The release in the States in July 2006 of the ‘Best Of’ compilation ‘Harps On Willows’ by the All Saved Freak Band brought into the spotlight one of the most fascinating - and controversial - aggregations in the whole development of Christian music. The All Saved Freak Band were a pivotal group as the Church sought to come to terms with the ’60s and ’70s musical culture to develop Jesus music. And when Glenn Schwartz joined the band in 1971 they had in their ranks a world famous musician who had been dubbed “the white Hendrix”, had once fronted the hitmaking James Gang and had enjoyed a top 20 US hit with “Are You Ready?” with his group Pacific Gas And Electric. […read more]

Shortly after it was announced earlier this Summer that P.O.D. had been released from their contract with Atlantic Records, Rhino Records announced that they would put out a hits compilation of some of the best tracks the band had recorded during their six-plus-year stint on Atlantic. Greatest Hits: The Atlantic Years is just that — some of the most memorable songs the band has released since their hit making 1999 record The Fundamental Elements of Southtown. With P.O.D.’s eyes set firmly on the future as they prepare for a new record on a new label, Greatest Hits: The Atlantic Years provides a retrospective look at where the band has been. […read more]

After 10+ years with Gotee Records, releasing six full length records, a mildly successful remix album, and a greatest hits record, two-man rap group Grits is poised to release their latest venture, Redemption. After the dual Dichotomy albums, I fully expected Grits to step into some new territory with this next installment, however, what I found with Redemption surprised me. […read more]

Since their inception in 1992 as Magnified Plaid, MxPx members Mike Herrera, Tom Wisneiwski (who joined in 1995), and Yuri Ruley have made a lot of music. They have also gone on to become one of the most successful artists in the history of Christian music, smoothly making the crossover into the mainstream, setting the standard for what punk music is today. While this is quite an accomplishment just for the sheer number of songs that they’ve created, it is more amazing to think of the number of songs that MxPx created for each album, but didn’t release. Most artists prepare an excess of 20 songs per album and then pick the ones that fit the best together for the final product. The remaining songs are called B-sides, and this is what MxPx’s Let’s Rock is all about.  […read more]

Three years ago, Robert Randolph and the Family Band exploded onto the music scene with a squeal of a pedal steel guitar. People have not stopped piling on heaps of praise since they arrived. Since the release of the album, Unclassified, Robert Randolph and his crew have been touring almost non-stop with many well-known secular musicians like Dave Mathews, Counting Crows and Eric Clapton.

It was taken them across America and internationally. These factors led me to several questions I wanted answered when I heard that a new album was released, Colorblind. […read more]