Beauty Will Rise
by
Steven Curtis By C.E. Moore
GENRE: CCM
LABEL: SPARROW
RELEASE DATE: NOVEMBER 3, 2009
RATING: 5 OUT OF 5
I believe Steven Curtis Chapman’s newest album Beauty Will Rise is going to be absolutely review proof....
Life Is Not a Snapshot
by
Josh By C.E Moore
GENRE: CCM
LABEL: SPARROW RECORDS
RELEASE DATE: SEPTEMBER 8, 2009
RATING: 1 OUT OF 5
Josh Wilson is back with 7 new radio-friendly tunes that is sure to blaze a trail across the saccharine...
Timescape
by
By Megan Renee
GENRE: YOUNG ADULT/FICTION
PUBLISHER: THOMAS NELSON
PUBLICATION DATE: JULY 14, 2009
The adventures of the King family continue in Timescape, the fourth book in the Dreamhouse Kings...
Music Review: Beauty Will Rise | Posted November-09-2009
By C.E. Moore
GENRE: CCM
LABEL: SPARROW
RELEASE DATE: NOVEMBER 3, 2009
RATING: 5 OUT OF 5
I believe Steven Curtis Chapman’s newest album Beauty Will Rise is going to be absolutely review proof. For years I have argued that Speechless was his greatest work and the story behind it makes that hard to argue with. Those songs came from such a deeply contemplative place, nothing could replace that. However, with the recent tragedy that befell the Chapman family, I don’t think Steven could have written a more beautiful, questioning, tear-jerking album if he tried. Years ago, Chapman wrote a song titled “Rubber Meets The Road,” that talks about faith being tested by the fires of life—that faith meeting real life will reveal its mettle. Well, this album is a testament to the fact that Chapman’s faith, despite the longing and questioning and confusion, is a deep and abiding one. Though from a place of intense sorrow and loss, Beauty Will Rise offers a sense of hope amidst the questions that plague us when bad things happen to good people.
“Heaven is the Face” is the album’s opening track and the one you have likely been hearing played at AC radio. You could say that the song is the first of many prayers that Chapman prays throughout the project, beginning with hard questions and ending with expectant peace.
Title track “Beauty Will Rise” follows with a nice pairing of piano and cello, creating a dark and ominous intro before Chapman’s light acoustic strumming and vocals rise to the fore. Chapman sings, “Out of these ashes beauty will rise…” and you can almost envision the artist sitting like Job, covered in sackcloth and ashes, declaring God’s goodness through unimaginable bereavement.
I’m trying to wrap my mind around Chapman’s ability to pen a song like “Our God Is In Control” after everything he and his family have gone, through. But, write it he does. And sing it he does, with the resolute conviction of a man tried by the fires of life. He sings, “This is not where we planned to be/When we started this journey/But this is where we are/And our God is in control/Though this first taste is bitter/There will be sweetness forever/When we finally taste and see/That our God is in control.” How? How can a man sing those words when chaos moves in and takes everything that a person finds precious, leaving them breathless and impoverished? I’m not going to even posit an answer to that question.
If you do not get chocked up over “February 20th,” then I question if you have a heart. I could hardly listen without getting misty eyed. It recounts the story of Chapman’s daughter, Maria Sue wondering if God’s house has lots of rooms and how badly she wants to go there to see Him. All I could ask was, “Would I be able to call God ‘faithful’ if I lost my daughter like Chapman lost his?”
These are but a sampling of the sad and hopeful songs that characterize Steven Curtis Chapman’s newest record. I have not even spoken of the depth of such songs as “God Is It True (Trust Me),” “Jesus Will Meet Me There,” or the magnificent “Spring Is Coming.”
This is easily the saddest album I have ever listened to by a Christian artist. But, it gives language to those thoughts and heartaches that defy description. For anyone who has experienced loss—and that is all of us—Chapman offers not just one song touching on the topic, but an entire album. Both Jesus and Chapman’s little girl seemed to have reached out of heaven and touched each track, leaving their fingerprints.
Beauty Will Rise is a gorgeous tapestry—woven together with threads of indescribable pain, unspeakable joy, deep sorrow, unfathomable anticipation, profound loss, and stunning hope. This is Steven Curtis Chapman’s finest work. There is no returning to the shallow end for the artist. Like hymnist Horatio Spafford penning “It Is Well With My Soul” upon hearing that his four daughters had perished and only his wife had survived, Chapman has looked into the chasm of death, looked up into Heaven’s Face and still declared, “You are faithful.” Beauty Will Rise is a modern day “It Is Well.”
This review has been reprinted on NRT with permission from The Christian Manifesto. Click here to visit TheChristianManifesto.com today!
Music Review: Life Is Not A Snapshot | Posted October-15-2009
By C.E Moore
GENRE: CCM
LABEL: SPARROW RECORDS
RELEASE DATE: SEPTEMBER 8, 2009
RATING: 1 OUT OF 5
Josh Wilson is back with 7 new radio-friendly tunes that is sure to blaze a trail across the saccharine saturated AC charts. His previous effort Trying To Fit The Ocean In A Cup didn’t exactly strike a chord with me. This project is a step down. However, if you like easy-to-swallow, part worship, part pop music, then you’ll find something to love in his second album, Life Is Not A Snapshot.
“Sing” begins the album and it’s pretty straight-forward and straight-laced. Actually, it’s so straight-forward and straight-laced it’s almost offensive. Nothing against the message of “God’s continuing presence and hope,” but if delivery is part of the package, then Josh Wilson’s public is going to be hovering somewhere around 40. (That is a sweeping generalization, of course. They could easily be much older than that.)
“Before The Morning” is the obligatory “God-is-there-even-when-life-is-dark-so-dare-to-believe-it” songs that seem to characterize CCM albums. You know how you’re going through hell and then you hear that song that captures how you feel or gives you hope in the midst of it? This isn’t that song. This is the trite, clichéd version of that song.
Remember Greg Long? He’s part of Avalon now. Before that, he was a solo artist. Decent at times. Not so decent at others. Anyhow, he had a particular sound. “Listen” captures that sound well. Wanna venture a guess as to what the song is all about? That’s right! Listening to the voice of God!
“Do You Want To Know” is a song that would make a great concept video and, subsequently, the only track on the album I liked. Wilson weaves a story about walking past a homeless/downtrodden person, imagining that person’s similarities to the passer-by.
The instrumental “Amazing Grace” ends the album. It’s decent, but the really amazing thing about it is that it ends such a terrible project.
Unfortunately, Life Is Not A Snapshot never rises to the level that so many reviewers seem to think it has. Josh Wilson certainly has a lot of potential, but he’s not saying anything that hasn’t been said before and he certainly hasn’t delivered a form of music that wasn’t conveyed by Michael W. Smith, Greg Long, PFR, and Steven Curtis Chapman in the late 90’s.
This review has been reprinted on NRT with permission from The Christian Manifesto. Click here to visit TheChristianManifesto.com today!
Music Review: Happy Day | Posted October-14-2009
By M. Christian Anders
GENRE: WORSHIP
LABEL: SURVIVOR RECORDS
RELEASE DATE: MARCH 16, 2009
RATING: 2 OUT OF 5
Tim Hughes is one of those perennial worship writers. There is a small class of writers that have multiple songs that everyone in the Church has heard. With “Here I Am To Worship,” “Beautiful One,” and “Happy Day,” Hughes has certainly solidified his reputation for being one of those writers. His newest album Happy Day – Live Worship – London lets the listener hear not only the voice of Hughes, but of thousands others. That being said, I have one rule for live albums, and that is it has to either be better or different than what we’ve heard before. If you’re going to play the same stuff we’ve already heard, then throw in some guest musicians, or a chorus from another song, but please do not just play the same stuff we’ve all heard before. Sadly, Hughes does not follow this simple principal.
For the record, I really like Tim Hughes’ previous albums. It’s because of my enjoyment for those albums that I was disappointed in this one. “Beautiful One,” “God of Justice,” “Happy Day,” “Here I am to Worship,” along with many more were just poor sound quality versions of the originals. The album did not do a good job of letting the listener experience the passion of the room to the point where you feel like you’re missing out on something. Even on a song like “We Won’t Stay Silent,” the original was far better. Granted, it was a part of the phenomenal Compassionart project, and the golden pipes of Steven Curtis Chapman greatly enhanced the original; but that’s the bar “Happy Day” tracks failed to live up to.
Even new songs “Dance” and “Remember” contributed to the disappointment of this album. Neither sounded better or different than anything else. “Dance” was a silly upbeat song with a very awkward rap in the middle. “Remember,” while having a great message, just dragged on for 4 minutes.
On a positive note, “Jesus Saves” is a new song that is vintage Hughes. I believe it’s only a matter of time before it becomes a favorite of your local contemporary church service. “Give Us Your Courage” is also catchy song that translated well on the album.
Overall, while Hughes is a tremendous writer and worship leader, this album had no pizzazz. This album had huge potential, but all I got out of it was, two standout tracks and an uncontrollable urge to speak with an English accent for the rest of the day.
This review has been reprinted on NRT with permission from The Christian Manifesto. Click here to visit TheChristianManifesto.com today!
Music Review: Ending Is Beginning | Posted October-14-2009
By Thomas Jenkins
GENRE: ALTERNATIVE/POP
LABEL: CENTRICITY
RELEASE DATE: SEPTEMBER 23, 2008
RATING: 3.5 OUT OF 5
When I first heard of Downhere, and their current album, Ending is Beginning, I assumed that this album was their debut. I was wrong. Similar to several other bands in the Christian music scene, Downhere had led a musical career of several years before they were able to strike gold with a hit CHR single. Prior to Ending is Beginning, Downhere had released four studio albums, in a period of six years. The long period of relative obscurity paid off however, and in September of 2008, they released their fifth, and widely considered best to date album, Ending is Beginning.
The album starts off with a solid almost worshipful track, “Bleed For This Love”. The next track we’ve all heard before, “Here I Am”. The song is based off of Isaiah 6:8, with the worshipful chorus, Here I am, Lord send me, somehow my story is part of your plan, fitting quite well, and avoids being too cliche. Although it’s plainly tailored all too well for radio, it’s a pleasing listen, and nothing is harmed when the bridge takes a Copeland-ish feel on the vocals. After another solid track, “Cathedral Made of People” follows one of the highlights of the album, “My Last Amen”. Starting off with an edgy piano intro, and continuing that piano throughout the song, it takes a Queen feel, and is quite enjoyable. When I first heard this track, its edginess put me off a little, and until I heard it again, I didn’t think much of the song, or the band as a whole. Here however, Downhere shows a keen willingness to venture out into new territory, something that sadly isn’t seen enough in the music industry.
Sadly though, they don’t manage to avoid all of the pitfalls of most modern music. Some of the songs toward the end seem to blend together, and there’s a noticeable difference in quality between the first half of the album and the second half. For example, “All at War”, and “The Beggar who Gives Alms” seem a little too familiar, albeit there’s nothing inherently wrong with the two tracks. Overall though, these problems are slight, and there’s definitely more good than bad here.
Downhere has done something many have tried and failed to do; they’ve created a solid mainstream pop album with lasting appeal. Not meaning to rant about the industry, but sadly, many Christian bands have been satisfied with popular music and little to no musical talent. Downhere has and venture out here. managed to break the mold . While a little more artistry would have been nice, songs like “Bleed For This Love” and “My Last Amen” are a solid example of this band’s great potential. So while they still may be working a few kinks out, Downhere is definitely here to stay.
This review has been reprinted on NRT with permission from The Christian Manifesto. Click here to visit TheChristianManifesto.com today!
Book Review: Timescape | Posted October-14-2009
By Megan Renee
GENRE: YOUNG ADULT/FICTION
PUBLISHER: THOMAS NELSON
PUBLICATION DATE: JULY 14, 2009
The adventures of the King family continue in Timescape, the fourth book in the Dreamhouse Kings series. The King family consists of father Ed, mother Gertrude, sons Xander and David, and daughter Toria. They live in a very mysterious house, which gives the family more than they bargained for.
Timescape starts where Gatekeepers left off. Ed, Xander, David and Keal have journeyed in one of the portals. Inside this portal is a place like the world that they live in but extremely different. In this world are mutant creatures eager to destroy the Kings and Keal. As they hide from danger, they realize that this will be the world if Taksidian was allowed to gain control of the house and, more importantly, its portals.
The mysterious and very large stranger Taksidian follows the family around, even sneaking into the King’s house at times. Xander comes up with the idea to follow him around, tracking his movements. The family is weary of all the adventure that continues to follow them within the house and sometimes outside of the house. It seems they never have time to breathe, much less think. So reluctantly, David and Ed agree to Xander’s idea. But will it bring the answers they seek or more danger?
In the previous book, Gatekeepers, the characters of Jesse and Keal were introduced. In Timescape, readers get to know the characters a little better.
Timescape is another successful book in Robert Liparulo’s Dreamhouse Kings series. With every book, we grow closer to finding out where mother Gertrude has been taken and how the Kings will get her back. Throughout each journey, they learn more about the portals and stories within the portal.
After Timescape, Robert Liparulo will end the series with two more books. Whirlwind (coming out in December 2009) and Frenzy (coming out in April 2010). Fans have two more books to enjoy the journey into the worlds of the King family.
Just as a warning, do not read the books out of order. The warning appears at the beginning of Timescape. These are not books that can be read as stand-alone novels. The series is deeply connected. Robert Liparulo does not feature a summary of what previously took place in the series.
Despite being a set of young adult novels, the Dreamhouse Kings series is great for all ages. A well written series that transcends ages and keeps riveting after the last page.
This review has been reprinted on NRT with permission from The Christian Manifesto. Click here to visit TheChristianManifesto.com today!
Johnny Diaz’s “More Beautiful You" Review | Posted June-24-2009
By Lydia Akinola
If I were the gambling type, I’d put my money on Jonny Diaz at least getting a nod for next year’s ‘Artist of the Year’. And if my blood sugar levels were compliant, I might also say he’s the sure winner. But let me not jinx anything.
Artistically similar to Brandon Heath, Jason Mraz and Bebo Norman, Diaz decided to follow God’s voice and pursue a career in music rather than a life in professional baseball. As always, God knows what He’s doing. With his easy pop style, Diaz is set to be a household name. Armed with a guitar and a clear message, his music is easily identifiable as that “safe” genre ‘acoustic pop’. But, at least, it is stellar acoustic pop, this time.
The opening and title track “More Beautiful You” is a message to young girls, reminding them that ‘You were made to fill a purpose that only you could do, So there could never be a more beautiful you’. It is not a new idea, but it is a truth that needs to be heard, and Jonny Diaz offers a fresh take that is both touching and catchy. So turn around you’re not too far, To back away be who you are, To change your path go another way’. Young women everywhere, listen and be encouraged. Whilst society may make us feel otherwise, “More Beautiful You” serves as a clear reminder that God ‘will take your dark distorted view, And with His light He will show you truth.’
“Soon Will Fade,” upbeat and peppy, is anti-materialism and recognizes that everything in this world is temporal. “Love Like You Loved” with its slight reggae touch, reminds us to follow Christ’s example, loving and serving others. Also the noteworthy “Waiting Room” declares that ‘When that miracle comes cause Your answer is yes, I will praise you for all of my days, But when Your wisdom declares that a no is best, I will praise You just the same.’ Jonny Diaz delivers his own offering on some trials of faith and manages to avoid major pitfalls that are found in sugar-coated pop served without substance. This is likely to endear him to a mass market of Christian families, eager to find easy listening, but wanting something with at least a semblance of meaning. Diaz gets tops marks for both.
The bonus track “The Opening Act” gives us a glimpse of a relaxed Diaz, doing what he does best, on his guitar. It is funny, a little cheeky and rather pointless, but it does serve to show Jonny’s individual talent and quirky style. It would be good to see more of this originality, as whilst More Beautiful You is solid, it does like individuality, and struggles to be distinctive at times. Although there are almost no flaws in the whole album, I would love to see a little more creativity and flair. “The Opening Act” reveals what Jonny Diaz is capable of.
Jonny Diaz has a talent for songwriting, and he tackles relevant and prominent issues in an even-handed way, whilst successfully keeping everything in 4 minutes or under. Radio friendly tracks are not exactly to everybody’s liking, but these, I feel, are accessible to all. If you like this album, you’ll love it; however if ‘acoustic pop’ is not your thing, stay well away. More Beautiful You may not be the most ground-breaking of albums, but it is infectious, honest and extremely well done. As for myself, I can’t wait to see what Jonny Diaz offers next.
This review has been reprinted on NRT with permission from The Christian Manifesto. Click here to visit TheChristianManifesto.com today!
Red's "Innocence & Instinct": A Review | Posted February-10-2009
by Kyle A. Kiekintveld
“Innocence & Instinct” is an album that would be very hard to improve upon. It has guitar riffs that any rock fan would love, loud lyrics that remain approachable and a fair amount of originality. The content of this album is strong. While it is not the most overtly Christian album ever, it has its moments.
This album deserves to stand with the better Hard Rock albums, secular or not. It is a good mix between hard tracks and mellow tracks, while never moving away from the bands obvious strengths. Strong lyrics, great loud and bold instrumental work with a dash of softer emotion.
The album has a cover of Duran Duran’s “Ordinary World” that quickly became my favorite track on the album. I am not a huge Duran Duran fan, and am often against putting covers on albums (unless they are live albums), but this cover blows the original out of the water. It is simply a stunning cover of an amazing song.
“Death of Me” is one of the hardest cuts in the album. The song centers around inner demons, but being one of, if not the hardest song on the album it is still approachable. The lyrics are well crafted. The guitar riffs are fresh and vivid. The bass on the track is deep and rumbling.
Author’s Note: This is another album I really want to give a five. It is really hard to not give it a five. Perhaps the only thing that holds me back is the question of will I listen to it with the same frequency in a month? In two months? It is a GREAT album. If you like Hard Rock this is one of the better albums I have listened to in a VERY long time.
This review has been reprinted on NRT with permission from The Christian Manifesto. Click here to visit TheChristianManifesto.com today!
The Fray's "The Fray": A Review | Posted February-03-2009
by C.E. Moore
People who are genetically predisposed towards hating the kind of music that The Fray puts out may wonder why I am giving their sophomore album, “The Fray” such a high rating. What is more, long time fans of the band who cringe at the slightest tweak of the band’s signature sound may wonder the same thing. That is all well and good. To tell the truth, I am the one person on the planet who hadn’t heard about The Fray until a few weeks ago when I received a press release detailing their simultaneous release on a mainstream and Christian music label. I kid you not. I’ve been laughed at a lot these last few weeks.
Anyhow, if The Fray’s self-titled sophomore effort is any indication of their previous work (which I did not listen to, so as to keep my opinion bias-free), then I imagine it must have been a sound to behold. “The Fray” is just an amazing piece of music. I mean, I really cannot get over how much I like this band. I don’t know if they would consider themselves a Christian band in the narrow, classic sense of the word, but I wish more Christian bands could hone their craft to sound like this and mine life for the depth of lyricism that is found here.
But, before I talk about the songs, I want to make mention of the album’s packaging. I know paper CD slipcases are nothing new, but The Fray’s looks really nice. As the economy slows to a crawl, paper packaging is both fiscally and environmentally responsible. Artistically speaking, the neon lights motif is utilized very well. The liner notes features a picture of a different neon sign on each page that denotes the song’s title. The theme is executed well and provides the listener with a visual companion to deepen any contemplation that might take place along the way.
A top-notch piano line begins “Syndicate,” before guitars rise to the fore and frontman Isaac Slade steps up to the microphone. His voice is as big as the music behind it, but Slade never overpowers nor does he lost in the…well, fray. “Absolute” is a robust number that vascillates between hard and fast and light and thoughtful. Slade has noted that this song “could very well be inspired by the risk of long distance relationships,” as each of the band members is now married and spends a significant amount of time away from their significant other due to life on the road. “You Found Me” has been making the rounds on Christian radio since early January and is a song rich with pain and insight. Slade sings, “Lost and insecure, You found me, You found me/Lying on the floor, surrounded, surrounded/Why’d You have to wait, where were You, where were You/Just a little late, You found me, You found me…” Coming out of a tough time in Slade’s life (that continues even now), this is ultimately a song about the demands upon one’s faith to keep believing. “Never Say Never” is a song about a tumultuous relationship that breaks apart only to come back together again. Wash, rinse, repeat. We all know of relationships like this, and the lyrics here are raw while being intensely accessible. “Ungodly Hour” is…beautiful. Slade lightly sings, “Don’t talk, don’t say a thing/Cause your eyes they tell me more than your words/Don’t go, don’t leave me now/Cause they say the best way out is through…” This one strikes between the eyes for me, someone who has faced abandonment when fighting for the relationship was all that I wanted to do. I’ve had this one on repeat for the better part of the afternoon. The album closes out with “Happiness” and this is paradoxical poetry that will have the listener pondering what moved Slade to pen the lyrics. Happiness damn near destroys you? What does that mean? Is this song about true happiness, the unending pursuit of something beyond our grasp, or the flitting away of the happiness we already have in the quest for a form of happiness that doesn’t even exist?
But, I need to be a critic for a moment, right? So, allow me a moment to lodge a complaint in the slightest form. The only grievance I might have with “The Fray” is that the band’s sound can be a bit repetitive. The lyrics are the saving grave in those moments, but it might grate some people the wrong way. I, for one, wish the album were a bit longer to remedy this situation.
That being said, this album is flat-out amazing. If you like the sound of piano-driven rock music, pick this one up.
By the way, I just downloaded The Fray’s entire discography…
This review has been reprinted on NRT with permission from The Christian Manifesto. Click here to visit TheChristianManifesto.com today!
Julian Drive's "My Coming Day": A Review | Posted January-08-2009
by Kyle A. Kiekintveld
"My Coming Day" is a well put together album. It is hardly an overwhelming failure on any count other than execution. The target demographic seems to be a relatively young audience. The album is more aimed at commercial success than depth or emotional investment. If you are looking for an album with some heart to it, then simply stop reading now.
The album does not fail in production. It sounds solid. Nearly every cut is ready and worthy for radio play. It would be a struggle to credit the production for any failures in this album. Each instrument is perfectly placed. The instruments and voice match power in a perfect utilitarian dance.
"One Step Away", is the worse song in the album. It has a wonderfully mellow sound to it, yet the lyrics aren't strong enough to match the mellow instrumental backing. The title is a bit cliched but the lyrics pull out all the stops. The instrumental backing of this song is wonderful, yet the cliches are too continuous to ignore.
The best song in the album is hands down "The Reason", which is all around is strong, and has had fairly decent radio airplay. It is not ground breaking in lyrics or emotional depth, but it comes off as fair more heartfelt than most of the content of this album. I would highly recommend downloading the track.
This album isn't filled with horrible music by any stretch of the imagination. It all sounds crisp and very professionally done. Yet I am left with more questions than answers. What is the target demographic? Does this album even have a theme? The album seems like a collection of disjointed pop cuts with vaguely Christian overtones.
Author's Note: I question the purpose of this album, and the motivation behind the album. It isn't bad on grounds of the music. Yet it doesn't have much depth. I feel like with the growing 'Christian Entertainment' market, this album is an attempt to achieve commercial success. None of the songs are deeply religious. The album just feels disingenuous.
This review has been reprinted on NRT with permission from The Christian Manifesto. Click here to visit TheChristianManifesto.com today!
Mark White Band's "Now & Forever": A Review | Posted November-25-2008
by C.E. Moore
You’ve likely never heard of the Mark White Band. Consider this your official introduction. A modern worship act from Detroit, trust me when I say that their material is right up there with Starfield, David Crowder, Chris Tomlin, and Charlie Hall. One listen to their debut album “Now & Forever” and you will likely be convinced of the same thing. With the right exposure, these guys are on the brink of making a big splash.
Offering up 11 original worship songs, the quality is a rarity from a small time, local outfit. But, it seems like the Mark White Band is dedicated not only to glorifying God through their words, but also through the quality of their musicianship and production.
“Glory” kicks things off and is a high-energy praise song. It really starts things out on a right note. Actually, after hearing the track once, I put it on repeat for the rest of the day before moving on to the rest of the album to review. It’s just an amazing number and needs to be heard to full understand what I’m getting at. “Forevermore” is more of a Starfield-influenced number—one part praise, one part all-out rocker. It’s not as palpable as the first track, but it should get people on their feet and dancing. “Priest & the Lamb” is a piano-infused piece where Mark White’s vocals really shine. Mark Labelle’s work on the keys are particularly impressive, accompanying White’s voice perfectly. “Moment” is a quiet, acoustic ballad that is both worshipful and contemplative. However, “God of Ages,” in my humble opinion, is the best track on the entire album. It’s a mid-tempo rocker that could easily get the group recognized if it hits AC radio. It’s not the strongest song lyrically, but it is catchy and well-delivered. “Hallelujah” is another light, piano-driven ballad. Title track “Now & Forever” starts out sounding a bit like Coldplay with its synth-pop vibe, but soon takes off into a crashing din of loud praise.
The album is not without its drawbacks, though. “Another Breath” is fun, but a little bit cheesy. It strikes me as more of a middle school or high school number. Better yet, it’d be good for the Christian camp scene.
In a market that is being inundated with more and more worship acts every year, the Mark White Band is a welcome voice that stands head and shoulders above the rest. I cannot stress how good I think this group is. If “Now & Forever” were the only album they ever released, the world would be a darker place for it. The church needs to always be creating fresh art, new expressions of praise to the Creator. The Mark White Band has taken that call seriously and crafted a wonderful piece of art to be enjoyed and engaged by the listener—and accepted as praise by God.
This review has been reprinted on NRT with permission from The Christian Manifesto. Click here to visit TheChristianManifesto.com today!
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