30th November, 2006

JUSTIN MICHAEL   

Album: Go
Artist: newsboys

Label: Inpop, 2006
Enhanced: No

In a word: Sorted

"A band known for it’s incredible live performances and an Aussie larrikin approach to life have once again proved that when these things are backed by lives of spiritual conviction and a brilliant understanding of pop music, you’ve got a perfect blend."

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.

With synth sampling, happy dance loops, an ability to go “epic rock” at a hat drop and drum grooves that exemplify the newsboys, Go should get you happy and inspired to, well…go! Furler’s prayerful and passionate crackling vocal performance on Let It All Come Out and Gonna Be Alright stand out in the ballad line. Your Love Is Better Than Life is my stand out track with a brilliant Brit-pop rap that states” “I lie awake and wonder how to make a city believe; I dunno when it’s a ministry and when it’s a show; maybe neither, maybe both; I dunno but this one thing I know - your love is better than life”.

Title track Go should become a live staple and last year’s live hit I Am Free has been given the newsboys' treatment to make it a much stronger song with an added verse and a much tighter structure.

A band known for it’s incredible live performances and an Aussie larrikin approach to life have once again proved that when these things are backed by lives of spiritual conviction and a brilliant understanding of pop music, you’ve got a perfect blend.

"It seems to me there are three types of believers in this world," says Peter Furler. "There is the judgmental guy who spends most of his energy pointing out what is wrong around him and doing very little about it. There is the back-slidden guy, who wallows in his own failures. Then there is the real guy, who just tries to love other people and be about the kingdom more than anything else. I want to be the third guy. I want to be known for loving others of different backgrounds and different beliefs, no matter the cost."

To me, the newsboys are an alternative band stuck in a pop band’s body - that’s what makes them so unique and keeps the audience collectively intrigued. Before the audience has time to box the band completely, there’s a bunch of hooky melodies stuck in their head and they’ve forgotten their analysis. It’s just good pop music.

Go: it’s an album and an instruction and, as such, newsboys seem to have the next part of their journey sorted.

Justin Michael can be heard weekday mornings on Geelong-based radio station 96.3 - www.rhemafm.org.au.