Christian Music Articles and Interview At NewReleaseTuesday.com http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/ In the industry of cool known as rock n’ roll, it’s a particularly rare feat when substance actually triumphs over swagger. Even more surprising is when a band blatantly wears its heart on its sleeve, rather than simply championing lyrical ambiguity set to a catchy beat. But in the musical world of GRAMMY-nominated Sanctus Real, substance and style have peacefully co-existed over the course of five albums that have garnered seven No. 1 radio singles (and six more that landed in the Top 5). Not afraid to experiment with new textures or leave things stripped-down and simple if[...] March-12-2010 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=330 ...I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly. John 1010b “But I do not consider my life of any account as dear to myself, so that I may finish my course and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify solemnly of the gospel of the grace of God.” Acts 2024 The “abundant life” can be a deceptive term to an American Christian ear. When you and I read that verse in Scripture, we can barely help but to think about things like an increased income, a good family, a nicer ride,[...] March-10-2010 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=329 FFH was originally formed by Jeromy Deibler and Brian Smith in 1991 and soon settled into their final configuration when Michael Boggs and Jennifer Deibler, Jeromy’s new bride, joined the band. Working independently, FFH produced and released six albums and had a busy, productive touring schedule. But when their radio single cracked the Top Twenty on the Christian Adult Contemporary chart and went on to become the highest charting single by an independent artist in the history of contemporary Christian music, major labels started taking notice. Essential Records signed the band. Multiple number 1 radio hits, multiple Dove Award[...] March-09-2010 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=328 Popularly known for its captivating recordings and live performances, Toledo, Ohio-based Sanctus Real’s breakthrough album, The Face of Love, released in April 2006, landing at No. 2 on the Billboard Top Heetseekers chart and amassed a string of radio hits including the No. 1 songs “I’m Not Alright” and “Don’t Give Up.” While The Face of Love was inspired by real-life heartache and rediscovered joy, the band’s fourth studio release, We Need Each Other, marked a completion of that healing process and is a call for unity. Award-winning band Sanctus Real gave fans an early preview of[...] March-08-2010 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=327 “Life, in general, is noise,” says Geoff Hunker, lead singer and founder of Satellites Sirens, a band on the brink of releasing its self-titled debut album on Word Records on March 2, 2010. “And we busy ourselves so much that a lot of times we miss out on hearing what God’s direction is.” The band consists of lead singer Geoff Hunker, Jonathan Dimmel (drums), David Troyer (guitar), and Brandon Owens (bass/synth). They are a band both defined by and concerned with what it means to make music in a world filled with the deafening voices of the information[...] March-02-2010 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=326 Meredith Andrews has been leading worship since high school, currently at Harvest Bible Chapel in Rolling Meadows, Illinois, and is passionate about helping orphans in India and Guatemala. Singing about God's grace, love and hope for the broken is yet another form of outreach for her. Meredith's debut album, The Invitation, showcases powerful vocals accentuated by beautiful piano melodies. The recurring theme of the album is restoration God invites us to come as we are, regardless of where we are in our lives. All we have to do is receive His invitation. I’ve been greatly enjoying the album[...] February-23-2010 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=325 Paul Baloche is one of the most acclaimed worship artists and songwriters of our time. Winner of two Dove Awards, he has penned radio hits such as “Because of Your Love,” “Hosanna (Praise Is Rising),” “All The Earth Will Sing Your Praises” and “Our God Saves” and he has written top-ranking CCLI songs and modern-day classics including “Above All,” “Open the Eyes of My Heart,” “Offering” and “Your Name.” Integrity Music is honored to present Glorious, an all-new collection of songs that reflect his heart, and his passion for the Church. My favorite song on Glorious is the first single,[...] February-16-2010 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=323 Modern worship songwriter, two-time Song of the Year GMA Dove Award winning artist Tim Hughes released in the U.S. his first-ever live DVD/CD, Happy Day on October 20, 2009. The high-energy, celebratory Happy Day was recorded live before a capacity crowd at the famous London venue, Shepherds Bush Empire. Opening with the brand new corporate anthem “Jesus Saves,” the recording features a combination of favorite worship songs and brand new tunes written by Hughes. As the writer and singer of all-time classic worship songs “Here I Am To Worship,” “Beautiful One” and “Consuming Fire,” I’ve been singing Tim’s songs for[...] February-15-2010 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=324 With an awakened hunger and passion, Pillar delivers messages of unity and commitment with the release of their sixth studio album, Confessions. More than just creating great music, their ambition is to revolutionize lives and bring their fans to a place of complete surrender to God. During the aptly named Confessions Tour, Pillar speaks from the stage about the importance of confession and makes a special booth available so that anyone who entered would be isolated and have the opportunity to respond via blank confession cards. If you went into the booth, it was your moment with God, says[...] February-09-2010 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=319 I got the great opportunity to see Jars of Clay live at Sellersville Theater in PA on January 17, 2010. The theater only seats about 250 people and was a great venue to see one of my all-time favorite bands who recently released one of their best albums last year, The Long Fall Back To Earth. This is one of the most amazing albums I’ve heard in the past decade. Jars of Clay has managed to channel the best of themselves, almost unanimously agreed to be the self-titled debut album, and give fans what they’ve come to expect[...] February-09-2010 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=321 Over the Grave is a radical re-envisioning of the hymns of Isaac Watts, entirely written, recorded and performed by members of Sojourn Community Church. Since planting in 2000, Sojourn has been a creative and vibrant community, writing and recording songs for six records. The latest record began as an exploration of the hymns of Isaac Watts (1674-1748), who is widely regarded as the father of the English hymn. Using his texts as source material,the songwriters re-crafted them into modern worship songs. The result is an eclectic and vibey record that ranges from 1970’s era rock to modern indie[...] February-09-2010 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=322 “We want our music to bring people into an encounter with God,” declares Unhindered keyboardist and co-front man Ben Smith. “One of the biggest obstacles to worship is believers who are self-conscious. We want to kick down that wall, so we get the whole crowd on their feet, jumping around. It is amazing to watch people when they really feel free to worship.” Unhindered began as a friendship between Ben and Pat in high school. They honed their skills in a youth group praise band before finding themselves in demand at events around the region from Fellowship of Christian[...] February-08-2010 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=320 From the band’s earliest days to the present, innovation has marked each step of Jars of Clay’s musical journey, with The Long Fall Back To Earth serving as no exception. It’s a big, lush, confident, gutsy sound that dominates the new tracks, leaving the listener with a different thought for each new story told, each new emotion conveyed. As with all previous Jars of Clay projects, it’s the lyrical content that draws listeners into a fuller appreciation of the songs. Lead vocalist/lyricist Dan Haseltine delves into the bare bones reality of the beauty and tension of relationships, and what makes[...] February-02-2010 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=317 Credential Recordings piano pop/rock band Seabird recently released its highly anticipated sophomore studio project, Rocks Into Rivers. The group debuted the record live on David Crowder Band’s fall 2009 tour. Cincinnati-based Seabird comprises brothers Aaron (vocals/keys) and Ryan (guitar) Morgan as well as Preston Lane (drums). The band signed with Credential Recordings in late 2007 and released its debut label project ‘Til We See The Shore. “For this album I think we wanted to mature both musically and lyrically,” says Aaron. “We have families now and are experiencing different aspects of life, and we think that our audience[...] February-02-2010 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=318 From time to time I think we all have some pretty funny misconceptions about God. It’s easy to picture a grandfather figure with a flowing white beard shaking his head in disapproval or anxiously waiting to scold us when we screw up. As a kid I envisioned God more like Santa Claus. In my mind I imagined him updating his “naughty” and “nice” list more often than Seth updates his twitter. Bottom line, I just didn’t want to make him mad or even worse get a lump of coal in my stocking. Sometimes our perceptions can simply be that God is[...] February-01-2010 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=316 So 7th grade rolls around. It's time for me to go to a new school in Grove City, OH. This was a time in my life that I dreaded facing because everybody at this age is at some point established in their own cliques, and for a new kid to come in is a pretty hard thing. It was no exception for me. I can remember it being about halfway thru the school year before I was first invited to go and hang out at a new friend's house, let alone, sit by anybody at a lunch table. The feeling[...] January-27-2010 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=315 With career sales exceeding 450,000 units, the acoustic guitar-wielding, Texas-based duo Shane Shane returns with their eighth album, Everything Is Different. Produced by Pete Kipley, the album embraces a more corporate worship style, inspired by Shane Barnard and Shane Everett's role as worship leaders at their home church in Dallas. Influenced by the pair’s ongoing involvement in teaching and training students in the area of worship ministry, Everything Is Different offers moments that range from vertical praise to quiet reflection. I got the opportunity to interview Shane Everett about the title track Everything Is Different. You can listen to[...] January-26-2010 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=314 Chynna Phillips, one third of the pop supergroup Wilson Phillips, announced a new phase in her music career last year, joining independently-famed singer/songwriter Vaughan Penn to form the duo Chynna Vaughan. The group’s debut album, One Reason, released October 6, 2009 on Reunion Records, home to Michael W. Smith, Tenth Avenue North and many others. Phillips and Penn first met in 2007 and although their musical career paths were distinctive and unique, they naturally formed a creative partnership based on their passion to share the hope of Christ with a hurting world. Phillips says, “This is such an[...] January-25-2010 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=313 Singer-songwriter Francesca Battistelli earned her first Grammy Award nomination for Best Gospel Performance for her hit single “Free To Be Me” from her debut record, My Paper Heart. “Free To Be Me” shattered records when it became the most added song by a female artist in Christian radio history, holding the number one slot for ten consecutive weeks and becoming the first number one song from a female at AC radio since 2005. Additionally, the song was the #4 most downloaded Christian Digital track for 2009. After erupting onto the music scene, Francesca Battistelli is breaking multiple records as[...] January-18-2010 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=311 Prolific singer/songwriter Phil Wickham continues to gain momentum with his modern style of vertical worship and poetic lyrics. Leading corporate worship nationwide, Wickham, known for hits such as You’re Beautiful and Divine Romance, describes the daily truths he is learning with a tender yet poignant voice and a passionate cry of worship. I loved Phil Wickham’s critically acclaimed sophomore album Cannons and the distinguished singer/songwriter finds his voice on his third studio album, Heaven and Earth, which finds him creating melodies that are infectious with contemplative and honest messages of surrender and abandon. For the first time[...] January-18-2010 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=312 Lee Steffen is the former Art Director of CCM Magazine, a leading Christian music publication that recently moved to digital distribution. During his tenure, the magazine received a Gold Folio award for his redesign, one of the highest achievable editorial awards. Steffen has worked with nearly every prominent Christian artist and band, including Jars of Clay, Third Day, Newsboys, tobyMac, Family Force 5, Michael W. Smith, Amy Grant, Steven Curtis Chapman, Jaci Velasquez, Jeremy Camp, Rebecca St. James, Casting Crowns and many others. In 2005, after nearly a decade of experience creating award-winning ideas and products for clients[...] January-11-2010 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=309 When I was asked to give my opinion regarding my favorite records of 2009, I was excited to review the year that brought us a myriad of great new albums, as well as a little stumped on how to make my viewpoints more like suggestions than critiques. I’ve often disliked year-end “best of” lists that only seem to talk about the same ten CDs that have been hyped and sold to us throughout the year. It seems as though the same ten CDs get talked about in every blog, every review site, and on every awards show, or is that[...] January-11-2010 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=310 It's hard to believe that we are already halfway through the first week of 2010. This is the latest I've ever written my year-end wrap-up, now in it's eighth year, and it never gets old to plow through all the releases, recalling the albums that have made a permanent impression during the past year. I'm looking forward to quickly diving back in as I prepare my first ever The Decade That Was. I'm sure there are a couple handfuls of albums that I'll be happy to dust off and dive back into. 2009 will certainly go down as one of the[...] January-04-2010 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=308 Before 2009, I would have said the best year in Christian music was 1999, with Time by Third Day, 40 Acres by Caedmon’s Call, This Is Your Time by Michael W. Smith, Choose Life by Big Tent Revival, Underdog by Audio Adrenaline, Without Condition by Ginny Owens, Speechless by Steven Curtis Chapman, If I Left The Zoo by Jars of Clay, New Way To Be Human by Switchfoot, In A Different Light by Avalon, Watermark by Watermark and Listen Closely by Smalltown Poets. 2009 has been the most amazing year for new Christian music that I can ever remember. I can[...] January-03-2010 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=296 San Antonio rock act Abandon recently released their first full-length album, Searchlights, after their ForeFront Records' label debut last July with the release of a self-titled digital EP, followed up by another EP in April of 2009. Searchlights combines the best tracks released by Abandon over the last year plus three never-before-recorded songs, “Confession,” “Here We Are Now” and “Safe In Your Arms.” With a sound that has been likened to popular bands U2 and The Killers, Abandon comprises brothers Josh Engler (vocals) and Justin Engler (rhythm guitars), cousins Dave Vela (drums) and Stevan Vela (lead guitar) as well[...] December-15-2009 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=302 The Winter Wonder Slam stormed into Pittsburgh’s Mellon Arena November 22, 2009, bringing headliner and Grammy-winning artist tobyMac and the Diverse City Band. The tour also brought my kids’ favorite band, Relient-K, and newcomers to the Christian music scene Stephanie Smith and B. Reith. Not too many people can remember the last time a Christian show was at the arena, and there was much excitement and anticipation as we waited outside for the doors to open. The Mellon Arena, home to the Pittsburgh Penguins, was transformed from a hockey rink to the ultimate dancehall. It included the[...] December-15-2009 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=304 “I heard a song by this band Anberlin on the radio today,” said my friend Patrick Brewer, a music aficionado, though our tastes rarely cross paths. “Yeah, they’re a Christian band,” I said. “Are you kidding me? Did I just buy a CD full of ‘praise Jesus’ music?” “No, but they are Christian,” I said. “Well, just as long as they don’t shove their beliefs down my throat,” he said. Anberlin is just one of many bands emerging onto the mainstream market that is comprised of Christian musicians. Though these bands’ lyrics aren’t necessarily filled with “Jesus,” and “God,” Christian ideas and themes[...] December-15-2009 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=305 “Christ Is Come” by Big Daddy Weave is from their new Christmas album Christ Is Come, an inspirational Christmas record the whole family will enjoy. From classic Christmas standards like “Joy To The World” to original songs like “I’ll Be Brave,” the 12 song record is a perfect way to celebrate the coming Christmas season and the birth of Jesus. I got the great opportunity to interview lead singer Mike Weaver about “Christ Is Come.” Here are the answers to the questions I asked Mike. Please tell me the story behind writing the song “Christ Is Come”? “Christ Is Come” was[...] December-15-2009 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=307 The Billboard Best Of 2009 and Best Of The Decade charts have been released, which ranks the top selling albums and songs as compiled by sales data and radio airplay from Nielsen SoundScan. Here's a quick review of the main chart as well as a few others that focus solely on Christian music. Billboard Top 200 Of 2009 Despite one of the best years of quality releases in recent memory, Christian music is surprisingly absent from the Top 100. The Fray's self-titled sophomore release had the sole position from a Christian band[...] December-14-2009 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=301 Switchfoot is a band that has the musical chops to rock a big arena, but front-man Jon Foreman also has incredible charisma and an unmatched ability to personally connect with fans in a small, crowded venue like the Theater of Living Arts (TLA) in Philly, a 1,000-person capacity. I had the amazing opportunity to see this top notch band Friday, December 11, 2009. The new album, Hello Hurricane, acknowledges life’s storms while managing to find an element of hope in them. Hello Hurricane is the group’s seventh full-length album and its first on Atlantic Records. Switchfoot[...] December-14-2009 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=303 Downhere’s first ever holiday collection retains much of the band’s classic elements, but also stretches to previously uncharted realms. Sure, there’s plenty of melodic vocal interplay from co-front men, guitarist Marc Martel and keyboardist Jason Germain, alongside the ultra-infectious rhythm section comprised of bassist Glenn Lavender and drummer Jeremy Thiessen, but there’s also a compelling experiment with organic instrumentation and ingenious holiday interpretations, alongside equally riveting originals. Though the band carefully preserved the integrity of timeless tunes like “God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen,” “What Child Is This?” and “Silent Night” among many others, each rendering has the group’s signature[...] December-14-2009 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=306 Speaking about his new album title Need, his fourth album for Ardent Records/INO, Todd Agnew says, “Once we finished recording this record, I looked back at it trying to find the theme running throughout. I started to realize how much of this project is about need. My need to be loved. My need for answers. My need for assurance. Our need to worship. Our need to be rescued, redeemed, restored. I noticed that God has been teaching me all year that all of my needs are met in Jesus.” Much has happened since listeners last heard from Agnew as[...] December-08-2009 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=299 Josh Wilson’s debut album, Trying to Fit the Ocean in a Cup, includes the Top 10 radio hit, “Savior Please,” and also includes the stand-out songs, “Tell Me” and “3 Minute Song.” Josh’s great blend of personal lyrics and catchy music emerges as a focal point of Josh’s sophomore album, [...] December-07-2009 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=300 Reborn marks Avalon's fourteenth recording in a career that has spanned nearly fifteen years of music and ministry. Few Christian artists can list 22 #1 singles, 6 Dove Awards, an American Music Award, 3 Grammy nominations and over 3 million albums sold. Reborn is the product of two husband-wife teams. Founding powerhouse vocalist Janna Long and her equally skilled husband, Greg, along with Jeremi and Amy Richardson. I got the great opportunity to interview Avalon's founding member Janna Long about “Arise.” You can listen to our entire discussion here. What’s the main message of the song “Arise”? “Arise” is[...] December-01-2009 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=298 This aptly descriptive and intelligent pop effort reveals lyrics, melodies and instrumentation that go far deeper than the stereotypical pop hit. With all songs written or co-written by Jonny Diaz, More Beautiful You captivatingly illuminates Jonny’s heart-–a heart that is passionate about reaching his generation with the message of God’s love, forgiveness and grace. Our society often sends the message to young girls that they have to look a certain way and dress a certain way in order to be beautiful. On the title track, “More Beautiful You,” Jonny exposes these lies in a similar manner as Jon McLaughlin’s “Beautiful[...] November-30-2009 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=297 A focused fire burns bright at the heart of Flyleaf's second full-length album, Memento Mori. The platinum-selling Texas quintet's latest offering is a collection of poignant, passionate and pensive hard rock songs. From the kinetic first single, Again, to the touching album closer, Arise, guitarists Sameer Bhattacharya and Jared Hartman trade orchestral riffs that seesaw from soaring to searing. Drummer James Culpepper smoothly propels every groove forward, while Pat Seals' bass anchors unforgettable hooks. Gliding across this majestic melodic backdrop, Lacey’s vocals build into beauty from pain. Her voice reaches transcendent heights on songs like Set Apart This[...] November-23-2009 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=292 The last few months have been a turbulent time in our country. We have seen things like the rise of unemployment and an unstable economy, a continuing war in the middle east, and uncertainty in our relationships with other countries and what that might mean for our future and our children’s future. But despite the uncertain world that we're living in, I want to offer you some encouragement. If you are like me, I am sure that at some point in your life, you have allowed yourself to daydream about what it would be like to live in a different[...] November-23-2009 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=294 Fee’s second project, Hope Rising, comes after much acclaim from their freshman album, We Shine, which garnered a No. 1 radio smash hit in “All Because of Jesus, and four GMA Dove Award nominations including a nod in the “New Artist of the Year” category. As for the band’s first single, “Glory To God Forever,” Steve Fee says “There is a message for us here in this era and period in church history. I’m confident that songs which echo the victory of Christ are exactly what we, the Church, want to say and God, in His timely way, put[...] November-23-2009 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=295 This one is the songwriter's album for sure. Almost as an afterthought, Sara Groves concludes an in-depth conversation about her new recording, Fireflies Songs. Well put. At the same time, it should be pointed out that Sara's parting descriptor is a testament to how the album was approached and recorded rather than a proclamation of Fireflies' superiority over her other widely-esteemed work. After all, this is Sara Groves we're talking about. Her renown as a potent singer/songwriter merely begins with her avid fanbase. With her two previous INO recordings, Add To The Beauty and Tell[...] November-22-2009 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=293 Sara Groves' is renowned as a potent singer/songwriter. When it comes to songwriting, Sara influences the influencers. Her most vocal admirers range from pioneers of Christian worldview music, including Randy Stonehill, Michael Card and Charlie Peacock, to her peers today, Natalie Grant, Jars of Clay, Nichole Nordeman, Point of Grace and Bethany Dillon, among them. Add to that the fact that Sara has always shied away from hype and spin doctoring, and you have a bonafide headline on your hands. Her new album, Fireflies and Songs is a songwriter's album indeed. As the record's producer, the aforementioned Charlie Peacock,[...] November-16-2009 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=288 And now it is coming to an end. With [...] November-16-2009 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=289 David Crowder*Band, the highly accessible fan-favorites are back with their new release Church Music, arguably their most innovative effort to date. Packed with 17 full tracks, the band hopes this album serves as a reminder of the continual evolvement of music within the church. David Crowder*Band's beautiful cover of How He Loves, originally written and recorded by John Mark McMillan, is spectacular. The band finds a unique balance of capturing the sweet lyrical moments of the song but continually crescendos the intensity of the song and the message as the simple chorus builds over and over again. The genuine[...] November-16-2009 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=290 In 1973, the United States Supreme Court struck down state laws that ban abortion, but the moral controversy surrounding the issue is far from resolved. If it is legally true that a woman can make her own decision regarding her reproductive health, Sarah's Choice is a film that offers compelling moral reasons to choose life. Recording artist Rebecca St. James plays Sarah Collins in her first lead role in a motion picture. She is a young woman on the rise. As a junior account executive at a major advertising agency, Sarah is poised to get it all executive[...] November-16-2009 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=291 Best New Artist of 2006 Aaron Shust returned with his third album, Take Over on August 4, 2009. The writer and singer of hit songs “My Savior My God,” “Give Me Words To Speak” and “Watch Over Me” once again has written songs of praise and worship set to a nice soft rock musical style. Fans of Bebo Norman, Jeremy Riddle, Jeremy Camp and John Waller should enjoy this album. Opening song, “To God Alone,” is my favorite song on the album. The song has an uplifting message captured in the chorus “To God alone be the Glory, To[...] November-09-2009 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=285 Bethany Dillon's Sparrow Records debut stood out because at only 14, she was a serious writer and artist creating her own material mature beyond her years, with an authenticity of expression and an ability to own the emotion in her music. Similar to Amy Grant and Rebecca St. James, Bethany has grown up as an accomplished artist in Christian music. Bethany is now 21 and married to Shane Barnard of the group Shane Shane. Each of Bethany's first three studio albums impressed me, particularly her singing voice. Waking Up really took it up a notch[...] November-09-2009 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=286 With Hello Hurricane, Switchfoot is set to thrive throughout the upcoming year with a newfound independence a new home studio HQ, a new label, and a return-to-roots creativity and sense of purpose. After ten non-stop years of working as the world’s most humble multi-million selling rock band, the hard-charging North County San Diego-based quintet saw recording sessions for their aptly-titled seventh full-length album as a unique chance to reassess, reflect and rededicate. Switchfoot got their start in 1996 when the Foreman brothers and Butler came together around a mutual love of surfing and a passion for rock music spurred[...] November-09-2009 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=287 Former Make-A-Wish child and cancer survivor Paige Armstrong released her first project, Wake Up on October 6th in hopes of inspiring listener’s to find their purpose. The 19 year-old’s journey to this point in her career is unlike most artists. Armstrong was diagnosed with bone cancer at age 11 and endured an extensive stay in the hospital. She was linked to the Make-A-Wish Foundation and traveled to Nashville to make a Christian album as a part of her wish. Her early music also found its way onto the Bath Body Works Holiday album in 2005 alongside such notables[...] November-03-2009 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=283 Caroline, Carolyne and Jordan returned to the studio to record their 4th studio project, The Real Thing, chock-full of the fun, upbeat songs kids and parents know, love, and have come to expect from pureNRG. I got the chance to interview Caroline from pureNRG and ask her some questions about two songs from The Real Thing. You can listen to our entire interview here. How did you all select the songs for The Real Thing? The band has a song picking session and we all voted and picked songs based on beats and positive messages. One of[...] November-03-2009 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=284 Jeremy Camp’s “Speaking Louder than Before” tour rolled into New Castle, PA on September 27, 2009. Joining him for this sold-out show were Bebo Norman and Natalie Grant. The show opened with Bebo Norman and his longtime on-stage collaborator, Gabe Scott. Bebo was born in Georgia under the given name of Jeffery Norman. He got the nickname Bebo when his younger sister couldn’t say big brother. The name stuck, and that’s the name he chose to perform by. His acoustic set with Gabe was quite impressive. It was an incredibly relaxing sound and special time of worship. Natalie Grant[...] October-26-2009 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=279 Desperation Band, birthed out of the student ministries of New Life Church in Colorado Springs, is a recording artist with Integrity Music. They continue to lead worship both within the student ministries and in the main services at New Life Church, as well as at the annual Desperation Conferences. Led by Jon Egan, the band has always been more of a ministry than a band. They believe that true change comes when people lay aside their agendas to encounter the true and living God. They are passionate about the presence of God and they don't hide it. They are well[...] October-26-2009 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=280 “We’re from a small town in South Carolina called Possum Kingdom,” NEEDTOBREATHE frontman Bear Rinehart explains when asked about the place he and his younger brother/co-writer Bo were raised. “Trust me, there was absolutely no music scene there.” The sons of an Assembly of God pastor, Bear and Bo Rinehart had inherited their father’s gift with words, and put it to good use in their songwriting. Their mother taught piano as well, so making music was a constant part of their young lives. Formed in 1999, NEEDTOBREATHE also consists of Joe Stillwell and Seth Bolt. On their latest album,[...] October-26-2009 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=281 Out of Gainesville, Florida, Lanae’ Hale, who developed her style by playing worship in church and trying out her songs in coffeehouses, is the latest addition at Centricity Records. Like a lot of young women, Lanae’ felt the enormous pressure of living up to our material world’s 21st century expectations and sometimes that pressure sweeps you into a dark corner. “I was into cutting and if not for the grace of God, I may not have made it through, Lanae' explains. It’s hard to explain but sometimes you don’t like yourself and do bad things to yourself, such as[...] October-26-2009 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=282 Matt Redman may be the premier songwriter in Christian music over the past decade as the writer of worship classics “The Heart of Worship”, “Better Is One Day”, “Blessed Be Your Name” and “You Never Let Go”. He is also part of the Passion conferences and most recently his hit song “Shine” was part of the Passion God Of This City album. One of my favorite stories about Matt Redman, a native of England, is that in response to his church having too much focus on music his pastor suggested they take a break from singing which led to[...] October-20-2009 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=277 In an industry where recording artists commonly pay top-dollar producers to create a sound for them, Matt Papa shines all the brighter as one of the rare, raw musical talents. Whether shredding on guitar, crafting a melody on piano, or pouring out his soul vocally, Matt brings something truly fresh and creative to this ever-commercialized art. What’s more is that Matt actually has something to say. Whether between songs in a concert or through writing his lyrics, Matt delivers a clear and persuasive message to move his listeners toward the Word and graces of God. Spend any time talking[...] October-20-2009 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=278 Sometimes an album doesn't live up to the hype after an excellent album like Wide-Eyed And Mystified,, but every song on Ending Is Beginning is amazing. As a major fan of the Canadian band Downhere since their Dove Award winning debut in 2001, this band has only managed to get better this decade putting them in the ranks of my other favorite bands Jars of Clay, MercyMe and Sanctus Real. Their Brit-Rock sound is a blend of all of these great CCM artists and also the driving alternative rock that has made Coldplay an international sensation. Ending[...] October-12-2009 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=275 As I was driving to the Steven Curtis Chapman concert, listening to his latest CD, random thoughts flooded my brain. What should I include in this review? I decided in the car that day that I would not talk about the tragic, accidental death of his youngest adopted daughter, Maria Sue. I felt this was a personal family tragedy that should be kept just that. By the time I left that night, though, my feelings were different. The first thing Steven did, with beaming pride, was introduce both of his sons. Caleb graduated high school last year, and just married[...] October-12-2009 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=276 I’ve been anxiously awaiting the release of the new album from Jason Gray, Everything Sad Is Coming Untrue, which hit shelves September 1, 2009. Gray’s previous project, All The Lovely Losers, dealt with brokenness and now he takes the subject a step further, dealing with brokenness that begins with confession. Jason’s story of redemption begins as a child who suffered from chronic stuttering, yet despite this handicap he eventually discovered his calling as a singer. Fueled with a passion to serve God, Jason knows firsthand that his weaknesses are nothing to hide. In fact, because of our[...] October-11-2009 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=274 One of Christian music’s top-selling rock bands, GRAMMY®-nominated Skillet, returns with its latest recording capturing the raw energy and multi-textured sonic landscape for which they have become known. A mixture of dissonant chords, anthemic builds and memorable vocal interpretation combine to form a progressive, yet classic rock-influenced sound that’s all their own. Skillet’s straightforward message and innovative sound has garnered the band seven #1 songs and an avid fan base. Pounding, classically influenced rock with a progressive edge, colored by dissonant chords, and gutsy vocals are all found on Skillet’s latest release, Awake. Relevant, innovative and unforgettable, Skillet continues[...] October-05-2009 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=273 While attending Nashville's Belmont University, The Glorious Unseen's frontman, Ben Crist, struggled with a big question that haunts so many college students during the course of their studies What am I supposed to do with my life? After college, Ben starting meeting in a living room with a few people, and the experience certainly wasn't church as usual. In fact, because of that little Sunday night community of believers, Crist wound up becoming a worship leader by accident. As Ben grew in confidence as a worship leader, he began penning his own praise songs. Ben’s music wasn’t about to have[...] October-04-2009 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=272 On the title track and opening song of their fourth album, Hawk Nelson urges its listeners to Live Life Loud That sentiment, founding member Daniel Biro notes, is as Hawk Nelson as Hawk Nelson can be. Live Life Loud. It's not just a matter of volume, mind you; it's a philosophy. Part of living at the extreme that title suggests is embracing all of life, accepting and even celebrating a little pain and darkness and finding a way to let it enrich life. Catchy first single Meaning of Life continues the search for significance, harmoniously determining to “start today for a[...] October-01-2009 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=270 FM Static, composed of Thousand Foot Krutch singer Trevor McNevan, and drummer Steve Augustine, returns with Dear Diary, a concept album where every lyric is the innermost thought of a soul-searching teenager. “This is the first concept album I’ve worked on, and it was a ton of fun,” says McNevan. “It felt theatrical from the start. I imagined this high school boy, new in town, writing through life’s big questions about faith and fitting in as he grows up toward college. “The Voyage of Beliefs” is Dear Diary’s crossroads, a gripping indie rock duet between McNevan and Superchick’s Tricia Brock[...] October-01-2009 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=271 14You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; 15nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lamp stand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. 16Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven. There is something truly magical about seeing a city lit up at night from a distance. My wife and I did some exploring of west Seattle this weekend and found a place[...] September-28-2009 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=269 If you were in a genre-leading rock band that had sold nearly one million albums, tallied 10 No. 1 radio singles, 13 additional top five hits, a GRAMMY nomination, four Dove Awards and headlined nine national tours on your way to performing for three million people, what would you change about your band's approach? That's easy Absolutely nothing. Yeah? But you're not Rob Beckley, founding front man and leader of Christian music's premier alt-metal-come-hard-alternative band. He knows change has played a recurring and pivotal role in Pillar's success since its formation. For starters, consider the five former members who have come and[...] September-22-2009 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=266 Finally Home is the third number one song from All That Is Within Me, which is my favorite overall album by MercyMe and one of my top 10 albums of the decade. The song is also on MercyMe's 10 Anthology, in essence a greatest hits collection commemorating the 10-year anniversary of I Can Only Imagine, the best-selling Christian song of the decade. It is hard to believe that is has been 10 years since MercyMe frontman Bart Millard penned I Can Only Imagine, a touchingly personal song based on his father's early death. This breakthrough song by the down-to-earth[...] September-22-2009 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=267 This was the first time I’ve attended the Revelation Generation festival, which is historically held on the Friday and Saturday before Labor Day. I’ve always been interested in the lineup of artists, but my family tends to be busy that weekend. Thankfully, I was able to attend the entire Friday night session this year, and hopefully, I’ll be able to attend both days next year. I got the privilege to see several artists I’ve always wanted to see in concert on Friday, 9/4/09, starting with up-and-coming worship band, The Glorious Unseen. Once a representative from Tooth Nail[...] September-22-2009 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=268 It’s only one verse, what is the big deal? These are words that I cringe at when I hear them spoken by people in the church. Unfortunately I have heard them more than I would ever care too. Many people see the Bible as being a document that is open to personal interpretation that allows them the leeway to take what they like and leave the rest. I would argue that you would be hard pressed to find someone who would disagree with you about the commandment to love one another but it is a different story when it comes[...] September-14-2009 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=263 The origin of MIKESCHAIR was set in a freshman guy’s dorm room one night at Belmont University in Nashville, TN. The band’s name, MIKESCHAIR, begs for an explanation. “The 'chair' was the central gathering point where we got our start,” says Sam. “All of us lived on the same floor of our dorm at Belmont, except for Mike. But, since he was always hanging out with us on our floor, we decided to get him piece of furniture to make him feel a little more at home. The chair was his only piece of property on our floor. He[...] September-14-2009 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=264 Sidewalk Prophets initially made a name for themselves at Indiana’s Anderson University where front men and main songwriters Dave Frey and Ben McDonald met. Although they don't consider themselves to be a worship band, they probably do more worship music than their original music, and that's fine with them. Integrating worship with real life--that is one of the simple truths Sidewalk Prophets has learned to live by. These Simple Truths, the debut album by Sidewalk Prophets, centers on the hope that Christ’s love provides. “The more we look at today’s problems the more we see that a lot of[...] September-14-2009 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=265 The storms of this life shatter our plans. They tear through our world and destroy our hopes and dreams. They ruin sunny days, flatten the structures we depend on, and shock our world views. Hello Hurricane is an attempt to sing into the storm. Hello Hurricane is a declaration you can't silence my love. My plans will fail, the storms of this life will come, and chaos will disrupt even my best intentions, but my love will not be destroyed. Beneath the sound and the fury there is a deeper order still- deeper than life itself. An order[...] September-09-2009 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=261 CONTINUED... Click Here To Read The First Part Of Hello Hurricane The Songs by Switchfoot's Jon Foreman Hello Hurricane Love does not alter the beloved, it alters itself. --Soren Kierkegaard The capitalist culture of consumption... does not provide meaningful sustenance for large numbers of people. --Cornel West This is a subject matter that I speak of with holy reverence. Having grown up on the East Coast I know firsthand of the houses lost, of the dreams turned into nightmares. I take my shoes off and recognize that this is a matter that is dear to our nation, especially of late- with[...] September-09-2009 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=262 I've been collecting Mark Schultz since his [...] September-07-2009 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=257 Since releasing their self-titled debut in 2004, Rebecca, Alyssa and Lauren Barlow of BarlowGirl have continuously inspired fans with such intimate portraits, as with their sophomore set, Another Journal Entry and with such bold challenges as 2007’s, How Can We Be Silent. For BarlowGirl, the focus is always on sharing what God has placed on their hearts. They continue to do just that with Love War, my favorite overall album by BarlowGirl and one of my top albums of the year. I think there are two continuous messages that we are trying to get[...] September-07-2009 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=258 Where’s the Faith? What is it that we put our faith in? Do we put our faith in the people we surround ourselves with, the government, our jobs, the economy, the church, our family; I am sure the list could be quite lengthy, but the question I would ask is do we have faith in God, and do our lives prove that to be the case? In Romans 117 Paul reminds us that God’s word says, The righteous will live by faith. Depending on what the faith is in, this may or may not be that hard in this[...] September-07-2009 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=259 I came across a verse in the last couple of weeks that seemed to jump from the pages of scripture and really strike a cord with me. Last week I talked about what God’s will is for our lives and I looked at the twelfth chapter of Romans as a jumping off point for finding the direction we are to take with our lives. It is amazing how the more you read from the word of God, the more clear things can become in our lives. When we actually spend time with him reading from his Word it can[...] September-01-2009 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=251 The thing about getting to know Jason Gray is that you immediately want to share him with other people. In that way Jason is a lot like a good movie, or a great book, or some barely discovered band whose music makes you remember what it was you liked about music in the first place. Which brings us full circle, because Jason’s unique brand of emotional, thought-provoking, alternative-pop is that sort of music, and listening to it isn’t much different than having Jason Gray sitting in your living room and telling you what’s on his mind. In either case,[...] September-01-2009 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=252 Brandon Heath, Christian music’s Male Vocalist of the Year, garnered his third career radio No. 1 single this year with Wait And See. Topping Billboard’s Christian AC Indicator chart, Wait And See, is the second single released from Heath’s Grammy-nominated sophomore album What If We, following the blockbuster, Dove Award Song of the Year smash Give Me Your Eyes. Heath first landed atop AC radio in 2007 with I’m Not Who I Was from his debut album Don’t Get Comfortable. Like his breakout song, Heath’s current hit shares truly personal lyrics with listeners, but proves to[...] September-01-2009 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=253 With a big voice that reminds me of Warren Barfield and fellow American Idol alum Chris Sligh and a big smile to match, Phil Stacey found his way into the hearts and living rooms of more than 30 million viewers each week on American Idol. Into the Light is Phil’s debut modern pop Christian album and couples the power vocals America loved with Phil’s biblical testimony to an unshakable loving God. The album includes You’re Not Shaken, which is my favorite song on the album and the first single. You’re Not Shaken tells of faith in a[...] September-01-2009 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=254 There are so many things in life that you and I can choose to worry about—-our finances, job security, paying the bills, or a sickness you or a loved one may be facing. The list goes on and on. Our minds may continually be bombarded with worries and fears that the enemy throws at us, but we must learn to cast them down. As we spend quality time with our heavenly Father, those burdens will begin to vanish. It is not our job to fret. No, it is our job to trust God and obey. The Scriptures even tells us[...] September-01-2009 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=255 I hate, I despise your religious feasts; I cannot stand your assemblies. Even though you bring me burnt offerings and grain offerings, I will not accept them. Though you bring choice fellowship offerings, I will have no regard for them. Away with the noise of your songs! I will not listen to the music of your harps. But let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream! (Amos 521-24) When I was 14 years old, my youth pastor came to me and asked me if I would like the opportunity to lead worship for our youth[...] September-01-2009 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=256 Word Records’ rock newcomers Remedy Drive, nominated for Best New Artist at the 2009 GMA Dove Awards, recently celebrated multiple weeks at the top of the Christian rock song chart with their breakout single, All Along. The song is the second hit single from their impressive debut album, Daylight Is Coming. Like most brothers, Remedy Drive members David, Paul, Philip and Daniel Zach had their fair share of squabbles growing up. With no television at home to distract them, the boys had few other outlets for their energies. Fortunately, they found common ground in their love of music.[...] August-24-2009 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=246 Houston Texas-based singer/songwriter Jimmy Needham’s InPop Records debut Speak showcased his down-to-earth lyrics while exposing the rock, pop and gospel-influenced side of his art as well. Speak produced a No. 2 single at Christian Hit Radio with Lost At Sea, and its song Dearly Loved also broke the Top 10 on CHR. Needham’s sophomore album, Not Without Love, is a fitting continuation of his first project and includes standout tracks Come Around, A Breath Or Two, Hurricane, Firefly and Forgiven And Loved. Jimmy Needham blends his signature sound with mainstream artist Jason Mraz and recent American Idol winner[...] August-24-2009 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=247 Since Skillet last hit the studio for 2006's breakthrough project Comatose, the group's toured with the likes of Breaking Benjamin, Three Days Grace, Seether and Flyleaf, followed by a solo headlining ranking within Pollstar's Concert Pulse Top 50 Tours for 2008. Along the way, the Grammy-nominated alternative outfit also scored three top 40 singles on Billboard's Mainstream Rock charts, earned a pair of BMI Songwriting Awards and released its first ever concert CD/DVD combo pack in support of the season called Comatose Comes Alive. Aside from the commercial accolades, the Grammy-nominated modern rockers are rapidly approaching gold sales status,[...] August-24-2009 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=248 King Solomon asked a similar question in 2 Chronicles 618 But will God indeed dwell with mankind on the earth? Behold, heaven and the highest heaven cannot contain You; how much less this house which I have built. The house that Solomon spoke of here was no ordinary house--it was the very temple of God. And it put what you see on MTV Cribs to shame. Words like ornate, stunning, intricate, and more magnificent than anything you've ever seen might be used when describing this crib. Its dimensions were exact, and its materials were exquisite. It was done[...] August-24-2009 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=249 “What is the will of God for my life?’ This question or one that is similar to it has probably been asked by almost every human being on the planet at one point or another in his or her lives. It makes no difference what your religious affiliation is or what your beliefs are, I can guarantee that you have thought about what your purpose is here on this planet. It is kind of the quintessential question of the human existence. So how do we go about answering this monumental question in a way that makes sense to us and[...] August-24-2009 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=250 A crumbling economy, wars without end, new health risks, security threats and more. The media gives us a constant stream of reasons to be afraid. But what if God’s people shined a light of eternal hope right into the face of this world’s temporary circumstances? That’s the compelling idea behind Fearless, the tenth studio album from one of today’s most respected Christian vocal groups, Phillips, Craig Dean. The album has several great versions of previously recorded songs including Revelation Song, From The Inside Out and Counting On God. Among the originals, Shawn Craig is especially excited about The Distance,[...] August-17-2009 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=243 I wrote this song for those that are caught in the rat race of life or stuck on survive. It is so easy to let life go and forget what we are really living for. It breaks my heart to think of those that have grown old and have been chasing all the wrong things--or at least not the things that mattered most. --Phillip LaRue Home is a great new song by Phillip LaRue, and the current single from his debut solo album, Let the Road Pave Itself, an album full of catchy songs that do not sound commercial. Phillip[...] August-17-2009 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=244 Apart from Me you can do nothing. -John 155 Everyone is busy. In fact, you’re probably too busy to read this right now. You have stuff to do, things to go buy, a MySpace to check, and people to call. Go ahead. Reading this is probably not a good use of your time anyway. Really. Are you still reading? Good. Because you can’t do any of those things anyway. We live in the busiest, most fast-paced society in the world. We go from school to work to lessons to practice to church to home and every second in between we’re on[...] August-17-2009 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=245 Community is at the very core of who Brandon Heath is both as a private person and public figure. He shares this idea with friends and followers alike, both of which have grown considerably since the release of his 2006 debut project Don't Get Comfortable, which produced national touring and multiple radio hits, including the No. 1 blockbuster song I'm Not Who I Was. Heath has garnered professional accolades, to be sure, with the success of songs like I'm Not Who I Was also generating the steam that earned him multiple Dove Award nominations in 2008, including taking the[...] August-11-2009 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=242 The Lost Get Found is simply about being who we are called to be as Christians, and through that, seeing the lost get found. I believe that when we become who we are called to be, the lost will come to know God. They will see that God is real, and that His love is greater than any problem, any fear, any sickness. --Britt Nicole Britt Nicole released her debut album, Say It, on Sparrow Records in 2007, which spawned the hits You, Set the World On Fire and Believe. Her new single, The Lost Get Found, is the title track on[...] August-10-2009 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=239 One of the more appealing aspects of black gospel lyrics is the economy in the message. I often refer to myself as a wordy introvert so no doubt I have sound bite envy, but I tend to agree with Paul McCartney who suggested that no song lyric should exceed 25 words. I agree in theory anyway--if not practice. My first publisher in Nashville, Tennessee once said to me, Ashley, no one is interested in your second page of lyrics. At the time I was crushed but now I consider it one of the more valuable bits of advice that I’ve[...] August-10-2009 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=240 Made to worship. Do you buy it? If someone asked you what you were created for, how would you respond? I mean really, how many of us would honestly say, I was made to worship God? Maybe some, but the majority of us have a different idea of what we were made to do. Well the truth is you were made to worship. Everybody worships. Whether you realize it or not or whether you are a spiritual person or not, you worship. You worship what is most important you; what you value most. That could be sports, MySpace or another[...] August-10-2009 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=241 One of Christian music's most recognizable and prolific female voices, Christy Nockels, was born in Ft. Worth, TX. Together as Watermark, Christy and her husband Nathan recorded five albums with Rocketown Records that produced a number of hit songs including “Knees To The Earth,” “My Heart Your Home” and “Glory Of Your Name.” Christy and Nathan have served at Passion Conferences since 1997 and in 2008, they moved to Atlanta, GA to be a founding family of Passion City Church. The title song “Life Light Up” is the newest single by Christy Nockels from her amazing solo album debut.[...] August-04-2009 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=238 The title track is a worship song rooted in real life experiences. It's about all the wrong turns we made along the way, yet having someone there to watch our back. It's about looking at the past and being happy and counting our blessings. When things really could have gone bad, they didn't, by the grace of God. Whether it's our life, our daily routine or in light of our sin, we trust God with everything. We trust Him with the smallest things and we trust Him with the greatest things. --Peter Furler In The Hands of God is the title track[...] July-28-2009 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=237 Jars of Clay has built an extraordinary career based on the uncompromising integrity of its music, worldview and humanitarianism. Jars of Clay's last album, Good Monsters, was my favorite album from this group since the amazing self-titled debut. Good Monsters managed to reinvent the band’s sound while tackling subjects as diverse and demanding as social responsibility, spiritual doubt and the duality of the human heart. Now, three years later, Jars of Clay returns with The Long Fall Back To Earth. The album's first single, Two Hands, builds on the duality theme from Good Monsters. One of the[...] July-17-2009 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=236 There Will Be A Day, from Jeremy Camp's album Speaking Louder Than Before, is my favorite song by this artist. Jeremy has experienced the depth of God's mercy after losing his first wife Melissa to cancer. His debut album, Stay, featured songs expressing Jeremy's reliance on God including I Still Believe and Walk By Faith which hooked me immediately because they are so personal and biblical. Jeremy has gone on to become a best-selling artist with hit songs Take You Back, Let It Fade and Give You Glory. Each album has improved on telling his personal faith journey. The[...] July-13-2009 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=234 I'm sitting here under a tree, enjoying the only shade I could find. I’m hot, I’m sweaty, I’m thirsty, yet in my mind, I’m thinking, Wow! What a sweat deal! Here I am amongst 70,000 other Christians at Creation Festival Northeast 2009. There’s great music, food, speakers like Joyce Meyer, with reminders of our accountability to each other. There are tables of ministries reaching out to help so many. It’s all good! This was the 31st year of Creation. The event began under the hands of Pastor Harry Thomas, and Tim Landis. Held on Agape Farm in Mt. Union, PA, Creation[...] July-13-2009 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=235 The Motions by Matthew West is the current number one song in Christian music and has been the top song for the past 3 months. It is the second number one song from Matthew's album, Something To Say. Matthew West catapulted onto the Christian music scene in 2003 with his debut single, More, which was the most played Christian song of 2003, and You Are Everything was the most played Christian song of 2008. I’ve been a fan of Matthew’s work since his debut and his current hit, The Motions, has moved me the most of any[...] July-06-2009 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=233 The five-time GMA award-winning band, Casting Crowns graced the stage at WesBanco Arena in West Virginia on Saturday, June 13th. Their presence filled the arena, bringing Christians, from all over, together for an evening of fellowship and worship. If this was your first show, you were in for a treat! This contemporary Christian rock band originated in Daytona Beach, Florida, in 1999, and released their first album, Casting Crowns, in 2003. The band consists of seven members lead vocalist, Mark Hall; violinist and vocalist, Melodee DeVevo; electric guitarists, Juan DeVevo and Hector Cervantes; bassist, Chris Huffman; pianist and vocalist,[...] June-29-2009 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=230 Have you ever had a dynamic encounter with the Living God? I saw a flash of light, and I heard the sound of a voice like thunder shake the ground! When I first met God, it didn’t look anything like that. But when I relive that moment in my spirit I realize that was truly what it felt like and did to the inside of me. It wasn’t about me 'finding' God, as if He hadn’t been there all along. It was a whole lot more like simply waking up; like He'd reached down into the room and made Himself[...] June-29-2009 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=231 You will lose your baby teeth. At times, you’ll lose your faith in me. You will lose a lot of things, But you cannot lose my love. You may lose your appetite, Your guiding sense of wrong and right. You may lose your will to fight, But you cannot lose my love. You will lose your confidence. In times of trial, your common sense. You may lose your innocence, But you cannot lose my love. Many things can be misplaced; Your very memories be erased. No matter what the time or space, You cannot lose my love. --You Can Not Lose My Love by Sara Groves I am sitting in a Starbucks this afternoon in Joliet,[...] June-29-2009 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=232 You gave your body to the lonely They took your clothes You gave up a wife and a family You gave your ghosts To be alone With me To be alone With me To be alone with me, you went upon a tree To be alone with me you went upon a tree I’ve never known a man who loved me... --Sufjan Stevens, To Be Alone With You It is a quiet night tonight. The rain crashed against my window this afternoon and made and awful racket for a while, but now, all is peaceful. It’s good to be home. Two of my friends and I went away on a road trip[...] June-22-2009 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=227 Jonny Diaz is an artist that needs your attention, if he doesn’t have it already. His first single off his national debut, “More Beautiful You,” just went to #1 at radio, and his album is touching the lives of thousands. Produced by Steve Wilson (Hawk Nelson, Jeremy Camp, Josh Wilson), this aptly descriptive and intelligent pop effort reveals lyrics, melodies and instrumentation that go far deeper than the stereotypical pop hit. With all songs written or co-written by Jonny, More Beautiful You captivatingly illuminates Jonny’s heart--a heart that is passionate about reaching his generation with the message of[...] June-22-2009 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=228 This week I was encouraged when I received a card in the mail from a friend. Encouragement is something that every human has an innate desire for. We all want to feel encouraged by others and to be known as an encourager. So is it possible for encouragement to be something that is negative? This is something that I’ve begun to think about this week. What does the Bible say about encouragement? Is encouragement something that is always a positive thing or is negative at times? As I looked at Scripture I found verses like 2 Chronicles 352[...] June-22-2009 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=229 Free To Be Me continues to capture top airplay on radio stations nationwide, peaking at #1 in March of 2009. Additionally, Free to be Me is the first #1 single from a female since 2005. Francesca Battistelli’s enthusiasm can’t help but find its way into her music. In fact, whether she’s talking about the spirited, funk-laden title track or the buoyant, accept-yourself-as-you-are anthem Free to Be Me, Francesca says I really love this song. It’s so much fun to sing. That pervasive joy, along with Francesca's adventurous musicianship and relatable songwriting make My Paper Heart an impressive debut. My[...] June-16-2009 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=225 And this is how I choose to live As if I’m jumping off a cliff Knowing that You’ll save me Knowing that You’ll save me And after all the stupid things I did There’s nothing left there to forgive Because You already forgave me Yeah You already forgave me -– Relient K, Life After Death And Taxes How much of your life have you given to Christ? Fifty percent? Eighty percent? Forty-five percent? Have you given all of it over to Him? We sing songs in church all the time saying, “I surrender all.” But do we really ever surrender all of ourselves? Sometimes on my very best day, even[...] June-16-2009 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=226 The world is a very interesting place these days. As it continues to get smaller, it becomes much easier to find ourselves fall victim to worry, anxiety and fear. In the last week, as someone who lives on the west coast, I have added the missile capabilities of North Korea to a long list of reasons to be concerned and anxious about what is happening in the world in regards to my life. Stress…Worry…Anxiety…Pressure…These are things that the vast majority of the population are dealing with right now. The world doesn’t seem to be as safe as it used to be,[...] June-15-2009 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=223 In 1997, Matthew Barnett and the Dream Center joined forces with David Hanley to develop a new and exciting vision for music. This vision was to change lives with a positive and relevant voice. Press Play was established from the local community and across the nation, brought together by a common passion for music and to see lives transformed, including their own. As the Dream Center has grown into a major social catalyst for change, Press Play has exploded into a multimedia experience onstage, and off stage has become a collection of creativity. In 1998, Dream Center Studios, a[...] June-15-2009 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=224 We were meant to live for so much more Have we lost ourselves? We want more than this world’s got to offer We want more than this world’s got to offer We want more than the wars of our fathers And everything inside screams for second life --Meant To Live by Switchfoot What a beautiful day it is today in Washington. The clouds are softly perched on top of the hills and are slowly covering up the snow-capped mountains. The valley is lush and alive, and there is a cool breeze washing through the trees. It’s close to perfection. You can really see God’s hand in[...] June-08-2009 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=221 As I was thinking about last week’s post, I came to the realization that a lot of times walking the talk is the result of how we view the world. Is our world view one that is biblically based, founded in Christ and all that it means to be a follower of Him; or is it rooted in the narcissistic sinful logic of the world? And when you boil it all down, what does the Bible say about all of this? What can we glean from scripture about a worldview that is God honoring? Although there are many places[...] June-08-2009 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=222 I loved going to summer camp when I was a kid. Growing up in Idaho, camping was something that I looked forward to each year, whether it was with my family or going away with my friends to church camp. When I was in junior high, Christian T-shirts were becoming the in thing for all the kids in youth group. The summer before my eighth grade year, I bought a shirt that I eventually wore into the ground, forcing my mother to throw it away. I felt empowered wearing it, and it gave me a sense of being someone on[...] June-02-2009 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=218 At first, it was different; Delirious? didn’t exist on paper, but the five guys selling tapes out of the back of a rusting car were carrying the genes for what would grow into one of the most remarkable stories in Christian music. They might well have dreamt it, but nobody took anything other than small, simple steps forward. Life was simply a matter of writing songs that made sense and playing live with the main aim of making the strongest connections possible. Today, things are different, with recent years’ touring stats regularly seeing them playing in over 20 countries, and[...] June-01-2009 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=217 Each crack of that whip was for my mistakes, oh blood is on my hands, Each stumble up that hill was my step to take, oh blood is on my hands --Todd Agnew I am sitting by a trash can in the airport, and the stink of garbage is over my right shoulder. It's the only place I could find an outlet to plug my computer, phone and iPod into. This has been a crazy week. It has brought tears of sadness mixed with heartache and confusion, but as a result, it's also birthed restoration among friends, along with a reconciliation between roommates. David says it[...] June-01-2009 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=219 With an eagerness to help others far exceeding her 25 years, Meredith Andrews has been leading worship since high school, currently at Harvest Bible Chapel in Rolling Meadows, Illinois, and is passionate about helping orphans in India and Guatemala. Singing about God's grace, love and hope for the broken is yet another form of outreach for her. Meredith's debut album, The Invitation, showcases powerful vocals accentuated by beautiful piano melodies. The recurring theme of the album is restoration God invites us to come as we are, regardless of where we are in our lives. All we have to[...] June-01-2009 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=220 Mosquitoes and Cockroaches. Many of you have probably had a irritating run in with one of these two creatures and probably have stories you could tell about it. For me, I am most familiar with mosquitoes, and they are the worst. Since childhood, mosquitoes and summer have always been synonymous. Whether I was golfing, camping, or simply going to the park, they were always there. On the other hand, I have had little to no contact with cockroaches. The first time that I saw a live cockroach was probably about six or seven years ago. They are masters at not[...] May-25-2009 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=215 Love is not a feeling in your chest. It’s bending down to wash another’s feet. It is faithful when the sun is in the West. And in the East For The Love Of God by Andrew Peterson I'm sitting on my steps this morning. The sun is warm on my back and the breeze is rolling over my shoulders. I have been thinking a lot this morning about friendships and relationships. For whatever reason, I am in a very self inventory stage in my life right now. I'm trying to figure out how to be a stronger man of God, trying to figure out how to[...] May-25-2009 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=216 And I came to believe in a power much higher than I I came to believe that I needed help to get by In childlike faith I gave in and gave him a try And I came to believe in a power much higher than I Nothing worked out when I handled it all on my own And each time I failed it made me feel twice as alone Then I cried, 'Lord there must be a sure and easier way For it just cannot be that a man should lose hope every day.' -Johnny Cash I Came To Believe Do you really trust God? Do you trust that[...] May-19-2009 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=214 VOTA, formerly recognized as Casting Pearls, released their self-titled debut album on INO Records. The album is one to check out if you like Christian pop/rock. I’ve had the privilege of seeing VOTA in concert twice; last year with Sanctus Real and Tenth Avenue North on the We Need Each Other tour and again this year with DecembeRadio and newsboys on the Join The Tribe tour. The guys from VOTA--Bryan, Scott, Case and Riley--are all great guys and will always hang around after shows to meet concertgoers and make new friends. I’ve been a fan of them[...] May-18-2009 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=213 As one of rock's most popular bands, Korn pioneered the alternative heavy metal phenomenon. After two Grammy Awards, six Grammy nominations, and more than 30 million albums sold worldwide, Korn's reputation is solidified as one of the biggest and most decadent metal bands of all time. And at the beginning, like most musicians eager to revel in their celebrity, members of Korn took to their new debauched rock lifestyle easily--especially Reggie Fieldy Arvizu, bassist and founding band member, who soon earned one of the worst reputations in music. But the drugs and alcohol eventually caught up with the hard-partying, womanizing[...] May-05-2009 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=209 Worship leader Kristian Stanfill is emerging as one of this generation's most compelling singer/songwriters. A writer of rare insight and vulnerability, he has the unique ability to build bridges over boundary lines that separate the hurting from the Healer. Consequently, the songs on Attention, his sixstepsrecords debut, create an atmosphere of worshipful unity in this too often fragmented world. Kristian's fearless insight and ear for authenticity infuse his songs with a visceral resonance that connects with listeners on multiple levels. That authenticity compelled Louie Giglio, founder of the Passion Movement, to invite Kristian to lead worship for a community[...] May-05-2009 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=210 Known for their hit ballads, DecembeRadio has weaved easygoing, radio-friendly melodies onto both of their albums combined with laidback medium-tempo grooves reminiscent of their classic rock influences. Look For Me is one of those great ballads from Satisfied. The band, which received Rock Album of the Year honors for its self-titled debut in 2007, continued its run of successes with this year's win for their acclaimed sophomore release Satisfied. The music is a canvas for messages that range from God's faithfulness through our questions and hard times to the band's desires to become better men through the daily struggles[...] May-05-2009 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=211 I will wait for You there. Down on my knees where I met You. Give you all of my cares Find the grace to hold on to now I’m calling for You. --I Will Wait For You There by Phil Wickham I am in a small juice bar/coffee shop a block up from Pikes Market in downtown Seattle today. I’m partaking in an orange, pineapple, apple juice smoothie. It’s good and makes my throat feel cold. The bustle of the busy Seattle streets are background music today for me. There is an energy and spark in people’s steps here. Rock and Roll haircuts, cowboy boots[...] May-05-2009 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=212 Worship artist Sarah Reeves has joined Sparrow Records and released her debut album Sweet Sweet Sound EP on 4/21/09. She is a nineteen-year-old Alabama native, and was introduced to Sparrow Records by Plumb lead singer Tiffany Lee and her husband Jeremy after hearing Sarah open for their group. Sarah co-wrote Sweet Sweet Sound with Nashville veteran Ed Cash, who has written hit songs with Chris Tomlin, Bebo Norman, Bethany Dillon and Vicky Beeching. Sweet Sweet Sound is a worship-inducing song distinguished by Sarah's sweet vocals which immediately reminded me of Leigh Nash, Ginny Owens and also fellow newcomer[...] April-27-2009 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=207 I don’t remember the last time I could say I was where I wanted to be Still You see through this mask Hiding all my flaws You see something down deep in me... Bring me back so that I can feel You again Take me to that place I was before All I want is to hold my head up high So take this life and set aflame again --Decyfer Down Life Again Life is sometimes like a hooded sweatshirt. A good one! You know, the kind of sweatshirt that has a hood that is so deep it covers three fourths of your face if you want it to. It hides[...] April-27-2009 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=208 Radio single Hold On by Abandon is from the group's self-titled debut album on Forefront Records. Abandon EP is a great new album by this new San Antonio rock act. I’ve been greatly enjoying the song Providence since last year which is one of the energy-gushing songs off the self-titled debut. Hold On has grabbed me again and I can’t get enough of the sound and message of this great new band. Abandon’s sound has been described as The Killers meet U2 which is a great description. I would also compare them to The All-American Rejects, Fall Out Boy, Mute[...] April-18-2009 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=206 True Love by Phil Wickham offers an invitation to listeners to listen to the story of the Gospel and in the end offers a plea and a challenge. The song is from Phil’s album Cannons and is an amazing song of worship to our King and Savior Jesus. I could think of no better song to reflect on during Easter week than True Love. The song comes right from the Gospel. Take a few moments and reflect on the powerful words of John 1928-35 The Death of Jesus 28Later, knowing that all was now completed, and so that[...] April-07-2009 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=205 If you’re reading this book, chances are you’re either single or know someone who is. More than four of every ten American adults are single—92 million Americans. In fact, the United States has more single adults than any other nation in the world except China and India. Of course, it wouldn’t be accurate to lump all single adults into the same group. There are at least five very different categories of single adults. The largest numbers of singles are those who have never been down the aisle (those to whom this book is largely directed), but the other four[...] April-06-2009 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=204 I've had the privilege to see Tenth Avenue North in concert with VOTA and Sanctus Real on the We Need Each Other tour last fall. Mike Donehey from Tenth Avenue North only sang five songs at the concert, but made a big impression on me both musically and in how he demonstrated his heart for God. After a few up-tempo songs, Mike opened up his heart and shared his passion for worship of our God and Savior with two of my favorite songs including By Your Side from the debut album Over And Underneath. The song[...] March-30-2009 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=203 REVELATION noun 1. the speech act of making something evident 2. an enlightening or astonishing disclosure 3. communication of knowledge to man by a divine or supernatural agency 4. the last book of the New Testament; contains visionary descriptions of heaven and of conflicts between good and evil and of the end of the world. Revelation is the title song from Third Day’s most recent album. Mac Powell, lead singer for Third Day recently explained the song. 'Revelation' is evidence that we didn’t want to settle with this record. When we recorded the album, we had plenty of songs[...] March-24-2009 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=202 The anticipation for new music from celebrate vocalist Mandisa is great. Aside from last year’s critically-acclaimed holiday project It’s Christmas, the AC and pop-flavored Freedom is the follow-up to Mandisa’s 2007 debut, True Beauty, an album that created history by becoming the highest chart entry and made her the best-selling debut artist in the life of her label, Sparrow Records. It also became the only female debut to hit No. 1 in the 27-year history of Billboard’s Christian Retail Chart. [...] March-16-2009 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=201 For years, the GMA Dove Awards have come and gone, with little coverage from NewReleaseTuesday.com. For that, I apologize. NRT is, after all, a Christian music site and whether you live and die for the GMA Dove Awards, or wish they would simply just die, the show is certainly one of the biggest annual events for Christian music and fans alike. This year, to help kick start our coverage of the 2009 GMA Dove Awards, as well as the 2009 Gospel Music Week in Nashville, TN April 19-23, I threw out a challenge to our growing editorial team. I asked[...] March-09-2009 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=197 We continue our exclusive Round Table discussion of the 2009 GMA Dove Award Nominations. Don't miss Part 1 and Part 3 of this extensive feature article. NRT will be reporting from GMA Music Week and the 2009 GMA Dove Awards, providing live updates via Twitter during the event and full write ups of the evening. For a complete list of the 2009 GMA Dove Award Nominations, click here. And make sure to comment at the end of this article about this year’s nominations and NRT Staff picks. (Note that where “Who Should Win” and “Who Will[...] March-09-2009 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=198 Through its music, new Essential Records band Revive is about ministry and reminding people of the message in Psalm 85. It says, 'He will revive their hearts.' We love that, says lead singer Dave Hanbury. We want people to be refreshed, like what our name means, to be revived. It would be great if someone would listen to this album, Chorus Of The Saints, and feel like they could walk closer with the Lord. A song that really speaks to me on the album is You Know, sung with Mac Powell of Third Day, who also produced the album.[...] March-09-2009 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=200 We continue our exclusive Round Table discussion of the 2009 GMA Dove Award Nominations. Don't miss Part 1 and Part 2 of this extensive feature article. NRT will be reporting from GMA Music Week and the 2009 GMA Dove Awards, providing live updates via Twitter during the event and full write ups of the evening. For a complete list of the 2009 GMA Dove Award Nominations, click here. And make sure to comment at the end of this article about this year’s nominations and NRT Staff picks. (Note that where “Who Should Win” and “Who Will[...] March-03-2009 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=199 John Waller and his wife Josee moved to Colorado and helped launch SouthLink Church, where he became worship pastor. It became an extraordinary season in Waller's life and ministry. And at a time when he had given up the music business, he suddenly felt more inspired and began writing songs that were immediately embraced by his congregation. I was teaching my songs to our worship team and we were playing them in church. They were declaration kind of songs, John says of the new songs God was laying on his heart. People wanted to go sit in their car and[...] March-02-2009 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=196 I’ve really enjoyed Addison Road’s self-titled debut album on INO Records since last year. One of the most worshipful songs on the album is Hope Now, and it is the current single. I find the message especially encouraging, and I love the line Your love sets me free. I had the great privilege to speak with Jenny Simmons from the group, and this is what she shared with me about the song. For me, 'Hope Now' has meant a lot in the last 6 months. My life has been changing drastically. The words penetrate deeply inside when I[...] February-23-2009 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=193 At only 26, new Essential artist Brooke Barrettsmith has discovered a wisdom that eludes many twice her age. This is a young woman who is completely comfortable in her own skin and thoroughly certain of the career path she’s chosen in Christian music. On her self-titled debut, Brooke crafts a style uniquely her own, melding her love of Jeremy Camp, Daughtry and Kelly Clarkson with passionate lyrics that reflect her own life and experiences. Though only in her mid-twenties, Brooke has already dealt with her share of challenges including an early struggle with anxiety. Through everything, she has grown[...] February-23-2009 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=194 It takes some people nearly a lifetime to realize their gifts and discover how to use them. Then there are those rare individuals who know very early in life where God is leading. As a young artist who fast tracked her high school diploma and is graduating a year early to devote full-time to her music, it’s obvious Joy Lippard knows her calling and is embracing it with fearless abandon. Lippard has not only been gifted with an incredibly distinctive voice and intuitive songwriting skills that suggest a much older writer, she also possesses an inner drive and boundless energy[...] February-23-2009 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=195 Always is a ballad based on a true story of tragedy and to me, is similar to Praise You In This Storm, by Casting Crowns. The song is on Building 429, the self-titled debut album on INO Records, which is now my favorite overall album by this great band. They have really found their niche with this release. Always is the most powerful song I’ve ever heard by Building 429. This is truly an album and band worthy of being named after Ephesians 429, which is a great life verse. Do not let any unwholesome talk come out[...] February-09-2009 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=190 Formed in Nashville, Tennessee over four years ago, Red made an immediate impact with its 2006 debut, End of Silence, which has sold over a quarter-million copies. The Grammy-nominated disc, featuring the radio hits “Breathe Into Me” (Top 10, Active Rock) and “Already Over” (Top 15, Active Rock), introduced the sonic layering, rich orchestration and visceral dynamics that became Red’s signature sound. The album steadily built momentum cracking the Billboard 200 a year after its release as sales steadily broke out to hundreds of thousands of copies sold. Not surprisingly, the album became a hit with other bands[...] February-09-2009 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=191 Life is full of ups and downs. We all come across hardships in our lives that we would like to complain about. Today, I’m asking a simple question with this devotional. Are you going through your daily walk praising God or are you complaining to Him about your life? Are you telling Him everything that is wrong-—your job, finances, kids, health—-or are you praising Him for another day? Sometimes it is hard to praise God when nothing is going our way in life and it seems that God is not answering our prayers. When God is silent, it doesn’t necessarily mean[...] February-09-2009 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=192 When Stephanie Smith got her first glimpse of the father she’d desperately missed all of her 14 years, her heart was in her throat. She waited breathlessly as he greeted her mother and her brother, and then finally turned to Stephanie. But his words were anything but the healing she’d dreamed of for so long. He said, And this must be Priscilla? In the aftermath of that meeting, Stephanie processed a great many life lessons. Following a spiritual reality check she experienced while singing with a rock band she joined during college, a fateful door was opened for Stephanie to[...] January-26-2009 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=188 “The Cut” is one of my favorite songs on Jason’s debut major label album All The Lovely Losers and there is also a great new live recording on Jason’s album Acoustic Storytime.” Jason says “When God takes His pruning blade to our lives, it’s always out of love and to make room for new growth. Sometimes faith in this is the only anesthetic we have against the pain of this cut.” I had the opportunity to speak with Jason about his song “The Cut,” and he first talked about his background of having a speech handicap and the scripture that the[...] January-26-2009 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=189 To everyone else, Brian Head Welch looked like he was living a dream. As one of the founding members of the multi-platinum, Grammy Award-winning metal band Korn, Head’s rock 'n' roll journey eventually led him down a path of drug addiction that he could not break on his own. Despite his many attempts to free himself from meth, not even the birth of his daughter, Jennea, could help him kick it for good. Finally, after hitting rock bottom, he found the answer he was searching for—a relationship with God. After an intense spiritual awakening, Head shocked the music world[...] January-19-2009 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=187 2008 was a great year for Christian music, despite one of the worst fourth quarter drop offs in recent memory. (Next to no new releases from November to the end of January? Let's not repeat that again next year Nashville!) In my annual year end round-up, my initial list consisted of 22 contenders, more than any other year since I started this article for NRT seven years ago. I had a number of albums destined for the Top 10, which left few spots open and multiple releases to dive into. The past two weeks have been spent revisiting a number of[...] December-15-2008 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=184 Bethlehem Dawn is my favorite song from Todd Agnew’s Christmas album Do You See What I See? The entire album is thematic in that each song is told from the perspective of the different people present at Christ’s birth. There are songs from the Innkeeper, Joseph, Mary, Elizabeth, Simeon, The Magi, The Angels, and Bethlehem Dawn is from The Shepherds. Todd also recorded the song on 2004’s Absolute Favorite Christmas. It is one of the few Christmas songs that I listen to all year long and I consider it one of Todd’s best songs. The version from Do[...] December-15-2008 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=185 A Cradle Prayer by Rebecca St. James is my favorite original Christmas song on Rebecca’s only Christmas album simply titled, Christmas from 1997. This is a great review of the album Rebecca St. James' Christmas is an enchanting holiday record, highlighting not only her faith, but also her remarkable vocal skills. The album is divided between traditional songs and new material, and while some of the newer material is a little weak, St. James sounds terrific, no matter what song she is singing. --Rodney Batdorf, All Music Guide I’ve been a fan of Rebecca’s since her self-titled major label[...] December-08-2008 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=182 2008 has been an incredible year for new music. I eagerly anticipate reading the new release schedule every year to plan out which albums are must-buys for me and try to predict which albums will ultimately be in my top 10 list at the end of the year. I've been an avid music collector for almost 30 years and I have a collection of over 3,500 albums. This year was the hardest year I've ever had in picking my final top 10 list of 2008. In March, I expected great albums by The Afters, Natalie Grant and [...] December-08-2008 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=183 Chris Tomlin is among the most well-known and influential artists in contemporary Christian music with six records, seven No. 1 radio singles, three Grammy nominations, 14 Dove Awards, one platinum and one gold album to his credit. The three-time Gospel Music Association male vocalist of the year has been graciously referred to by Time Magazine as the most often sung artist anywhere. With so many worldly distractions, it’s easy to loose sight of what’s most important. Chris Tomlin recognizes this and desires to reacquaint us with the one fundamental element that’s become all too elusive--love. This theme lays the foundation[...] December-02-2008 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=179 2008 has been a huge year for 13-year old actor/singer Luke Benward. From starring in Disney’s mega-hit movie Minutemen to co-headlining the iShine tour, it’s been a complete whirlwind of events. For those of you who don’t know who Luke is, let me give you a quick bio. Luke’s first major on-screen appearance happened at age 7, when he played a role in country legend Martina McBride’s Concrete Angel music video. From there he had a minor role in the popular 2002 movie We Were Soldiers, followed three years later by a part as Stevie Dewberry[...] December-02-2008 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=180 While You Were Sleeping by Casting Crowns has turned out to be my favorite song from Lifesong. Casting Crowns has also re-recorded the song for their new Christmas album Peace On Earth. The song really challenges you to think about how we show others Jesus through our lives and through His Word. The people of Bethlehem and Jerusalem missed Jesus. Do you know of specific instances in the Gospels when Jesus claimed deity? Are you readily able to point others to those passages and explain them? This song challenges me to think about those questions and the song[...] December-02-2008 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=181 Sixteen-year-old Robert Pierre is turning the tables. A little over two years ago, around the time of his first studio release, he was just being introduced to the Christian music audience. Fast forward to today, and he’s co-headlining the national iShine tour with The Rubyz and Luke Benward, has performed his latest single Breaking My Heart on The 700 Club, and is prepping for the February release of his new breakthrough album, Identity. You can expect that list to lengthen quickly. Fans don’t have to wait until February to hear Robert’s new album though. Through[...] November-22-2008 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=178 How Many Kings by Downhere is one of the best original Christmas songs I’ve ever heard. It was originally released on last year’s Bethlehem Skyline from Centricity Records and it is also included on my top rated album this year Ending Is Beginning. It is a very powerful Christmas song that really challenges you to think about the sacrifice that our King Jesus made on our behalf. Truly, no other king in the history of the world besides Jesus humbled themselves to come off their throne to become one of their own and become the least...for me. For that,[...] November-21-2008 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=177 Todd Agnew is one of my all-time favorite singer-songwriters and one of the most powerful songs on his album Better Questions is the song Still Has A Hold. As the writer and singer of some of my favorite songs, Grace Like Rain and My Jesus to name a few, Todd has consistently written biblical songs that both challenge and uplift me to give my heart to Jesus and thank Him for his grace and mercy. He is a truth-telling songwriter in the style of Rich Mullins, Bebo Norman and Derek Webb. Todd credits John 1029 as his[...] November-10-2008 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=175 There’s a trend resurfacing in the Christian music industry the number of woman-fronted bands and solo female artists taking a turn in the spotlight has been sharply on the rise in recent years. In fact, they are truly propelling the market now, both in radio airplay and in record sales. Superchick always comes to mind first when we think of female-fronted bands. Trisha Brock has, undoubtedly, one of the most recognizable and familiar voices in the industry. Bands like Superchick have paved the way and opened countless doors for other female-fronted bands to follow their lead. Some recently notable artists[...] November-10-2008 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=176 I am a big fan of singer-songwriters who use Biblical inspiration in their songwriting. New artist Kelly Mack credits the Book of Psalms My songs generally originate from the Psalms, which contain such amazing poetry, she explains. The stand-out song to me on Kelly’s debut album Take Me With You is the first radio single, The Only One, a song that conveys God’s passionate love for His children, and stirs your heart in a manner like Leigh Nash singing her Sixpence None The Richer hit song Breathe Your Name. Kelly’s vocal style also reminds me of Enya, Dido[...] November-03-2008 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=172 Jimmy Needham's soulful pop music is a treasure and his sophomore release, Not Without Love is definitely one of those rare gems in Christian music that we feel more people ought to know about and hear. We recently caught up with the young artist and spent some time picking his brain about his life, his music, his relationship with Jesus, and issues he thinks Christians ought to be concerned about. This interview has been reprinted on NRT with permission from The Christian Manifesto. Click here to visit TheChristianManifesto.com today! First, we’d like to thank you for taking[...] November-03-2008 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=173 Community is at the very core of who Brandon Heath is both as a private person and public figure. He shares his idea of community with friends and followers alike, both of which have grown considerably since the release of his 2006 debut project Don't Get Comfortable which produced national touring and multiple radio hits, including the No. 1 blockbuster song I'm Not Who I Was. Heath has garnered professional accolades, to be sure, with the success of songs like I'm Not Who I Was also generating the steam that earned him multiple Dove Award nominations in 2008, including[...] November-03-2008 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=174 Faith Don’t Fail by Joy Whitlock is my favorite song from her great debut album God And A Girl. Joy is a singer-songwriter in the style of KT Tunstall, Kendall Payne and Jennifer Knapp. Every prodigal has their own story of redemption. This story just happens to take place in a cold and dark movie theater. With tears streaming down her lightly freckled cheeks, legs and feet curled up to her chest--a safe distance from the stickiness of a dried cola stained floor--in a hideously colored synthetic-cloth covered seat, Joy Whitlock’s life changed forever. If every flock needed a black[...] October-28-2008 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=171 Britney by Bebo Norman has captivated me like no other song this past year. It is my favorite song on Bebo’s new self-titled album. I’ve been a huge fan of Bebo Norman for the past decade as he has written and sung some of my favorite songs including The Hammer Holds, Tip Of My Heart, Great Light Of The World, Nothing Without You and I Will Lift My Eyes. He’s a truth telling folk music style singer-songwriter like Rich Mullins, Derek Webb and Todd Agnew. 'Britney' is a song about what our culture says and[...] October-20-2008 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=168 Tim Downs is easily one of the best writers in fiction, period. His knack for description and quirky characters really draws the reader into the worlds he has created. Add to that, the fact that the characters in his novels cross paths and meet one another, one gets the sence that he his building a fully orbed world worth entering. His Bug Man Series have been very popular and we have reviewed the last two titles in the series, First The Dead and Less Than Dead, both of which we adored. Recently we caught up with the author to[...] October-20-2008 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=169 Matt Bronleewee is one of Christian music's most sought after music producers. Within the last few years, he has tried his hand at a new discipline—writing. His first book, Illuminated met with critical praise and now he is back with his most recent title, House of Wolves. We recently caught up with the producer-turned-writer to ask him some candid questions about his writing, working in the music industry, and what’s coming over the horizon. This interview has been reprinted on NRT with permission from The Christian Manifesto. Click here to visit TheChristianManifesto.com today! First, we’d like to[...] October-20-2008 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=170 I’ve greatly enjoyed the band Telecast since their debut album The Beauty of Simplicity, followed by Eternity Is Now which contains the great song Release The Deep. I'm just now discovering their latest release, Quiet Revolution to be their best overall album. The Brit-pop musical style and deep singing voice of Josh White combined with his biblical lyrics really resonates with me. My favorite song on the latest album is Beautiful Mystery, a great vertical worship song based on John 149 Jesus answered Don't you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you[...] October-14-2008 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=167 Great Is Your Glory, by Vicky Beeching, is one of my favorite songs from Painting the Invisible and is one of the best vertical worship songs I’ve ever heard. Holding a Bachelor and Masters degree in Theology from Oxford University, Vicky has spent long years digging into God’s word. An Oxford educated, spirit filled Brit, perhaps best described in the words of Gordon Fee as a scholar on fire, she holds a dual passion for Spirit and Truth--the Bible and the Holy Spirit working together in harmony. She is a unique mixture. The song Great Is Your Glory is[...] October-07-2008 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=166 Superchick is living up to its name. Its first four albums have combined for 700,000 copies sold, more than 70 film, television and videogame song placements, and five No. 1 singles. The project, Rock What You Got, produced by the band’s own Max Hsu (tobyMac, Newsboys), finds the band honing a “rock-o-tronic” sound, an electro-punk mash-up of slashing guitars, pulsing keyboards and grit-pop vocals. While Superchick’s last album, Beauty From Pain, sought to empathize with listeners’ pain, band members have since walked their own dark, lonely roads with relationship splits and cancer touching four of their families. Rather[...] September-29-2008 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=165 As a child I was brought up in the Catholic church; however, I did not develop a personal relationship with Jesus Christ until 1999. My transformation was enabled by the prompting of the Holy Spirit and through Christian music, in particular the songs “Liquid” and “Love Song for a Savior” from the multi-platinum rock group Jars of Clay. Once I knew the saving love of Jesus, I started collecting every Christian CD out there. I love Third Day, Jars of Clay, Newsboys, dc Talk and Michael W. Smith from the '90s and could identify with some of their songs, but[...] September-21-2008 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=164 I’m eternally grateful to the music of Jars of Clay for helping bring me to Christ. From the opening notes of “Flood” and then my continual listening of “Liquid” and “Love Song For A Savior” from the self-titled debut, they quickly became my favorite band. A few years later, I became immersed in Christian music and gave my life to Christ in 1999 thanks to Christian music leading me to the truth of the Gospel which is I’ll never be good enough to earn eternal life. Jesus paid that price on my behalf and died for my sins and wants[...] September-16-2008 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=163 Slanted Records' Virginia-based rock foursome, DecebeRadio has had a tremendous kickstart to what they are planning will be a lengthy career in Christian music, since releasing their self-titled debut album in June of 2006. That album was nominated for a GRAMMY for Best Rock or Rap Gospel Album and earned the group four Dove Award nominations, including nods in the Best New Artist category and Song of the Year for “Drifter.” That night the band claimed their first Dove Award when DecembeRadio was honored for Rock Album of the Year, an impressive feat for a new band. Their winning streak[...] September-09-2008 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=161 Devotional Vol. 1 “Joy In The Midst of Trials” James 12-18 If you’re anything like me, considering trials and tribulation as a good thing feels a bit like denial. If there are going to be surprises in my life I tend to want them to be only good things, and I want my efforts and hard work to be rewarded in neat and succinct ways much like a scientific equation of cause and effect. But that’s not what happens most of the time, and I’m learning that it’s probably a good thing in the long run. In James chapter[...] September-08-2008 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=162 Ted Dekker is one of the most prolific writers in Christian fiction today. In fact, he’s one of the most prolific authors in fiction, period. With over 20 novels (including the best-selling Circle Trilogy) to his credit, Dekker is a force to be reckoned with. Ted is known for novels that combine adrenaline-laced stories packed with unexpected plot twists, unforgettable characters, and incredible confrontations between good and evil. Raised in the jungles of Indonesia, Ted now lives in Austin with his wife LeeAnn, and their four children. His novels have touched so many and what he has planned in the[...] September-02-2008 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=160 Opposite Way by Leeland is my favorite song from Opposite Way. The song is an amazing worship anthem encouraging believers to follow Christ's example of being in the world, but not of the world. The song is based on Paul’s letter to the Colossians in Chapter 3, verses 4-8. Colossians 34-8 (The Message) Your old life is dead. Your new life, which is your real life—even though invisible to spectators—is with Christ in God. He is your life. When Christ (your real life, remember) shows up again on this earth, you'll show up, too—the real you, the glorious[...] September-01-2008 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=159 The holiday season is truly the most wonderful time of the year. Along with celebrating the birth of our Savior, we all love the festive lighting, fellowshipping with family and friends, the shopping rush (well, not all of us like that part), and of course, the music. Have I got you in the mood yet? I know it seems early to be talking about the holidays, but I’m a Christmas music junkie, and in actuality, the first Christmas releases are right around the corner. It seems to sneak up on us every year, doesn’t it? Here’s an exclusive New Release[...] August-26-2008 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=158 In September 2001, Tammy Trent, a successful Christian artist, headed to Jamaica with her husband Trent on what was supposed to be both a vacation as well as a mission trip. Her husband, an experienced scuba diver, went out for a dive on September 10, but never returned. The following morning, while Tammy waited helplessly for a search and rescue effort to get underway, she watched the events of September 11 unfold, in New York, as planes brought down the World Trade Center. She later identified her husband's body that night as her world spiraled to what seemed like an end.[...] August-19-2008 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=157 “There Is A Reason” is a great new song by Caedmon’s Call from their Overdressed album. The song was written by Randall Goodgame and Andrew Osenga. I had the privilege to correspond with Randall Goodgame about a couple of the songs he’s written for Caedmon’s Call including “There’s Only One (Holy One),” which is based on Psalm 23 and also “There Is A Reason” which is based on Proverbs 35,6 Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will[...] August-18-2008 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=155 Shine is my favorite song from Matt Redman’s album Beautiful News. The song is also featured on Passion's God Of This City live album. It seems the entire Passion album centers around this theme with other standout songs “We Shine” by Fee and “God Of This City” by Chris Tomlin. Another song based on this theme is “Shine Like The Stars” by Stellar Kart. “Shine” by Matt Redman is based on Philippians 214-16 Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved[...] August-05-2008 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=153 For any band that continues to record and tour at a non-stop rate, change is inevitable. Band members will come and go, the focus will evolve and the music will tighten and grow. So is the case with Christian music’s rock mainstay, Kutless, as they release their fifth full-length album, To Know That You’re Alive. With a new band member, an unconventenial choice for producer (Pete Kipley who has worked with MercyMe and Phil Whickham) and a writing process that saw over 70 songs come and go (their previous record was 15), Kutless was ready to record one of[...] August-05-2008 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=154 About 8 years ago, I met a family from San Diego, the Goffs. The Dad was a lawyer, the mom was well, a mom, and the three kids were all in middle school at the time. Sounds pretty average, right? Yeah, it did to me, too. This family is anything but average. They invited me to go with them on a trip to India, where the family had been interested in setting up an aftercare facility and program for girls rescued from the human trafficking ring thriving there. I was a little reluctant because I had never been to a[...] July-27-2008 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=150 The More by Downhere is one of my favorite songs by my favorite band. I had a hard time picking which song to focus on as I love every song by Downhere, especially A Better Way which is one of my all-time favorite songs about the Love of Jesus, along with Great Are You and Starspin, all of which I highly recommend. My most played song by Downhere is The More from Wide-Eyed And Mystified and it is based on a few verses in 2nd Peter. 2 Peter 15-8 (NLT) In view of all this, make every effort to[...] July-22-2008 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=147 “Atheists and charlatans and communists and lesbians, and even ol’ Pat Robertson, oh God He loves us all. Catholic or Protestant, terrorist or President. Everybody, everybody, love, love, love, love.” (from our new song “God is Not a White Man”) “…some people are concerned about the word ‘lesbian’ being in the song.” (my advisors) Listen, I’m not after being controversial. Bothering people just for the sake of bothering them is just annoying, and that’s not really the emotional response that I am hoping to elicit with our music. But you know what? And forgive me for being a little gross here, but[...] July-22-2008 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=148 Before you make any assumptions, I’ll start off by saying that I’m not here to solicit for Al Gore’s campaign against global warming. This article is meant to make you aware of a more powerful, and personal, inconvenient truth Music and how the internet is changing the industry drastically. I remember the good old days. Those were the times when people made some sort of an attempt to actually attain a physical copy of music a CD. I can clearly remember 6 or 7 years ago when CDs were generally the only option. The iPod changed that several years back,[...] July-22-2008 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=149 Rich Young Ruler is one of my favorite songs by one of my favorite Christian singers, Derek Webb. The song is on Derek’s Mockingbird album. One of Derek's gifts is his ability to put the Gospel into words and a melody that we can identify with and sing with passion. My church is blessed to host Derek for a concert coming up on August 17, 2008 and I’m really looking forward to hearing him sing this song in person. I am very moved by Derek's challenge to give up my idolatry of earthly possessions to truly[...] July-07-2008 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=146 So much of the last 3 years has been for me centered around one lesson. I'm not sure I realized I was learning anything at times, but somewhere along the way it started to make some sense in my heart and in my head. It was simply 'Life is a journey, not a destination.' Sounds pretty simple, doesn't it? Well it seems basic, but I'm not sure I've met many people whose lives reflect this perspective. And I feel like this place I've come through and come to in learning it hasn't been easy, but it's been this beautiful, painful[...] June-24-2008 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=144 Blessed Be by Jason Gray is my favorite song from the album All The Lovely Losers. Both the song and the album title which comes from the opening lyrics are based on The Beatitudes, which is one of my favorite passages in the Bible. Other songs based on this passage are Bless The Lord, Amen and Narrow by Shaun Groves from his album White Flag which is thematically linked to The Beatitudes. Jason has a unique perspective in that he has a speech impediment and finds strength and comfort in the words of Jesus from Matthew 51-12 Now[...] June-24-2008 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=145 First Corinthians is an amazing, up close and candid look into some of the gritty things that can take place in a church setting, both then and now. The wisdom that we can take from this book is so deep in its relevance and application, and the church of the 21st century would do well to read it, study it, and learn from it. This week I am going to skip chapter four and look at chapter five. I believe that this chapter holds verses that many people today take out of context, applying them to their worldview[...] June-23-2008 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=143 Chapter three of first Corinthians will hold some familiar verses for some of you and they are verses that are very deserving of our focus and subsequent application. This week I hope that in your study of this chapter you will be inspired to continue your growth as a Christian and that you will strive to be a solid representation of Christ in your community. I hope you will consider ways that you can change some of the perceptions of Christians and Christianity. In chapter three Paul speaks to the Corinthians about godly wisdom and its importance for growth[...] June-16-2008 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=139 FireFlight has returned with an album that has captured the attention of critics and fans in both in the Christian music and mainstream music worlds, along with a few network executives along the way. The band’s sophomore project on Flicker Records, Unbreakable, released on March 4, 2008, debuting at No. 10 on Billboard’s Heatseekers chart and No. 15 on Top Christian Albums with its title track pushing to #1 for multiple weeks on both R&R’s and CRW’s Rock radio charts. The band possesses the youthful exuberance of fellow female-fronted acts like Paramore and the Distillers, yet Dawn’s commanding vocals recall[...] June-16-2008 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=140 “For the moment discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.” --Hebrews 1211 ESV I always hated being disciplined as a kid. And I don’t say hate like I just shrugged off not having dinner, going to bed early, or even seeing one of my parents get the spatula out of the drawer and knowing what that meant. No, I mean hate like having knots in my stomach whenever I was caught in something I knew was wrong. But honestly, even the consequence wasn’t[...] June-16-2008 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=141 Mankind is driven by desire. We have desire to be important, to be loved, to make our lives matter. We have a desire to be happy. We want to find a real happiness though, not the kind that comes from emotional highs or material possessions. We try to find happiness in all sorts of ways, but even King Solomon, the wisest and richest King to ever rule Israel discovered that nothing this world has to offer can bring the happiness he was seeking. In the book Ecclesiastes Solomon details how he refused nothing his eyes desired. He pursued knowledge, success,[...] June-16-2008 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=142 “Be Still” by StorySide B is my favorite song from the album We Are Not Alone and is one of my favorite Christian songs ever. The song is based on Psalm 46, verses 9-11 He causes wars to end throughout the earth. He breaks the bow and snaps the spear; he burns the shields with fire. Be still, and know that I am God! I will be honored by every nation. I will be honored throughout the world. The Lord of Heaven’s Armies is here among us; the God of Israel is our fortress. (NLT) Other songs that I[...] June-09-2008 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=138 One year when I was really young, I decided to make my parents a Christmas gift. I constructed it from a two-foot piece of 2 x 10 lumber I found lying around my dad’s workshop. I painted it, green I think, and hammered a bunch of nails in it. I then took red yarn and wrapped a pattern around the nails so that it said, “We Love You Mom Dad.” You know, this was and is about the most hideous thing I have ever seen; yet it is still hanging on my parents’ back porch today. It would break my[...] June-03-2008 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=135 2008 has been an intense year for Christian music. We’ve already seen huge releases from P.O.D., Jon Foreman, The Afters, and Fireflight to name a few, and fortunately, there’s still a ton to look forward to. Here’s an exclusive New Release Tuesday run-down of the 5 most hyped about records releasing this summer and fall. Relient K The Birds and The Bee Sides July 1, 2008 Gotee Records It seems like it has been forever since Relient K released their last record, when in fact, it’s only been a little over a year.[...] June-03-2008 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=136 John 155 I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. “He made the lame walk and the dumb talk He opened blinded eyes to see That the sun rises on His time Yet He knows our deepest desperate need And the world waits while His heart aches To realize the dream I wonder what life would be like if we let Jesus live thru you and me” The chorus of this song came literally in seconds and all in one piece. I couldn’t write it down[...] June-02-2008 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=137 If there's anything I could say to you today, to those who are feeling rather good about themselves, and to those struggling to crawl their way to the feet of Jesus, I suppose that it would be this Friends, believe the gospel. Yeah, I know, kindergarten kind of stuff right? Well maybe not. Sadly I must confess that as our band has traveled around this country for the last seven years or so, this is the one thing I have found most lacking...the gospel. And by that I mean, the truth that we are infinitely more sinful and conspiring than we[...] May-30-2008 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=132 This is a song born out of frustration. Frustration from hearing the all too common phrase, repeated all too often. It goes something like this and stop me if you've heard it You know, I would know that God loves me, if He would only..... And therein lays the problem. If He would only what? What, pray tell, does God need to do to convince you of His love? Does He need to give you the man of your dreams? Land you the dream job you've always wanted? Give you straight A's? I don't know. But I think it's fair to[...] May-30-2008 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=133 “For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for Me will save it. What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit his very self?” (Luke 924-25) As Americans, every single day we face the temptation to live for ourselves and for this world instead of living for God and His unseen Kingdom. Most of my life I’ve trusted this world more than God, and it has caused me a lot of pain and sorrow. If you are a born again disciple of Jesus Christ, your[...] May-30-2008 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=134 “God With Us” is my favorite song from the album All That Is Within Me by MercyMe. The band that brought us “I Can Only Imagine”, “Word Of God Speak” and “Bring The Rain” has really touched my heart with their newest song “God With Us”. Right from the opening imploring question “Who are we, that You would be mindful of us, what do You see, that’s worth looking our way?”, I find myself praying and singing along with this amazing song as it really expresses a deep desire of my heart. The song is based on Psalm 103,[...] May-22-2008 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=130 Switchfoot; simply put, this group of rockers is already a music legend. No, they haven’t achieved the superstardom that once belonged to bands like The Beatles, but in the Christian world, fame really has no significance. The legend that this band has created is one that reflects the image of God through the lives they have saved through their lyrics and the missions work they do to further the Kingdom. If you look back at the early days of Switchfoot and compare their music to what we hear from them now, quite a lot has changed. Everything, and I mean[...] May-22-2008 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=131 Let Go by Grey Holiday from The Glorious Revolution is one of my favorite songs and is inspired by Isaiah 43 where Scripture says Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland. (Isaiah 4318-19 NIV). I think many Christians including myself struggle with this very issue of holding onto our dreams and expectations and not letting God show us what He wants for us. Laura Sproull from[...] May-11-2008 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=129 It is very impressive how 18 year old Bethany Dillon expresses Biblical truth beyond her years in her songwriting and Let Your Light Shine from Waking Up really reflects that inspiration and wisdom received from the words of Jesus in Matthew, Chapter 5 verses 15 and 16. Take some time to reflect on these great reminders from Jesus about our calling as Christians Matthew 515-16 (New International Version) Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the[...] April-22-2008 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=126 Back when American Idol started, who would've ever thought that a television show with that name would generate so many artists of faith? I guess it's just plain evidence that God works in mysterious ways. To date, America's most viewed show has given us nearly 10 artists that are very open about their faith and have used it to impact the mainstream. Instead of my original way of examining one artist of faith per editorial, I figured American Idol very much deserved an article devoted to the array of artists they've added to the market. And what an array it is[...] April-22-2008 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=127 It was eight months ago that the I-35 bridge in Minneapolis fell into the Mississippi river tragically taking the lives of at least 7 people and sparking a national furor about the state of America’s infrastructure. We drove over the bridge about three hours earlier the day the bridge collasped. We couldn’t believe our eyes as we got home and images started coming in of the fallen bridge that just a short time earlier we drove over without a care or thought. Equally surprising as the collapse itself was how quickly it became international news. When I played in Memphis[...] April-22-2008 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=128 Flyleaf is literally the definition of a success story. They slowly have been climbing the ladder of success over the past several years, and their unbreakable faith has led them all along the way. With the recent Platinum certification of their debut album and their surprising acceptance into the mainstream rock and Top 40 markets, this band from a small Texas town is just heating up. Touring with top mainstream (and many anti-Christian) bands such as Korn and Disturbed has not only increased their audience and chance to witness, but has undoubtedly shown them how important and valuable their[...] April-07-2008 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=125 I LOVE this song “East to West” by Casting Crowns from The Altar and The Door. God’s forgiveness is an amazing gift. The problem is that our logic gets in the way. This song is based on many different passages from The Bible, but the chorus and title come specifically from target=_blank>Psalm 103, verses 8-12. Take some time to pray and reflect on these verses. Psalm 1038-12 (New International Version) The LORD is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love. He will not always accuse, nor will he harbor his anger forever; he does not[...] April-05-2008 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=123 Father, enter this temple Come touch Your people we need to be where You are from the song, Enter This Temple Ephesians 222 says, And in Him, you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by His Spirit. A temple, simply put, is a place or person in which God lives. I've always said that I wanted to be where God is. I guess for us to find out where God is, we have to know where to find him. First, we know that He's in us. That's made very clear to us[...] April-05-2008 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=124 Picking up where we left off, I would like to look at the beginning of I Corinthians chapter two. This week the simple truth that I would like us to look at is in verse five. Verses four and five are as follows “…my message and my preaching were not in persuasive words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power so that your faith would not rest on the wisdom of men, but on the power of God.” What do you think of when you think of a great leader in the Church? For most of[...] March-31-2008 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=122 Their fifth studio record, For The Love Of The Game, is being hailed as a return to roots for the Tulsa quartet rockers. The album is full of big, fun, infectious rock and roll that further solidifies Pillar's position as fearless leaders in the Christian Rock world. Whether it's the band's raucous battle cries to get in the spiritual fight on For the Love of the Game, Throwdown, Get Back, and Reckless Youth; their plea to engage in world missions in State of Emergency; their poignant message from the perspective of a deceased loved one in heaven in Smiling Down;[...] March-27-2008 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=121 Sure to become one of the top acts of the decade, the Jonas Brothers’ success over the past several years has been almost unreal. From sold-out tours with fellow artist of faith Miley Cyrus to a platinum selling album, it’s hard to know where to start talking about the band’s faith and career, so let’s start back at the beginning. It all began with the youngest brother in the band, Nick. After starring on Broadway, Columbia Records offered Nick (who was 13 at the time) a record deal, realizing his potential. Nick began recording songs such as “Dear God” and[...] March-24-2008 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=118 We sometimes forget just how incredible Jesus is. In our mind’s eye, He is nicely and neatly the Saviour of the world; the King of glory, who lives quietly and unassumingly within the confines of our comfort zone. But, take a fresh look at who He was as He walks through the pages of our Bibles. He was radical. He challenged everything that the religious leaders of the time held dear. He challenged them to live inside out, to abandon their masks, to relinquish reputation and embrace life to the fullest extent. When He came into a room, the sick found their[...] March-24-2008 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=119 He is Risen! Recently I was struck by the Biblical truth behind the song The Stand, written by Joel Houston of Hillsong and recorded by Michael W. Smith on his album Stand. This truth is based on Paul's very encouraging words to the Romans in Chapter 5, verses 1-3 which are wonderful words to celebrate and rejoice in the hope of the glory of God as we praise our Lord and Savior Jesus for coming to die for our sins as our perfect, blameless substitute for our sinful natures on whose grace we stand with arms high[...] March-24-2008 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=120 Some of you may be familiar with it. The song's called A Sacred Moment and it's really become one of my most enjoyable songs to sing and discuss live. When I first heard this song, it reminded me of the verses in Ephesians that states Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her... Now, as a 28 year old, single (unmarried) guy, I can't begin to understand fully what this verse is describing. I will say this though, I feel that dating and the relationships that come from that interaction is one of the[...] March-17-2008 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=117 Bands often come and go in the music industry. Many drop one or two big hits, and then they seem to disappear off the radar. That can’t be said about Lifehouse. Ever since the late 90’s, back to when the band was known as Blyss, front man Jason Wade and his crew have been continuously progressing in all aspects of their career. Now, four albums later, Lifehouse stands as one of the Christian and mainstream’s most well know pop/rock acts. With a new millennium came newfound fame, and 2000 proved huge for Lifehouse. In October 2000, the band released their[...] March-10-2008 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=115 This is my favorite song from Come Together. In particular when I pray to Jesus, one of my most consistent prayers has been to know Him more intimately. Paul captures that sentiment beautifully in his letter to the Philippians in chapter 3, verses 7 through 11; which Mac Powell from Third Day lists as his inspiration for the song Nothing Compares. “All of us must remember those words that Paul wrote when he said that nothing compares to the greatness, or 'priceless gain,' of knowing Christ Jesus. No matter what we could experience, gain, see, or know,[...] March-10-2008 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=116 Suddenly there was an angel at his side and light flooding the room. The angel shook Peter and got him up Hurry! The handcuffs fell off his wrists. The angel said, Get dressed. Put on your shoes. Peter did it. Then, Grab your coat and let's get out of here. Peter followed him, but didn't believe it was really an angel—he thought he was dreaming. -- Acts 127-9 I remember in the third grade after hearing a faith preacher on T.V. I boldly threw my glasses in the garbage and went to bed believing this act of faith would certainly move God[...] March-06-2008 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=114 You’ve probably heard of her by now. She won the sixth season of the most watched reality show in the nation, American Idol. She’s performed on every morning and late night show that’s out there, and, most recently, was given the privilege to sing the national anthem in her hometown of Glendale, AZ, at Super Bowl XLII, which was watched by nearly 100 million viewers. Her name is Jordin Sparks, and if you haven’t heard any of her music yet, that could soon change. Jordin Sparks isn’t by any means a newcomer to the music industry. She[...] February-23-2008 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=113 It’s all around us. No, we can’t avoid it. It pressures the youth with unrealistic and provocative images and messages that promote an “it’s ok” mentality. “It” is the mainstream market. Of course we’ll never be able to stop it, but artists of faith are infiltrating the mainstream and are making an unimaginable impact. Ultimately, these artists are turning the tide and bringing a wave a change. Living in an MTV-obsessed culture has become almost normal. We’re used to hearing rappers and rockers like 50 Cent and Kid Rock singing to us about drugs and alcohol. And their main target? The[...] February-16-2008 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=111 “I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes first for the Jew, then for the Gentile.” -- Romans 116, 17 What comes to your mind when you think of the power of God? Is it the creation of the universe? The parting of the Red Sea? Or possibly the Holy Spirit descending at Pentecost like tongues of fire? When we think of the power of God, are we filled with awe? Now, what do you think of when you hear the word evangelism? For many years this word would bring[...] February-16-2008 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=112 “For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written. ‘I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the cleverness of the clever I will set aside.’ Where is the wise man? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not come to know God, God was well pleased through the foolishness of the message[...] February-12-2008 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=110 From the opening salvo of Stellar Kart's third album Expect the Impossible, it's evident that the Dove Award-winning band is revolutionizing its sound with this adventurous, spirited, and totally unexpected pop 'n' roll project. Returning to helm the project is producer Ian Eskelin (All Star United), who also shepherded Stellar Kart's breakthrough sophomore album, We Can't Stand Sitting Down. That CD yielded the No. 1 hit, Me And Jesus, which also earned the band its first Dove Award for Rock/Contemporary Recorded Song of the Year. Content, content, content, Eskelin declares. The music is awesome, the energy is[...] February-11-2008 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=109 How many of you have ever been on a team or in a situation where you, or the group you were a part of was divided? Whether it was a work, school or church, how was the atmosphere in the group when you got together? I am guessing that there was some tension, whether it was on your part or the part of others. For some of you, the situation has been a lot like getting someone on the left wing of the democratic party and someone from the right wing of the republican party and putting them on the same[...] January-29-2008 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=108 Change is not necessarily a new concept to Kevin Max, who by his own admission has never been inclined to stay in one place for a long length of time. When it comes to his phenomenal talent as a gifted singer-songwriter, Max has never settled for the status quo, always pushing the artistic envelope in new directions. It is that creative flair that sums up his extraordinary appeal and has endeared Max to countless legions of music fans across the globe. On his third solo effort, Max returns with a new, passionate and poignant recording, The Blood. A deliberate[...] January-28-2008 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=107 This year I thought that I would spend some time working through a book of the Bible called First Corinthians. I am not going to be able to comment on all of the amazing truth that is in this book but I will try to pull out some simple yet insightful studies that you can apply in you life as you work and live in 2008. I may spend more time in one chapter than another as I work through this but I would encourage you to read through the book of First Corinthians this spring with me[...] January-22-2008 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=106 Hi, Brian. Welcome to NewReleaseTuesday.com. We’re delighted and honored to be interviewing you. Why don’t you take us back to when Korn got its start, and tell us how your childhood dream of becoming a rock star came true. I was 10 years old when I first started playing guitar back in the 5th grade, and when I was a teenager I met the guys in Korn. Since all of us wanted to become rock stars, we formed a couple of bands together, but when we graduated high school, we moved and went our separate ways for a while. After[...] January-19-2008 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=186 We’ve come to the completion of yet another year of amazing music. More than 450 albums we’re tracked this year on NRT and the majority of those came across my desk for at least a spin or two. Some blew me away, demanding a permanent and consistent rotation in my play list. Others were more stubborn as they tried to capture my attention, being discovered later than they would have liked. Of course, there were plenty of releases that left as fast as they came, destined to collect dust or be auctioned off at a church event. These are the ones[...] November-19-2007 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=105 How many of you are feeling weary and in need of some rest? How many of you feel like you are constantly battling against yourself to make the right decisions or just to make it through the day? If you are, I want to ask you this--where do you look when you are in need of rest? I consider the fourth chapter of Hebrews to be one of the most encouraging passages of scripture for us. The writer of this book is talking about the rest that we can have in God through Jesus and reminds us that this[...] November-06-2007 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=104 Thousand Foot Krutch first found an audience with the hip-hop centric debut, Set It Off, and then deftly edged into full-blown rock territory with Phenomenon and The Art of Breaking. In just a few years, the group has sold half a million records, shared stages with a wide mix of headliners (Switchfoot, Korn, The Roots), and landed adrenaline-rush songs like Rawkfist and Move on nationally televised sporting events—all of this achieved relatively under the radar. Their latest release, The Flame in All of Us, offers youthful hip-hop and alternative rock to[...] October-26-2007 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=102 Any songwriter worth his stripes would admit that a Best Of collection is a downright scary proposition. To go back in time, to revisit the emotional landscape laid bare in dozens and dozens of songs, to line all your musical children up, from the scrawniest to the strongest to the most entertaining, and single them out as better than the rest is a heart-wrenching, seemingly impossible task. And there's a certain amount of disbelief that comes with the distance. Wow, was that really me at that moment? Yes. Yes, it was. For Nichole Nordeman, after 10 years, 9 Dove[...] October-22-2007 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=103 Music has the power to entertain and encourage, to both uplift and to challenge us. For 15 years, Point Of Grace has built a successful career delivering songs of substance. While their lovely voices and soaring harmonies entertained, their songs illuminated the complexities of the human spirit and spurred us toward closer relationships with each other and our God. On their new collection How You Live, Shelley Breen, Leigh Cappillino, Denise Jones and Heather Payne serve up a compelling collection of songs that invite the listener to examine their priorities and take stock of their lives. It's a constant[...] October-01-2007 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=100 How many of us have ever given up on something? Many times we get committed to doing something and then once we are in it, decide that we may have gotten ourselves in over our heads. Many of you can probably relate to this in the area of sports or community service time commitments. But have any of you had this conversation with yourself regarding your faith or Christian beliefs? This week, as I read through the book of Malachi, I came across a verse that struck me. Malachi is the last book of the Old Testament, and is[...] October-01-2007 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=101 This last month has been extremely hectic for me. My wife and I went on vacation, moved across the state and I started school full time. Although life has been crazy, I welcome the fact that things are slowing down again. This week, I wanted to talk about vacations and getting away from a biblical angle. Vacations are great things. They allow us to get away and relax for a period of time so that we can come back recharged and re-energized for a new season of work, school or whatever it may be. While I was away, this idea of[...] September-24-2007 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=99 Every few years, it seems like Christian music gets its turn in the national spotlight with an album or a song taking off and unexpectedly capturing a much larger audience than anticipated. There will always be the artists who embrace the mainstream stage like Amy Grant, Stacie Orrico, Switchfoot and P.O.D. Then there are the discovered songs from Christian artists that receive massive mainstream exposure like MercyMe’s “I Can Only Imagine,” Mark Schultz’s “He’s My Son,” and Bob Carlisle’s “Butterfly Kisses” (who doesn’t love that song?). Very rarely though, does the small, but continually[...] September-14-2007 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=98 Vince Lichlyter is the lead singer and founding member of the explosive, high-energy rock band Jonah33. Based out of the college town in Fayetteville, Arkansas, the band has managed to put a number of impressive accomplishments under their belt. They were voted The Best New Artist of 2003 in ChristianityToday.com's Readers' Choice Awards and have toured in 48 states and five different countries. They've also had 6 singles from their first two albums reach the top 10 at Christian Rock Radio. Now the band finds themselves on a brand new page in 2007. After parting ways with Ardent Records, who[...] September-03-2007 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=97 There's an axiom that should apply in so many areas where we live our lives, be it classroom or boardroom or family room. There's no such thing as a dumb question. But there's one place where this idea tends not to apply. So many--young and old, male and female, seeker and believer alike--run into opposition of asking the tough questions in the one place they should feel most free, the church. Todd Agnew wants to help put a stop to that. Through his travels as a recording artist and performer, he has seen it start to happen on its[...] August-13-2007 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=96 Salt. If you are like me you love it. I will put salt on just about anything. There is something about salt that just makes things taste better. Long ago, even back to ancient biblical times, salt was a known preservative and had a very high value placed upon it. This seasoning that we hardly think twice about has been a major contributor to wars and feuds throughout history. It is such a simple thing, but just about any food that we buy at the store contains at least some amount of salt (aka sodium). So by now you’re probably wondering[...] August-03-2007 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=95 Turning 18 is a major event for most everyone. It signals a change, a maturing, and a new season. For Bethany Dillon, this season of life finds her experiencing her faith in profound ways. After a recent missions trip to India, Bethany reflects, I feel like He's widening my eyes as I'm walking in this new season. The results of this newfound knowledge peppers her third release, Waking Up, an intimate and introspective look into the greatest and wonder of God. Bethany took some time with NewReleaseTuesday.com's Bill Lurwick earlier this year to discuss the new release, her plans for the[...] July-30-2007 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=94 With Chronology Volume 2 hitting stores next month, and Volume 1 pleasing fans since it came out this past March, Third Day is certainly giving fans plenty to pick up. Both volumes are packed with exclusive remixes, never-before-seen video and documentaries highlighting the band's beginnings and travels to date. With 24 number one radio singles, 24 Dove Awards and three GRAMMY Awards in their incredible career, there's certainly plenty to reflect upon. Recently, lead singer Mac Powell spoke with NewReleaseTuesday.com about the projects and what they mean for the future of Third Day. Let's talk about Chronology. I[...] July-21-2007 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=92 I am sure many of you have seen the walking sidewalks that are in some of the larger airports and malls around this country. They are great at getting you from point “A” to point “B” much faster than we would be able to on our own. But have you noticed that when you just ride the sidewalk, people who are not using the sidewalk and walking beside it are still passing you? It is silly really that you can ride a sidewalk but still get there slower than if you had just walked; but it is a lot easier[...] July-17-2007 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=91 How do non-Christians perceive Christians, or more importantly why do they perceive us the way that they do? This is such a huge question in our society. Our culture is driven by what others think or might think of us. One hour spent watching television would tell you that, with the type of marketing that is used to influence us to purchase and use products. So if we can be so driven to drive the next greatest vehicle on the market to impress others with our status and we can be so obsessed with what we are wearing just at[...] July-10-2007 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=90 Bebo Norman's sixth project on Essential Records, Between The Dreaming and the Coming True, introduces an artist that has rediscovered purpose in life. From despair to hope, from depression to happiness, the theme of this record comes directly from where Bebo is living today. In this candid interview, Bebo talks about where he has been and how that life is now behind him. He delves into his writing process and how even that has changed as he discovers joy in relationships and a greater peace in how God fits into an ever changing world. In the end, he shares how[...] June-18-2007 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=44 Words are great things. When reading the Bible, I am continually amazed at how a section that I am very familiar with reveals something new to me. This week I came across the word “obvious” in the book of Galatians. If I were to ask you the meaning of the word “obvious,” most of you would define the word as something that it is simply spoken, in plain sight, easily understood or something that even a fool would see, understand and be able to act upon. However, the point is that for something to be obvious it needs to be devoid[...] June-04-2007 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=88 David and Jonathan are two characters in Scripture that give us a great picture of what true friendship is. Before I go too far I will give you a bit of history. Jonathan was the son of Saul who was the anointed king of Israel at the time and David was the newly anointed king-to-be of Israel. So historically, this is a very unlikely friendship because David has been promised what by rightful inheritance is Jonathan’s. The problem stems from the fact that Saul had decided to go against God’s will, so God sent Samuel (who was a prophet), to[...] May-20-2007 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=87 This last week on the radio I heard a DJ talking about an actor that had passed away over the weekend. He was relaying what people who had known and worked with this man had said about him, pointing to the legacy that he left behind. People had said numerous times that he was nice guy and that he was great to work with. The DJ said that there was nothing but nice things to say about the man. (Of course there was nothing but nice things to say about him, he just died, no one is that cruel!) This got[...] May-13-2007 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=86 I believe in the power of scripture and its ability to lift our spirits, inspire and bring us into the presence of God. This week I want to do something a little bit different. This week I want you to take a moment each day, and with childlike wonder pray, meditate and spend some time with God while prayerfully going through Psalm 136. Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good. His love endures forever. 2 Give thanks to the God of gods. ? His love endures forever. 3 Give thanks to the Lord of lords ? His love endures[...] May-06-2007 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=85 Philippians is one of my favorite books in all of scripture. This week I found myself reading through it again and came across a passage that is worth noting. Philippians 23-5, “Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too. You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.” If we are to make an impact on the world in which we live in, we have to let these words sink in deep within our hearts and[...] April-22-2007 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=84 Happy Easter! I hope that you each had a wonderful weekend celebrating this sacred blessing reflecting on Christ’s gift to us. This week is synonymously associated with Christ’s suffering on the cross for the sins of the world. In keeping with the Easter theme, I want to talk about the word suffering. It is unfortunate, but many people assume that becoming a Christian means that life is supposed to become stress and pain free. However, the Bible does not say anything about our lives becoming that. If you are wanting to read a little bit more and study a small portion[...] April-15-2007 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=83 1 Chronicles 21 is a great chapter of scripture where we see King David make another stupid decision followed by a very smart one. In this chapter he decides to count all of the fighting men in Israel. To do this, scripture says, was a sin. David’s own advisors tell him that this not a good plan but he proceeds with it anyway. Just so we are all on the same page, the reason that this was grievous was because it was an arrogant move on David’s part. The only reason for numbering the men was to pat David on[...] April-08-2007 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=82 Matthew 1422-33 has always been one of my favorite passages of scripture, but this week, I was able to take away a new truth. The passage read 22Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. 23After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, 24but the boat was already a considerable distance[a] from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it. 25During the fourth watch of the[...] April-01-2007 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=81 1 Peter 123-25; “For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God. For, “All men are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of the Lord stands forever.” And this is the word that was preached to you. Spring is such an amazing time. There is a freshness and newness like no other time of year. The air seems to smell sweeter and life just seems to pop up all around us[...] March-18-2007 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=80 I love it when I come across lists in the Bible. Most times they are either lists of what we should seek after and do or they instruct us on what we should stay away from and not do. Whenever you come across a list in scripture take a few minutes or even days to really digest what each word means and what the author is representing with the words chosen within the list. I have found lists in scripture to be some of the most impacting verses because they speak to at least one thing that I am[...] March-11-2007 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=79 What is your word worth? When you say that you will do something or that you will take responsibility for something, what do the people around you think? Have you built a reputation as someone not likely to keep commitments, or have you built a reputation as someone that is rock solid on doing what you said you would do. I love the practicality of the book of James and in chapter 5, verse 12 James lays down a very simple and basic principle that we should all strive to apply to every conversation that we have. Verse 12 says this... “Above all,[...] March-04-2007 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=78 A worship song has recently become popular in our church and its lyrics struck me this week. Many of you have probably sung it in your own services or at the very least heard it. The song is called “Friend of God” and the chorus repeats the declaration “I am a friend of God” over and over in a very exciting and energetic manner. The theme of this song is taken from scripture, in James 221-24, where James writes that Abraham’s belief in God was credited to him as righteousness and that he was called God’s friend. Friendships are built on[...] February-18-2007 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=77 How many of you have ever said something that, upon reflection, found yourself wishing that you had kept your mouth shut? It’s my guess that every single one of us has had a moment like this at least once in our lives. Many times we say the wrong thing at the wrong time with completely innocent intentions. For example, I have a friend that said a phrase on a mission’s trip to Mexico that meant something entirely different than what he thought. On one of the last days of the trip, there was a powerful alter time during an evening service.[...] February-11-2007 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=76 Calling, it is what we do when we want to communicate with someone. It is also how we refer to our individual pursuits in life. Each one of us has been called by Christ to be witnesses to the truth of who he is. Many of us have specific calls on our lives for ministry in Christ Jesus. Paul talks about the spiritual gifts of speaking, evangelizing, healing, pastoral ministry, helpfulness, and several others. In 1 Peter 410-11 he tells us that God has given to each of us from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Notice the words[...] February-04-2007 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=75 What are some things that we often prepare for? There are many things that quickly come to mind to me-–right now I am preparing for another semester of school. We prepare for disasters that may arise depending on where we live. Many in southern California are prepared for the possibility of an earthquake while those living in Florida prepare each year for the possibility of a hurricane. Preparation encompasses almost every part of our lives. We are often preparing for something, even if it is as simple as our next meal. I want to take a look at 1 Peter 113-16[...] January-21-2007 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=74 This week, even though Christmas has passed, I would like to take a new look at a familiar story. Many of you may have read Luke chapter 2 a few weeks ago, but if you are like my family, the tradition of reading the Christmas story stops at verse 20. This year, I read a little bit further and discovered a very cool part of this story that many people probably are not that familiar with. Verses 21-40 tell of Christ’s first trip to the church and his encounter with Simion. Simion was told by the Holy Spirit that he[...] January-14-2007 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=73 Happy New Year. It is amazing to me that the year 2006 has already come and gone, but I am excited to see what’s in store for 2007. This week there are many things that I could talk about regarding the New Year and all that it can represent–the resolutions that we make about the change we would like to see in our lives and the fact that we often see this day as a “wiping clean of the slate”; a way to erase all the ways that we messed up the year before; starting anew with a clean one[...] January-07-2007 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=72 Back in April of 2006, CCM Magazine editor Jay Swartzendruber wrote an editorial about the flood of rock acts hitting stores in 2006. In fact, over 40 rock albums were on the schedule to be released, overshadowing other genres in Christian music and creating a flood of activity and demand for what has quickly become a dominant force in the industry. So it’s certainly no surprise to me that after compiling my fifth annual list of 10 albums I couldn’t put down, 50% of them could be found in this category. 2006 was an incredible year for Christian music. With[...] December-31-2006 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=14 It is amazing how much you can learn about someone simply by the way that they introduce themselves. It seems that no matter what the setting or situation, the same questions are always asked – what do you do, where are you from, and why should I care. Okay, so maybe that last one is something that you may ponder internally, but it is in these brief conversations that we can quicly observe how a person defines themselves. Many are quick to announce their occupation with pride and gusto, while others meekly whisper embarrassedly. Beaming parents are often quick to pull[...] December-10-2006 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=71 Which way is north? The last couple of weeks I have been amazed how easily we get sucked into believing that certain things are permissible and that they really don’t matter because of everyone else is doing it. Our moral compasses are broken, and are in desperate need of repair. The thing that concerns me the most is that the people that I am referring to are Bible believing Christians, who ultimately should know better. What has happened to doing the right thing? In the last two weeks I have been approached about borrowing some of my music so[...] November-19-2006 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=70 This week I heard a wonderful and very simple insight about prayer. In 1 Thessalonians 517 it talks about praying without ceasing and praying continuously. I have often thought about and even explained to students that this verse is not asking us to pray 24 hours a day and seven days week. Some might read these verses, and be confused thinking that this request is an impossible task. But instead it is a commission for us to be constantly aware of what God is doing in our lives. It is being aware of situations that we can take to God[...] November-05-2006 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=69 I want to start out this week by sending my happiest and warmest congratulations to my friends Kevin and Renee on the birth of their first born child, Kennedy. For those of you who have wondered if I was still doing the Basic Eternal devotional, I apologize. Kevin gave me a couple weeks off but I’m back into the full swing of things again and writing each week for NRT. This week, let’s look at 2 Corinthians 10 1-4. This is a powerful section of scripture that is both challenging and engaging. Paul writes to Corinth and tells them that[...] October-29-2006 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=68 Even though I pastor a church and can be found there every Sunday morning for worship at 900 a.m., I have been fortunate to have been able to visit about thirty churches in the hometown of the newspaper I write a religious column for, the Broomfield Enterprise. Once in a while I leave a church saying “Wow!”, and that was what happened a number of years ago when my son Guy and I visited a non-denominational church called Flatirons Community Church in Lafayette, Colorado. Flatirons had a winning formula and when my son and I first started going there, they were[...] October-09-2006 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=38 This week while visiting my second home, Starbucks, I was presented with an example of our human desire to please others two days in a row from the same barista. As many of you may know, Starbucks just recently raised the prices of all of their products. Now for a lot of you I am a fairly boring coffee drinker when it comes to Starbucks and I will only order a tall or grande cup of black coffee nine out of ten times. (I’ll admit to being addicted as well as a purist--the only real coffee is black coffee.)[...] October-01-2006 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=67 This week as I was reading in the book of Acts, I came across a challenging passage that I had not thought about for quite some time. Acts 1710-15 talks about a group of people from Berea that were ministered to by Paul. Verse 11 says this; “Now the Bereans were of more noble character than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.” (NIV) There are two things to note here in Luke’s (the author of Acts) contrasting look at the Bereans and the[...] September-24-2006 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=66 Jonny Lang burst onto the mainstream music scene in 1996 at the age of 15, capturing critical acclaim and immediate attention from fans while shooting to the top of the Billboard New Artist chart. His mature vocals were reminiscent of singers three times his age, tempered by a falsetto unmatched by many. His skills on the guitar had solidified fans in legendary guitarists like Eric Clapton and Jeff Beck as he captured the blues world by storm. And then something happened. After succumbing to the pressures of drugs and alcohol, Jonny Lang had a spiritual transformation, and his life has[...] September-19-2006 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=8 What does it mean to be wholeheartedly committed to something? Let’s suppose that I were to tell someone that I was wholeheartedly committed to Christ and being a Christian. Anyone who heard me say that would expect certain things from me. They would probably expect me to go to church every Sunday and Wednesday for services. They would probably assume that I was faithful with the tithe and probably suppose that I gave above and beyond to missionaries and other special needs. People might even go so far as to think that I read my Bible every day and pray[...] September-17-2006 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=65 Giving your word that you will do something doesn’t hold as much weight as it used to. It used to be that when you gave your word, you lived and died by it. The idea of backing out was not an option. Your word was indicative of who you were and what you were. Today when I hear someone promise that they are going to do something, I hate to say it, but I often find myself a little bit skeptical, that is unless I really know who it is that is doing the promising. The sad truth is[...] September-10-2006 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=64 Greetings, fans of New Release Tuesday! It’s been a while since you’ve heard from me, but I’ve certainly been keeping busy over the last month. First it was a week of “Music in the Rockies” in Estes Park, Colorado, and an opportunity to spend time with some of the biggest names in the Christian Music business. And then it was a trip down to Mason, Texas, to walk my daughter Erin down the aisle. Where’s Mason, you ask? About one hundred miles straight north from San Antonio. It was over one hundred degrees every day, but the church was air conditioned.[...] August-28-2006 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=37 Through a combination of events, I was reminded this week of how vast and different our world is. We easily forget that even within our own area, there are completely different subcultures happening all around us. There are so many lost and broken people out there who just need someone to care. They just need to know that they are loved. Most of us know who can love them more than any human could yet when given an opportunity, we find our tongues. This week I wish that I could say that I loosened up my tongue but I can’t.[...] August-27-2006 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=63 Grammy nominated and GMA Music Award winning band Day of Fire is on a mission to rock the world with their sophomore release, Cut and Move. The album comes from a deeper faith gained from two years of touring and being on the road, bringing the passion and the intensity that has defined Day of Fire to fans around the world. As the band finds themselves in the middle of a thriving and growing ministry, our resident interviewer Angel sits down with lead singer Joshua Brown to talk about what life with Day Of Fire as been like and how[...] August-15-2006 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=23 A recent study released in the August issue of Pediatrics has captured the eye of parents and media around the world. The study has created a firestorm of attention on the topic of how sexual lyrics that are found in the majority of today’s popular music, is influencing the sexual activities of teens. The conclusion of the story, after years of research and debate, concludes that teens whose iPods are full of music with raunchy, sexual lyrics start having sex sooner than those who prefer other songs. In fact, research found that teens who said they listened to[...] August-14-2006 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=24 Questions are a great thing. They are what drive the world to strive for bigger, faster and better. Without them, we are content with where things stand and don’t push ourselves to new discoveries. Think of some of the big questions throughout history; Columbus questioned the world being flat, Martin Luther questioned the Lutheran Church thus starting the Protestant Reformation and I could go on and on with people that asked questions about their world throughout history. The point is, without asking questions we do not learn as much, we fail to see all of the information at hand[...] August-13-2006 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=62 Audio Adrenaline is releasing their final album, Adios The Greatest Hits. It’s always a strange feeling when a band that you grew up on decides to throw in the towel and move on to other things. I vividly remember attending a youth group party at a friend’s house and hearing for the first time “We’re A Band” from Audio A’s debut release. The mix-tape (note tape, not CD) contained other Christian artists, but the energy filled track (not their best work, mind you) stuck with me and I made my very first Christian music purchase the next day. Don’t Censor[...] August-01-2006 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=25 Have you ever wondered where the exact center of the Bible was? I came across this information a few years back and love what it has to teach us. God’s word is so invaluable; there is nothing on this earth that will better equip us for what life will throw at us. Not only is it God’s holy word, but it was written for a purpose. This book is not just a pleasant story or some history book that we can go to for information about the ancient near east. It is a personal transcription that has been carried[...] July-30-2006 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=61 This week I want to look at a man from scripture that doesn’t have a lot of page space dedicated to him, but what little he does have is monumental in its portrayal of his character. This man was a disciple of Christ and was one of the first to be called by Him. Even though this man came from simple means, the Bible indicates that he and his brother were both aware of the coming of the Messiah and were actively looking for him. Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother is the man that I am talking about. His role is[...] July-16-2006 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=60 What makes you different? We all have our own idiosyncrasies that make us, well, us. They are the little things that either draw people to us or push them away. You have all heard it said that you don’t get a second chance to make a first impression, and that is true. We are always sizing people up, taking notice of what they do, say, wear, how they act, walk, dance, talk–you name it. We are constantly taking notice. When people find out that you are a Christian, the magnification gets doubled. They are extremely interested in what we[...] July-09-2006 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=59 A few weeks ago we started our journey into the history of Contemporary Christian Music (CCM) to point out that contrary to what many have believed, CCM started a long time before the arrival of Amy Grant. If you are a first-time reader to my columns, and are curious about the previous two installments, be sure read my other columns. But before we go back to Amy and the late 70’s, I have to admit that I made a mistake in my last column when I stated that the Beatles’ “Let It Be” was an example of one of a[...] June-26-2006 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=36 Why is it that when we are told not to do something that we often find ourselves wanting to do exactly what we were told not to? It is very interesting to me that in our lives (especially our teens and early twenties) we are often given good advice and then say to ourselves, “Oh that sounds nice and all, but I am pretty sure that I know a lot better.” If you are having a hard time remembering a time that you may have been incorrect in your thinking, then just try to think of the last time you[...] June-25-2006 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=58 This week as I am writing from the shores of Silver Lake outside of Spokane and I am truly amazed by the glory of God’s creation. I am surrounded by thousands of little reminders of how great our God is, everything from the trees to offer shade to the warmth of the sun. It is absolutely beautiful here and I can't help but think I am in the presence of one of God's creations. It's a little overwhelming. Creation is such an awesome event and yet it can so easily be taken for granted, and often is. For one, without creation we would[...] June-18-2006 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=57 We’re looking at the emergence of Contemporary Christian Music (CCM), in an effort to get rid of the idea that it was Amy Grant that “started it all.” Amy’s not a kid any more, but she’s not really old enough to have been part of CCM’s early days. I’m also hoping with our journey into the past you learn more about the music that you are listening to these days. CCM has made quite a journey, and as I write that I know full well that the next 20-30 years might be just as traumatic for the business as the[...] June-12-2006 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=35 Have you ever heard how to cook a frog while it’s still alive? (Odd question I know, but stay with me.) It is really quite interesting if you think about it. There is a hard way to do it and an easy way. The harder way is to bring a pot of water to boiling and then take your frog and throw it in. The problem is that the frog will jump and fight its way out of that pot because it is obviously really hot water. The easier way is to take you frog and put him into[...] June-11-2006 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=56 Red's highly anticipated debut release, End of Silence, delivers a powerful sound while tackling real life issues that all of us face. Red hopes their music reaches people in a way that causes them not to feel alone in their struggles. Recently, bass player Randy Armstrong took some time out of his busy schedule to speak with Angel from New Release Tuesday™ about their debut CD, where the band is headed and who they want to impact along the way. The band's lineup includes Michael Barnes (lead vocals), Jasen Rauch (guitar), Randy Armstrong (bass, piano, BGV's), Anthony Armstrong (guitar, BGV's),[...] June-06-2006 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=22 Friendship. What is it? It is something that every person on the planet can relate to. We all want to be liked and to have someone that we can call a friend. Friendship truly is an integral part of our lives. These are the people that we go to when we need to share what we are feeling inside. They are there for us when times are tough and they are there for us in life’s victories. To truly be a friend, we have to look past ourselves and invest in someone else. Our friendships often tell a lot about who[...] May-28-2006 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=55 Even though it’s been only four weeks since my last posting, it seems like it’s been a lot longer than that. My wife and I live in Colorado, and we spent almost two weeks driving back to Ripon, Wisconsin for our son’s college graduation at Ripon College (Never heard of it? Harrison Ford went there. He didn’t graduate. My son Guy did.). For Helene and I, that meant about 2,000 miles of driving. I’m a fan of Christian music, and my wife tends more to The Beatles and Peter, Paul Mary. So we alternated music as we worked our way[...] May-26-2006 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=34 This is Kevin, stepping in for Ryan this week with some thoughts that have been on my mind since preparing the worship service for my local church a couple days ago. As I was thumbing through songs, fully engaged by the task at hand, a phrase came to me that I could not shake. It was another simple reminder of who God created me to be and reinvented the meaning of worship for me all over again. So what’s the phrase? I’ll get to it in a minute.Do you know that God covets our praise? He craves it with[...] May-21-2006 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=54 In the Christian world, we have often heard the word “servant.” But what does this word mean and when applied to our lives, what does it look like? As a child, the word always brought to mind a picture of high society where the servant would follow the master around throughout his day. To me, the idea of a servant was not appealing. I equated myself being a servant to wearing a very uncomfortable stuffy uniform, in which I had to stand perfectly straight while following around my master picking up after his laziness. The idea of just mindlessly[...] May-14-2006 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=53 What does it mean to be poor? Whether you consider yourself to be rich or poor, what do these terms really mean? I would dare say that most people in America would like to have more money, more success and just more things in general. We are essentially raised not to be satisfied with what we have. Think back on this last week and ask yourself if you saw the grass on the other side of the fence and thought that it looked pretty green. Or in other words, have you ever made this statement “if only I had _____.”[...] May-07-2006 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=52 There are a lot of words that are being thrown around these days about Christians. Words like “judgmental” or “intolerant” are becoming the norm in our culture. This idea of being judgmental got me wondering if maybe we are. So I decided to do a little investigative work and found something that I am excited to share with you this week. In Matthew 71-5 we find a passage that many of us have probably heard. People–Christian and non-Christian alike–love to quote the first verse in this passage because they think it gives them a platform to stand on that lets other[...] April-30-2006 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=51 My relationship with New Release Tuesday™ has given me the opportunity (or the excuse?) to meet artists on a very different level than simply hearing them at a concert or reading their bio information on their web site. That was the case when I spent the better part of an hour with Aaron Britton, lead singer and guitar player for the group 519, which he formed about three years ago when he was “between worship gigs.” Aaron Britton, the Worship Leader, is no stranger to me. Back in 2001, he was the Worship Leader at Flatirons Community Church in[...] April-28-2006 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=33 Have you ever felt that you have little to no redeeming qualities, or anything that God could use? We live in a society with high expections. Performance is valued and those that aren’t the best are often left behind. We are taught early on that winning matters. This lesson follows us into adulthood and many times drives us to try to be something we are not. We feel important when we are wanted or when we can bring something to the table, so we try to emulate those who may be more successful than we are. We all have the[...] April-23-2006 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=50 There are so many crazy stories in the Bible that I sometimes forget how awesome they really are. There are people dying and coming back to life, illnesses being healed with a word, natural disasters avoided and prisoners set free, just to name a few. The list goes on forever if you include all of the things never written down as we’re told in John 2125. I am of the opinion that sometimes we strip the awe of these stories and allow our familiarity to become complacency. Our thoughts become, “Oh, that is such a nice story” instead of “CAN YOU[...] April-16-2006 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=49 I have to admit that when New Release Tuesday guru Kevin McNeese told me he was headed to Nashville for GMA Week, Press Credentials in hand, I was pretty jealous. For a couple of reasons. One reason is that Nashville (pictured left) is a really neat city to visit. My wife Helene loves to run the Music City Marathon, and whenever she does it makes for a wonderful “mini vacation” for me. Am I a runner? No way. But the opportunity to be with my wife when she competes is always fulfilling since I get to provide moral support, and it’s[...] April-14-2006 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=32 Anger is a very powerful emotion. It can motivate us to do negative things that we would not normally do, but it can also motivate us to do things that bring about a positive change. Anger can bring us to a crossroads that, depending on the choice we make, can alter the course of not only our life, but also history. For example, being angry with your family might change the way you interact with them. In contrast, Adolf Hitler was angry with the Jews, and as a result, altered history. In Mathew 521-26, Jesus shows us the true nature[...] April-09-2006 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=48 The 2006 GMA Music Awards are now behind us, and even though the show is not scheduled to begin television syndication for a couple weeks, we’ve got the backstage scoop of what happened during the event. From on stage to press conferences with winners and performers, there was certainly a lot of wonderful and memorable moments to share as The Dove Award was handed out in 42 categories. Hosted by Kirk Franklin and Rebecca St. James (pictured left), the biggest night in Gospel Music kicked off with Israel and the New Breed playing a rousing gospel flavored rendition of his popular[...] April-06-2006 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=16 “Just remember, mi casa es su casa. That’s right, I speak Mexican.” -John Morgan, President of the United States, George W. Bush impersonator. “I think it would be fun to share things together. So, like, what’s your biggest sin?” -Pre-show host Kerri Pomarolli to those attending in an effort to help lighten the mood. “Remember, what happens at GMA pre-show, stays at GMA pre-show.” -Pre-show host Kerri Pomarolli closing the pre-show event. “This award is for BoBo, the little bird that lives on this cover.” -Matt of Jars of Clay, accepting the award for Recorded Music Packaging “Bart couldn’t be here due to his[...] April-06-2006 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=17 Last week we looked at 1 Thessalonians 516-17 “Be joyful always, pray continuously.” I posed the question, “how is this possible?” This week, I want to take a closer look at the command to “pray continuously.” You may have asked yourself how such a thing was even possible. Some of you may even be wondering what these two words really mean? After many years of asking these very questions, I have come to believe that prayer is something that can take place every moment of every day, and you don’t have to quit your day job or build a prayer room[...] April-02-2006 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=47 Is there such a thing as a 'power pop punk rock' band? Could you even describe it if there were? Here's a plan forget the labels. Stellar Kart already has. Instead of trying to fit into some preconceived notion of what they are supposed to sound like, Stellar Kart has spent the last year and a half defining, refining, smelting, hacking, merging, polishing, and crafting the twelve songs that comprise their highly anticipated sophomore release, We Can't Stand Sitting Down. A quick listen will convince even the most lead-eared among us that what you are hearing isn't punk rock[...] April-01-2006 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=43 At first, I thought it was just me. Maybe it was just “old age” setting in. Those of you who have been reading my thoughts about Contemporary Christian Music (CCM) over the past couple of months, are aware that I am older than most of the readers of New Release Tuesday. I was impressed that the number of readers of NRT over age 35 was higher than I had ever thought, but I haven’t seen 35 for a long time. Since there are readers out there of NRT that are more mature adults, I have a hunch that some of what[...] March-31-2006 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=31 Be joyful always, pray continually. (1 Thes. 516-17) These five words are very hard to live out and put into practice in our lives. It poses a question many people have asked, “How is this possible? How can I do this or even come close to accomplishing this? It is a totally unrealistic ideal.” There are lots of reasons out there to not be that joyful. All we have to do is turn on the news to get a snapshot of our world. I have had things that caused heartache in my life, as I am sure all of us[...] March-26-2006 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=46 Sin can be a very seductive thing. We like to flirt with it, play with it, try it on but at the same time justify it just enough to distance ourselves from it. The instant gratification of sin is very intoxicating. Unfortunately, we are often blinded to what our sin really costs us. We begin to justify the things we do to make ourselves feel that we really are not that bad. The problem is that we begin to look a lot like some biblical characters that we should not want to emulate–the Pharisees. In chapters 11 and 12 of the[...] March-19-2006 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=45 I’ve never been to the Rock Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, Ohio. But some day, I’d like to make the journey, if for no other reason than to see the city I grew up in until my second year of high school. As well as the Rock Roll Hall of Fame. You see, I have a new incentive to go now that I’ve spent some quality time with one of the Inductees of that institution. His name? Richie Furay. His band’s name? The Buffalo Springfield. And if you’re wondering what the year was when[...] March-17-2006 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=30 Over the years, I have felt truly fortunate to have been to more Christian concerts than I could list. As part of the newspaper columns and magazine features that I’ve written over the years, I’ve had the opportunity to meet many Christian artists. Some famous, some struggling. But all, for the most part, with a sense of where they were (and are) in God’s universe and creation. This eight-day period is turning into one heck of a “concert ride” for me. Earlier this week I took some of my family to the Barlow Girl/Rebecca St. James concert, and this coming Saturday[...] March-06-2006 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=29 Every year, about this time, I get really frustrated. The center of my frustration? The Grammy Awards. I don’t know how many of you watched the gala evening for the entire three hours-plus, hoping to maybe, just maybe, find out who won in the Christian Gospel categories. And if you were very attentive, the winners in each of the eight “Gospel” categories were displayed at the bottom of the television screen in very fine print. The eight “Gospel” categories weren’t the only ones that were slighted, as there were no less than 108 different categories at the 48th Grammy Awards Show.[...] February-17-2006 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=28 Warren Barfield's sophomore album, Reach, is the result of a grueling internal struggle with catastrophic events. Grounded in blue-eyed soul and rich melodicism, it's a 10-song collection of engaging hooks and gripping vocal work that demands involvement from the listener. And the album grows stronger with successive hearings, as the complex emotions in the lyrics become ever clearer. The artist certainly proved to reflect the work as Warren took some time out of his hectic schedule to speak with us about the process, his new album and where he's been hiding out since his debut three years ago. First of[...] February-15-2006 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=21 Maybe at your church you’ve heard “Contemporary Christian Music? That’s 7-11 music. Seven words repeated eleven times!” Or “If it’s not in the hymnal, then it’s not real church music! Period!” Sound familiar? It should, since those words (or something like them) have been exclaimed at thousands of churches for years. Traditional vs. contemporary. Contemporary vs. traditional. And it goes on, and on, and on. I thought it would be appropriate to write my first column for NRT on a surprising revelation on the subject that has become near and dear to me. The subject? Contemporary Christian Music (hereon referred to[...] February-02-2006 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=27 Let’s not beat around the bush. Hip-hop artist and producer Kayne West has major issues, and anyone who continues to buy into his verbal nonsense is helping to grow an empire that deteriorates everything believers stand for. Too harsh? Over dramatic? Take a look at the latest slap in the face to the left. That’s the hero of millions of fans posing as Jesus Christ on the latest cover of Rolling Stone. Bruised chin, bloodied cheek, crown of thorns and all. If you are not instantly offended, something’s not connecting upstairs. As much as I want to, I can’t get too worked[...] January-31-2006 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=26 2005 was an incredible year for music. With one of the heaviest release schedules in recent memory, there was certainly plenty to choose from and the process of selecting my favorite ten posed to be quite the challenge. Some of my picks may be predictable, some may even say “boring,” but when it comes down to it, these are the records that I played most in 2005. Some may engage. Others will entertain. All will satisfy. Enjoy! 1. SWITCHFOOT NOTHING IS SOUND RELEASED 09.13.05 (BEST ALBUM OF 2005) Just when you thought this San Diego alt-rock band[...] December-31-2005 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=13 Every now and then, I have to move away from the subject of Christian music to talk about something else. So to you I say…Happy Christmas! Oh yeah. I said it. The big “C” word. The one that has been around for centuries that is all of a sudden causing such an uproar in our community. In fact, this year, Christian organizations across the nation are so frustrated about Target’s recent decision to ban the word “Merry Christmas” from their in-store promotions and from their advertising in papers, TV, etc., (as well as the recent ban of Salvation Army bell[...] November-26-2005 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=40 Creation West 2005 was the first time I’ve been to a Christian music festival in six years. A lot has changed in the Christian music scene, my involvement with music promotion and my own personal life, so I was excited to go back and experience what was a very memorable event in my past. Now that I have had ample time to reflect on the 4-day event, I’ve come to realize a number of things. First, I’m getting older. It’s evident as I walk around and witness the large amounts of kids and teenagers enjoying the music. To think that I was[...] August-19-2005 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=42 I quit watching Christian videos years ago. I found the production to be a joke, the concepts cliché and the distribution next to non-existent which just frustrated me. However, I recently sat down during my lunch break to watch the X 2005 DVD after it came in the mail. It’s been awhile since I committed my free time to watching Christian videos, so I was genuinely excited to see this collection that included footage from tobyMac, Sanctus Real, Kutless, Falling Up and Seventh Day Slumber to name a few. Halfway through my turkey sandwich with a side of Nacho Cheese[...] June-19-2005 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=41 From R&B’s latest smash single to magazine ads to billboards and Paris Hilton “washing” a Bentley to sell a hamburger, the mainstream media is more saturated with eye candy than ever before. These “creative minds” continue to push the line every year, all while hiding behind the age old mantra that “sex sells.” Frankly, I’m getting fed up with all of it. And as Christians, I see us having three options. Option 1 Lock ourselves in our basements with our home study groups, singing hymns and worship songs at the top of our lungs effectively drowning out the world around us.[...] June-07-2005 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=39 Just a few weeks after the national release of her third studio album, (her first new release in three years) Joy Williams took some time to talk to NewReleaseTuesday.com about the changes that have taken place in her life since we last heard from her. From marriage to greater spiritual realizations that come with a growing maturity, Genesis reflects a life that continues to evolve from the very beginning. For the first time, Joy has penned many of the songs, direct from her journal. The result is a personal and sometimes intimate look at one of Christian music's emerging artists.[...] May-01-2005 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=20 I strongly believe I’m getting harder to impress. Each year, as I comb through the stacks of albums that have been sent my way during the past twelve months, it’s becoming harder and harder to find those albums that have truly struck a chord in my soul. This year, I found myself gravitating away from the major artists whose music is becoming less inspiring and embracing the fresh and innovating sound of new acts. So this year, you’ll see a few familiar faces, but the majority of my picks are from artists who you may have yet to discover. As[...] December-31-2004 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=12 Joshua Brown enjoyed a level of success that most people only dream of. He was formerly the front man for Full Devil Jacket, a mainstream band signed to Island/Def Jam Records, touring with some of the hottest bands in rock music. Joshua indulged in all the excesses of a rock and roll lifestyle, searching for something to comfort the pain inside of him. His dreams of being a rock star were finally coming true, but as his fame increased, so did his drug usage. Finally, after a near-fatal drug overdose, Joshua found the answer that he was searching for. It may[...] November-04-2004 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=19 You're about to spend some quality time catching up with one of the most creative musicians to ever venture outside of Nashville. In one of the most extensive interviews posted on this site, Kevin Max took some time in-between performances of Joseph and The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, in Northern California, to answer questions from New ReleaseTuesday.com's very own Angel (no, not the one with no wings), who was scrambling herself to get prepared for Hurricane Frances on the other side of the states. What emerged between the miles was a lot of great conversation about the new EP along with[...] October-01-2004 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=93 Robert Sweet, drummer for the legendary Christian rock band Stryper, has hooked up with David Pearson and friends to form a hot new rock band called Blissed, and I recently had the pleasure of interviewing both Robert and David for NewReleaseTuesday.com. The lineup includes (see picture...L to R) Jeff Miller (bass and vocals), Robert Sweet (drums), David Pearson (lead vocals and guitar) and Trevor Barr (guitar and vocals). With a new hard-rockin' CD out called Waking Up the Dead, Blissed is hitting the road to do a US tour, and we here at NewReleaseTuesday.com have the latest buzz right from[...] May-11-2004 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=18 In the midst of the recording industry battling double digit decreases, the sheer amount of new music thrust at consumers continued to explode this year. In the past twelve months, NewReleaseTuesday.com has reported on over 350 new releases from the three major distribution companies. I've had the privilege of listening to the majority of these titles, and unlike last year, narrowing the ten best from 2003 was a much harder task. Although there was still a lot of unnecessary stuff to wade through, there were some great albums that rose to the top and if you have yet to listen to[...] December-31-2003 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=11 It's hard to believe that 2002 has come and gone already. When I sat down to compile a year-end list of my favorite albums, I was shocked by how much music barely stayed in my CD player. There were a number of albums that released in the past 12 months, but few captivated and challenged me. There was so much stuff released, that in my opinion, some of the best got literally buried by the litter. 2003 is already shaping up to be a huge year for Christian music as we eagerly anticipate new albums from Steven Curtis Chapman, Jars[...] December-31-2002 http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=10