19th June, 2007

JUSTIN MICHAEL

Album: Chronology, Volume One
Artist: Third Day
Label: Essential, 2007

Enhanced: Yes; two disc package with DVD.

In a word: Straight-to-the-Pool-Room

"It’s a scrap book, a photo album, a home movie and resume all in one that once again proves that these guys deserve to be where they are at the top of Christian contemporary music."

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.

If you’re a fan, you’ll dig the DVD - you can see Mac through the years and the morphing hair of rock and roll. As always, the hair gets shorter as the band gets older. The beard seems to have stayed consistent, but I’d forgotten the bleached look from the Conspiracy days!

Video clips include, among other things, two versions of the amazing Cry Out To Jesus as well as six GMA Dove Award live performances and the "mum-loves-'em" video evidence of the really early years such as Mac and Mark in 1992.

As the title suggests, there will be a Chronology, Volume Two, and there’s a preview on the DVD for that as well.

This package is a genuine effort to get a detailed overview of the first five years and it works. It’s a scrap book, a photo album, a home movie and resume all in one that once again proves that these guys deserve to be where they are at the top of Christian contemporary music.

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