30th November , 2008

JUSTIN MICHAEL

Album: Houston We Are GO

Artist: Newsboys

Year: 2008
Label: Sparrow
Web: www.newsboys.com
 
In A Word: Entertaining

"It's what has made these 'boys' such an amazing pop-outfit for so many years. They know how to build a great show, entertain the masses around the world and bring the message, all in 90 minutes."

The live sound of the Newsboys is incredibly tight and always entertaining. The energy really does jump off the disc with Houston We Are GO.

For those who caught the gigs at Easter 2008 you'll spin this one and feel like you're there...that's because it's the show we saw. Yep, the stories, the gags and the riffs; they're all there. It's what has made these 'boys' such an amazing pop-outfit for so many years. They know how to build a great show, entertain the masses around the world and bring the message, all in 90 minutes.

There's the new pop-anthem of the Steve Taylor-penned Wherever We Go, the spine tingle of Entertaining Angels, the educated silliness of Breakfast and the now obligatory drum duet. Add to this the medley of Newsboys hits accompanied by Jeff Frankenstein's keyboard vocoder that includes Not Ashamed (title track of Not Ashamed), Reality (from Take Me To Your Leader), Love Liberty Disco (title track from Love Liberty Disco) and Amazing Love (from Adoration) and you've got a very singable collection.

So, the CD is good and off the back of one of their strongest pop-albums in years (Go), this is a timely live follow up. The accompanying DVD on the other hand seems to do little more than capture the gig. There's a notable lack of cinema to it. Somehow it feels more like a family photo album than a piece of visual art. I can't see too many people putting this in the high definition 7.2 system to impress friends. You'll not be disappointed with the tunes, you'll just feel like a spectator rather than a part of the show.

Still, as far as value for money, you'd be hard-pressed to feel duped on this one. You get two discs for the price of one and hey, you get so celebrate once again the most successful Aussie Christina music exports and say a little "oi-oi-oi" at the end.

So, go get go live.