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Madness meet DC Talk, meet UB 40, what a mixutre! The question is, "does it work"? Actually, there's no doubt about it, the formula throws up enough different ideas to keep the average listener on his toes throughout. From the opening "One Voice" to the closing "Refuge", it's difficult to guess just what sort of song the next one will be. The lyrics are full of the usual praises to the Lord, and declarations of faith, but the delivery is good, too. The Supertones have added a bigger brass section than on their previous recording, and this really does add body to the songs. "Away From You" is an MOR plodder while "Grounded" is very aggressive, in a DC Talk kind of way, yet still keeping that typical ska feel. It's probabably the best track on show but only just beating the top ranking "Hanani". The Americans love these boys and I think the UK will be joining the fan club after this release. 8/10. (May 1999)
There is a nice section in the middle of this CD which consists of three or four worship songs, which are very good, but the rest of the CD is quite forgettable. Most of it consists of the usual manic rhythms that are the hallmark of SKA music. The worst thing is that because everything is played so fast you can't tell what the vocalist is saying at all. I asked several people to listen and they all agreed. Also the audience is way too loud and intrudes over the music, although perhaps this is the way they like it in America. The Brass section plays the usual Ska type riffs, while the guitarist seems to lean more towards rock music, the two don't mix well, you get the impression that the band need to make their minds up which way they want to go. Personally after listening to the worship songs in the middle of the concert I'd ditch the brass section. If the whole CD was like these few tracks it would be a great CD, but I can't see this CD setting the world alight I'm afraid.
5/10. Andy Sayner. (June 2002)
The Oasis Christian Centre in Los Angeles has been bringing all races, ages and cultures together for dynamic praise and worship since 1984. With all songs written by J.D.Webb, this album tries to show a little of what happens. It's gospel music in the style of Kirk Franklyn, so that means plenty of full blown choir involvement and the obligatory whooping noises in between. The Cd begins with spontaneous cheering, and it's more like a football crowd than a choir. However, they soon launch into "Are You Ready", and away we go. I've been a bit tough on gospel albums of late but I've not really found anything fresh about them. This is very similar to those. There's a nice version of "Fields of Mercy" and a terrific 7 minute version of "To Dwell in Your Presence" but that's about all. What Mr Webb was thinking about when he wrote "Rain Down", I don't know. Awful saxophone and brass sounds wash out the samba feel running below and the result is dreadful. Not encouraging at all in my eyes. 2/10. (August 2003)
Well, here's something a little different! Recorded in Nashville, Wyatt Wilson, Jeff Stanley, Christian Davis, and Robbie Hiner sing regularly in the US on the nationally syndicated tv programme The Old Time Gospel Hour. The first thing I'd like to know is just how baritone Jeff Stanley sings SO low? He provides some amazing backing, as well as leading the rest of the guys on the finger snapping "His Love". The opening title song is a real catchy southern gospel number, and if that doesn't get your feet tapping, then "On My Journey Home" certainly does. Indeed, I found these type of songs more my sort of thing than, say, the old time ballads. There again, I did enjoy the peacefulness of "In the Midst of the Valley", which praises the Lord for walking with us through life. It's a long time since I smiled this much listening to an album and this is one of the best of it's kind. 8/10. (February 2003)
This year's crop of privately recorded albums has been of consistently high standard, and this offering is no exception. On The Rock hail from the Liverpool area and have been playing plenty of gigs in and around their home area. This debut release contains 8 tracks and starts with the atmospheric "In the Beginning". Using the first verses from the Bible, the words are carefully used over a backdrop clever, manipulative sounds that could certainly be used with dramatic, visual effect. "Jesus, Lovely Jesus" is a superb, rocky praise and worship song that I can see going down a storm live. Simple lyrics but very well used. Just once or twice elsewhere I thought that the lyrics didn't quite fit the music but, overall, Ian Walker proves to be a writer of distinction. The guitar work on "Hold On You" is quite special, while the introduction of a saxophone on "Let the River Run" is exceptional. Joy, happiness, and praise literally oozes out of the speakers. A couple of the songs don't quite match the rest but, with the quality of "My Grace" and it's relaxing mood, it's a very good start. 8/10. (June 1998)
It's taken three years for the three sisters to record this their third album. Urban soul is the game and "No Turning Back" finds the girls in top vocal form. Soft ballads are mixed with dance tunes which explore daily struggles and God's forgiveness and grace. "River" is a real dance club number and "Window" would grace any radio stations playlist this summer. On the ballad front "Here's My Heart" is top notch stuff with The Katinas adding vocal power to the song. Produced by Toby McKeehan and Todd Collins, this album sees the sisters move into a more adult style of music and it's a move not without it's price. Bringing in the Grits for some rapping just doesn't pay off and the bland "If You Really Knew" would fail to make most grass root demo's. however, the overall picture is good and this deserves to be a hit. 8/10. (September 1999)
Three years ago, I remember enjoying Out of Eden's "No Turning Back" album, complete wit it's mix of soft ballads and dance tunes. I also mentioned the track they did with The Grits, and said how bad it was compared with the rest of the album. Well, if Out of Eden read my review, they obviously decided to take no notice of what I said because that track seems to have been starting point for this new release. Dull just isn't the word to describe this hip hop/garage based work, much in the style of Destiny's Child. Take, for instance, "Different Now". It's not bad, but it's a direct rip-off from one of the said band's albums. Much of the CD's track listing is dire and unimaginative and it was a real struggle to listen more than once. "Praise You" sees some great harmonies on a fine ballad but this is one bright spark in an, otherwise, bland release. Come on girls, you can do much better than this. 2/10. (July 2002)
The Dente's last album was full of tuneful melodies and catchy choruses. This release sees them return to their former style of indie based rock, with a touch of Alanis Morrissette thrown in for good measure. The first couple of tracks are nothing special, but "Not A Chance" does give you a bit of hope with it's brighter sounds. I'd call this a pretty uneventful album as it hardly breaks any new ground for this husband and wife team. At it's best, the album raises it's profile halfway through, wit the spectacular "Disappear" and the cool "That's Were I Live". The latter tracks all seem to finish without you really remembering anything about them. Fans of their last album may, like me, be disappointed by this release but maybe their old fans clamoured for the return of this style. 4/10. (August 1997)
As a long time fan of the music of Scott & Christine Dente, it was great to hear that this new album was on the way. Now signed by Michael W Smith's Rocketown Records, it's given Out of the Grey the chance to move on in their music ministry, producing a new sound that old fans, like myself, may found rather alarming. Gone, are a lot of the great harmonies and carefully crafted melodies that this husband and wife duo were noted for, and in comes an edgier sound, that is more experimental and, therefore, less immediate in it's impact to the listener. The single "Smile Like Crazy" is disappointing in that it's lack lustre delivery fades into oblivion quite quickly. "Truth Strikes Through" is a dis-jointed groove thing that fails to ignite any sort of spark and, I'm afraid, it's a bit like that all the way through. "Tell your Story" breaks the albums' mould, with a sweet little number that Christine sings well but "Waiting" finds her warbling in a rock style that was all the craze when Miss Morrisette was hitting her peak. All in all, it's brave move in style but, perhaps, not yet perfected. 4/10. (November 2001)
This lot are a five piece rock band from South Carolina. They
grew out of a church youth group and are in their mid twenties.
Their website describes them as a young "Third Day",
which means nothing to me I'm afraid. Still, the music is quite
good, they are a fairly energetic sounding band, with
lots of jangly guitar lines, in fact typical of what you'd expect
a modern rock/pop band from America to sound like really. Most
of the lyrics will appeal to their own age group, but I found
them to be quite listenable to. There is a slower worship song
called forever that I thought was probably the best song on the
CD, but there was no track that stood out as being particularly
bad. The only gripe that I have is the asterix after the track
list that says that these are unmastered mixes, it seems a bit
daft to me sending out a promotional CD of an apparently unfinished
CD for review, but I wouldn't have thought that mastering would
change the feel of the CD. All
in all then it's a good album, and definitely worth a listen.
9/10 Andy Sayner. (February 2005)
This is the band that's been put together by YFC a'la the TV show, Popstars. The successful foursome hope to be just as popular as their secular counterparts, and this is their first single. 3 tracks, the first being "One More Reason". It's got a commercial sound that wouldn't be out of place on Top of the Pops. Definitely has a sound with youth appeal, and has flavours of Abba and Steps. "One Step Closer" would be popular in the dance club scene. The lyrics are refreshing and a change from the usual played to death "boy meets girl" stuff. In my view this one is worthy of a wider audience rather than just the Christian scene. "I Belong to You" isn't as strong and I didn't enjoy this as much as the other two. The whole thing just isn't as strong as the previous two, although the message does get across. Two out of three ain't bad (cue for a song) and I wish them well. 8/10. Judith Wilson. (September 2001)
After enjoying their 3 track single so much, I was really pleased
to receive Oxygen's album to review, and looking forward to hearing
more of the same high quality. Now I have listened to it (several
times), I'm still waiting. "React" starts the ball rolling
with a run of the mill dance tune that isn't that strong at all.
"More Like You" is a lot better and I like this one
very much. "One Step Closer" is the best song featured
in my opinion. It's got a good tune, and the words are really
easy to understand. It's not too deep and the message of God's
love comes across well. Mid album comes a couple of songs written
by Zarc Porter and Mark Pennells and, sadly, they are both quite
weak and forgettable. "One More Reason" sounds as good
as it did when I first heard it and I'm sure that it would do
well on the secular market. Porter and Pennells' third track "You
Lift Me Up" is so much better than their other contributions.
Thumping beats, a robotic backing vocal and a very good song.
Vocally, Oxygen are very good but are let down by some poor songs.
6/10. Judith Wilson. (November 2001)
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