REVIEW: Jeremy Camp “Beyond Measure” (GT)
Wednesday, January 3rd, 2007 | Source: GrowthTrac.com (16)
There was a time when Jeremy Camp was considered to be on the leading edge of Christian artists who performed rock music. It seems that either many other artists have caught up to him or he has mellowed a bit. Whatever the answer is to that question, there is no denying that he continues to be one of the better songwriters on the music scene. His grainy vocals have always seemed to be half proclamation and one-half petition. With Camp’s most recent CD Beyond Measure the winning combination is still intact. […read more]
When Don Donahue, the president of Rocketown Records, stepped up to the plate in 2006 to sign The Swift to Michael W. Smith’s label, he proved once again that he has a good eye for talent. In October, the band that has toured with the likes of Mercy Me, Kutless and Audio Adrenaline released their debut album for Rocketown Records.
A collection of the best Christmas songs from a selection of artists would be difficult to criticize and Joy To The World “The Ultimate Christmas Collection” is no exception. Bart Millard’s (Mercy Me) splendid vocals introduce us to “God Rest You Merry Gentlemen” the opening track.
I asked Todd Agnew what I thought was an easy question, “Why did you decide you wanted to do a Christmas album at this time in your career?” I wasn’t prepared for his answer, “The weird thing is I didn’t.”
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When Michael W. Smith was introduced to Leeland Mooring, front man for the Texan rock band Leeland, neither of them had any idea how their future friendship would influence two of this year’s most anticipated albums. …Or did they?
It’s no small feat for a self-proclaimed control freak to take her hands off the wheel, detour without a map down a completely foreign road and end up having the time of her life. But singer-songwriter Sara Groves did just that, and it’s all captured in a reality movie titled “Sara Groves: Just Showed Up For My Own Life.”
One of the most recognizable voices in Christian music was also one of the genre’s most eligible bachelors. Mark Schultz had been creating a pretty impressive personal success story with a string of radio hits and best-selling records, and, to a degree, his concentration on music both consumed and fulfilled him. But soon after his dream of having his songs on the radio was realized, Schultz found himself in his 30s, with a longing in his heart for something else. [
How would you like to write a song for your wife, record it, leave it in a conspicuous place for her to find and then get a reaction that is totally contrary to what you expected? Well that is exactly what happened when pop star Mark Schultz wrote the tune “1,000 Miles” for his wife Kate. “My wife makes it so easy for me being married because she is so giving and good to me. I think a lot of people say that their first year was so hard and for me it hasn’t been. What I am trying to do is model the unselfishness that she models. It works so well,” he says. [
We’re all familiar with the almost cliché reinventions of pop artists—pop artists who strip down their music and go the folksy singer/songwriter route in an attempt to “just be real” and “be respected as a true artist.” But when was the last time you heard about a highly respected singer/songwriter who did just the opposite? And is doing it to be authentic, no less! Ladies and gentlemen, Bebo Norman.
When Jars of Clay released its self-titled debut 11 years ago, the rock world took notice. In fact, more than two million people around the globe eventually bought the album. During the decade that followed, many casual observers assumed Jars of Clay’s first record remained its best, while the band’s more attentive fans knew otherwise. Come September 5, both casual observers and fans alike will be in for a surprise. That’s the day Good Monsters (Essential) will be unleashed on an unsuspecting public.
Inspired by the psalmist who describes God’s ongoing work as provoking new beginnings, award-winning singer/songwriter Chris Tomlin releases See The Morning. After 15 years of writing songs for the church, Tomlin’s new 11-track album shows joy remains possible even in the messiness of life. Praise to God is not just for life’s prosperous seasons—it’s a constant way of living with hope. [
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