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With other Christian pop artists like Sandi Patti, Amy Grant, and Out of Eden recording whole albums devoted to remaking great old hymns, it was only a matter of time before one of Christian pop’s biggest vocal groups jumped on the bandwagon. Avalon releases Faith: A Hymns Collection, a compilation of ten favorite old-school hymns, two modern worship tracks that are past off as hymns, and one patriotic stand-up-and-salute song. Avalon fans should like this album. Traditionally hymn lovers will have a coronary. Everyone else will leave shrugging their shoulders and asking “so what?” […read more]

OK…its time for Music Education 101. Why do we go to concerts? Answer this one essay question and out comes the answer of why we have “live” albums. This is the question Kutless is trying to answer with their latest album due out December 12. The band offers up their first “live” album with “Live from Portland” and results in a solid yet average effort.

Kutless takes off with a fresh start to the album by opening with Hearts of the Innocent and then stringing that song straight into Treason. The irony of this tie-in alone makes the listener crack a grin. However, the transition is smooth and very well done. It is an example of what concerts should be. Kutless lets their rock chops fly on this album which is also fun and exciting. It is fun to hear the edgier, rougher version of Kutless that doesn’t exist in radio. This edgier version of Kutless is no more apparent than in their 2004 smash, Sea of Faces. The guys create a ramped up rock version of the song from purely a vocal standpoint. Hearing this version resurrects a two and a half year old song and makes it new again. […read more]

When Reunion artist Michael W. Smith burst onto the music scene in 1983, no one could have imagined the road his career would take or the immense success he would experience. Now, twenty-three years later, he is the humble owner of five RIAA-certified platinum albums, fifteen gold albums, thirty-one number one hit singles, over three dozen Dove Awards, nine GRAMMY nominations, and three GRAMMY Awards. Through the course of his career, he has become the founder of several organizations, contributor to over two dozen compilations, author of a number of books, and actor in the Sony Pictures film The Second Chance, which was released earlier this year. But despite his impressive career and busy schedule, Michael W. Smith still presses forward to release his nineteenth album, Stand. […read more]

The guys from Falling Up are back…or, on second thought, maybe they just never left. EXIT>LIGHTS, their third BEC Recordings album, is a remix album of most of Falling Up’s hits from the past 3 years. The album is dramatically different from other Falling Up projects.

Producer, programmer extraordinaire Tedd T. lends a hand to the guys from Falling Up for their first album of remixes. Tedd T., who has worked mainly with pop artists like ZOEGirl, Jump5, Faith Hill, and Jewel, dives deeper into the realm of alternative/metal in collaborating with Falling Up. This project takes great Falling Up songs and offers slightly different versions of some of Christian radio’s big hits. Tedd T. and others (including Thousand Foot Krutch’s Trevor McNevan) offer a decent remix CD but not one that will be in your CD player for years to come. […read more]

This isn’t your mother’s worship album. With driving electric guitar, catchy music and insightful yet repetitive lyrics, Chris Tomlin successfully delivers on his style of praise and worship music. This album should be a hit with Tomlin’s fans, fans of modern praise and worship music and church music leaders, alike.

See the Morning is a reflection on God’s faithfulness to be there for us through all times of our lives (especially during the difficult and dark times). The album also examines the renewal and refreshing that often happens in the morning throughout God’s Word. […read more]

Newsboys is one of those supergroups that have always been associated with the youth group crowd. What few tend to realize as they grow out of that age group, however, is that the Newsboys have often made some fantastic music (”Lost The Plot,” “Let It Go,” “Lord (I Don’t Know),” “Let It Rain,” and “I Surrender All” are just a few that come to mind) that exceeds the boundaries of its original target audience. So this particular reviewer is thrilled that this pop/rock band has returned from their dual-worship album intermission to what they know best. […read more]

Jeremy Camp has gone from new artist to 2-time dove winning male vocalist of the year in the few short years he has been performing.. After the heart-wrenching loss of his wife, Camp thought he would never be able to do music again, but God clearly had other plans. Now, four years since his smash debut Stay, he has been happily remarried, fathered two children, and has made time for a new album as well. Many, including myself, have said that Camp’s sophomore effort Restored was just a continuation of the music featured on his debut. So has Camp stretched his boundaries to break new ground with his latest release Beyond Measure? […read more]

One of Michael W. Smith’s strengths is arguably his lyrics. With Stand he continues to write pointed, poignant lyrics with no apologies. On the more upbeat, “In Silence” he sings, Sometimes we’re loudest when the doors are shut and no one can see our face. But it seems we’re quiet when someone needs a touch of grace. And on the melodic, almost hypnotizing “Grace” he cuts to the heart of Jesus sacrifice compared with our suffering (There have been days when I’ve walked away, too much to carry, nothing left to say. Forgive me Lord when I’m weak and lost, You traded heaven for a wooden cross). […read more]