MxPx, Relient K, Thousand Foot
Krutch, Stacie Orrico, Jars of Clay
Check out what we; and others, think about new releases in Christian music!
- Looking for something to put in that will accompany you as you worship God? Look here!
- Looking for an alternative for
Limp Bizkit, Eminem, Blink 182? Look here!
- See who our favorite
bands/artists are and our favorite songs as well!
MxPx – Before Everything and After
– Punk/Pop – By Danielle
Before Everything and After stormed the stores on September 16th,
and MxPx has appeared in several magazines as a result of their new album as
well. The songs are all written and played by them as always, but this time
they have a new producer. I would have to say that the new producer has
definitely changed some things around. The lyrics are like you remember; about
heartbreaks and girls, but the sound is a lot different. Where-as all of the
old songs had a similar tone to each other – a definite “MxPx” sound, the new
songs have more pop influence in them and each song is unique. Although the
sound is not the same, it will catch the ears of new listeners but won’t
completely disappoint the long-time fans. Overall it is an awesome album from a
fan’s point of view, and I know that new listeners will like it as well. You
won’t be disappointed with 15 tracks and the enhanced part of the CD. I highly
recommend this to Good-Charlotte and Blink182 fans or someone who is just
getting into the “punk-pop” sound.
Relient K – Two Lefts Don’t Make a
Right but Three Do – Punk/Pop – By Rosie
Since I don't want to waste anyone's time, here's the short version of
my review: Take Two Lefts and a Right to your nearest music store and buy this
CD while it's still on the shelves. Buy all four covers, and if you don't want
to keep all four then give one to your mom, one to your mail man, and one to
your science teacher. Or, keep all four and play them simultaneously on every
audio device you own, cranked to the highest decibel level possible. (I dare
you to take a copy to your nearest library, put it in the computer, and
"accidentally" forget to turn the volume down on the speakers...)
You get the point by now. I love this CD. Almost as much as I love the 80s (you'll get the joke after you buy the CD). By far Relient K's finest, catchiest, grooviest album of their still-evolving career. I'd give it five stars under normal circumstances, but all the stars in the sky would hardly be enough for this CD. (I have to be pretty impressed by a CD to say that, and no I'm not being paid. I'm not even on RK's street team or in their fans and air conditioners club.)
Thousand Foot Krutch – Phenomenon
– Rock/Hip-Hop hybrid – By Danielle
In an interview with TFK, the lead singer admitted that some of the
stuff from the old album was almost 7 years old! This is a breath of fresh air
and long anticipated album for fans of TFK. At Festival Con Dios, I got to talk
to one of the guys and found out that the lead singer of TFK; “lipsick”, is
also the lead singer for a semi-new band called “FM Static” from Toronto
Canada. Phenomenon has really made a big bang, and has gotten new fans from all
over the world. TFK is touring heavily all over the united states as of March,
and will probably be coming to a city near you. If you haven’t checked them or
the new album out yet then you really should. With its moving lyrics and
awesome hip hop/rock hybrid sound, I am sure any fan of Limp Bizkit will enjoy
it as much as I do. I play Phenomenon a lot, and their sound and lyric writing
abilities have defiantly evolved over the years, and it is probably the best
new album of 2003.
Overall this album is a must-have for fans of TFK or just rock in
general, and fans of Limp Bizkit who are looking for an alternative.
Stacie Orrico – Say it Again – Pop
– By Amy
I was so excited about getting the new Stacie Orrico CD. However, this
long-anticipated follow-up to Genuine disappointed me… at first.
The first cut, “Stuck”, has been playing on the secular market, and I
can see why. In this track Stacie agonizes over lost love… a far cry from
“Everything”. Instead of the hope she had in “Everything” about her future
husband, she agonizes over the boy she loves who “I be wishin’ you would call
me on the telephone, say you want me back, but you never do.” Pitiful if you
ask me. Sure it’s catchy. In fact, if this song was on Michelle Branch’s CD
instead of Stacie Orrico’s, I would like it more. But the fact that it comes
from a Christian who believes in a Bible that clearly states “love never fails”
makes the song less appealing. I read that Stacie said she wrote this song to
help girls who struggle this kind of thing. Yet there is no solution in the
song.
The next song “(There’s Gotta Be) More To Life” poses a great question:
“There’s gotta be more to life than chasing down every temporary high to
satisfy me.” Yet once again, the answer is not provided in the song. Again,
this is bothersome to see from someone who knows Christ. Maybe Stacie planned
to show the answer through songs like “Security”, “Hesitation”, and “Strong Enough”.
“I Promise” is a great song about being there for your friends, perfect
for graduations and talent shows. “Instead” carries a great message, but I
didn’t care for the style of the music at all. “Strong Enough” is definitely
the best song on the album, and one of the very few songs that stand out on
this album.
“Maybe I Won’t Look Back” starts off “I dreamed I got a call from a
friend last night, while the very next song, “Tight”, begins “I dreamed I was
going down to Puerto Rico.” Um… a little short on ideas aren’t we? Speaking of
“Tight”, I have never seen a song where the verses were so unrelated with each
other. In the first verse, it talks about spending time alone with God, getting
away from a crazy life. However, by the last verse it sounds like Stacie’s
having a party: “We came here so we could rock the house, blow it up and turn
it out, make you dance… party up and we be puttin’ it down… Stacie Joy Orrico
came to rock the house.”
This album displays Stacie’s new
urban sound that may not appeal to all old fans. “All of my influences are very
soulful musicians…” Stacie told CCM, “… I wanted to explore that
direction more.” In my opinion, Genuine had a lot more soul. If you’re a Stacie
fan, you may want to listen to a demo before you buy it. However, it may take a
while to like. When I originally wrote this review, I gave the album a C+. Now,
I would bump it up to a B. The more I listened to the CD, even “Stuck” grew on
me. However, this album is not as good as the last one thanks to Stacie’s new
vocabulary that sounds like she’s trying too hard to be hip (trippin’, rock the
house, ain’t, keep my cool, know the deal, step to you, etc.) and poor
songwriting on some of the songs. All in all, it’s a fairly good album, but if
you only have money for one album, buy the new Jars Of Clay album and wait for
Stacie to go on sale.
Jars of Clay – by Danielle
I have only heard some of the new album by Jars of Clay, but from what I heard… I am greatly disappointed. Almost all of the songs are slow-paced and don’t sound like the Jars of Clay some have come to love. Powerful lyrics decorate some of the songs, but in others they are typical lyrics of a band that is slowly running out of things to write about. I think that this album was a “Saving” album. You know, an album that a band has to get out before everyone thinks that they have gone extinct. Let’s hope that this doesn’t happen to DC Talk…
For the Rock Fans
If you’re into rock music or just
a slightly harder tone then you will like Sonicflood or Delerious? Both have
awesome songs on their CDs and make the older worship songs sound fresh.
Contemporary
If you like lighter tones you may
want to check out one of Michael W. Smith’s worship albums. They are the songs
you hear almost all the time and get can
Old after a while but they are
God-worshiping passionate songs for sure. (I don’t recommend the orange album…
I haven’t heard the blue one)
Vinyard - also has a lot of
varieties of songs you may not have heard before.
Twila Paris - has a lot of worship
albums for the hymn-lovers. Her songs are easy to learn and you may already
know them all!
“I could sing of your live
forever” whether its any of the versions has lots of songs you may know and
love.
Alternative for Limp Bizkit –
Thousand Foot Krutch
These guys have an awesome sound
of rock and hard rock mixed in with hip-hop. Clean, God-honoring lyrics, are played
by guys that are on fire for God.
They have a new album that came
out on September 30th, this album is a must – have.
Alternative for Eminem – KJ-52
KJ-52 (kay,-jay five, two) is a man that is totally devoted
to God. His sound is almost exact to that of popular secular artist “Eminem”.
His song “Dear Slim”
Is a song that he wrote FOR
Eminem, it’s touching and will make you think differently about Eminem.
Alternatives for Blink 182 – MxPx
or Relient K
MxPx and Relient K both have new albums. MxPx has more songs about girls, and heart breaks, while Relient K has a different tone on odd and end topics such as college and the 80’s. MxPx sounds more like Blink 182 and Good Charlotte. While you may like Relient K’s lyrics better. It just depends on your taste.
Alternative for Brittany Spears –
Stacie Orrico
Stacie’s sound is pop/urban and has some very good lyrics, but also has some questionable ones to conservative people. Her new album wasn’t as good as her first but to a lot of artists this happens a lot.
Alternative for Christian Aguilera
– Rachel Lampa
Rachel’s sound has definitely evolved over the few years she has been around. She is definitely more into the new age pop sound.
Alternative for Saliva – Dead
Poetic
This is definitely hardcore/punk if I’ve ever heard it.
Alternative for N*Sync – Plus One
What can I say? It’s a boy band alright…
Alternative for 98 degrees – True
Vibe
The band was started by a former 98o member who didn’t like where the band was going who left and started True Vibe. The music sounds almost identical but the lyrics are 100% different.
Alternative for Avril Lavigne –
Paige
Completely awesome woman of God, writes her own music and lyrics and even writes for other artists as well.
More alternative/rock/hip-hop bands
that are completely awesome include: Switchfoot, Kutless, 12 Stones, Lifehouse,
Sanctus Real, 38th Parallel, Project86, Slick Shoes, ApologetiX,
John Ruben, Ghoti Hook, Pillar
More pop alternatives are:
superchic[k], Audio Adrenaline, Newsboys, Joy Williams
1) Grace and Love – Kutless
2) I’m Not Cool – Scott Krippayne
3) Cartoon Song – Chris Rice
4) Vow – Kutless
5) I’ll fly away
6) Jesus Freak – DC Talk
7) Big House
8) Undeniably You – Avalon
9) I Can Only Imagine – Mercy Me
does a good version, but I also think Rebecca St. James did a good job.
10) Our God is an Awesome God
(These aren’t in any order, but
these are my favorites)
1) Buildings Tumble – MxPx
2) Sadie Hawkins Dance – Relient K
3) Well Adjusted – MxPx
4) Here I am to worship
5) Falling Even More in Love with You – Lifehouse
6) Superfan – Fanmail
7) Waldorf Worldwide – Good Charlotte
8) Run – Kutless
9) College Kids – Relient K
10) Breaking the Habit – Linkin Park