24th September, 2009

JUSTIN MICHAEL

Album:In The Hands Of God

Artist: newsboys

Year: 2009
Label: Inpop
Web: www.newsboys.com

In A Word: Autobiographical

"Always lyrically honest, always musically straight up, the newsboys put in print what many Christian contemporary music artist's don't seem to be able to; their own story."

The revolving door at newsboys HQ has spun again - Paul Colman is officially off the paper route and Jody Davis is back on the bike. This album is sung by a guy named Peter Furler but if you see a live show any time soon you'll see a Decent Christian Talker by the name of Michael Tait.

So, there's the update on the band, now to the music...it's just classic fun, rock-pop with a message. The brilliance of this band is that they've never swayed from their initial intent - to preach the Gospel and wrap it in amazing shows and pure-pop craft. Even when didn't like the music, you loved the album and t'other way round. You'll hear the message whether you like it or not!

From the three minute band history of the opening radio hit The Way We Roll through to the personal testimony of Furler in the album closer, RSL1984, this is quite possibly my favourite newsboys disc. There's some brilliant musical moments in the epic P.O.D-styled rock of No Grave, the electronica of This Is Your Life, and the mesh of Mika and Supergrass in The Upside.

There's the lyrical combo of Furler and Steve Taylor that has always given newsboys a flavour all they're own. Try "I bought a product they should not have sold/I called the help line/they put me on hold" from My Friend Jesus. Yep, it's a story about being frustrated calling a help line and the frustration bringing out the worst in us!

Add to the listen a string rich arrangement of Brooke Fraser's Hillsong hit Lead Me To The Cross, the bass line rich synth pop singalong Dance and the title track you have the perfect 10 track pop album.

Always lyrically honest, always musically straight up, the newsboys put in print what many Christian contemporary music artist's don't seem to be able to; their own story. In The Hands Of God is the story of the band, and it's worth a listen.