Never for Nothing - CCM Record Reviews archive J
Brian is a singer songwriter and worship leader based in Chicago, Illinois. This is his second of three recording projects all of which are now available in the UK following his recent mini tour. This cd gives you 13 songs, all written by Brian and produced by Mark Pay, who also plays guitar on the album. Brian's first project was recorded in the "Gaither Studios" and influences of that can be heard here - stacked backing vocals and lush keyboards being two examples. But it isn't overdone and the arrangements are very effective at highlighting the strength of the songs. There is quite a variety too, from the heartwarming "Tapestry of Memories", a song about seeing your children grow up, to the guitar driven closer "Walking with Jesus" which leaves you feeling on a high and ready to take on the world! Brian here has managed to achieve what is usually quite difficult to do, that is create an album that will appeal to a wide variety of tastes. Strong melodies, insightful lyrics, sensitive production and excellent performances are all evident here and the end result is a very good package. 9/10. Robin Thompson. (May 2006)
Originally from San Jose, California, now resident in Phoenix, Arizona, JJ Heller is a lady singer/songwriter, who collaborates with her husband Dave to produce thoughtful music that, whilst not mentioning the Saviour's name in every other line, is definitely from a Christian perspective. Let JJ explain: - "This album is all about redemption. Looking back on the songs, there's a lot of struggle written into them because that's life. Everyone has different problems to face, but in the end, the outcome hinges on how you deal with those struggles -- if you allow them to destroy you or make you stronger." JJ claims influences from a variety of people - Alanis Morissette, Jennifer Knapp, U2, Caedmon's Call, Jars of Clay, Jill Paquette - but she succeeds in being herself, and whilst the album is a tad short at less than 40 minutes, it's a good quality product that deserves to do well. Happy clappy Christian bubblegum this ain't, so if that's your bag, you could do worse than get hold of this. 7/10 Trevor Kirk (October 2006)
JACI VELASQUEZ : Jaci Velasquez. (Myrrh : 080688537821).
With her debut album selling over 500,000 units world wide, the
industry has been waiting in awe for this follow up release. I
must admit, hearing the first song, I was ready to join the multitude
of adoring fans. It's a classic Celine Dion type ballad that has
been written by Chris Eaton, and takes some words straight from
John 3:16. It's these type of songs were Jaci really excels, rather
than the quirky 'Show You love' type where she tries, and fails,
to be Alanis Morrisette. Perhaps she wants to move on from her
little girl image but, along with 'Child of Mine' the delivery
just doesn't hold. If it's not her own idea, then someone is trying
to make her into something that she is not. The album ends on
a high note with a similar track to the opener, 'al mundo Dios
amo' co written by Eaton again. In between, there's a hotch potch
of songs of varying quality, including contributions from DC Talk's
Toby McKean. All in all, a bit of a let down. 5/10. (September 1998)
JACI VELASQUEZ : Crystal Clear. (Word : 080688603922)
Here she is, then. The darling of female CCM both in America and
the UK, who's music is successfully crossing over in the mainstream
market. No, it's not meant to be a flippant remark. Jaci IS the
'darling' as she not only does the business for God but actually
makes money for the record companies who, after all, do need to
eat! So, I unashamedly say, "Thank God for Jaci Velasquez".
With this release, she packs in so many musical styles without
ever losing control of that great voice. The Latin dance feel
of "Listen to Me" and "You Don't Miss A Thing"
is just superb. The title track is a song of love and the brilliant
"Adore" takes the same feeling and just multiplies the
wonderment of God's unfailing love for us. "You're Not There"
has a slight darker edge to it, but Jaci carries it off with no
problem. The power pop sound of "Every Time I Fall"
is a sure fire radio hit and beautiful "Just A Prayer Away"
finishes of what is a truly inspirational album. 10/10. (February 2001, Album of the Month)
JACI VELASQUEZ : Love Out Loud. (Apostrophe : 7410042)
There's no mistaking the voice of Jaci Velasquez once the opening song gets into full swing. 'Nothing But Blue Sky' tells the story of her life's journey - from where she's come from, to where she is today. The title track is a real strong contender for radio play and the message is simple. Jaci sings with utmost conviction and the result is superb. We have all fallen short of the glory of God at some point. The side of the story that matters most is the journey back to Him. 'Jesus (The Way) tells that story in a very thoughtful way. The style of the songs are, for the main, pop orientated but there's also the beautiful ballad 'My Alleluia' and the off the wall sound of 'Tango'. On the latter, Jaci sings of marriage being like a dance, and her's is definitely a tango. What's yours? 'Por Escrito' is a Spanish duet, sung with her husband, while 'Into the Light Again' follows that simple message of seeking a closer relationship with God. Jaci will have another hit on her hands with this album, but I still think that she can do better! 7/10. (July 2008)
JACKSON WATERS : Come Undone. (Word : 8068865362)
This is the debut album from Nashville based Jackson Waters, who all got together while at college in Arkansas. They're a 5 piece outfit, who have been likened in sound to Maroon 5 and The Fray. For me, it's a sound that says "guitar driven pop rock", with some country traits mixed in, every now and again. I liked the sound of the opening track called 'Everything', and the single 'Give Me Amazing Grace' - a wise choice. The latter sings about living with a new heart, now that God is in it, and it's a catchy number. Believe in the promise that Jesus IS going to return one day, is the story behind 'One More Day', while 'Ready to Find Love' tells of being ready to accept Jesus into your life. I found the music to be quite well put together, but the album didn't really set my soul alight. Still, there is a cracking song to close the listing called 'Let It Fly', and fly it does. As debut's go, this is good. 8/10. (October 2007)
JAKE SMITH : Real. (Rocketown Records)
Jake Smith has literally crawled up from the wreckage of personal tragedies to release this "no holds barred" collection of songs. Over the last two years, he's seen first hand the devastation of Hurricane Katrina, had his car written off by an accident involving a drunk driver, and witnessed both of his parents being diagnosed with cancer. In his own words, Jake says, He (God) truly gave me things to write about". Style wise, there's more than a passing nod to Maroon 5, although 'What I Plan to Do' sounds like something straight out of Jamaroqui. It's funky, it's brash, and has that chart sound about it. 'This is Certain' rocks along, and it's a song abut trusting in God, no matter what happens - something Jake has really had to do. 'Breakdown' is brutally truthful about life's deepest despair, while 'Crazy' tells of one having a change of heart. Sometimes, Jakes seems to get lost in his own world, and the lyrics aren't as plain as they could be. Maybe his idea is to get you think more about each song, but I found it very difficult, at times, to get onboard what he was putting over. Maybe, given more time, Jake Smith will deliver something more next time. 5/10. (January 2008)
JAMIE HILL : One Day. (ICC Records : ICCD81730)
This is a collection of worship songs that are obviously very
heartfelt and personal, mostly delivered in a no nonsense rock
style, but also featuring some slower songs. This album makes
a refreshing change from all the bland material that seems to
come out of the US these days. From the opening track,
"Creator God", right through there is not a bad track
on this CD. Also included are the words and music, all laid out
ready for printing straight to acetates for projection. To be
honest I'm not sure that all of the songs here would work in a
general worship meeting, but there are a lot that would. "Faithful
God" and "Lord I Receive Your Love" stand out.
Jamie will be familiar to anyone who is into "Quench"
as he's part of that set up. I would definitely recommend this
CD to anyone who likes their worship songs to have a bit of attitude
to them, without going over the top. 10/10. Andy Sayner.
(November 2004, Album of the Month)
JANE GIBBS : You Are the Rock. (New Music Enterprises).
'You Are the Rock, 'Lord You Are Everything', and 'Servant's Prayer'
are the titles of the first three tracks of this debut, and enough
to tell you that this is a praise and worship album. With most
of the tracks written by the lady herself and Wes Davis, it's
also obvious to see just how firm and important Jane's own faith
is. The production of this privately recorded CD is a little weak
and both the vocals, and husband's fine saxophone playing, suffer.
However, all is not lost and Miss Gibbs' Madonnaesque voice copes
admirably with most offerings. 'Blessed Be The Name' gets the
calypso treatment while 'Sing Allelujah' is the best of the self-penned
songs. My head says a 6 because of the production but my heart
says 7/10. (November 1996)
JANIS ENGLISH : God Holds the Key. (Private Recording. CD
£12.50/Cassette £7.50 including p&p from: Janis
English, 164 Barnston Road, Barnston, Wirral, L61 1BZ).
Let me say right now, unashamedly, that the quality of privately
recorded British CCM is - on the whole - just so good. Here's
another new name to the scene, Janis English. A Scot, who's debut
album contains a spoonful of country, a pinch of 70's pop, and
a cup of refreshing, home made muse. Surely the title track sounds
like....."Oh no", she said, "I don't really listen
to any particular artist". Lovely, sugary, enjoyable, singalong....and
that's just the first track! If originality is lacking anywhere,
then the country sound is rather predictable. However, don't let
this put you off, you'll soon find yourself tapping your feet
to "Over & Over" or admiring the steel pedal guitar
on "Move On This Land". When I first heard "Move
Now Holy Spirit", I had to stop what I was doing and play
it again. What a beautiful song, and what power it holds within.
This track just "blows me away" as it quietly begins
and then builds to where I can imagine thousands joining together
in praise. God given praise and worship doesn't come much better
than this. 9/10. (March 1998)
JANIS ENGLISH : Eyes of A Child". (Private Recording.
CD £12.50/Cassette £7.50 from: Janis English, c/o 113
Bricknell Avenue, Hull, East yorkshire, England, HU5 4EU).
It's still hard to think that this housewife from The Wirral has
only been singing and writing for a few short years. After the
release of her previous album "God Holds the Key", Janis
received the invitation to sing and record this new album in Nashville,
under the watchful eye of Jerry Arhelger. It's with the more mature
listener where this is going to be a hit as her Anne Murray/Marilla
Ness vocals quietly minister God's word. The title track simply
asks for the gift of looking at God's wonder and love, with, the
"Eyes of A Child". Here, then, the scene is set for
an album of, mainly, country/Irish style music that would fit
any easy listening radio show. "I'd Rather Know You"
will have you singing along quite quickly, while "It Should
Have Been Me" is an olde-time classic hit. The music is of
A1 quality and the finished product just oozes professionalism.
Mid-album, Janis throws in a couple of Jewish style songs, of
which "More Than Broken Dreams" is the better. Then,
it's on with the show and, probably the one that will get most
attention "O Mary". Crashes of thunder, the sound of
rain falling, and a great song. Janis English proves that you
don't have to be American to make a quality, country recording.
9/10. (October 1999)
JANIS ENGLISH : Awesome is This Place. (CD £12.50/Cassette
£7.50 from: Mr E English, c/o Moreton Baptist Church, Moreton,
Wirral, CH47 0NX, UK)
Praise the Lord for the independent artists around the world,
who tirelessly spread the Good News through music. Janis English
is one such artist and, while not playing to arena sized audiences,
ministers to many both home and abroad with her blend of country
and praise and worship sounds. Her spiritual walk with God, through
good and bad times, have resulted in some classy songs over the
years, and this new release adds more of the same. Complete with
triumphant fanfare, the CD opens with "Psalm 148", closely
followed by the Messianic feel of "House of Prayer".
I loved the celtic lament reflecting on the life of Christ, "Father's
Perfect Plan", but think that the real pearl in the collection
is "Sound the Trumpet". Here, Janet's warm vocal talents
are joined by the lovely use of both trumpet and drums. "God
is Good" seemed to be a dip in quality but "Like A Gentle
Breeze" is a wonderful worship number. It may only be 8 lines
long but the simplicity works really well. For the closing two
songs, Janis eases the tempo down with a gentle, prayerful finish
- a smashing end to a smashing album. 9/10. (February 2004, Album of the Month)
JARED ANDERSON : Where to Begin. (Integrity : 36482)
This may be Jared's debut CD but there's a good chance that you've already sung one or more of his worship songs. "Amazed" is one such song, and it deserves to be heard and used more widely. It's a fairly slow number, with a real heart of worship behind it. Most of the songs are about having a personal relationship with God, including the opening "Running Away" which tells of the decision to "run away" with God. Similarly, "I'm Coming Your Way" depicts the same story, and it's a catchy tune too. What I didn't like, however, was the number of songs that sounded like hundreds that I've heard before. The lyric content is fine, but the production is very flat and uninteresting. Produced by platinum-selling producer Pete Kipley (MercyMe), I expected more, but was rather disappointed in the end. 5/10 (April 2007)
JARED ANDERSON : Where Faith Comes From. (Integrity : 42762)
Last year's debut from this chap didn't really push back the frontiers of Christian music. Rather, it just lost itself in mediocrity, along with hundreds of very ordinary albums. However, this new release sees Jared really move on in the song writing stakes, and he's come up with a much more original sound. He rocks away on the opening 'Promises' in a Bryan Adams sort of way, and the following 'All I Want' is really exciting. He then moves into Coldplay territory, where the piano takes a stronger role in the overall sound, before returning to guitar led tunes. 'This is Life' is all about finding the life that God made you for, while 'Hiding Place' tells of being protected from harm. Here, there's some excellent atmospheric backing, which I found to be very nice. Then, there's 'Beauty of the Lord', a song to just soak and wonder in the love of an almighty God. Produced by Brent Milligan, he needs a pat on the back for helping to make so many of these songs stand out. 9/10 (July 2008)
JARROD COOPER : Days of Wonder. (Jarrod Cooper Ministries: JCM003)
Originally released a couple of years ago, this relatively low
budget recording is now in it's third reprint, with sales recorded
from all parts of the globe. Jarrod Cooper is a respected worship
leader based at the New life Church in Hull, and this recording
literally knocks many others for six. It's lyrical content, music,
and finished product is one of the finest worship albums that
I have ever heard. No, I'm not biased because he's from my home
city, I've never even met the guy. "Your Majesty" is
said to be one of THE worship songs of last 12 months and I can
easily see why. Beautiful, just doesn't describe what I feel about
it. "Lost in Your Glory" simply oozes peaceful worship
and that feeling runs throughout the whole album. "Clamourously
Foolish" is shorter and livelier in style, before "Your
Majesty" is reprised in Spanish tongue. And, just when you
thought things couldn't get better, Jarrod presents a Celtic version
of the great "Be Thou My Vision". There's no wonder
this album has sold so well, it's a masterpiece. 10/10. (March 2000, joint Album of the Month)
JARROD COOPER : The Early Years. (JCM005)
This album by a Hull artist - whom I had not heard of before -
features songs from his previous albums "deep Calls To Deep"
and "Song of the Bow". I have enjoyed listening to and
reviewing this album, and there are some quite catchy songs. Indeed,
I found myself singing "Thank You" whilst out and about
this week. This is my favourite track, a quiet, contemplative
and prayerful song, telling of what Jesus has done for each one
of us. "Mighty Warrior" is a good praise song wit plenty
of beat to it. I was a little disappointed with the CD cover,
however, as it contained very little information, and I do like
to read the lyrics. 8/10 Pam Robinson. (March 2000)
JARROD COOPER : King of Kings, Majesty. (Authentic : 8203622)
Jarrod Cooper leads the New Life Church and the Days of Wonder Trust, based in Hull. His classic worship song "King of Kings, Majesty", gives this album it's title. It's always great to get off to a good start and this album doesn't let you down. "Overwhelmed" has a summer sound about it, sets the tone for the listing. My wife reckons that Jarrod's vocal delivery is a lot like Cliff Richards' gospel recordings - smooth and rich, with a touch of class. Most tracks are self penned, but Jarrod delivers a great version of Brian Doerksen and Sandra Gage's "Today". Mid album, songs like "I Tremble" and "You Are My Healer" begin to draw you into some personal worship time, and I found myself drifting effortlessly into a closeness with God. The uptemo "He's Alive" compares favourably with anything that the likes of Hillsongs produce, while "Glory in the Land" I found to be very poignant. With this collection, Jarrod proves that he's more than just a one hit wonder, sharing some high quality praise and worship with the listener. 9/10. (July 2005)
JARS OF CLAY : Much Afraid. (Kingsway/Essential : 83061-0405-2)
So much hype about this release that it had to be something special.
The band have made the cross-over into mainstream US music but
the first UK single failed to dent the Top 40 despite the obvious
Brit feel to 'Crazy Times'. The album opens with the simply wonderful
'Overjoyed', displaying the sheer joy of being a child of God.
'Tea & Sympathy' is very Beatlesque, in a 'I Am the Walrus'
sort of way, while the ballad 'Frail' oozes a melodic atmosphere
that calms you during the full 7 minute performance. However,
'Much Afraid' is another one of those releases that fades in class
halfway through. Styles change with each song and I found it very
difficult to remain interested. Jars of Clay have much to offer
the CCM scene on both sides of the Atlantic, they just need fine
tuning. 6/10. (January 1998)
JARS OF CLAY : If I Left the Zoo
I'm no connoisseur of this band, but initial impressions are very
favourable. The album opens with an acoustic number 'Goodbye,
Goodnight' and then launches into 'Unforgettable You' with its
heavily effected vocal and great drum sound. Musically, the four
lads cover a wide variety of styles but integrate them well to
create a very well recorded and produced product. Lyrically, the
album tries to tread a delicate line between cheesy Christian
cliché and omitting to mention God. On the whole it succeeds
well on this score. There is an emphasis on the loving patient
character of God and how we can relate to him personally. The
artwork is attractive and well put together, although I've not
worked out where the inspiration for the album title comes from
as far as the musical content is concerned, but there is plenty
of animal imagery in the booklet!
8/10 Geoff Waring. (February 2000)
JARS OF CLAY : The Eleventh Hour. (Essential Records: MPCD40525)
I must admit to never having listened to this band at all before
this CD arrived in the post, but this album was a hit with me
right from the start. So much so that I will have to check out
some more of their material I think. The style of music is a pleasant
laid back kind of rock music, with a definitely acoustic sound
in some places, but also some more upbeat material too. It puts
me in mind of Crowded House, or Soul Asylum. The Lyrics are well
written and relevant, with some lovely vocal harmonies in places.
I should think that this music will appeal to both Christians
and non-Christians, as it makes its point well without resorting
to religious clichés at all. In fact, to be honest, I can't
find anything bad to say about it. (This is probably a first)
In the sleeve notes the band hope that you don't hear "The
noisy vocabulary of Religion, but music that is because of faith
more than about it". No doubt there will be a few who would
criticise this attitude, but I think that it shows that band are
prepared to live in the real world rather than the cosy place
that Christian music sometimes is. This album works well, and
I would recommend it to anyone who likes their music straightforward,
and unpretentious. Well done, we need CD's like this from more
Christian Artists. 10/10 Andy Sayner. (April 2002, Album of the Month)
JASON BRELAND : Believe. (Integrity : 27262)
Packaged as Jason Breland - Live with the North Mobile Worship
Choir, this is an uptempo US recording that includes those awful
moments that remind you of ghastly US Evangelistic TV programmes.
Indeed, I wouldn't have been surprised if Jason had made an appeal
for money over many of the boring songs here on offer. The album
is filled with OTT tracks that sound tired and old fashioned -
the sort of stuff that events like Spring Harvest buried 10 years
ago. Cringe to the guitar solos on songs like "Let There
Be Blessing" - it doesn't come much worse. "Everyday"
is a catchy number and saves this album from total drabness but
as for the rest? Forget it, there's plenty UK albums that are
much better than this. 1/10 (January 2004)
JASON GRAY : All the Lovely Losers. (Centricity : CR1029)
As I began to listen to this album, some of the songs seemed familiar. Well, after a little investigating, I found that some of them, at least, had been released on Jason's independent release from a couple of years ago. These tracks have been re-mixed and polished, while three new tracks have been added to the listing. The opening 'Blessed Be' is a good song. It's where the album title comes from and is all about you losing your life to God. Of course, we all fall short of the Lord's ideal but, nevertheless, He picks us up and dusts us down for another attempt at life. This theme runs through two songs - the stumbling 'Weak' and the bright and cheerful 'Move'. Jason's lyrics are very open and honest and I like the way he writes. 'You Are Mercy' sounds like it could have been a David Gray track and is quite strong. As singer/songwriter's go, this is a competent major debut. 7/10. (November 2007)
JASON INGRAM : Jason Ingram (Resonate Records)
Originally from Santa Cruz, California, and now living in Nashville,
Jason has previously gained acclaim in the US with his band, the
rather unimaginatively titled "Jason Ingram Band". He
also co-wrote SONICFLOOd's hit single "Resonate", and
has written some good, scriptural songs for this, his first solo
album. The album is heavy on acoustic guitar (never a bad thing
as far as I am concerned), but with enough interesting stuff happening
to stop it becoming just another acoustic Christian album. Three
tracks in particular stand out for me: "The Wonder Of Your
Grace" is a great song in its own right but, more importantly,
because of its position in the track list (5) it brings a distinct,
and welcome, change of feel. "I Love You Lord" reminds
me of Peter Gabriel's "Don't Give Up", which is one
of my fave songs of all time, and "How Deep is Your Love"
is simply stunning and should have been the opening track. There
are a few small niggles: production on the vocals is disappointing
(far too much backing, and the lead is too quiet and over-produced
so it tends to get lost); and the first four tracks are too similar
to stand being put together at the start of the album, but these
cannot detract from what is a fine listen. I can pay it no higher
compliment than to say "I wish I had made this". 9/10
David Cooper (July 2002)
JASON MORANT : Abandon. (Vertical Music)
Distributed by Fierce, I think I know why they decided to promote
this 22 year old, New Orleans born worshipper. Take the American
accent from the songs and replace it with Martin Smith's voice,
and you have a typical Delirious album. There's driving guitars,
there's bouncy pop numbers, and fully fledged worship songs that
lean very much towards the sound that have made the D-boys so
popular. Sadly, that's were the resemblance ends, as the quality
of each song doesn't stand up quite so well. "Bless the Lord"
works well and the re-worked Vineyard classic "I Love You
Lord" also got my seal of approval. Apart from that, plus
the clever mix of acoustic and electric guitars on "Fashion",
it's a rather over-rated release. 4/10. (September 2004)
JASON MORANT : Open. (Vertical : 38702)
When I reviewed Jason's last album in 2004, I gave it a very weak 4/10 and commented on poor lyrics. Two years on, and I've been blown away by the strength and beauty of a superb album. Indeed, I had to re-listen to his previous release to assure myself that I was listening to the same man! Using a pop praise style, Jason has produced some wonderful songs including the delicious "All of Me" and "At Your Feet". But, to the beginning of the track listing, and the title track. It's a medium paced song about the power of God's love and what it can do in our lives. "Come Let Us Return" is pure CCM at it's very best, while "I Will Run" turns more acoustic in style. There's also a couple of instrumental pieces to listen to, and the gentle sound of "Postlude" is quite moving. "Abba" is a cry to the Father, while the acoustic led "Belong" announces the knowledge of knowing God as a personal Saviour. I was genuinely surprised by this album, it's quality shines out like a beacon. 10/10. (November 2006, Album of the Month)
JASON UPTON : Beautiful People. (Integrity : 9857639772)
Here's another one of the new breed of singer/songwriter's that seem to be appearing on the scene with alarming regularity. Jason performs and writes very much in the style of James Morrison…only not as well. As far as the album goes, it's a tale of two halves. The first half is instantly forgettable. Well, perhaps not. The very strange and experimental sounds of 'You Decide What's Beautiful', will long remain in my memory for just how awful it was. Similarly, I found 'I Will Never Leave You Children' to be one of the most depressing sounds that I've come across in a very long time. It's at the start of track 6 that the album does hit it's mini purple patch. 'Lullably for the Petrified Sacred Society' may win song title of the year, but it's more than just a quirky number. Jason's vocals take on a Rod Stewart tone as he plays a delicate tune on the piano. Not instantly a hit, but one that grows on you. Then, 'Into the Sky' really flies off the album with well thought out lyrics and production. Not really sure what to make of Jason this time round, so I'd better stick at a moderate 5/10. (November 2007)
JAVED : Javed. (Crowne Music Group : 785277700128)
I must say that personally I find dance/soul music instantly forgettable.
The monotonous drum tracks just bore me rigid, so it would be
easy to just dismiss this CD as not very good. However that would
be unfair, because I think anyone who likes this sort of music
would really enjoy this CD. Andrae Crouch has done a lot of the
production work on it, and you can see his influence right through
the whole thing. I preferred the slower material myself, I just
found it a bit more tuneful than the more upbeat material. The
best track for me by far being the final track "I'll be okay".
That's not meant to be a criticism of the rest of the tracks,
they are all well produced, and a lot of work has gone into the
arrangements. I was impressed with the lyrics on nearly all of
the tracks, they are on a fairly simple yet positive level that
anyone can understand and be encouraged by, also there seems to
be a genuine honesty behind the words, you can see that they are
written from personal experience, not just religeous cliche which
seems to be the case with some artists these days. So if you're
into dance/Soul music, then I think I can recommend this CD. You
should find it quite uplifting. 9/10 Andy Sayner. (May 2002, Album of the Month)
JAZZ PRAISE : In Your Presence. (ICC : ICCD69630)
Well, if you can have a solo piano playing instrumental praise,
as well Celtic pipes, I guess you can have Jazz as well. 12 songs
giving "a fresh interpretation…in an easy listening
jazz style", so read the sleeve notes. Try as I may, I just
can't say that this is a good album. It's the sort of thing that
you hear in elevators, large department stores - muzak, I think
they call it. Songs such as "He's Got the Whole World in
His Hands", "Go,Tell It On the Mountain", and "I
Know That My Redeemer Lives" are all given the jazz treatment.
The musicians are quite accomplished and, I dare say, to some,
it will sound quite nice. Not me I'm afraid. Apart from the uplifting
"We Want to See Jesus Lifted high" and "These Are
the Days of Elijah" I wasn't sad to seethe back of this one.
3/10. (April 2003)
JEAN SUMMER/DEREK WEST : Angels. (CD £5 from Health Help
International, 661 Chepstow Road, Newport, South Wales, NP19 9BY.
As you will read elsewhere in this issue of NFN, this Cd has been
recorded, produced and manufactured in someones living room. Why?
To show just what can be done by a "one man band" affair,
as well as helping to raise funds for a worthwhile charity. This
Cd is a mixture of poems and stories that focus on Angles. There
is, too, an instrumental theme to open and close the CD. Nothing
wrong with the tune, it's just the instrument's quality that rather
let's things down. However, the rest of the content is quite enthralling.
I particularly liked the story of "The White Cavalry",
which tells of an incident that actually happened during the Great
war. "The Girl in the Park" is another, well written
piece, that made me smile. While this Cd would never win a Dove
award for it's release, or Gold status for sales, it would appeal
to many who wish to purchase something "a little different"
as a gift. Indeed, buying a present for someone, as well as knowing
that the money goes straight to charity, seems to be an ideal
opportunity.6/10. (April 2003)
JEFF & SHERI EASTER : My, Oh My!. (Spring Hill)
Jeff & Sheri Easter have won numerous awards, over the years,
including a Dove award in 1998 for Country Recorded Album of the
Year "A Work in Progress" and just recently accepted
a Dove Award for Country Song of the Year for "Goin Away
Party". They've also won various individual awards and have
even been nominated for a Grammy. So, this husband & wife
duo have got quite a pedigree and it's well deserved. This latest
album throws up no surprises of what Southern country gospel music
should be, as they stick to the tried and trusted sound. Sheri
has a vocal quality comparable with Cher, and that's the sound
that comes across on the opening "Sing Sister Sing".
"John Saw" is a busy little ditty, while "Learn
to Love Again" sees Sheri take the lead again on a pleasant
ballad. "New Day" is my favourite track as it's one
of those songs that just make you glad to be alive - very uplifting.
Not sure about the parody of Little Red Riding Hood later on in
the track listing, but a must for southern country fans. 7/10. (September 2002)
JEFF ANDERSON : Seamless. (Gotee Records.)
While studying Vocal Performance at Capitol University, Ohio, Jeff Anderson began to attend the Vineyard Christian Fellowship in Columbus. He says that this resulted in him soon leading worship at a service for young adults, bearing "a lot of Fruit". This is Anderson's Gotee debut, and it showcases songs of praise tinged songwriting that, somehow, don't always make the grade. "Open My Eyes" begins the listing with a pop sound that the likes of Steven Curtis Chapman might produce. "Paralyzed" bounces along quite nicely and I loved the banjo picking on "All We Have Is Now". Then, comes a clutch of songs that dip in quality somewhat and I felt that these were really quite poor. One that did prick my ears up in the latter listing was "I Will Follow", which sounds like Busted - I kid you not. Some good songs on show here, but rather a lot of poor ones too, hence 5/10. (June 2005)
JENI VARNADEAU : Colours of Truth. (Word/Pamplin : PMCD9604)
Produced by John & Dino Elefante, this debut release sees
Jeni paint powerful word pictures that evoke a deeper desire to
live by faith and trust in God's word. Nothing at all wrong with
the lyrics, but what this release does suffer from is the current
overkill of American females all wanting to sound like Alannis
Morrisette. 'Stronger Than You' is an okay rock opener but it's
followed by some rather poor songs. 'This is Rest' breathes new
life into the record by using a mandolin as backing but it's only
a brief respite. 'I See You' could well have been Miss Morrisette
herself and it's probably the strongest track of the whole album.
Sorry Jeni, when you've heard as many as I have.......4/10.
(November 1997)
JENNIFER KNAPP : Kansas. (Gotee/Word : 701383288X).
Following a long line of new American female artists comes Jennifer
Knapp, with a debut album which leaves us in no doubt about her
faith. It's a sort of electro-folk mix, you know, Amy Grant with
Sheryl Crow's rawness. "Whole Again" talks of being
made whole and it's an easily accessible number. "Trinity"
uses the same blueprint and the resulting song is very good. Jennifer
writes almost all the tracks featured and there's a whole host
of new names (to me) providing the backing. Acoustic numbers like
"Martyrs & Thieves" and "Refine Me" are
refreshing and fit well with the more fuller numbers such as "In
the Name". Loved the electric fiddles in "Romans"
but I feel that, overall, there's a few 'fillers' on this album.
If she concentrates on the more appealing tracks, JK should go
a long way. 6/10. (March 1998)
JENNIFER KNAPP : Live. (Gotee Records : GTD46961)
Since 1997, Jennifer Knapp has sold more than 1 million albums. Her recent sabbatical seems to be over, ands she's back on the road with this live album to prove it. I've used this phrase before, but it's a "warts and all" recording, complete with the odd bum guitar note thrown in for good measure. Certainly, the audience seem to be enjoying the music that sees Jennifer vocally drawl her way through 13 songs in an Alanis Morrisette sort of way. My favourite song comes along as early as track 3. 'Whole Again' tells a story about being made whole again, and the winding road that led to it. For me, the whaling vocals she employs on 'The Way I Am' are a complete turn off, and I could barely make myself listen to it second time around. With it being a live album, you even get the obligatory "band Call" during 'His Grace is Sufficient', but it's all rather dull and tedious. Her lyrics are very much honest, heart on her sleeve, and her rock/pop style will please many. 6/10 (June 2006)
JENNY & ALEX LEGG - True Stories (ICC)
I keep telling myself I shouldn't like this album. But I do. It's
far too folky for me. The rocky bits aren't rocky enough. And
yet... and yet, it works. The whole is so much more than the sum
of the parts that no review is ever really going to do it justice.
But I'll try. The album consists of tracks sung by Jenny Legg
(mostly the gentler ones) and sung by (or just by) Alex Legg (mostly
the rockier ones). They mostly take it in turns, which adds to
the effect. First impressions of Jenny are good: the chorus to
"There is Love and There is This Love" has a gorgeous
1980s Kate Bush-esque feel to it (this impression re-iterates
itself throughout the album). Alex takes more time to make an
impression, but when he does (with such as "Some People")
he has a Peter Gabriel quality to his voice. The album's main
fault though, is that it starts well, goes through a (albeit long)
good phase and then peters out. "At the End of the Long Hard
Day" is a mid-album filler, not a show closer. Sound-wise
the Leggs know the 1990s never happened, stuck as they are firmly
in the 80s: that though, is no real problem. I hate albums that
dot all over the place, trying to catch everyone's attention but
really only losing it. This album's more of a winner than a loser.
7/10 Paul Ganney. (September 1999)
JENNY LEGG & DAVID LYLE MORRIS : Sing Scriptures. (ICC
: ICCD61130)
"Sing Scriptures" is the 3rd album in Jenny & David's
"Sing" Series. Jenny & David say that the
motivation behind the series is a desire "to produce good
quality music for little people". In "Sing Scriptures"
they say they hope to instil some of God's word into little lives
in a fun, palatable and effective way. We listened to the album
with Sophie, our 3 year old daughter (NFN's youngest ever critic??).
Generally, we found that the album is made up of good quality
music, well composed lyrics and a wide range of styles. As adults,
Melanie & I certainly enjoyed listening to it. Sophie, however,
wasn't quite as engaged throughout the whole album. She responded
well to the "catchy" songs with simpler lyrics such
as "Love the Lord Your God" and "Your Word".
She switched off completely, however, for the slower tracks such
as "God's Love Will Never End" and for the tracks with
more complex lyrics such as "Blessed". These are songs
which may appeal to an older age group, but even so the message
still may be a little too complex. Having said that, the album
is obviously aimed at a very wide age range and, as such, all
children are not going to like all songs. Sophie must be at the
lower end of the target age range and therefore it was good that
some of the songs did engage her. In short, the album is well
put together and the wide variety of musical styles should ensure
that it makes an excellent resource for churches and Sunday schools.
7/10 Nigel, Melanie (and Sophie) Mills (April 2002)
JENNY LEGG & DAVID LYLE MORRIS :Sing Bible Stories. (ICC
: ICCD71830)
When I first got this for review I was sure that I recognised
the name David Lyle Morris. I was convinced that he had written
something that is really well known but I couldn't think what.
As I've now discovered, he's been Graham Kendrick's right hand
man for a number of years, having been in his band since 1990
and is now a respected Worship Leader in his own right. The idea
of this latest album is to present Bible Stories in song and in
so doing to make them accessible to children. Various songwriters
have collaborated on this project including Garth Hewitt and Alex
Legg (Jenny's husband). Most of the well known "childrens"
stories are here: Noah, Jonah, Zacchaeus et al and each one is
presented in a different musical style. This works well and, rather
than making the album sound disjointed, actually helps to give
the whole thing a varied feel which enables the listener to remain
interested. This is extremely important given its target audience
and it should hold even the shortest and youngest of attention
spans. In fact, the overall feel of the album is very Doug Horley.
The melodies are simple and catchy, great for young voices and
the lyrics are simple yet succinct. There are some great touches
of humour too, especially on "Noah's Song" in which
God speaks with a broad Yorkshire accent, final proof indeed that
Yorkshire is God's own county! I can see many of these songs working
well in a worship context and if you are anything like me, you
are always looking for fresh good quality childrens songs . More
importantly, my three year old daughter, Faith loves it which
is why I think it deserves an 8/10. Robin Thompson (May 2003)
JENNY VERANDEAU : Colours of Truth. (Word/Pamplona : PMCD9604)
Produced by John & Dino Elefante, this debut release sees
Jeni paint powerful word pictures that evoke a deeper desire to
live by faith and trust in God's word. Nothing at all wrong with
the lyrics, but what this release does suffer from is the current
overkill of American females all wanting to sound like Alannis
Morrisette. 'Stronger Than You' is an okay rock opener but it's
followed by some rather poor songs. 'This is Rest' breathes new
life into the record by using a mandolin as backing but it's only
a brief respite. 'I See You' could well have been Miss Morrisette
herself and it's probably the strongest track of the whole album.
Sorry Jeni, when you've heard as many as I have.......4/10.
(December 1997)
JENNY & ALEX LEGG : Granite Stones & Clay. (ICC :
ICCD19130).
Alex has a voice that sounds like my old friend Garth Hewitt.
The difference between the two guys is that Alex sings well and
writes really good songs. Jenny, on the other hand, has a sweet
range that fits well to the likes of 'It's A Long Way Down' and
'Under A Nazerath Sky'. Listening to this album, you almost feel
that it could be a 60's protest collection, it's that kind of
style. However, it isn't filled with doom and gloom, but well
crafted lyrics that have been moulded into some foot tappin' numbers.
'The Mighty Fall' comes into this category with it's telling of
judgement day. I really liked the track called 'In A Doorway Tonight',
which tells of the homeless plight. Again, well written, and well
sung. The Legg's are new to me, but I'll be looking out for them
in the future. 8/10. (February 1997)
JEREMY CAMP : "Restored". (BEC : BED 98615)
Jeremy Camp may not be such a familiar name to many UK CCM punters, but he's sufficiently talented to have grabbed three Dove Awards at the Gospel Music Association convention this year, as well as being the ASCAP Songwriter of the Year for 2004. The guys he's been touring with, or is about to be touring with, include MercyMe, Bethany Dillon and Tree63, so the man doesn't lack experience, and it shows in this latest offering. 'Restored', following up his last album for BEC Records, 'Carried Me: The Worship Project', carries on where that one left off - hooky pop praise with a dash of rock and a hint of grunge, and 12 songs all his own work. The title track kicks things off in style, the second song 'Take You Back' is a perfect radio song, and with plenty of good vibes going on all the way through, this is ideal summer driving music - play it loud with the windows down!! 8/10 Trevor Kirk. (June 2005)
JEREMY CAMP : Restored. (BEC Recordings : BED45616)
This album is Camp's most personal to date. It deals with his challenging past, and rejoices in his peaceful present. He lost his first wife to cancer nearly 5 years ago, but has since re-married and seen the birth of a baby daughter. His vocal quality reminded me of Third Day, and "Take you Back" sounds very similar to some of the band's recordings. "Even When" sounded a little over produced, with various musical sounds fighting for their own space, but "Lay Down My Pride" sees Jeremy really rock. It's a very personal song, and maybe that's why he sounds so confident delivering it. It's not a new subject, but "Everytime" tells of walking with God, and the song itself is a sure fire hit. Camp says that he tried some "different tones" with his voice on this recording. "It's all coming straight from my heart, so there's passion in every detail." Indeed, that passion is never more on show than in the ballad "This Man", which sees Jesus on the cross, and asks if you could take His place? There's some great songs on this album, and I can see him adding to his 6 number one radio singles. 8/10. (September 2006)
JEREMY CAMP : Beyond Measure. (Bec : 94636372327)
Jeremy Camp is one of those artists who seem to have been around for ages, yet it's only the last couple of year's that he's made real inroads into the UK CCM market. He's predominantly a rock artist, but can produce the odd ballad when he feels like it. Seize the moment and take up your cross tonight, is the story behind the opening track, "Tonight", and quite uplifting it is too. And, if you're still not convinced, "Let It Fade" tells you to let go of your old life and grab the new one being offered to you by Christ. "Feels Like" is a powerful song of praise, while "No Matter What" is a rock tune, full of energy. "Give You Glory" has a decent beat to it, and I did find myself wanting to play the album again. The listing ends with two tracks from his wife's latest album, which I found quite strange, but all in all Jeremy Camp can be well satisfied with this offering. 7/10 (May 2007)
THE JIVE ACES : Bolt From the Blue. (Private CD Recording.
Information from: Saint Hill Manor, East Grinstead, West Sussex,
RH19 4JY.
In a world of shred, dread and grunge come a bolt from the blue....meet
the Jive Aces. A six piece band playing a form of jive that is
best expressed as rock/jazz. Just a CD in the NFN postbag, with
no accompanying literature. 15 songs including some that older
listeners will instantly recognise, which have been given a 90's
face lift. 'When You're Smilin', 'Blue Moon', and the 30's hit
'Pennies From Heaven' are just three of those with shining pedigree.
Of the new songs, perhaps the 'Jive Ace Boogie Woogie' is a bit
of self indulgence but the title track is up there with the best.
If a little boogie woogie and jive is your cup of tea then the
Jive Aces will go down a treat. 7/10. (January 1998)
JILL PAQUETTE : Jill Paquette. (Reunion : 4100312)
Singer/songwriter Jill Paquette has been likened to Sheryl Crowe and the likes
but I'm not sure why. Still, if I say that she reminds me of Joan Armatrading,
there's bound to be those who ask the same question. Jill's at her best when she
takes the simple approach to her songs, like on the delicious "Take My Life".
Her vocals are a little "off the wall" in delivery and "Not the Only One" had me
thinking that there's a little rocker hiding beneath what's on show here.
Difficult to know what she's trying to do with this release as it's very
ordinary for a debut. There's plenty of better independent albums around
offering much better than this. Perhaps, Jill just needs to find her real self.
3/10. (November 2003)
When a new artist comes along with so many lyrically honest songs
about life's struggles to fit-in with the norm, about finding
God, and how He can change your life, you might know that SHE'S
been there. Yes, Jill Parr admits to all of this, and producer
Brian Hardin has put together a fusion of today's alternative
and new fashion pop music. For me, this is the album is very much
like the debut album form Margaret Becker, some 15 years ago.
It's filled with excitement, a freshness, lots of good songs,
and a sincerity that struck lots of chords in this heart. Even
ballads like "This I Know" takes the promise "Jesus
loves me, this I know" and makes a lovely song. "Feel
the Scars" tells you to let go and just let Jesus save you
by how He suffered on the cross. I personally feel that this is
the best song on the album and I've been playing it over Andover
again…..very loud! Jill bares more than a passing resemblance
to Avril Lavigne and on "County Line" you could almost
believe that you were listening to the chart topper herself. There's
a fantastic album closer in "Another Revolution" where
she just gives everything vocally. In my book, already a main
contender for Newcomer of the year. 10/10. (August 2003, Album of the Month)
JILL PHILLIPS : Jill Phillips. (Word : 080688598020)
Melodic folk rock, is how Jill Phillips, herself, describes her
own style of music and, she's not far off too. As the jangly guitar
led me into "Only One", I immediately thought of Carolyn
Arends and Sarah Masen - it's that kind of thing. All the songs
are written by Jill, or with her husband, and there's a distinct
quality that runs throughout. "Everything" is a lovely
little number that makes the hairs on the back of your neck stand
on end, as she simply praises the Lord for His love in her life.
Produced by Wayne Kirkpatrick, the album shows Jill Phillips in
good light but, perhaps, still learning her trade. Once or twice
the finished product doesn't seem to match with the initial power
of the lyrics but, surely, that will come. The closing "Everyday"
is another number that does, however, have that power and is one
to sit and listen too, over and over again. Good start, but more
to come. 6/10. (April 2000)
JILL PHILLIPS : Nobody's Got It All Together. (Alliance : 8204352)
Jill Phillips is one of the artists who promise so much, but leave me feeling a little let down. This album is no different. She kicks things off with a bright, light pop title track, and my hopes are lifted. 'Square Peg', also, is a catchy little tune about not fitting in with what the outside world sees as "the norm", and things are looking good. But, then, Jill treats us to some rather flat, uninspiring songs like 'Daily Bread' and 'Movin' On'. She does have a sweet voice and I really enjoyed the lullaby effect of 'The Middle' and the foot tapping, happy sound of 'Rise Above'. Overall, it's a light pop sound, with some folky elements, but I still feel that the album is a little lightweight. 5/10. (September 2007)
JIM BAILEY : All Over Again. (Kingsway : KMCD2276)
Over the years I've been publishing NFN, the name of Jim Bailey
has popped up in the gig guide on more occasions than I can count.
But, I've never seen the guy or heard any of his music. So, perhaps,
this "best of" release is just the thing for someone
like me. Jim travels to churches perfoming Family Roadshows and
running training camps for those working with children. This album
will give you a glimpse of the sort of thing you can expect, should
you attend one of his events. From the opening line dance feel
of "O Lord, I Will Sing your Praise", to the closing
60's parody "Will You Love Me All Over Again", there
runs a simple message for children, performed in a way that really
does appeal. The song "I Am Fearfully And Wonderfully Made"
had me cringing as I read the title but I need not have worried,
it's a great little pop song that is easy to singalong too, without
being crass. Mid-way through the album, there's a couple of Christmas
songs including a dance version of "We Three Kings",
which just sounded a little lost in the blazing heat of summer.
However, "God Was the Colour" produces a celtic folk
feel, while the excellent "As For Me & My House"
produces great visions of hundreds of kids whooping it up for
a hoe-down. If, like me, you've missed the delights of Jim Bailey
over the years, perhaps it's time you did something about it.
9/10. (July 2000, Album of the Month)
JIMMY NEEDHAM : Speak. (Inpop : POD1382)
When I played this CD for the first time there were comments from several family members, none of which I'm afraid were very complimentary, mostly implying that it might be good to turn it off now. I have to say that it is very hard to listen to this CD for long; there are a lot of tempo and style changes in the middle of the songs, so you never quite get the idea of where the music is going, the whole thing sounds a bit disjointed somehow, and before too long it just gets annoying. Some of the vocal lines have so many words crammed into them that by the time you get to the end you've forgotten the beginning. The music is mostly a kind of acoustic pop I suppose, it's actually quite hard to pin it down to any specific genre, but it would possibly appeal to those with a leaning towards jazz, the musicians are all obviously quite talented, but there's just too much going on all the time. The final track "Benediction" is just a short lecture to remind us what awful sinners we are, and although I can see that kind of thing appealing to the Americans, I suspect that most people will find it just a tad patronising. On the plus side there is some nice acoustic guitar work on quite a few of the tracks, but even so I don't think that this is the kind of album that you'd want to play very often. 5/10 Andy Sayner. (January 2007)
JK2 : Jesus 2000. (Alliance : 7243 8202472 9)
To celebrate the millenium, 8 top US gospel artists got together
to produce an album of songs personal testimony. The resulting
release has contributions from Men of Standard, Dawkins and Dawkins,
and Nancey Jackson. By far the most popular, in my book, are Anointed
who sing "Help Him Stand". I guess I like it because
it's very radio friendly and easy to listen to - unlike Montrell
Darrett's awful "Prophetic Millenium 2000" which drones
on for more than six minutes! Kim Burrel provides another good
song, "Woman", which tells how God can change anyone's
life no matter what their past may have been filled with. Gosepl
music, of this kind, has never been a big favourite of mine but,
I guess, that this ranks as one of the better ones. Perhaps, if
you are like me, this would be a good time to try a taste of gospel.
7/10. (July 2000)
JOANNA CARLSON : 'The Light of Home' (Benson).
Here's another new name for you to familiarise yourselves with.
A songbird from America, and following in the footsteps of Susan
Ashton and Kathy Troccoli. With slick production provided by Brent
Bourgeois and Wayne Kirkpatrick, and ten self-penned songs, Miss
Carlson has certainly got off to a good start. Her voice has a
smooth and silky quality about it but rarely does she push it
to the limits.
The songs are all very relaxing and easy to listen too but towards
the end of the album, one sounds pretty much like the one before.
However, at her best, Joanna sings the soulful 'Looking at You'
and exquisite 'Belong to Me' - two highlights from a lady who
promises more. 6/10. (May 1996)
JOE ENGLE : I Believe in You. (Spin 360 : MM2971901)
Joe Engle hails from the Dallas/Fort Worth area of the USA. Never having known his father, he lost his mother at the age of 11 and then his grandparents at 14. His subsequent teenage years saw him at a Baptist children's home and then taken in by a Christian couple Dale and Nadine Engle, whose surname he adopted. Beginning to develop as a songwriter and singer, at 16 he became a Christian and went on to study music and theology - meeting his future wife Valerie whilst at university. Joel has played to audiences worldwide, including outreach opportunities with the Billy Graham Association - and his albums have received many positive reviews. 'I believe in you' is his latest, containing 13 mostly medium-paced Christian worship pop/rock songs with all but one written or co-written by Joel. The title track is one of the strongest, other standouts being 'Almighty God', 'Nothing left of me' and 'Your love reigns'. Whilst Joel clearly has much to offer in a live praise and worship environment however, this album is similar to many produced Stateside over the past several years - lacking the originality of artists such as, for instance, Bebo Norman. A final comment is that in common with many CDs these days most of the tracks suffer from over-compression - which spoils it for those with nice music systems. A worthy album then, but not a great one. Check out Joel further at www.joelengle.com and www.myspace.com/joelengle, where you can hear before you buy. 7/10 Dave Deeks. (November 2007)
JOE KING : The Harvest Has Begun. (Alliance : 1900972).
You know when Joe King writes a song, that it's something very
personal that he wants to share. After the success of his previous
release "Next To You", and the theme of God putting
strength into all through difficulties, this one is long awaited.
With Chris Eaton at the helm of the controls, the result is a
more polished affair yet with nothing taken away from Joe's intimate
gifts. Beginning with the catchy "When Jesus Comes Again"
and continuing with the title track, you hear the professional
touch of Mr Eaton adding a certain something to what could have
been ordinary songs. The acoustic "Until Our Heart Beats..."
is a poignant number of great value and "Father"'s lucidity
is just sheer honesty. Pipes, whistles, and more, get you jigging
to "Stand Your Ground", and the effective drums on "Let
My Power" give Joe's writing yet another angle. Overalll,
it's a good album, but I've a deep feeling that the next will
be even better. 9/10. (March 1998)
JOE KING : Eye of the Storm. (CD £12.99 plus p&p
from: Croft House, Common Lane, South Milford, Yorkshire, England,
LS25 5BP)
This worship album reflects Joe's Celtic/Irish roots, with musicians
drawn from Iona and Eden's Bridge. However, I think that he's
also been listening to some good old 60's & 70's pop, as several
songs have that uncluttered, yet still stylish, feel about them.
Take, for instance, "The Wonder" and "Still, I'm
Trusting". both have been carefully crafted and have that
perfect warmth from the finished song. Joe's healing ministry
has seen him travel the length and breadth of the country and
the song "There Is Healing" is the perfect vehicle to
carry the message of God's healing powers. "Lord of All Creation"
is uncomplicated, yet draws the listener into the wonderment of
God's creation with ease. I loved the sounds of the pipes on "Follow
You - a really joyous song with a little Celtic reel thrown in
for good measure too. "Eye of the Storm" contains so
many songs that had me really thanking God for all the goodness
He has poured into my life, despite some sorrow, and not many
albums do that so completely. Well done, Joe, this is superb.
10/10. (February 2002, Album of the Month)
JOE KING : When Heaven Comes Down. (www.joekinguk.com)
Gaining and NFN "Album of the Month" award for his last
release, Joe was on a hiding to nothing with his follow up. And,
while this new release never quite reaches the same dizzy heights
of "Eye of the Storm", it's still a good album. Joe
says that the central theme of the album is one of yearning for
God to touch and change our society with His healing love and
power. Certainly, the lyrics of all the songs do convey that feeling.
The more progressive opening number told me straight away that
this wasn't simply just another album, rather, one that's been
prayed about, over and over again. Joe has a great voice and I
love it when it's in full flow, like on "This Is What I Love
About You". There's a few more quieter songs this time round
and mid-album "At the Cross" and "To Be Touched
By Jesus" show Joe in meditative thought, while "At
the Cross" falls a little flat. "Fresh Fire" asks
for a personal renewal, and the 9 minute "God Of Love…"
gives a full sense of being one with the Lord. 8/10. (February 2004)
JOE PACE & THE COLORADO MASS CHOIR : Speak Life. (Integrity : 24022)
"Mass Choir" is definitely the right description, here. If you want to know what
almost 50 people singing in close harmony sounds like, this album would be a
great place to start, with some great solos, the occasional familiar song, some
very American spoken Reprises and a great version of "Joy to the World" thrown
in for good measure. Co-produced by Don Moen, this CD is everything you might
expect from a gospel choir in full flow: simple, worshipful songs brought to
life in lengthy, subtly different, repeated passages, wonderful rich harmonies,
drums, funky bass riffs and organs combine to make this a truly uplifting
experience. If I had to pick a favourite track, it would have to be the "Sing
Unto The Lord" medley, 4 minutes capable of leaving a smile on the coldest of
hearts. If you have got the impression from these comments that I like a good
gospel choir, then you would be absolutely right ... and this is a great album
by a great gospel choir. 9/10 David Cooper (November 2003, Album of the Month)
JOHN DeGRAZIO : Revolution. (IMG : WS31573104)
As UK based Spirit Music continues to distribute some of the lesser
known artists from all around the world, it's really great to
hear some different musicians. John DeGrazio is one such artist,
who's acoustic led pop is sometimes reminiscent of the late lamented
Crowded House. There again, fans of Chris Rice will, no doubt,
appreciate his quieter moments on songs like "Wish I Could
Have You". It sounds like a very personal album, as the singer/songwriter
takes you through the journey of being a Christian in today's
world, where not only others question you but, sometimes, you
question God yourself and say "Hey God, I'm not really sure
what you want me to be in this life, but I'm trusting my heart
to you". "Until You Answer" is one such song, while
the catchy chorus of "Somebody Other Than Me" will soon
be tapping around your brain for ages. Listening, I could relate
a lot to these songs and found the finished article very good
indeed. 8/10. (January 2003)
JOHN ELEFANTE : Defying Gravity. (Pamplin : PMCD9952)
John's history as the lead singer wit mega rock band Kansas seeps
into a few of the songs on this latest album, but there is so
much more to this man's music. Throughout the album I was consistantly
impressed by the sheer quality of each song. The title track is
a prime example of how God's music can both enthrall and draw
into a closer relationship with Him. The song itself tells of
John's own desire to fight against the pull of the world and towards
his Heavenly Father. "Pass the Flame" is a lighter number
that almost passes as country, while "The Way That You Love
Me" reminded this reviewer of late 60's Beatles. Brother,
Dino, shares most of the writing and production credits on what
is, I'm sure, one of the better American rock albums. 10/10.
(December 1999, Album of the Month)
JOHN FROUD & THE PKs : Seriously… (Private CD Recording
: £13.00 from Zephaniah Music, 2a Norwood Road, Shipley,
West Yorkshire, England, BD18 2AZ).
John Froud works full time in music ministry, specialising in
schools work in his home area. However, his music will appeal
to all ages and I think that a live concert would be quite an
experience, judging by the humour contained in some of his songs.
Prime example on the album is "Stressed" - which lends
a lot from an old T.Rex tune - which contains the immortal line
"I've had another bad day, and my hair's going grey".
It's not all tongue in cheek muzak though, and there's plenty
of lyrical depth in "Lost Without You" and the poignant
"Seriously Unrehearsed". Perhaps the most appealing,
is the folk tinged "21st Century Prophet" and it's sideways
look on life and just what the future holds. On the whole, the
songs contain a mixture of ingredients with styles varying from
blues to rock. "The Spin" reminded me of The Beautiful
South while "Face" and "Tell Me", I found
less appealing. It takes all sorts to make the world go round,
and John Froud certainly provide quite a mixture. 7/10. (June 1999)
JOHN FROUD & the PK'S : Be There. (Private CD Recording
: £13.00 from Zephaniah Music, 2a Norwood Road, Shipley,
West Yorkshire, England, BD18 2AZ).
And so we come to the latest musical offering, recorded on a shoestring
budget, from one of the many wonderful artists who play and minister
at 'grassroots' level. Recorded over four days at Dan Bowater's
studio in Lincoln, John Froud & the PK's present an album
of good old fashioned, honest lyrics in a style that sees folk,
pop and R'n'B rub shoulders with each other. "Language of
Love" starts the ball rolling, as John tries to tell the
Lord that he sometimes finds it hard to speak the right words
to Him. "Blue Hills" and "Holding On" are
pure rhythm & blues, with the latter featuring some heavy
saxophone and 60's keyboard. Actually, it's very refreshing to
hear some different instruments being used with whistles, flute
& mandolin being added to those already mentioned. Mind you,
I did find the saxophone rather annoying in the laid back ballad
"Be There" which, for me, distracted the listener from
the words. John travels all over the UK but is primarily involved
in schools work around the Bradford area. Like Brian Houston,
last month, his lyrics are simple and will, therefore, appeal
to all ages. One day, I'm going to have to catch up with this
guy for a live gig. In the meantime, knowing he's out there producing
songs like the powerful "Still Dreaming" will do nicely.
8/10. (December 2000)
JOHN FROUD : Angel. (CD Recording, £12 from: Zephaniah
Music, 2a Norwood Road, Shipley, West Yorkshire, England, BD18
2AZ.)
One thing that has struck me about John's recording's over the
last couple of years is that the finished song production has
become more polished. Some of that polish must have been provided
by Dan Bowater at his db studios in Lincoln, but "hat's off"
to John for his own work too. This collection of Christmas songs
features many that have been written by John himself for the famous
Wycliffe carol services, and can also be obtained in songbook
form (£20) which is written for piano, guitar and vocal,
as well as featuring some backing tracks! Musically, John keeps
to his tried and trusted styles and after the nice opening title
track, the first to prick up your ears too is "Sing With
the Angels". This begins with a lovely whistle sound that,
then, leads into a gentle celtic number of quality. I always
enjoy a good calypso, and "Mary Gave Birth" is no exception
- a fine worship song. "I Wish I Could Have Been There"
is the top track on show, with nice acoustic guitar and excellent
vocals. "Silent night" is sung, predominantly, as a
lullaby and the result is very good. I'm never keen on the blues
side o things, so I'm afraid "Far Away" and "Born
in the Night" didn't go down well with me. Nevertheless,
it's great to hear a collection of original Christmas songs instead
of just a rehash of old ones. 8/10. (December 2001)
JOHN FROUD : Don't You Know". (CD £13.00 from Zephaniah
Music, 2a Norwood Road, Shipley, West Yorkshire, England, BD18
2AZ).
Over the years, it's been my pleasure to review a number of albums
written and performed by Bradford's John Froud. John works mainly
in schools in West Yorkshire taking the gospel of Jesus into the
schools in a fun way that the children can understand and enjoy.
Last year, he gave all the primary schools that he visits, the
opportunity to be part of a new album. The result sees 19 different
schools represented on 23 songs on the album. The one thing that
eminently stands up throughout the album, is the way that John,
his co-workers, and children all radiate a great joy in what they're
doing. Some songs, like "When the Spirit of the Lord"
and "Be Bold Be Strong", are well known to us all, but
others such as "God So Loved the World" and "Though
the Grass May Wither" will be new to the listener. The strength
of a lot of the songs featured is their simplicity. Sometimes,
those repetitive songs just annoy, but I didn't find it the case
once here. It was quite a task to undertake, but well worth the
effort, for a result that is a little out of the ordinary. Well
done guys and gals. 8/10. (February 2003)
JOHN FROUD : Late Nights & Hard Conversations. (CD £12 from Zephaniah music, 2A NorwoodRoad, Shipley, UK, BD18 2AZ).
One of the most successful independent school workers is West
Yorkshire's John Froud. Over the last few years, his tireless
work has taken him, his family, and friends into countless schools
and churches. Album releases have been fairly frequent and as
well as being a great resource, have provided some much needed
monetary support. This new release sees the songs stripped down
somewhat instrument wise, like the super "He Never Said".
It just goes to show how a well written and presented song can
be just as strong as one with sparse instrumentation. The title
track sees John tackle all those times when the struggles of life
take your eyes from God, and you ask Him so many questions. I
found his story of Jonah, "Nineveh Bound" a little weak
but the bluesy feel of "You've Got a Friend" and "Abide
With Me" stand at the other end of the scale. John's not
the sort of guy to rest on his laurels and, with his ministry,
is always trying to further the boundaries. With that in mind,
no doubt we'll hear something different next time out but, for
now, sit back and enjoy the folky essence and pleasant sounds.
7/10. (December 2003)
JOHN FROUD : Retrospective. (Zephaniah Music ZEPH407)
In 1994 John gave up his full-time work as a teacher and became the founder of Zephaniah Trust, with the mission statement "taking light into dark corners". Now with co-worker Mark Drake, the Trust regularly visits over 45
schools and organises a wide range of events. This album represents "the righteousness remnant of the concert material of the years 1997-2003 - those songs still regularly performed". Disappointingly, the lyrics are printed
for only 8 of the 16 featured tracks - and these are not in playing order. John and the band tend to major on a raw, rocky style. The recordings sound as if they are live performances rather than studio productions. There are many good tunes here, and the lyrics reflect John's clearly heart-felt
desire to get the gospel message over in a relevant and direct way. '21st prophet', 'Finished', 'Late nights', 'Be there' and 'I cry alone' stand out as a good'uns. 'Too long' features a sudden and not too successful tempo change. A down side of the 'under-produced' approach is that there are occasional balance and 'vocal tuning' problems. Much of the time John's
voice sounds a touch high in the mix, and it doesn't really stand up to the extra spotlight of the bluesy gospel 'Face' and minimalist backing of the wry 'Seriously Unrehearsed'. These are picky observations in the overall context of John's ministry however. Comments on the Zephaniah Trust website (www.zeph.org.uk) indicate that he has an enthusiastic following from pastors, parents and children. He is obviously doing exactly what the Lord wants him to, and I wish him every blessing in those dark corners! 7/10 Dave Deeks (April 2008)
JOHN HARDWICK : Bible Explosion. (ICC : ICCD655300
John Hardwick is part of the Children Worldwide Ministry and has
produced many recordings, videos, and other media especially for
young people. "Bible Explosion" concentrates on specific
passages from the Bible and some of the songs here even include
the verse reference. Take, for instance, "Do You Know"
that includes the words "Look up John chapter 3, verse 16
and see", or the calypso sound of "He's a Rock"
complete with the chorus "Look up chapter 32, verse 4 of
Deuteronomy". I'm afraid it makes me cringe again just remembering
listening to it - it's pretty corny to say the least. "Those
Who Put Their Hope in God" was an improvement and has a typical
kids' singalong chorus, and the celtic "Let the Little Children",
does stand up in it's own right as a song. Not a patch on Captain
Alan's release last month. 3/10. (December 2002)
JOHN MICHAEL TALBOT : Troubador For The Lord. (Sparrow : SPD1545)
This compilation has been put together to celebrate John's 20
years of music and ministry. 19 songs from his previous 16 releases,
and I had never heard one of them. JMT presents simple worship
songs with no frills. Opening with the gentle 'Come Worship the
Lord', it drifts lovingly into the joyous 'Glory to God'. He's
got a strong voice and it's one that seems to flow easily into
every track. Strings and guitar are the main instruments on show,
again , all carefully produced. My favourite track had to be 'Come
Holy Spirit' with it's melodic tune and easy to pick up chorus.
After listening to this album, I realised that there's been a
gap in my music collection that has now been filled. 8/10.
(February 1997)
JOHN NUTTALL : Heartsongs. (CD recording from : John Nuttall,
121 Castleton Road, Royton, Oldham, England, OL2 6UP, £10).
The obvious comparison when you first hear a male singer/songwriter
of this kind is, of course, Martyn Joseph. There again, comparing
john to Martyn Jospeh is a bit like saying that S Club 7 are as
good as The Beatles! Who knows? In years to come we may well be
eating our words but, for now, lets say that John Nuttall certainly
has every chance of becoming as popular as Martyn is today. The
songs are all (bar one) carefully crafted in a consistant way
that obviously shows he has the right ingredients needed. "Deeper
Is your Love" starts off the album and is, indeed, one the
strongest tracks. It chugs along quite nicely and I soon found
my foot tapping away to the beat. Then, it's basic piano accompaniment
to "You Said It All" which, in my view should have come
later in the listing. "I Heard the Voice of Jesus" reminded
me of Adrian Snell, and I especially liked the love song to Jesus
entitled "Hang on To You". There's some simple acoustic
worship and then the out of place hymn "The Cross" but,
as a grounding, John Nuttall is a name to remember for future.
8/10 (July 2001)
JOHN NUTTALL : Joining With the Angels. (CD: £5 from:
121 Castleton Road, Royston, Oldham, UK, OL2 6UP.)
It's more than 4 years since John's previous album, "Heartsongs",
and I just wonder where he's been hiding himself? Since that debut,
John's song writing has become smoother and more rounded, with
the result that the finished product is well worth £5 of
anyone's money. He opens with the African rhythms of "Come
Let Us Worship Our God", and follows that with the title
track. This song is so lovely and powerful, and reminded me so
much of the quality of Fernando Ortega. Indeed, "Sovereign
God" could have been written with Fernando in mind, it is
just SO him. Rachel Kitchenside takes over the vocals for the
summery "Morning Glory", but John's back to his best
on "Fairest Lord Jesus". This is a beautifully crafted
song, and you really do get the feeling that it's come straight
from the heart of the writer. I thought that "You Are My
Fortress" has the makings of a great congregational song,
and "Come to Me" says everything about resting in the
Father's love. The packaging is definitely low budget, but don't
let that put you off sampling the delights of Mr Nuttall. 9/10. (December 2005)
JOHN REUBAN : The Boy vs The Cynic (Gotee Records / Kingsway GTD72947)
Looking into who John Reuben is I discovered this is his 5th Album, although listening to it you wouldn't think so! The CD cover is deceptive & leads you to expect a very deep & soulful "intellectual" rock album, but once you listen it begins to fall apart. John tries to fuse some energetic rock with heavyweight rap vocals which is a very difficult concept to pull off. I've only ever heard "Band With No Name" do this & they were excellent: this on the other hand is appalling. The music is very poor in terms of composition & production is low quality. Unfortunately, I cannot even say the lyrics were the saving grace - not inspired. One song claims the "Good 'ol US of A" is Jesus' favourite place on earth…the jury's still out there. If you like rap, buy Band With No Name or WW Message Tribe - don't waste your cash on this, even as a coffee mat. 0/10 - dreadful. Simon Redfern (November 2005)
JOHN WALLER : The Blessing. (Reunion : 02341-0118-2)
Some of you may remember the band According to John, who released a couple of albums either side of the millennium. Well, fronting the group was none other than John Waller who, after the group's demise, found himself working as the worship pastor of a church in Colorado. A few years on, and he's back on the record scene with a debut album lending much to the style of Jeremy Camp's adult rock music. Listening, it really took me a few plays before some of the song began to stick in my mind. I think that most of the listing is quite ordinary, but the album does have it's purple patch mid-way. "Calling For A Flood" and "Identity" have their moments, and there's a great telling of the story between God, the Father and one of His children on "Still Calls Me Son". "Breathe on Me" is a song that builds with real power while "Love To Say Your Name" just marvels at the many names that God is known as throughout the world. John certainly has a good voice but I feel that the best is yet to come as far as his song writing goes. 6/10. (July 2007)
JOHNNY CASH : My Mother's Hymn Book. American Recordings : FIERCD08
Born in 1932, Johnny Cash's massive influence upon country and popular music began with his first release in 1954, and continues to this day. His fourth chart single 'I Walk the Line' went to the top of the Billboard charts, remained on that chart for 43 weeks and ultimately sold over 2 million copies. By the mid-sixties his life had been marred by personal troubles and drug addiction, but he emerged from this and went on to marry his singing partner June Carter. His last three albums gained Grammy awards. The album we have here was recorded
shortly after June died in May 2003 and only weeks before he himself passed away, in the September of that year. It consists of Johnny delivering fifteen hymns that he recalls his mother singing, accompanied only by his guitar. I have to say that I have never quite understood Johnny's appeal, and this album does nothing to change my mind. The fifteen songs are delivered in the usual slightly tuneless world-weary Cash voice, particularly exposed in such a stripped-down setting. The singing voices of 71 year olds tend to be past their peak
of course(!) and it is to his credit that Johnny's sounds much like it always has. Given titles such as 'I shall not be moved', 'When the roll is called is called up yonder' and 'In the sweet by and by', you will know what to expect. If pushed for a 'stand out' track I'd probably go for 'Softly and Tenderly'. As a poignant keepsake for family, friends and die-hard fans then, a nice closing chapter to a tumultuous life. For the rest of us, 4/10 Dave Deeks. (October 2006)
JOHNNY MARKIN : See With Your Eyes. (ICC : 17730).
"This is an attempt to capture the natural and simple atmosphere
of worship", so says Johnny in the sleeve notes. Indeed,
this is exactly what he does. This is a brave step forward from
his previous rockin' release of a year or so ago. From the moment
he opens with the 'up and at 'em' 'I'll Stand', you know that
you are in the company of someone with worship at his heart. His
vocals are strong and, when needed, also sweet - especially on
duets with Jo Holland. 'Make My Heart' is a highlight on the album,
as is the closing 'Jesus, You Are My Only Destiny'. Didn't enjoy
the 'Deep Calls to Deep', nor the sudden ends to some of the songs
but, if you like the Noel Richards' type of music, you'll like
this. 8/10. (January 1997)
JON BAMFORTH & MIKE KIRK : Refiner's Fire. (Private Recording.:CD £11.30 / Cass £8.30 from : Promit Ltd, 40 Ringwood, Peterborough, PE3 9SH.)
This album took me quite some time to appreciate and I literally
had to ask the Lord to open my eyes to it's power. Refiner's Fire
is a musical meditation on Hebrews Chapter 12, for the thoughtful
individual to truly worship God. Jon, Mike and friends use over
25 different songs to aid impact of the message. The music itself
has it's good and bad moments - the latter is shown on the rendition
of "Be Bold" with some very weak guitar playing. At
it's best, there's some very reflective keyboard on the "Prayer
of Response" and the overall craft on "Prayer of Adoration"
only makes you wonder why the aforementioned guitar was so poor!
Great calypso feel to "When I Remember" and more meditational
keyboards to "Here I Am". It's not an album that you
would put on to simply enjoy, but for personal worship, anointing,
and meditation, Refiner's Fire will inspire many. 8/10. (August 1997)
JON FOREMAN : Fall and Winter. (Credential Recordings : 5699951615125)
This is a double album, the first disk being entitled "Fall", and the other one "Winter". I wonder if we can expect Spring and Summer next then. Despite being a double CD there are only six tracks on each disk so it's not really any longer than a single CD. I really can't make my mind up about this CD at all. I can't decide whether I like it or not, it's not exactly what you'd call easy listening. It's very much an acoustic guitar led album, with only a few tracks featuring any more instruments. It has a kind off jazz feel to it I guess, but it's quite difficult deciding where to place it. There is a strong hint of Coldplay about a lot of the songs on here, mainly due to the vocals I think. The lyrics are quite dark in places, and I'm not sure that many of the songs will be appreciated by anyone who is not familiar with the issues contained within them, the words are obviously written from the heart though. Personally found it a bit depressing in places, but there are a couple of more straightforward worship songs towards the end which were a bit lighter. I should add that Jon Foreman is the singer from Switchfoot, so this will appeal to fans of theirs I should think, but I think it's a bit of a mixed bag, and I'm not sure exactly what mood I would find myself in before I'd want to listen to it. 6/10 Andy Sayner (June 2008)
JONATHAN BUTLER : Surrender. (Warner Bros)
This is one of the most exquisite jazz albums I have ever heard;
kind of Stevie Wonder meets Robert
Cray with God right through the centre and a touch of
R n B in the middle.I f you think jazz is for old men and not
your scene, get into this! The production by the man himself ably
assisted by Paul Brown is so polished the CD could slip out of
the tray. Do yourself a favour, get into this album and find a
new meaning to Christianity at the same time. There is one track
called 'take me back' - we've all strayed and yearned for the
love of God to enfold us and welcome us back - buy it -
you won't regret it! Graham Taylor. 8/10. (December 2002)
Jonathan Shelton is a new name to the world of Christian music, and this debut album has been released independently. All songs feature the piano playing of Seth Partridge Underwood and very little else in the way of backing. That said, there is an annoying guitar that appears every now and again such as on the song "Amazing". With that in mind, the limited backing does tend to make the songs sound a tad similar to each other despite Jonathan's best vocal efforts. It's an album of simple praise and worship but there are quite a few highpoints on the journey. "More Than words Can Say" and "Breathless" are just two of the fine songs on display, while "Thankful Heart" is another. Indeed, the latter contains some really nice harmonies. On the downside, weaker songs like "I Stand" and the repetitive "Without You" detract somewhat from the potential of the rest of the album. It would nice to hear what Jonathan and co writer Seth could do with their songs given a larger budget and full band to work with. Certainly, there's a lot to build on here. 7/10. (October 2005)
JONATHAN VEIRA : Rhythms of the Heart. (ICC : ICCD72730)
Internationally acclaimed as a bass baritone opera singer, Jonathan
Veira has proved just as popular as he tours his one man show
around the world. Once you hear his voice, you're instantly aware
of it's sheer quality and power. However, he also has the technique
to make it as gentle as a soft breeze, floating through a summer's
day - it's so smooth. The songs on this album are of high's and
lows. "Touch the Flame" and "The Father's Song"
are both very pleasant and calming. The bluesy "Wayfaring
Stranger" sounds too much like a cheap lounge singer and
really does this man no favours at all. "Empty Page"
is a nice ballad, and I especially liked the simply written "Lord
HaveMercy". It's one of those albums to relax to and, possibly,
meditate. Very nice. 8/10. (July 2003)
JONATHAN VEIRA : An Audience with.... (ICC : ICC0889A)
Recorded in January of this year, in front of a sell out audience, this DVD gives the viewer a taste of that evening. Acclaimed internationally as a bass baritone singer, Jonathan has released several albums of Christian songs, and is a regular guest on BBC Songs of Praise. This one man show, gives Jonathan the chance not only to flex those baritone muscles, but also to weave his humourous stories within. The songs feature various operatic numbers such as "Me Voglio Fa'Na Casa" but there's also plenty of more well known tunes such as "Mona Lisa", "Old Man River" and "My Funny Valentine". Jonathan takes other songs like Elton John's "Your Song" and Billy Joel's "Piano Man", and gives them his own treatment, not merely being content of a straight copy. I found the whole "evening" to be well produced and it was obvious that the audience loved every minute of it. It's nice to see ICC promoting such a show in this way, and I hope it finds it's niche in the UK market place. 7/10. (November 2005)
JONATHAN VEIRA : Pilgrim. (ICC : ICC1167D)
Some of you may be more familiar with Jonathan's altar ego, as a bass-baritone famed for his comic operatic roles. Others may have seen his one-man show at Spring Harvest but both represent a snapshot of his amazing versatility. This album, is not opera, but a collection of more contemporary style material, not entirely dissimilar in feel to Tom Jones. It's a collection of spiritual and pseudo-spiritual songs ranging from Bob Dylan's "Gotta Serve Somebody" to the traditional "I Want Jesus to Walk with Me". The latter song has a blues/country feel, due in part to the slide dobro from Bryn Howarth although I would say that the overall feel of the album is soul. There are a number of opera artists that venture into pop music (remember Russell Watson's Enterprise theme tune?) and Jonathan does it no less successfully. At the end of the day, Jonathan is an all round entertainer - just view the video clips on his website - and his desire to cross genres is refreshing. 8/10 (May 2008)
JOSH BATES : Perfect Day. (Reunion : 02341-0097-2)
Well, what can I tell you about Josh Bates? Absolutely nothing is the answer. No press release, and a website that seems to be offline each time I try and reach it. So, what about his music? Well, it's an album that my wife said was "cheerful and modern". He's not as delicate a singer as say, Chris Rice, but more in the mould of Clay Cross, and to that end he has a strong, powerful voice. The opening three or four songs were fairly ordinary, as Josh sung about the return of Jesus, and eternal life. Then comes the purple patch of the album. "Never Give Up on Me" is a great, thoughtfully sung song that I'll certainly be playing on radio. "There is None Like You" and Walking Through the Fire" are almost as good and by this time, you really get the feeling that Josh has real belief in his songs. Another top song is "You Say Come", which sings about God giving you strength when you feel all is lost. It's one of those albums that seems to grow on you and therefore, at the moment, its an 8/10. (March 2006)
JOSH JACKSON : Challenge Point. (Josh Jackson-Sponge Productions, 4432 Sears Road, Pegram, TN 37143, USA)
Challenge Point is a ministry focused on helping individuals and
groups discover the potential God has placed within them. Josh
Jackson's musical gift is one example of the talent that can be
used to the glory of God when individuals take courage and walk
in faith. "Oh wow, is that Matchbox 20?", asked a passing
work colleague, obviously impressed. "No", I replied.
"Quite good though, isn't it?". The songs are all acoustic
guitar driven, with Josh's endearing vocals shining through each
one. "Till Tomorrow", "Road Called Life",
and "One More Day" are all bright, choppy numbers that
make an instant impression on the listener. "I Still remember"
is quieter and a more reflective number, focussing on days gone
by. "My Father's House" and "You Gotta" are
just two more catchy songs that had me tapping my feet and wishing
that there was more than just the mere 35 minutes. There is a
dip in musically quality when "Rhythm Sine"'s retro
rock - complete with overdriven guitar & keyboards - just
doesn't work. Likewise, "Take Me Along", but that doesn't
stop this album from being a refreshing change from all the usual
radio fodder. 8/10. (August 2000)
JOY ELECTRIC : Robot Rock. (BEC/Alliance : BEC84).
Imagine that you were placed in a time capsule during the mid
- 70's, when PC's were practically unheard of, and Moog synthesizers
were THE toy of the day. Well, I think that's just what happened
to Jeff Cloud and Ronnie Marrtin, aka Joy Electric. No samplers,
no computers, and no drum machines as they release an album of
10, sometimes, strange songs that, in total, last a little over
thirty minutes. The opening number is called "Sugar Rush"
and I sat in disbelief, staring at what was coming out of my stereo.
"I Get a sugar rush, thinking of you too much", sang
to the sounds I'd long since forgotten. I couldn't believe it,
this was brilliant. It was as if Kraftwerk & Gary Numan had
been re-born. "Joy Electric Land" is another chirpy
number that sounds like the backing has been provided by a Space
Invaders game. Put a drum machine to "The Berry Patch"
and it sounds similar to a Pet Shop Boys single, and "Strawberry
Heart" is just plain infectious. A couple of droning numbers
lowered the tone and I just wonder how long the appeal of the
album will be. At the moment, however, I'll play it again. 8/10.
(April 1998)
JOY WILLIAMS : Every Moment - The Best of... (Reunion : 602341011426)
This album covers Joy's 7 year recording history and gives a chance for new fans to find out all about her music. There's even a new song to open things up called "Any More Sure". It's a very attack minded vocal delivery and instantly reminded me of a Rebecca St James number. Indeed,, I thought the same with the track "We", also. "Hide" is a good song. It says that no matter what life throws your way, you don't have to face it alone. The message is, "Don't Hide". Mid-album, things go a little flat and her vocals are quite weak on the ballad "I Believe in You". There again, the next song has Joy at her best. "Here With Us" is strongly sung and remains my favourite track on the album. Not the best compilation album but it does have it's moments. 6/10. (March 2007)
JOYCE, KAREN & SHERI : Best of Friends. (Spring Hill)
Joyce Martin, Karen Peck and Sheri Easter have many things in
common. Their careers as vocalists, their roles as wives and mothers,
and their gospel music heritage being just three. Did I mention
that they're also the best of friends? This album brings these
friends together for the first time, and the wait has well been
worthwhile. The quality of the songs, the music, and most importantly,
the lyrics is just of the finest order. Take the foot stompin'
"Chains Gone, Set Free". It's a great celebration of
the time when the angels in heaven party at the announcement of
another soul set free from sin. Then there's the piano ballad
of "You Give", praising a Lord that never stops giving.
I really enjoyed listening to this album and couldn't wait to
play it again. "I'm A Mom" , "It's All About You"
and "High Road" would stand out on any album. They are
so good. Of course, I didn't reckon the closing "If She Could"
and "I'll Leave the Light On". The former tells of an
old lady in her final years, maybe not as sharpe as she once was,
but still sure in the Lord. The second is the most moving song
I've heard this year. If you want to know what a real friend should
be like, listen to this. As much as I love the country music of
Faith Hill and Shania Twain, this Cd is just so much better. 10/10. (June 2003, Album of the Month)
JR : Life By Stereo. (Provident/Integrity : 8-81413-00312-9)
One thing that struck me about this album on it's first listen was just how "pro-life" the lyrics were. Compared to those in the secular marketplace of a similar genre, these were inspiring. The sounds fuse urban gospel, contemporary R&B and pop by this artist who is the familiar voice behind numerous hooks on Cross Movement Records projects. I must admit that I was pleasantly surprised by the number of songs on the album that I actually liked. After all, I'm not known for my love of this type of music! But, comparing them to UK chart material of a similar sound, I'd say that this stands up very well. At times, I thought that JR's sound was reminiscent of DC Talk from their glory days - especially on songs like 'Intro' and 'We Need You'. "Jesus Saves" is the message behind 'Not a Slave', and looking at how Jesus can change your life is the story behind 'OK'. The album also features guest appearances by Da T.R.U.T.H and Flame, and I can highly recommend this for lovers of this genre. 8/10. (March 2008)
JUDY BAILEY : Misdemeanours After Midnight. (Pila : 272322).
Working with the likes of Steve Thompson in the London area, Judy
was a well known singer who had already made quite a splash in
both Europe and her native Barbados. This release was supposed
to launch her British career, with a sound that was somewhere
between Joan Armatrading and Sade. The Caribbean roots can be
heard on the calypso inspired "Can't Take It Anymore",
while there's a touch of reggae on "Hidden". Judy, herself,
has deep, dusky vocals and they fit well on all the tracks. Most
of these are quite lightweight but are still very attractive.
However, on "Vertigo", she really lets her hair down
and comes up with a good rocker. There's great guitar work here
and it's, probably, the best track. Judy attempts to tackle various
social issues in her lyrics and, on the whole, it works. Five
years on, the album still sounds fresh but, where is she now?
7/10. (July 1998, Released 1993)
In the years since I last heard from Judy Bailey, she's been working
very hard with her music in the rest of Europe. This album was
actually released last year but is only just finding it's way
over here. In those intervening years, Judy seems to have found
her own style of pop and/or reggae and put some fine polish to
the resulting songs. "Jesus First" is a terrific opener
and I found it totally uplifting. "Out of the Natural"
follows in similar vein, but "Fill Me With Fire" shows
just what Judy can do with a funky number that concentrates on
learning the secret of having a burning heart for God. "Don't
You Know" has that reggae feel to it, while the pleasantly
sounding "Extra Eyes" is a real smoothy. To me, Judy
Bailey sounds as though she's an artist who knows exactly what
she wants her music to do, and is firm in her belief that it is
a gift from God. If I needed that confirming then listening to
"Jesus in My House" removed any lingering doubts. Written
originally for a big youth event in Germany, this song is fantastic,
and the live recording brings out the very best in it. With a
new album on the way, I sincerely hope that Judy gives us more
of the same. 9/10 (October 2003, Album of the Month)
JULIA GRACE : Julia Grace. (Parachute : PMD032)
This is the debut from the former singer of New Zealand's electro-pop band, Elevator. She doesn't appear to get any writing credits for the songs but, instead, relies on two or three writers for the whole album. "Tin Cars" is a medium paced pop song that sounds pretty good until it's interrupted halfway through, by a rapper. I liked her vocals on the song "Carry Me Away". Here, the tones are strong and sweeping. "Beautiful One" is beautifully produced, centering it's theme about never been alone while God is with you. "Why Is She Crying" stutters it's through about prostitution, before Julia's former electro sounds come back to the fore. Both "Reflection" and "Electrical" are quite ordinary and certainly failed to leap out at me. I thought that Julia's vocals were at their best on the slower songs, and they really excel on "Stars", late on in the track listing. She's already gained some rave reviews about this album, and I think that there's plenty of talent that just needs some better songs, overall. 7/10. (October 2006)
JULIA PLAUT : God's Wonderful World. (Kingsway : KMCD939)
When I was given this CD to review my initial response was to
recount the previous children's praise recordings I had experienced.
Past criticisms had included: embarrassing, overloud, repetitive,
unintelligible, and kitsch. In contrast, this CD is delightful.
It captured my children's interest immediately, and they have
been singing 'Mr Cow', 'My God Is So Big',, and others since they
first heard it. There were songs that were new to us , as well
as old favourites. A lyric sheet with actions is also provided.
Many of the songs are performed by children, and the arrangements
are creative and intelligent, therefore appealing to children
and adults alike. The only track which did not work for me was
a jazz version of 'The Wise Man Built His House Upon The Rock',
where the style was so laid back that I could imagine the wise
man falling off the rock with boredom. However, this is a small
criticism of an album which I shall definately buy for my pre-schoolers.
9/10. Gill Laird. (January 1999)
JULIA PLAUT : Thank You God For Snails. (Kingsway : KMCD2209)
Following the marvellous "God's Wonderful World", Julia
Plaut and friends present another selection of old and new songs,
arranged for classical instruments, and with 0-5 year olds in
mind. It's a long time since I was a 5 year old but the first
listen had me taking a trip down memory lane to when my own children
where that age. The recipe for success is the same as before,
easy to learn, repetitive lyrics, simple tunes, and a whole host
of actions to use by the frantic Sunday School leader. "Clap
Your Hands" is as good example of any, with lyrics that encourage
the children to "Clap your hands…wave your arms…God
is good". Praising God for animals is sung to an old nursery
rhyme tune and there's even a version of "O Come Let Us Adore
Him". It's difficult to say which songs are the best but,
all in all, this is truly a God send to group leaders of the said
age group. 8/10. (May 2000)
JULIE LORD : Diamond Nights. (Private Cassette Recording :
£4.99 from 15 Glenhurst Drive, Whickham, Newcastle upon Tyne,
NE16 5SH).
Here's a first for me, a CCM artist presenting an album of well
known secular hits. The former evangelistic singer with Crossfire
and Heart & Soul has now turned her talents to entertainment
, but is suitabley 'at home' in either church or club environments.
"Pearl's A Singer" would not have been my choice for
an opener as Julie doesn't really seem at ease with this song.
However, her impressive renditions of "Crazy" and "Don't
It Make My Brown Eyes Blue" soon make you realise why she
is such a popular artist. The musical backing is the same that
she uses for live gigs and the quality is very good. Julie's vocals
seem to suit certain types of song better than others and chart
toppers like "Walk on By" and "Smooth Operator"
produce far better results than, say, Michelle Gayle's "Sweetness".
What this album lacks in original content, is made up by freshness
of Julie Lord's approach. 7/10. (October 1997)
JULIE LORD : Lifetime. (CD Only £13.99 from: New Dawn
Music, 1 Beech Close, Towcester, Northampton, England, NN12 6BL).
It might seem like a lifetime since Julie recorded the first notes
for this album but the wait has, truly, been worthwhile. If we've
questioned production quality on a limited budget recently, then
this is the album that sets the standard, and hats off to all
those behind the scenes. From the moment the title track's saxophone
hits the speakers, you know that you are listening to something
special. With a sultry vocal that reminds me a lot of Sade and,
at times, Annie Lennox, Julie simply caresses each number to bring
out the best. The lyrics are strong too, like "Forbidden
Fruit" that warns how fickle the temptation of an extra-marital
affair can be. Featured in two different mixes, Andy Curtis' keyboard
skills shine and add real texture to an already well crafted song.
If you've ever watched those b&w movies who's background features
the 'lounge singer', then "Even Now" is purpose built.
Lovely piano, super sax break and a great bluesy guitar. It's
hard to try and pigeon-hole Julie's style but if you take a large
helping of Blues, mix it with some Jazz and R&B and you may
be getting near. Just once or twice I felt that a song didn't
quite reach it's potential but, maybe I'm just being a little
picky. Closing with the exquisite "Peace of Mind" this
is a fine debut release. 9/10. (June 1999, Album of the Month)
JULIET TUNER : Let's Hear It For the Pizza. (Sticky Music
: GUMCD34).
Yes, I had to look twice at the title too! I didn't know quite
what to expect so I treat this meal like a hot curry - with care.
Instant favourite was the opening track 'Dr Fell' which, I think,
is about falling in love with Mr Right, who then turns into Mr
Wrong. Wow, the lyrics are tough to get my teeth into. 'Greedy
Mouth', is it rape? Juliet is a new Irish songstress who appeared
at both Greenbelt and the Edinburgh Fringe last year. The music
behind each song is quite simple and, on quite a few of the tracks,
barely more than just an acoustic guitar. 'Pizza and Wine' tells
a love story, while the durge-like 'Purely Platonic' follows yet
another relationship. Juliet's voice has the typical Irish traits
to it and she's obviously quite a talented writer, even if can't
quite understand all the lyrics. It's no wonder she's building
up a strong reputation on the folk circuit. Juliet Turner is certainly
a name to watch out for in the future, a sort of Mary Black with
attitude. 7/10. (February 1997)
JUST WORSHIP : Jesus the Start of It all. (ICC : ICCD65730)
Just Worship is one of a range of resource materials produced
by Causeway Prospects to promote Bible teaching and worship among
people with learning difficulties. The man behind this album is
Tony Phelps-Jones, who writes all the songs on this 17 track album.
The songs themselves are built around short, catchy tunes, with
easy to remember words. Take, for instance, the opening "We
Are Here Together". It's only 4 lines long, but works really
well. Similarly, "The Father Himself Loves you" and
"God Loves You Just the Way You Are" follow that same
path. I think that this album will have limited appeal but it's
great to see that this very important void is being filled. "God's
Love is Great" had me singing along and I also liked the
tropical feel of "I Will Sing & Dance For You" If
you'd like to know more about Causeway, visit the web site at
www.prospects.org.uk 7/10. (September 2002)
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