Editorial Review

The churchy organ that opens and closes Jonny Lang's fifth album reveals its direction. After 2003's Read more

Subjects:  1. Alternative CCM    2. Blues-Rock    3. CCM    4. Christian Rock    5. Contemporary Blues    6. Contemporary Gospel    7. Guitar Virtuoso    8. Pop    9. Rock    10. Rock/Pop   

Reviews (18)

Unbelievable!Skillet learned to deliver!
Honestly I was never a hardcore fan of Skillet back in the days of their pseudo-industrial sound.I liked it and all and I bought the albums, but the songs were...well, not that well written musically.I wanted to love them, but just couldn't.Collide started to get me back into them, but THIS album really floored me.I haven't heard this many amazing tunes on one album in a long time...by ANYONE.And I haven't had an album that I don't skip songs on for even longer.I'll admit that they have gone a little bit toward the "formula" radio-star style sound, but these songs have emotion, great lyrics, great messages, excellent production, perfect musicianship, and fantastic musicallity."Rebirthing" has a downright surprising chord progression.I thought it would be just the basic hard rock form, but the changes set it far apart."The Last Night" is amazingly musically formed and though a bit too emo for my tastes is still irresistable and on my favorites list.Other songs range from hard rock to a neo-pop/punk/emo sound.It IS very emotional, but not to the rediculous level that you get with real emo bands.... thank God.
Skillet's best yet...?
Comatose, the latest album from Skillet, is described by the band as a different sound than previous works from this foursome--and Comatose doesn't disappoint.
The bar has been raised!!
After sampling this new cd I want out and purchased a copy.I was taken back by the depth and the quality of this new release. How many cd's do you have that you can press play and not skip a track? I have heard there music before and could take or leave them. There is a substantial change in there music from the previous releases. So far the best album, I've heard this year!! No longer are Christian musicians relegated to the back seat, or a sub genere, the quality of recent christian artists (last 5 to 10 years) is unmatched. While secular music stumbles along with there falling sales,lack of talent and originality, Christian music has exploded. The quality of bands like Demon Hunter,Disciple,Red and many other Christian bands should be given heavy rotation on radio but are not. The talent coming from these artists is awesome. Wow have we come along way! 15-20 years ago we never had such a selection of music and artists.......enough lamenting......My prediction album of the year.....we will see! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Alternative CCM    2. Christian Rock    3. Pop    4. Rock    5. Rock/Pop    6. United States of America   

Editorial Review

It's no secret that life's darkest moments often place us face-to-face with whatever, or wherever, we've placed our faith. That is the emotional climate listeners will find themselves in with Third Day's Read more

Reviews (35)

Greatest Third Day CD yet!!! Period.
Third Day really did a good job with their new CD "Wherever You Are." This album truly brings worship to a new level. With smash hits like "Carry My Cross" and "Wherever You Are" Third Day truly deserves 5 stars. Anybody looking for a great worship CD should buy this one.

Good, but not great
I've been a Third Day fan ever since seeing them on the Time tour back in 2000.Wherever You Are is good sonically, but it's not on par with Time or Conspiracy #5.Mark Lee, Tai Anderson, and Brad Avery are as tight as they ever have been, and it's nice to hear them crank it up to 11 occasionally on this cd.
Solid Effort from a Solid Band
After critically acclaimed releases "Wire" and "Live Wire" (which I personally thought were lyrically weak), Third Day returns to what makes them great with "Wherever You Are." Their first release was "Cry Out to Jesus," which they made available for free to all fans on their website. While the song was not written with Hurricane Katrina in mind, it was released as a tribute and an outreach to all who had suffered its devastation. Lyrically this song showed me that Third Day was back doing what they did best - boldly proclaiming the gospel of Jesus Christ!
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Subjects:  1. CCM    2. Christian Rock    3. Pop    4. Religious / Contemp. Christian    5. United States of America   

Reviews (124)

Great CD
This CD is a must have!I play it over and over and never get tired of it.

Wide Appeal & Worth Having
Casting Crowns got it right.I love this CD and so does my youth group.My favorite song on there is "If We are the Body" because it speaks the truth about the church.This song hits home and asks questions along the lines of - "Why does the church judge people seeking help rather than reach out to them?"
Great Lyrics
but it was too heavy overall. Could have gone for a lighter sound -- less rock influences... ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Adult Contemporary    2. Alternative CCM    3. CCM    4. Christian Punk    5. Contemporary Christian Music    6. Gospel    7. Indie Rock    8. Pop    9. Punk Revival    10. Punk-Pop    11. Religious / Contemp. Christian    12. United States of America   

Reviews (13)

Amazing as expected
I cant say anything bad about this cd. The music is so beautiful.. I love his poetic lyrics. Even though I am agnostic I can appreciate how elegantly he expresses his belief in Christianity. I cant wait to see them perform their new songs Oct. 21st! They put on such an amazing and energetic show.. If they come to your town DO NOT MISS OUT ON IT!!!

Simple amazement found on a compact disc
Once again, MeWithoutYou has done it! No other band that I have heard has come even some-what close to capturing the feelings and originality that these fellows have. There is a distinction in their music that is unreachable by all other bands! "Brother, Sister" is a wonderful addition to their collection of fascinating music. I admit I was, as with all bands, a bit skeptic before it came out. Seeing as how I am in Iraq right now, and my wife is in the states, I knew she would buy it, so i found somewhere to download it (a bit ahead of time, actually). I listened to it, and listened to it. I was in a strange MWY daze, as with all of their albums, so I knew it was another winner!
their best album yet
Throughout the last few weeks on our messageboard, members have been coming out of the woodwork and reluctantly saying, "this new mewithoutYou CD is really good," while I can only imagine muttering and staring at their shoes. It's not that mewithoutYou ever created anything but exceptional music; 2002's [A-->B] Life created a stir in the stereos of a few limited people aching for something truly different to listen to. While well-received in some circles, it was more than likely panned by just as many critics who were unable to digest the overdriven guitars and the meandering vocal patterns. As 2004 rolled through, however, the band began to win over skeptics with their second CD, Catch for Us the Foxes, and later subsequently won mtvU's "Left Field" award for "most original artist." Yet, even then, people have written the band off for their ties to Tooth & Nail and more importantly, the band's Christian faith.
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Subjects:  1. Christian Punk    2. Pop    3. Post-Grunge    4. Punk Revival    5. Rock    6. Rock/Pop    7. United States of America   

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Reviews (61)

Transcends "Christian Music"
Variety of elements including blue grass and electronica infused in this album are not new from Crowder, but to be celebrated nonetheless.Whether or not this is his "best" album depends upon prefence, because each album to date has been quite distinct from the others.The worship songs on this cd transcend Christian/pop/electronic/blue grass labeling of expression and is just great music!

Incredible, Inspiring, Awesome!!
This is the first of the David Crowder band CD's that I have ever heard. I am STUNNED. There are some amazing songs. My #1 favorite song is "Do Not Move." Being a worship leader, this song is right up my alley. I am always on the hunt for new worship music. This song moves the spirit in a way that most Christian music does not. You are "My Joy" is my next favorite. The songs just dives right in to the minor, passionate chord progression. Moving. "Wholly Yours" is great; "We Win" is such a fun song. There are a few songs that I don't care for, but you get that with any CD. This is in my top 5 for sure! I highly recommend it!!

Sing with the Lark
David, you are indeed the lark! I thought Illuminate was a conduit to a higher realm... This CD will make you sing, will lift you to a higher level. I love ALL of it, especially the track "Come Awake" which paints an incredibly beautiful picture. If you're not "into" Christian rock, listen to this CD 3 times before you judge and by then I think you'll be hooked. It's brilliant! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Bass    2. CCM    3. Cello    4. Christian Rock    5. Drums    6. Gospel    7. Guitar    8. Keyboards    9. Percussion    10. Piano    11. Pop    12. Praise & Worship    13. Religious / Contemp. Christian    14. Sequencing    15. Strings    16. United States of America    17. Vocal Harmony    18. Vocals    19. Vocals (Background)   

Reviews (1)

GREAT CD!!!!!
This cd is absolutely wonderful. It is full of great Christian songs. This is a MUST for those that love great Christian music. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. CCM    2. Christian Collections    3. Christian Rock    4. Miscellaneous    5. Pop    6. Religious / Contemp. Christian    7. V/a Compilations   

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Reviews (24)

Love It - And Love Them!
What can I add to these excellent reviews?I am a 45-year old divorced father of two daughters, 10 and 7.I want to make sure my kids get exposure to young women with good values.I also want them to appreciate good, edgy, music.I get all of this and more with BarlowGirl.Yes - Evanescence is a good comparison, but as my girls put it, BarlowGirl has better lyrics, meaning - not so dark and dreary.
WOW - Blew me away!
This CD has been playing non-stop in my daughters CD player.She has NO idea that they are a christian band and is playing it for her friends who have now run out to buy the CD.I'm shocked that they are not playing on every radio everywhere.I LOVE the fact that they have subtle messages and play good music without being overly christian oriented.KEEP ROCKING BARLOW GIRLS your music is PHENOMINAL!!!

They're hot now; but these hotties are the future of Christian rock/pop.
Bought this for my little sister, but I yanked a ton of songs of the CD for a personal music mix. Good lord, what a great CD. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Christian    2. Christian Rock    3. Pop    4. Religious / Contemp. Christian   

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Reviews (4)

Wow!!! Another great worship project from Hillsong!!!!
Our family loves to worship along with all the Hillsong Cd's and DVD's. They have brought us through many challenging times in our walk with the Lord and have given us such encouragement. Prior to "Mighty to Save", our favorite CD/DVD, by far, was "Blessed." Honestly, it took us several listenings before "Mighty to Save" attached itself to our hearts. Now we can't keep it out of the car's CD player nor DVD out of the DVD player. What an awesome night of worship that was--and it lives on as it transports those who listen before God's throne of grace and glory. We would recommend this CD to any who enjoy passionate, heartfilled praise and worship. Thank you Hillsong for producing another great product.

Great worship album again by Hillsong Live
All I can say is Hillsong has been amazingly blessed by God and they are using their talents & gifts to bless the house of God tremendously.
Awesome!
The latest worship project from Hillsong Australia is absolutely incredible. You will be drawn into worship that will encourage your heart and remind you of how amazing our God truly is! "Mighty to Save" (title song) leaves you with hands raised and heart on fire. A bunch of United songs are included which is cool too. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. CCM    2. Christian    3. Christian Rock    4. Pop    5. Religious / Contemp. Christian   

Reviews (22)

Great Debut
Aaron really hit a homer with this debut.Its great to see people out there making music for God and not for the fame and camera flashes.Aaron is touring with Bebo Norman and they will be doing a show in San Antonio next month.That will be huge!

worshipping with a guitar
"Anything Worth Saying" is Aaron Shust's debut album.I bought the CD in early summer & had the opportunity to see Aaron & his band in an intimate concert setting in August.I had been asking myself the question, why do i sing? And why do i make music? We sing when we are sad, lonely, grief stricken, happy, celebrating, & more. This album touches on varied emotions in each song.My favorite song is "One Day", describing the time we will have our questions to the mysteries of life answered.

GREAT SONGS
I really enjoy this music. Read the info. for each song. This young man has some very profound insight. I hope to see more of his music very soon. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. CCM    2. Christian Rock    3. Gospel    4. Pop    5. Rock   

Reviews (5)

Good solid set
Rock garden is an appropriate title for Ty's latest solo album.The singing and songwriting is par excellence and well Ty's playing, what more can be said?The melodies that we love and the thunderous guitaring make for a very pleasant follow-up to "safety" which has certainly had a fair number of runs through my cd changer.Here the songs are more upbeat and we even see Ty with a big grin on his mug on the cd booklet.Without getting into long drawn-out comparisons to King's X latest releases and why doesn't Ty sing more songs than Doug, etc etc...just get out and buy it because you probably aren't gonna hear it on radio.

Perfectly titled...
Rock Garden is perfectly titled.A great place to retreat to with headphones on... a place that really rocks.The guitar sounds on this are, to me, much more King's X-like.While I love The Jelly Jam work of Ty, the guitar nuances on Rock Garden are much stronger.There's some great guitar sounds, riffs, melodic lines, soloing, vocals, song-writing... to me it's got it all.I keep playing these cuts over and over.
cause he's a guitar man
I love older King's X and was excited Ogre Tones returned to some of that sound. Gretchen is, to me their best album still. I really didn't like Moonflower lane and it's experimentation. I love Ty's work with the Jelly Jam and highly recommend those albums. Safety had to grow on me and I have to be in the mood for that slice of melancholy. Why do I say all this? Cause Ty finally let's loose on a solo album that I will always be in the mood for.
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Subjects:  1. Heavy Metal    2. Pop    3. Rock    4. Rock/Pop    5. United States of America   

Reviews (21)

ALL around great cd
This Is a really good cd and all songs are worth listening to, the vocalist sounds a little like the highpitched singer from lincoln park but that's not a bad thing,if I have any criticisms it's that there could have been more change from song to song but that's just me. Still a great cd if you like it heavy.

Red -End Of Silence

Clean Hard Rock
End of Silence is a collection of power rock with a couple of very good songs.
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Subjects:  1. Alternative CCM    2. Alternative Metal    3. Christian    4. Christian Rock    5. Pop    6. Rock    7. United States of America   

Reviews (31)

thank god for bands like mercy me
i think this album is great. i was reading alot of the other reviews and just had to write in response to some of them. i know we all hear music differently. some people seem to listen and hear mainly lyrics. i always hear the melody and the mix of the instuments. the lyrics for me are a bonus. with many of mercyme songs a huge bonus. now, that being said, not every song can be a hit. some of the other reviewers seem to think that every song should be a number one hit. that would be called selling out. let these bands write and perform from their hearts. there is a song on this cd entitled HERE WITH ME. the music in that song is as good as it gets. the chord structure is awesome. and when you add the extremely well thought out and meaningful lyrics to the music, you have a masterpiece, and that's what that song is to me. i couldn't believe that not one person mentioned this song in any of the reviews until the very last review which actually was the first. mike mcallister had mentioned that HERE WITH ME was his favorite song on the cd. i guess mike and i have something in common. thanks mike, maybe some day we can talk. as far as mercyme goes, i would highly recommend any and everything this band puts out. i feel bad for the people who will never experience bands like this. we are extremely lucky to experience MERCYME. also, the live dvd is a must have.

Good Worship experience
Take a few minutes to let go and let God.... listen to the upbeat, and uplifting.Good album.

1st and 2nd album are better.
(3.4/5.0)
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Subjects:  1. Bass    2. CCM    3. Christian    4. Christian Rock    5. Drums    6. Guitar    7. Hymns    8. Inspirational    9. Keyboards    10. Pop    11. Praise & Worship    12. Religious / Contemp. Christian    13. Synthesizer   

Reviews (14)

Lyrics that are honest and though-provoking.
Reflections of Something is just that...songs that take a look at many aspects of life...struggles with self-worth and finding a place in this world, trying to comprehend mercy and grace, realization that God is always there, even when we turn away.
Listen to this fan
and you will not be disappointed. Both of Todd Agnew's CDs are full of really good stuff, to put it bluntly. I expect to wear both of my CDs out in the near future!

A 5 STAR RATING AND BEYOND....GOD SHINES THRU!!!
Todd isabsolutely and incredibly fabulous.As for me being a musician and into vastly different types of music,all I can say is WOW what a voice.The craftmanship of all the musicians are super great and so is the music.Very much like Creeds sound and Third Day all put together but also very differnet and unique as well.My favorite song on here is "MY JESUS".It stopped me dead in my tracks.The entire cd is super and speaks the truth about exactly how wonderful GOD is,how much HE loves and forgives us and how HE suffered the ultimate price for us.You can definately tell that Todd is filled with the LORD thru and thru.There is no doubt about that.I recommend this cd to everyone Christian or not.I feel that once you listen to Todd you will also experience GOD's Almighty Presence and abundant love and forgiveness.This cd makes you sit back and realize that honoring GOD in everyway is the best way.The only way!This music collection and Todd Agnew is a very wonderul gift from the good LORD above. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Christian    2. Miscellaneous    3. Pop    4. Religious / Contemp. Christian   

Editorial Review

It would be easy to pass off this latest Jars of Clay release as a marketing gimmick, especially as more and more Christian artists are turning to casting age-old hymns in their own creative image. Has the modern praise-and-worship songwriting well run dry or are artists truly looking back over time to gain that "renewed and refreshed perspective" as Jars describes this effort in the liner notes for Read more

Reviews (57)

Their best album yet.
Just try to listen to this in your car and not sing along.I dare you.
A very unique CD!
Jars of Clay have been reinventing themselves since they formed as a group. Since their previous CD, "Who We are Instead", the guys have added a rootsy and folk element to their sound, and with great results. This album is no different. Each song, even though a traditional hymn, gets a modern twist and the Jars of Clay touch. The instrumentation is awesome, with driving melodies and catchy choruses.
Excellent!!!
I love this cd. I love the old songs with the Jars of Clay style. This is my favorite cd! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Adult Alternative Pop/Rock    2. Alternative CCM    3. CCM    4. Christian    5. Pop    6. Rock   

Editorial Review

An impressive thread of praise and worship runs through the career of Michael W. Smith. After all, he's penned two of today's finest modern praise songs ("Great Is the Lord" and "Agnus Dei"), and he was the creative genius behind Read more

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Reviews (135)

Excellent!
I can't believe anyone could call Michael W. Smith's performance on this CD "flat".
Could Be A Lot Better
This is an album with several good songs on it.I just don't think that they were done as well as they could have been.
Worship
I bought this CD recently, a few years after it was new.I was worried that it might be old even though it was new to me.This is a wonderfuld CD.I've listened to it a hundred times and I'm not tired of it yet.It has helped me draw closer to the Lord and my children love it too. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. CCM    2. Christian Rock    3. Contemporary Christian Music    4. Inspirational    5. Pop    6. Religious / Contemp. Christian    7. United States of America   

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Reviews (48)

Illuminating the World
Alrighty, here goes a nice extended review of the release of DC*B's CD, "Illuminate"
Wonderful, Fantastic, Worship!!
David Crowder Band...perhaps the best Christian rock band in history...now on tour w/ Third Day (which I will see live in Bethlehem, PA)...
a conduit
David Crowder Band's music is a conduit to a higher realm. Listening to it will bring you closer to our great God. David is a musical genius! I use his music when I put on Christian rock dances at our church. It's danceable, beautiful praise. Oh - let's not forget, it will make you sing! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. CCM    2. Christian Rock    3. Contemporary Christian Music    4. Gospel    5. Pop    6. Praise & Worship    7. Religious / Contemp. Christian   

Subjects:  1. CCM    2. Children's Collections    3. Childrens    4. Christian Rock    5. Contemporary Gospel    6. Pop    7. V/a Compilations   

Editorial Review

Touted by some as Christian music's answer to The Rembrandts, this Nashville four-piece delivers artful, acoustic-based rock. Shipped in to produce two tracks, Adrian Belew captures the band's sweet intensity and clean melodies on "Flood and Liquid," which features a jaw-dropping Gregorian chant sample. Read more

Reviews (232)

I have been listening to this album now for ELEVEN years...
...and i still enjoy it just as much as i did when i first opened it.This is in my opinion Jars best album to date, it will appeal to a crowd drawn to a more melodic, acoustic, timeless type of sound.It will not appeal to people who are looking for top of the line, wicked head banging, rave dancing drum beats.This is a great album to just listen to, letting it play in the back ground while studying, working, reading, or sit down with it and really just reflect in prayer letting the savior minister to your soul.The lyrics are poetic, deep, and meaningful, i only wish Jars would go back and re-create this type of sound with a new album.

A masterpiece.This is my "trapped on a desert island" CD.
I bought this CD 11 years ago when it first came out.After more than a decade, it still sits in the #1 slot in my changer.Although "Flood" is the song from this CD which received the most airplay, I feel it is the least representative of the work as a whole.Those who bought it specifically for this particular song may have been disappointed by the rest of the CD.Some reviewers stated that they very much disliked the drum tracks on some of the selections, but they never bothered me - there is so much more to enjoy.The music on this CD has an exquisitely woven texture of acoustic melodies and intimately poignant lyrics which never cease to inspire me to honest reflection.Jars of Clay does not offer the stereotypical "praise-fest," but instead lays bare the realities of a personal search for spirituality and oneness with God.Pride and self-doubt, innocence and shame, sorrow and hope, and thankfulness for a Savior are colored through the tracks with what I can only call "powerful delicacy."The acoustics and strings are so soulfully and interestingly layered with the vocals that I can listen to a single track several times in a row and be drawn in by something different each time.I generally tire very quickly of songs and so invest in precious little music.This is the only CD I have ever owned that I could literally let play, track after track, repeatedly, for hours.The sound has not become dated and I have never grown weary of it.This is my "If you were trapped on a desert