iPod for a run... | more... |

HILLSONG CAPITALISE ON THEIR STRENGTHS WHILE BROOKE FRASER INTRIGUES

OK, so here’s two albums. One of which you most probably already own and the other one you may have missed and deserves a listen.

     Hillsong's new one, Saviour King, is once again a collection of songs distinctly Hillsong and beautifully singable. The stable of writers has expanded again to the point that one Darlene Zschech contributes to only one song. This is one of Hillsong's great strengths and is certainly a major reason this church is able to

release albums that capture the wider church each and every year.

     The only reason to review this album is to suggest to the few who haven’t heard it that there are songs like the anthemic Saviour King and To Know Your Name to be discovered. There is the folk-like Brooke Fraser-penned gem, Lord of Lords, the soul stirring In Your Freedom and the hook-laden Break Free.
     JUSTIN MICHAEL on a couple of albums he thinks deserve a listen... | more... |

CHOIR OF HARD KNOCKS MAKE MUSIC FOR THE BROKEN

The Choir of Hard Knocks has become known through a documentary on ABC TV, and more recently a 60 Minutes story which showed the journey that this group of disadvantaged and homeless people have been on over the last year or so.

     This is music of the broken, for the broken. As such, it inspires, moves and transcends the coldness of much of everyday life. The people in this choir are talented and determined, but I'm sure the last thing they would want from the rest of us is to feel sorry for them.

     What makes this music so powerful is that the songs on it are sung with heart and they tell the stories of the actual people in the choir. They are real. They are positive songs, they are songs of faith, and they are songs of doubt and confusion.
     NILS VON KALM says the Choir of Hard Knocks have an authentic sound... | more... |

FALLING FORWARD A MICROCOSM OF SANDI PATTY 'S MUSICAL JOURNEY
OK, somebody needs to slap me a high-five! I have listened to an entire Sandi Patty album without my mum making me and I think I may have even enjoyed it. Jury is still out on that, but I can tell you that if you’re a long term fan, you won’t be disappointed here.
      The album kicks off by giving the impression that it is a modern praise 'n worship disc with a sound reminiscent of the classic Hosanna recordings - big choir, big string section, guitars way back in the mix - it’s an energetic set with the Hillsong (Miriam Webster penned) tune, Made Me Glad, the Sweeter Medley that includes Sweeter, Blessed Be Your Name and Lord, You Are Good.
      Track five, Step Into The Joy, gives Sandi a chance to get in touch with her soul side, but don’t worry - for those of you waiting for the signiature big voice ballad, they’re just around the corner.
     JUSTIN MICHAEL tips his hat to Sandi Patty... | more... |

DON'T LET THE COVER ART PUT YOU OFF - ROBIN MARK'S EAST OF THE RIVER A WONDERFULLY ECLECTIC MIX

Take some Irish jigs, some American folk and some modern adult-contemporary praise 'n worship and you’ll get somewhere close to this new offering from Robin Mark.

      Please don’t look at the cover art of this album. It sounds a whole lot better than it looks, believe me!

      There is always something innate that's triggered when one hears the Irish whistles and Uillean pipe. For some reason, your toes just start to tap and your heart stirs. This is one tool that Mark uses incredibly well.

      There are three ‘jig interludes’ throughout the disc that somehow make it flow (irony intended, I’m sure). Lyrically Mark hits some wonderful heights with songs such as Lost and Found - "I am but a lost and found, but can there be sweeter sound, than singing with the lost and found?", it asks.
     JUSTIN MICHAEL finds plenty of depth and color in Robin Mark's latest album... | more... |

NICHOLE NORDEMAN'S BEST OF ALBUM SHOWS WHY HER MUSIC STANDS OUT FROM THE PACK

It was my girlfriend (now wife) that introduced me to the music of Nichole Nordeman via the old cassette player of her student-budget car. She was very proud of that car, and similarly proud of her new tape that she determined I should hear.

      That album was the 1998 debut offering from Nichole Nordeman, Wide Eyed. It was what it said; a bigger view of things. Songs like To Know You, Who You Are and Is It Any Wonder, all featured on this record. They pointed to a searching song writer who wasn’t afraid to draw solace in the mystery of God and still be OK with asking the questions that bore no apparent answers - “I really want to know you, be patient with my doubt, I’m just trying to figure out Your will, and I really want to know You still," she sings in one song.

      2000 brought the sophomore release, This Mystery that spawned songs such as Every Season, a personal favourite and still a spine tingler, as well as Why and the title track, This Mystery.
     JUSTIN MICHAEL finds "ample evidence" of Nichole Nordeman's talent in her best of album... | more... |

THIRD DAY CELEBRATE 12 YEARS OF HITS

It was the middle of the Nineties. Rock was deep into its grunge phase and DC talk had just released its breakthrough epic, Jesus Freak. In 1995, Third Day independently released their self-titled album to critical, and, more importantly, fan acclaim. It was in 1996 that they signed with Reunion records, home of Michael W. Smith, Rich Mullins and Wes King and found themselves at the beginning of something very big.

      This double album CD/DVD combo covers the years from 1996 to 2000. Four albums - Third Day, Conspiracy no. 5, Time and Offerings.

      Tracks include the live version of Agnus Dei, new recordings of Thief and My Hope Is You, live versions of Blackbird and Alien as well as a couple of rare rootsy tunes in Long Time Comin’ and She Sings In Riddles that all make the disc a gift to fans. This is not just a collection of previous recordings that you could set up on your iPod, it’s a detailed effort to create a reflection of not only where the band has been, but to give it the sound they have now.
     JUSTIN MICHAEL looks back at 12 years of Third Day hits... | more... |

LIFETONE'S BEGINNING WORTH A CLOSER LOOK

“Lifetone want their music to challenge the mind as well as impact the heart. It's music not just meant to be sung in church, but heard on the radio.”

       Lifetone have set their sights high as they looked to create an original and fresh sound for the praise and worship scene; a scene which they feel is a little too “similar and rubber-stamped".

      Musically, Who Hopes For What They Always Had? doesn’t achieve anything new or out-of-the-box, but lyrically, there is a definite attempt to push the limit of what a congregation might sing. The album ebbs between easy-to-sing congregational lines such as "Now you call me beautiful" from the song, Beautiful, to the more complex such as "When darkness reigned that hour and evil men conspired, light of the world though crushed in mire, could never cease to shine" from The Night Is Nearly Over.
     JUSTIN MICHAEL on Lifetone's debut Who Hopes For What They Already Had?... | more... |

SEAN SMITH'S REAL DELIVERS ON BEAUTY

Sean Smith’s music sweeps in like a breath of fresh air with his new CD Real. The singer’s rich vocals begin with the opening song - the title track Real - with Smith ably supported with backup vocals from Drew Cline, Lisa Bevill, and two American Idol finalists Mandisa Hundley (2006) and Melinda Doolittle (2007).

      If you are easily moved to tears have a box of tissues close at hand when the third track If Sierra Can Smile begins to play. The song of a young child hospitalised serves up a reminder of just how much we take for granted in our own lives. The singer reminds us that, “If Sierra can smile through her pain...then why can’t we?”
     JOE MONTAGUE finds something special in Sean Smith's debut album Real... | more... |

MICHELLE TUMES' UNIQUE SOUND CARRIES A "WONDERFUL EDGE OF ORIGINALITY"

She’s an Aussie girl done good in the big US of A and she’s remained true to both her musical style and lyrical intent throughout her career. Here, we find Mrs Tumes, now on an independent label, still producing the lush Celtic textures and prayerful lyrics her worldwide fan base has come to know and love.

      Michelle writes “to the listener, may you find God’s peace and overwhelming love for you amidst the music and imagery". With songs like the radio hit Domine (Lord God), Breakthrough, Lovely Day and Yearning, it is obvious to me that anyone could listen to this album, relate to the message in the music, and certainly be carried by the gentle beauty of the music. There are the trademark lush string sections, driving percussion and choral treatments.
     JUSTIN MICHAEL listens to Australian Michelle Tumes' self-titled album... | more... |

HILLSONG UNITED'S ALL OF THE ABOVE IS ALL THAT AND MORE

I don’t know how they do it, but they do. An album every year. A dozen new songs every year. A couple of worship conferences every year. How do these guys stay fresh? How do they keep driving the church music culture forward the way they do? How do they manage to get such heart and soul into a studio recording?

      I don’t have the answers, but I do have the new album, All Of The Above, on my player and, to put it simply, they’ve done it again.

      Musically, it’s an epic guitarist's dream. There are hooks, riffs and solos all over the place. It’s as synth-lush as ever. Lyrically the themes are clear with songs such as Desperate People, Point of Difference and Devotion.
     JUSTIN MICHAEL reviews Hillsong United's latest album All Of The Above... | more... |

KENNY AND AMANDA SMITH BAND HAVE A "GOOD OLE TIME" TELLING ABOUT THE ONE WAY TO HEAVEN

Officially, the Kenny & Amanda Smith Band have dubbed themselves as a performing bluegrass band but to me they sound like a good mixture of bluegrass and the way country music was sung in the Fifties and early Sixties. For those less familiar with bluegrass, the roots of the genre are intertwined with the roots of modern day country music. The band’s recent CD Tell Someone features some outstanding vocal performances, even better musicians and good ole Gospel lyrics.

      You may be old enough to remember the Carter Family or the duo of Lester Flatt and Earl Scruggs. Perhaps you remember the early part of the movie of the Johnny Cash story -  Walk The Line - or have browsed through the vinyl archives. If you are familiar with that period in the history of music, then the Kenny & Amanda Smith Band will welcome back a flood of good memories.
   JOE MONTAGUE is impressed by the Kenny & Amanda Smith Band's mix of bluegrass and country... | more... |

'TEEN IDOL' PLAYS DANCE CARD BUT SHOWS POP PROMISE

It seems as though every decade has its teen music idols and our time is no different. Cali, a favorite of the Radio Disney Network in the US, has jumped into the spotlight to join contemporaries such as Katelyn Tarver and Miley Cyrus. Whether these young women eventually become as well known as predecessors such as, Rachael Lampa, Rebecca St James and Stacie Orrico remains to be seen.

      Tarver’s music pulls more at the heartstrings with love songs whereas Cali’s tunes are more firmly planted in dance/pop. For the most part Cali’s songs appeal to the mostly pre-teenage set. Her music taps into the five year old through fourteen-year-old girl audience. Think of Cali as ZoeGirl divided by three.
   JOE MONTAGUE takes a look at Cali's self-titled album... | more... |

THE SWIFT MAKE A GOOD DEBUT. NOW FOR THE NEXT ACT

When Don Donahue, president of Rocketown Records, stepped up to the plate in 2006 to sign The Swift to Michael W. Smith’s label, he proved once again that he has a good eye for talent. In October, the American band that has toured with the likes of Mercy Me, Kutless and Audio Adrenaline released their debut album for Rocketown Records.

     Singing Back To You is a pop/light rock worship album featuring a blend of original compositions and covers of previous hit songs. The quartet of Mike Simons (bass/vocals), Britt Edwards (piano/vocals), Matt Wilder (guitar) and Guy Lemon (drums) provide a more than capable rendition of the Delirious? tune Rain Down. Covering a song by a phenomenal group such as Delirious? is no easy task and The Swift get thumbs up.
   JOE MONTAGUE listens to The Swifts' debut ... | more... |

JEREMY CAMP TAKES A MELLOWER TONE

There was a time when Jeremy Camp was considered to be on the leading edge of Christian artists who performed rock music. It seems that either many other artists have caught up to him or he has mellowed a bit. Whatever the answer is to that question there is no denying that he continues to be one of the better songwriters on the music scene. His grainy vocals have always seemed to be half proclamation and half petition. With Camp’s most recent CD Beyond Measure the winning combination is still intact.

      One of the more moving songs on this album is Feels Like. Camp sings with conviction: “And it feels like all these tears are coming through, when I think of everything You do,” and later, “You cared enough to take my place, and have given me unending grace, I know that you know my every need that’s my security.”
   JOE MONTAGUE finds Jeremy Camp's latest album a departure from his usual style... | more... |

TAMMY TRENT'S RETURN HITS A HIGH NOTE

Before you think that Tammy Trent is a wannabe, know this: this lady was singing dance music in 1994 before anyone else in Christian music. If her name is new to you, it may be due to the fact she stepped away from the music scene for a few years to heal from the accidental death of her husband. The 2006 release of I See Beautiful marks the return of one of the most gifted and truly beautiful people in the music industry.

      Her opening track Real Life - co-written with David Garcia and Tim Miner - is a statement of Tammy Trent’s journey: “More than just a ray of hope; you kept your promise; you told me that I could so I did; I started over.”

      The heavily programmed beats of I See Beautiful and the hip hop/rap Pray are for the dance crowd. Trent says: “I am a drummer so when you listen to any of my records there is this groove.” Until now, fans have only seen her with a microphone in her hand, but watch for the lady and her drum kit on tour in 2007.
   JOE MONTAGUE applauds Tammy Trent's return to the music scene... | more... |

DELIRIOUS? DELIVER THE HITS LIVE AT WILLOW CREEK

With all due respect, to some wonderful bands such as Skillet, Petra and Switchfoot, there never has been a band that has so completely combined worship with the element of rock music as Delirious? Led by vocalist Martin Smith, the British band proves once again proves why they are the best with their performance on the album Now Is The Time: Live At Willow Creek, Chicago, U.S.A.

      The CD is comprised of some of the greatest hits ever recorded by the band and some of the greatest worship anthems ever written.

      It is the character of the men behind the music that makes their music so powerful. The members of Delirious? are authentic and live the message they proclaim. Earlier this year, I wrote about them being "untainted by the hype that sometimes surrounds their concerts". That attitude informs their music.
   JOE MONTAGUE is very impressed, make that very impressed, by Delirious?' live album... | more... |

A collection of the best Christmas songs from a selection of artists would be difficult to criticise and Joy To The World: The Ultimate Christmas Collection is no exception.

      Bart Millard’s (MercyMe) splendid vocals introduce us to God Rest You Merry Gentlemen, the opening track. Messiah has ghostly instrumentals featuring rich guitar work but I found Phil Wickham’s vocals lacked the punch I would hope for on a song with the clout the lyrics provide.
      The understated Welcome to Our World by Philips, Craig and Dean is a song I hadn’t heard before and enjoyed thoroughly. The simple melodies and good harmonies befit a king born in a simple manger in a little town.
   JOE MONTAGUE tosses out the tinsel to make room for this one... | more... |

CHRISTMAS SPECIAL - PAUL BRANDT'S A GIFT UP THERE WITH THE BEST OF THEM - AND WE'RE NOT JUST TALKING CHRISTMAS ALBUMS!
Paul Brandt’s Christmas CD A Gift certainly didn’t start out the way I was expecting. From the opening note, Canada’s reigning king of country music is backed by a swinging big band. To be honest with you (and I hate to admit this about a Christmas song) but the opening track Let It Snow has been sung and played the same way by numerous artists over the years. I had lost interest in it until this album. The horn section consisting of trumpeters Michael Herriott and Henry Christian combine with trombonists Ian McDougall and Neil Nicholson to blow some of the sweetest melodies you will hear.
     The truly best present to unwrap from this album however is the title track which appropriately is named A Gift. The song is an original tune from Brandt’s pen. Brandt’s emotive vocals and sensitivity as an artist will cause you to pause and whisper a prayer of gratitude.
   JOE MONTAGUE applauds Paul Brandt's A Gift... | more... |

If there is one thing that can be said consistently about the Annie Moses Band it is that they create beautiful music. Bethlehem, House of Bread is no exception with string arrangements which are among the best you will hear in any genre.

      If you want to capture the true spirit of what Christmas is all about this year, sit quietly and mediate upon the words of traditional carols set to new arrangements by Annie and Bill Wolaver (the father). In particular, the stirring rendition of the spiritual Mary Had A Baby will make you tingle in awe. Annie Wolaver’s vocals are backed by the chorale ensemble One Voice comprised of sopranos Kelly Lunsford, Barklee Bowers, Christin Kubasko and Mary Hannah Corzine. Alto vocals come by way of Alex Bowers and Anna Stancil. Melissa McLamb directs One Voice.

      The mother of the talented Wolaver family is Robin, long regarded as a gifted lyricist. Robin has blessed us with the sacramental Bethlehem, House of Bread, the gentle lullaby-like Little Baby, and the bluegrass Christmas on Cripple Creek.
   JOE MONTAGUE enjoys traditional carols in a new form... | more... |

Todd Agnew didn’t set out to create a CD full of great Christmas songs when he wrote and produced Do You See What I See, he wanted to tell a story. For several months Agnew immersed himself in the nativity story, everything leading up to it and related to the birth of Christ. What has emerged on this disc is a musical with wonderful tunes that are sensitive, thought provoking and are told through rich vocals and instrumentals.

      Listeners will wonder about Agnew’s choice of titles for the CD. It all sounds vaguely familiar. Agnew told me in a recent interview that he mistook the original title of the song Do You Hear What I Hear as being Do You See What I See. After he had written pieces that tell the birth of Christ as seen through the eyes of various people the original title didn’t fit.
   JOE MONTAGUE finds Todd Agnew's Do You See What I See an experience to cherish... | more... |

GO MARKS A RETURN TO FORM FOR NEWSBOYS

Ask Michael Sweet of Stryper if he can endorse this record and he will say “If it’s not metal, I can’t endorse it”. Ask Paul Colman what this music is in relation to the ‘metal’ of Stryper he’ll say, “It’s light aluminium”.

      Go, if it is “light aluminium” pop, stacks up well in the 20 year career of the newsboys.

      After a few spins, Go has me convinced that the ‘boys have returned to form. An injection of songwriting from the legendary Steve Taylor and new band member Paul Colman has definitely added to the lyrical palette but the more convincing thing about this album is the conviction of sonic structure and spiritual purpose that permeates its 40 fat-trimmed minutes and 11 tracks.

      While the worship albums, Adoration and Devotion, both received high praise, there was the underlying curiosity over whether the boys could pull out another great pop album. Thrive, the last pop album - made four years ago - was largely an adventure in Eighties metal/rock and seemed to be forgotten quickly. Go should stand beside Take Me To Your Leader and Step Up To The Microphone - it’s simply packed with festival-crowd melodies and a sound that separates the boys from the pop-pack.
    JUSTIN MICHAEL says the newsboys' album, Go, is "just good pop music"... | more... |

SING OVER ME "A SOOTHING GIFT"

Compilation albums seem all too often to confuse me. It is rare for me to find one that I geniunely believe is a gift to the listener rather than a marketing vehicle for average songs or artists. Sing Over Me is the gift it was intended to be.

      This is a theme album that traverses the most divine of topics - the worship of God and the gift of new life. A very deliberate collection of lyrically excellent and musically sparkling songs that reflect the greatness of God, the beautiful in life and the reward of being a parent.

      We have a nine-month-old son that, like every baby, sometimes needs a little extra ‘atmosphere’ to help him sleep. I was hoping he’d always want rock tunes in his player, but my wife assures me I am wrong! This album is quite deliberately arranged sans volume leaps and epic moments of rock. And, I must say, I like it that way.
    JUSTIN MICHAEL on a compilation album he says is a cut above the rest... | more... |

REUBEN MORGAN'S NEW CALL TO WORSHIP

Reuben Morgan’s blog begins: "Jesus tells a story in Luke 14 about a man who invites a great number of people to dinner at his house but they all give excuses about why they can’t come. He becomes angry and sends his servants out into the streets to invite whoever they can find. It ends up that many people came but the master wasn't completely happy...there was still room for more. This story just makes me think about the way God encourages everyone to come to Him so that His House will be full. It's a picture of the Church and the Kingdom of God."

      One of Australia’s leading contemporary congregational song writers, it takes only a moment to recognise a lyric or a melody Morgan has written over the years - think of familiar titles such as For All You’ve Done, Still, Eagle's Wings (with which the Katinas reached #1 in the US last year on the Inspo charts) and Mighty To Save.
    JUSTIN MICHAEL believes Reuben Morgan's latest album will be the catalyst that makes him a household name across the world... | more... |

CHRIS TOMLIN INSPIRED TO INSPIRE OTHERS

The writer of congregational music is a unique person for reasons that become obvious if one is a regular at a church with a band. He or she must write lyrics that capture grand reflections of the divine as well as deep theological teachings and give encouragement to the saints. The lyric must be bedded in palatable music that most people can attempt with some confidence of getting it right, even with only three chords up their amateur sleeves.

      This is not an easy task simply because it is too easy to end up with a copycat effort that isn’t as good as the favourites people are used to hearing - a result which means the songs are never adopted by the wider church. Tomlin, I believe it is safe to say, is loved like Redman, Hughes, Zschech and Morgan by the wider church. His songs are everywhere.
    JUSTIN MICHAEL listens to Chris Tomlin's latest album, See the Morning... | more... |

ROMA WATERMAN GOES LIVE

A live album always has a curious ‘life of its own’ element to it. If you have never heard an artist, you’d be doing a good thing by starting with a ‘best of’ disc, but if you’re a fan, then you simply have to own any live offerings. Roma Waterman Live is, in the true tradition of live discs, an album for the fans.

       Recorded over a number of shows in 2005, this album also marks the beginnings of the miracle of Waterman’s first child, Angelina. The liner notes state “that I was 13 weeks pregnant when a majority of these songs were captured after being told there was a possibility I may never have children...it was an overwhelming experience”.
    JUSTIN MICHAEL finds Roma Waterman's live album packed with her best music... | more... |

SUPERCHIC[K] REPRISED

MySpace is the music language everyone seems to be speaking today. Why check a band's pre-fab, PR-filtered bio when you can jump onto MySpace and see if they’re for real? Head to myspace.com/superchick and, going simply from numbers - over a quarter of a million hits, the four songs available on the player being spun more times than the proverbial acrobatic plate. Add to that a string of gigs that would make you tired just thinking about the transit times, and you can see that here is a band intent on saying something.

      It’s the ‘something’ that makes this crew special. This is not a pop band with a bag full of musical hooks and crunchy guitars for the sake of making the kids jump. The new edition of Beauty From Pain, simply titled 1.1, has reinvigorated the commercial interest in the band but the message has remained the same.
    JUSTIN MICHAEL says Superchic[k]'s message is what sets them apart... | more... |

MAT KEARNEY HAS SOMETHING TO SAY

Mat Kearney, according to most of my American sources, is the music to have in your iPod. After a friend of mine handed me an album called Bullet (Kearney’s debut) last year and said to me with a stern voice “This is the best album of the year”, I smiled politely and promptly put it in the glove box of the car.

      Months later I decided to give it a go.

      I have not taken Kearney off my high rotation list since.

     Nothing Left to Lose just solidifies the critical acclaim Kearney has received. With a voice not too far left of Chris Martin (Coldplay) a hip-hop sensibility of Michael Franti (Spearhead) and the sweetness of melody that Jack Johnson has brought to so many dinner tables, you’ll be hard pressed to be disappointed with Kearney.
    JUSTIN MICHAEL says Mat Kearney's second album shows he's no one album wonder... | more... |

MERCYME TRY SOMETHING NEW

The band that brought us I Can Only Imagine and then two years later brought us...I Can Only Imagine has since taken the music world by storm. These guys found a way of connecting their faith to their music and, in turn, to what has become one of Christian music’s largest audiences.

      With a swag of number ones under their artistic belt it seems the lads at MercyMe have decided to try a few new tricks with Coming Up To Breathe.

      It was lead singer Bart Millards’ solo effort of 2005 titled Hymned that pointed to the heavy country-Gospel influence the boys have stashed in their iPods (and produced the hit Mawmaw’s Song (In The Sweet By And By). On Coming Up, tracks like One Trick Pony evoke the Mississippi delta. A bit of Robert Johnson, a bit of Ben Harper and a decent handclap add to the fun.
    JUSTIN MICHAEL takes MercyMe's new album for a spin...or 10... | more... |

FROM BACKSTREET TO GOSPEL

And then there was one. Brian Littrell is a Backstreet Boy. Part of a force larger than any of us. The force known as world-conquering, all-consuming, boy-band pop. Welcome Home is what some would call a side project. Littrell has completed his first Christian disc as a debut solo artist.

      Many have tried to cross from group to solo. Some have had remarkable results such as Robbie Williams, but more often the result is a set of questions that begin with “Sorry, who were you?” In this case, it seems that an audience already familiar with him will find new reasons to enjoy his music rather than relegate it to the deleted stock bin. Littrell has decided to go back to what he knew his whole life before hangin' around back streets; that being singing inspirational Christian Gospel and pop in his church.
    JUSTIN MICHAEL listens to a solo offering from Backstreet Boy Brian Littrell... | more... |

AUDIO ADRENALINE'S LAST HURRAH
With 15 years of music behind them, ranging from the initial efforts of white boy hip-hop (think ‘we need some P...D...A!’), and rap core (‘My God died on the cross...BUT HE LIVES’) to the straight-up rock 'n roll that they’re so good at, it’s been a great journey. But it's about to come to end. In January '06, lead singer Mark Stuart has had to call it quits after medical advice meant he could no longer sing at the same ‘rock 'n roll’ level he had been for years.

      Stuart said: "Fifteen years of rock 'n roll takes a toll on the vocal chords, but I wouldn't trade a day of it for anything. Touring and making records with Will, Ben and Tyler has truly been a gift from God, as well as worshipping night after night with the greatest fans on the planet."

    JUSTIN MICHAEL says Audio Adrenaline's Until My Heart Caves In is almost as good as Worldwide... | more... |

TOBYMAC SERVES UP A DIVERSE OFFERING
Welcome to Diverse City was the follow up to the highly successful (450,000 sold) Momentum album of 2001. It was 2003 before we heard the remix album of Momentum, and by then, it seemed a lot of interest had been lost. This time round, however, the remix album - Renovating: Diverse City - comes less than 12 months after the ‘parent’ album dropped.

      This disc carries the now familiar message of breaking down cultural walls (Diverse City), bringing unity, true faith and belief (Catchafire), running from temptaion (Getaway Car) and keeping the fire of the Spirit burning (Burn for You): themes that have been consistent in the music of the last 15 years of tobyMac’s career with dc talk and as a solo artist.

    JUSTIN MICHAEL finds tobyMac's latest album "consistent, full of hooks and perfectly infectious"... | more... |

PLUMB AT HER 'ANGSTY' BEST WITH CHAOTIC RESOLVE
In 1997 the debut self-titled album, Plumb, announced the arrival of an artist who demanded to be heard. The respect from within the industry for Plumb was instant and it has only grown since then. She was, in some ways, an answer to the then front-runners of angsty pop/rock such as Alanis Morissette. Many today would compare her to the metal-pop of Evanescence. The difference is, Plumb was and still is singing about the tough stuff of life but with a sense of hope, a sense of God in all of her songs.
      Plumb is Tiffany Arbuckle Lee. Chaotic Resolve is her fourth album (not a large output in nine years by today’s standards) and each album, while varying slightly, has managed to build on the respect she gained in 1997.
    JUSTIN MICHAEL finds Plumb's latest album, "fresh, honest and full of integrity"... | more... |

ZOEGIRL OFFER A CHANCE TO 'CATCH UP'
It’s hard to fathom how a band that only began producing music in 2000 can already have a ‘best of’ disc. The cynic in me would suggest that this was simply a way to fulfil a recording contract. The fan in me would say this is a great way to access the catalogue of music from ZOEgirl, a band that by any measurement have been prolific in their output so far.

      In the five years since 2000’s self titled ZOEgirl was released, there have been three full studio albums, 2001’s Life, 2002’s remix album, Mix of Life, 2003’s Different Kind of Free, and the 2005 release Room To Breathe. With All Of My Heart will more than likely be the best way for new fans to catch up on a band that doesn’t seem to have taken any time off for five years!
    JUSTIN MICHAEL says ZOEgirl's 'best of' album - With All Of My Heart: Greatest Hits - offers fans and those who don't know their music a chance to 'catch up' with what the band have been doing for the past six years... | more... |

THE ALBUM REBECCA ST JAMES 'HAD TO MAKE'
As a cog in the wheel of international Christian music, I think Rebecca St James must be often underestimated. Her importance as an artist is marked by her absolute conviction of the greatness of God and the creative need to put spiritual truths into song. Her sound has varied slightly over the past 10 years, but basically she found her own sound in records like God and Pray and has stuck to it. Over the span of her career she has shown time and again her strength of character, musicianship and the value of both working together.

      If I Had One Chance To Tell You Something is the result of a month-long spiritual retreat in the Swiss Alps at a study centre called L’Abri. L’Abri is a French word simply meaning ‘shelter’. The centre was founded by theologian Dr. Francis Shaeffer in 1955 (there are now centres all over the world including Australia).
    JUSTIN MICHAEL reviews RSJ's latest... | more... |

DAVID CROWDER'S 'BEAUTIFUL COLLISION'
Before I’d heard David Crowder’s voice an American friend had asked me if I knew what he looked like. When I responded in the negative he proceeded to tell me that he was America’s strangest looking worship leader. Upon closer inspection, he’s certainly an interesting looking dude, with a long goatee, tall and well-rounded white-boy afro and the type of glasses only an artsy muso would wear. I immediately liked the guy. Then I heard his music and started to smile.

     A Collision is an instant refresher course in how to make music that makes people think and listen closer. An obviously talented and thoughtful musician, Crowder has referenced Gospel music history by opening with a bit of backshed bluegrass of Everybody wants to go to heaven then kicks straight into the beautiful sounds of the grand piano on Come and listen.
    JUSTIN MICHAEL says David Crowder delivers the goods with the album A Collision... | more... |

CHRIS TOMLIN GOES LIVE
When I first heard the name Chris Tomlin a couple of years ago I did not realize how much I would come to respect his music and influence as I uncovered his wide and respected contributions to the congregational music of today.

      Chris is the name behind the Michael W. Smith hit Forever, one of the key worship leaders on the Passion worship series that has come out of US universities for the last five years, writer of the modern hymn that should become a classic in How Great is Our God and the singer of Indescribable (nb: no, Chris didn’t write it, Laura Story did!).
    JUSTIN MICHAEL listens to Chris Tomlin's live album... | more... |

JULIAGRACE MAKES A 'MATURE' DEBUT
The girl loves the Eighties, loves getting dressed up, admits to performing in a ra-ra skirt she brought in Brisbane, performs and writes with passion and just happens to be a part of New Zealand's biggest praise and worship export, the Parachute Band. She is juliagrace and she has a brand new, self-titled, debut, solo album.

      juliagrace, formerly lead singer of electronic outfit Elevator, has now stepped out by herself as a solo artist as well as taken the opportunity to play guitar and sing with the Parachute Band.
    JUSTIN MICHAEL takes a look at juliagrace's first solo album... | more... |

PLANETSHAKERS DO IT THEIR WAY
Planetshakers is a name synonymous with screaming youth who wear their Christianity as a badge of honour. The music is infectious and encouraging and has been at the forefront of a now international movement of conferences that has seen the Planetshakers brand stamped on T-shirts, arm bands, caps and indeed churches in Melbourne and Adelaide.

     Arise is the new batch of tunes for 2006 taking it’s name and call from Isaiah 60. It is also the studio version of the live album to be released later this year. So it seems every screaming youth needs to check their bank balance to decide which album to buy; the good oil from those who were there says wait for the live edition.
    JUSTIN MICHAEL reviews the Planetshakers latest album, Arise... | more... |

There was a time in Christian music when the music of the church and the music of the concert stage were separated by sound, style, lyrics and, of course, a rather sizeable PA difference. Since the earliest days of hearing phrases like ‘power-praise’, ‘rock 'n roll worship’ or ‘modern hymn’, the lines have been blurred. Today we see the top 10 in Christian contemporary music (CCM) comprising the likes of Third Day, Chris Tomlin and Darlene Zschech and, of course, Newsboys regularly. Rock music is worship music is church music is hit music.

      Since a song called Beautiful Sound snuck up on us on the 1999 release of LoveLibertyDisco, the newsboys have developed their music into fully-fledged modern congregational anthems.
    JUSTIN MICHAEL takes a look at the newsboys' rock-worship music fusion - He Reigns: The Worship Collection... | more... |

When chatting to Martin Smith, lead singer and song writer of UK worship/rock band Delirious?, he did manage to point out that “there are some crackin’ songs on the record” and folks, he wasn’t kidding.

      The Mission Bell is an intelligent and insightful record that builds on the return to form that was 2004’s World Service that gave us Rain Down and Majesty.

      The lyrical content of The Mission Bell points to a progression in the intent and devotion of the band: "Ring, ring, ring, ring the mission bell; sing, sing, sing, we got a story to tell". The final refrain from the first UK single Paint The Town Red with it’s two minutes of anthemic brit-punk and angsty vocals that gives rise to the feeling that these guys mean what they sing.
    It's still Delirious?, says JUSTIN MICHAEL, but it goes deeper... | more... |

Approaching an ‘inspired by’ set of songs is often a timid process, especially when the subject matter is so studied worldwide and every imagination that has been to Narnia already has an idea of what sights and sounds would best reflect the magical land.

      Feel free to take this review as permission to approach with excitement. The imaginations of these artists have certainly been to Narnia, seen the children, the fauns, the witch and the lion in their mind's eye and written from that place. In short, there is nothing pretentious about these tracks.
     JUSTIN MICHAEL finds Music Inspired by The Chronicles of Narnia well, inspiring... | more... |