Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
Best Christian Music of the Year
A few decades ago, Christian rock pioneer Steve Taylor penned a line that is exceedingly appropriate to faith-based pop: "If your music's saying nothing, save it for the dentist's chair."
It is the last weekend of the year, and we are here to talk about the best contemporary Christian music of 2008. And this year, the best was definitely music that said something. We hope Steve's happy.
1. Jon Foreman's seasonal EPs. In the past half decade, Switchfoot has released some of the most thoughtful rock in the marketplace, Christian or mainstream. Left to his own devices, frontman Jon Foreman plumbs new depths — meaning, he's deep. Foreman spent the past year releasing four solo EPs of six songs each, Fall, Winter, Spring and Summer. Individually and together, they speak to the life of a 21st-century person of faith in a way few others have. His work includes thoughts on justice, money, sin and faith with bold statements like Instead of a Show, an indictment of ostentatious faith, to House of God Forever, a beautiful meditation on Psalm 23. We love Switchfoot, but solo Foreman is also something to treasure. Here's hoping they continue to co-exist in harmony.
2. Grits, Reiterate. In 2008, the Tennessee duo of Coffee and Bonafide left their longtime home of Gotee Records for the independent market and released their most diverse album in recent memory. The disc dabbles in soulful and jazzy influences and benefits from guest appearances by Christian stars showing the duo to be simultaneously individual and part of a greater community.
3. Underoath, Lost in the Sound of Separation. Underoath continued to defy status as a niche artist by making a very accessible metalcore album. The band's greatest asset is an ability to craft the torrent of sound it produces into memorable and even melodic pieces that attest the majesty of this genre.
4. Seabird, 'Til We See the Shore. No, I'm not giving this Northern Kentucky act a high post because I'm a homer. I'm putting Seabird up here because its debut is one fresh, compelling piece of piano-based pop. There was a common theme of triumph over struggle in Aaron Morgan's songwriting, which was literate and evocative, highlighted by standout track Cottonmouth (Jargon).
5. Fireflight, Unbreakable. The title track was my favorite single of the year, an arresting testament from the adulterous woman Jesus saved from stoning. But Unbreakable was hardly a one-hit album, with more great power chord rock and ballads such as You Made Me a Promise, all delivered by one of Christian rock's strongest frontwomen, Dawn Richardson.
6. Delirious, Kingdom of Comfort. Taking a cue from their previous hit, Our God Reigns, the British worship leaders have evolved into contemplative songwriters. Too bad they're calling it quits, for now, after releasing this standout.
7. Andy Hunter, Colour. I have always been a fan of Hunter's mix of faith with electronica and dance music and wished he made more albums. Usually he's pre occupied with soundtracks and such, but this is a satisfying, if rare, experience.
8. Anberlin, New Surrender. New Surrender opened a new chapter for Anberlin, making a leap to a major label with an album that showed its individual, literate personality with a slightly more pop sound, including a new duo-guitar attack.
9. Superchick, Rock What You Got. Producer and band member Max Hzu has crafted Superchick's sound into a fine concoction. While I would like to see a little more growth in lyrical content, it's undeniable that nobody does female-fronted, punky power pop as well as the Brock sisters and their band.
10. Third Day, Revelation. That the title is not a Biblical reference, but a request for more insight from God, speaks to the mature, thoughtful voice this Georgia band brings to Christian pop. And they can rip a Southern rocker with the best of them too.
Christian Music News Source
It is the last weekend of the year, and we are here to talk about the best contemporary Christian music of 2008. And this year, the best was definitely music that said something. We hope Steve's happy.
1. Jon Foreman's seasonal EPs. In the past half decade, Switchfoot has released some of the most thoughtful rock in the marketplace, Christian or mainstream. Left to his own devices, frontman Jon Foreman plumbs new depths — meaning, he's deep. Foreman spent the past year releasing four solo EPs of six songs each, Fall, Winter, Spring and Summer. Individually and together, they speak to the life of a 21st-century person of faith in a way few others have. His work includes thoughts on justice, money, sin and faith with bold statements like Instead of a Show, an indictment of ostentatious faith, to House of God Forever, a beautiful meditation on Psalm 23. We love Switchfoot, but solo Foreman is also something to treasure. Here's hoping they continue to co-exist in harmony.
2. Grits, Reiterate. In 2008, the Tennessee duo of Coffee and Bonafide left their longtime home of Gotee Records for the independent market and released their most diverse album in recent memory. The disc dabbles in soulful and jazzy influences and benefits from guest appearances by Christian stars showing the duo to be simultaneously individual and part of a greater community.
3. Underoath, Lost in the Sound of Separation. Underoath continued to defy status as a niche artist by making a very accessible metalcore album. The band's greatest asset is an ability to craft the torrent of sound it produces into memorable and even melodic pieces that attest the majesty of this genre.
4. Seabird, 'Til We See the Shore. No, I'm not giving this Northern Kentucky act a high post because I'm a homer. I'm putting Seabird up here because its debut is one fresh, compelling piece of piano-based pop. There was a common theme of triumph over struggle in Aaron Morgan's songwriting, which was literate and evocative, highlighted by standout track Cottonmouth (Jargon).
5. Fireflight, Unbreakable. The title track was my favorite single of the year, an arresting testament from the adulterous woman Jesus saved from stoning. But Unbreakable was hardly a one-hit album, with more great power chord rock and ballads such as You Made Me a Promise, all delivered by one of Christian rock's strongest frontwomen, Dawn Richardson.
6. Delirious, Kingdom of Comfort. Taking a cue from their previous hit, Our God Reigns, the British worship leaders have evolved into contemplative songwriters. Too bad they're calling it quits, for now, after releasing this standout.
7. Andy Hunter, Colour. I have always been a fan of Hunter's mix of faith with electronica and dance music and wished he made more albums. Usually he's pre occupied with soundtracks and such, but this is a satisfying, if rare, experience.
8. Anberlin, New Surrender. New Surrender opened a new chapter for Anberlin, making a leap to a major label with an album that showed its individual, literate personality with a slightly more pop sound, including a new duo-guitar attack.
9. Superchick, Rock What You Got. Producer and band member Max Hzu has crafted Superchick's sound into a fine concoction. While I would like to see a little more growth in lyrical content, it's undeniable that nobody does female-fronted, punky power pop as well as the Brock sisters and their band.
10. Third Day, Revelation. That the title is not a Biblical reference, but a request for more insight from God, speaks to the mature, thoughtful voice this Georgia band brings to Christian pop. And they can rip a Southern rocker with the best of them too.
Christian Music News Source
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
Pillar and Fireflight Rock "Creation Festival: The Tour
Pillar and Fireflight Rock "Creation Festival: The Tour": Pillar welcomes Rich Gilliand as their new bass player. �Rich is a great player and has a huge heart,� said Rob Beckley of Pillar. Rich will join the rest of the members of Pillar as they continue on Creation Festival The Tour. "We have done a lot in terms of the touring world. I am so glad to have been a part of a historical tour. Creation is a brand that has been around as long as I've been alive and to be trusted to carry that brand to a new generation is humbling and an honor. I have thoroughly enjoyed my time on Creation Festival: The Tour. I hope that I was as much of an impact on others as this tour has been on me." For more please visit: www.myspace.com/pillar, www.myspace.com/fireflight.
Christian Music News Source
Christian Music News Source
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Creation Festival: Chart-topping bands Kutless, Pillar, Thousand Foot Krutch a big draw
The Creation Festival: The Tour brings some of the top bands in Christian rock together. Featuring eight bands, the tour stops in at the Mid-America
Center in Council Bluffs Monday. Headlining this one-of-a-kind event is Kutless, whose latest CD "To Know You're Alive" debuted at No. 1 on
Billboard's Christian Albums Chart in July.
"We're having a lot of fun," said Kutless lead singer Jon-Micah Sumrall during a phone conversation while the tour was stopped in North Carolina.
"We're friends with a lot of the bands. It's been fun hangin' out."
The group, which consists of James Mead (guitar), Stu (bass), Kyle Mitchell (drums), Ryan Shrout (guitar), and Sumrall, came together in Portland,
Ore., in 1999, inspired by such Christian rock predecessors as the Supertones as well as mainstream modern rockers like Staind, Creed and
Incubus.
Kutless closes each show on the tour. Their songs "Strong Tower" and "Pride Away" have been getting great response by the audience. Sumrall
described the event as a little less family-friendly for children, and more geared toward the youth group ages up to college students.
Kutless has released five studio CDs and one live album, selling more than 1.5 million CDs to date. They've performed in front of nearly two million
fans and conquered Christian radio with numerous singles since its debut. The musical "reach" of Kutless has even extended on to NBC's
"Scrubs" and the video game "The Apprentice with Donald Trump."
To stay grounded, the band has pastors from their hometown who call and keep tabs on them, doing Bible studies with them to help them stay
focused. One pastor flew out to be with the guys for a few days in New York recently.
"It's really important to us staying focused on our faith," said Sumrall. "It's very easy on the road not to go to church often, let things slide. It's good
to have that kind of support."
Joining Kutless will be the bands Thousand Foot Krutch, Pillar, Run Kid Run, Capital Lights, Fireflight and Worth Dying For. KJ-52 will also perform
and serve as MC for the night.
Lead singer Trevor McNevan described the tour as wicked, with "good music and good people."
The intensely energetic Thousand Foot Krutch came on to the Christian rock scene in 1997, when McNevan, Joel Bruyere, and Steve Augustine
started putting a worship song spin on a rap-metal sound similar to Limp Bizkit or Korn.
After building a buzz around Ontario, Canada, with numerous shows, a strong demo and thriving trade of MP3s through its Web site, Thousand
Foot Krutch signed with Diamante and issued "Set It Off," its official debut, in March 2001. The album featured a rap-rockified version of EMF's
"Unbelievable," tricked out with a Christian-themed rap from McNevan. TFK jumped to the much higher profile Tooth & Nail for September 2003's
"Phenomenon."
The September 2007 release of "The Flame in All of Us" is a noticeable turning point for Thousand Foot Krutch, when the youthful hip-hop and
alternative rock sensibilities uniquely coalesce into a more universal, sometimes pop-shaped framework to create a deeper, fuller experience for
artist and listener alike. McNevan said the song "What Do We Know" off the album is a cool moment in the band's 30-minute set on tour.
McNevan said that the tour has given the band a chance to play in front of new faces. And, it's been an opportunity to the bands opening for
Kutless and Thousand Foot Krutch to play for a larger audience drawn to the bigger bands.
"We feel blessed to be a part of (the tour)," said McNevan.
Pillar puts an alt-metal edge to Christian Rock. Comprised of Rob Beckley (vocals), Lester Estelle (drums), Noah Henson (guitar) and Kalel (bass),
the band has been honing its infectious sound since 1998. Their latest album, "For the Love of the Game," was released in 2008 and its title song
is an arena-pounding anthem that sets the stage for a 10-track project about tenacious faith.
"Fight through the hurt, fight through the pain," Beckley sings. "Without the ache, there is no gain/And we live our lives for the love of the game!"
The band now hails from Tulsa, Okla., though they originally formed while attending Fort Hays State University in northwestern Kansas. At the
2008 Grammy Awards, the band was up for its first ever Grammy Award, in the Best Rock or Best Gospel Album category.
Since Pillar's Dove Award-winning debut "Above" in 2001, the band has tallied eight No. 1 radio singles, 12 Top 5 hits, four Dove Awards, a
Grammy nomination, seven national headlining tours, covers of numerous national magazines, sales well into the hundreds of thousands and
played for millions.
Chrisian Music News Source
Center in Council Bluffs Monday. Headlining this one-of-a-kind event is Kutless, whose latest CD "To Know You're Alive" debuted at No. 1 on
Billboard's Christian Albums Chart in July.
"We're having a lot of fun," said Kutless lead singer Jon-Micah Sumrall during a phone conversation while the tour was stopped in North Carolina.
"We're friends with a lot of the bands. It's been fun hangin' out."
The group, which consists of James Mead (guitar), Stu (bass), Kyle Mitchell (drums), Ryan Shrout (guitar), and Sumrall, came together in Portland,
Ore., in 1999, inspired by such Christian rock predecessors as the Supertones as well as mainstream modern rockers like Staind, Creed and
Incubus.
Kutless closes each show on the tour. Their songs "Strong Tower" and "Pride Away" have been getting great response by the audience. Sumrall
described the event as a little less family-friendly for children, and more geared toward the youth group ages up to college students.
Kutless has released five studio CDs and one live album, selling more than 1.5 million CDs to date. They've performed in front of nearly two million
fans and conquered Christian radio with numerous singles since its debut. The musical "reach" of Kutless has even extended on to NBC's
"Scrubs" and the video game "The Apprentice with Donald Trump."
To stay grounded, the band has pastors from their hometown who call and keep tabs on them, doing Bible studies with them to help them stay
focused. One pastor flew out to be with the guys for a few days in New York recently.
"It's really important to us staying focused on our faith," said Sumrall. "It's very easy on the road not to go to church often, let things slide. It's good
to have that kind of support."
Joining Kutless will be the bands Thousand Foot Krutch, Pillar, Run Kid Run, Capital Lights, Fireflight and Worth Dying For. KJ-52 will also perform
and serve as MC for the night.
Lead singer Trevor McNevan described the tour as wicked, with "good music and good people."
The intensely energetic Thousand Foot Krutch came on to the Christian rock scene in 1997, when McNevan, Joel Bruyere, and Steve Augustine
started putting a worship song spin on a rap-metal sound similar to Limp Bizkit or Korn.
After building a buzz around Ontario, Canada, with numerous shows, a strong demo and thriving trade of MP3s through its Web site, Thousand
Foot Krutch signed with Diamante and issued "Set It Off," its official debut, in March 2001. The album featured a rap-rockified version of EMF's
"Unbelievable," tricked out with a Christian-themed rap from McNevan. TFK jumped to the much higher profile Tooth & Nail for September 2003's
"Phenomenon."
The September 2007 release of "The Flame in All of Us" is a noticeable turning point for Thousand Foot Krutch, when the youthful hip-hop and
alternative rock sensibilities uniquely coalesce into a more universal, sometimes pop-shaped framework to create a deeper, fuller experience for
artist and listener alike. McNevan said the song "What Do We Know" off the album is a cool moment in the band's 30-minute set on tour.
McNevan said that the tour has given the band a chance to play in front of new faces. And, it's been an opportunity to the bands opening for
Kutless and Thousand Foot Krutch to play for a larger audience drawn to the bigger bands.
"We feel blessed to be a part of (the tour)," said McNevan.
Pillar puts an alt-metal edge to Christian Rock. Comprised of Rob Beckley (vocals), Lester Estelle (drums), Noah Henson (guitar) and Kalel (bass),
the band has been honing its infectious sound since 1998. Their latest album, "For the Love of the Game," was released in 2008 and its title song
is an arena-pounding anthem that sets the stage for a 10-track project about tenacious faith.
"Fight through the hurt, fight through the pain," Beckley sings. "Without the ache, there is no gain/And we live our lives for the love of the game!"
The band now hails from Tulsa, Okla., though they originally formed while attending Fort Hays State University in northwestern Kansas. At the
2008 Grammy Awards, the band was up for its first ever Grammy Award, in the Best Rock or Best Gospel Album category.
Since Pillar's Dove Award-winning debut "Above" in 2001, the band has tallied eight No. 1 radio singles, 12 Top 5 hits, four Dove Awards, a
Grammy nomination, seven national headlining tours, covers of numerous national magazines, sales well into the hundreds of thousands and
played for millions.
Chrisian Music News Source
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Thursday, November 6, 2008
FIREFLIGHT REQUESTS YOUR VOTE!
Sure next Tuesday is Election Day in the U.S, but you can pitch in your votes right now. Fireflight is competing in Taco Bell's Best of the Beat and for a GMC Video Award, so check out the band's announcement below and cast your votes!
"We have advanced to the next round! After more than 48,000 nominations, Feed The Beat is psyched to announce the Top 24 bands hat advance to the next round of Taco Bell's Best of the Beat: Fireflight, The Devil Wears Prada, Thousand Foot Krutch, Alesana, Hit The Lights, Maylene And The Sons Of Disaster, Soul Control, A Skylit Drive, The Lives Of Famous Men, Between The Trees, Hymns, City and Colour, Underoath, Person L, Quietdrive, Verse, Racing Kites, This Time Next Year, A Static Lullaby, Oh, Sleeper, Crime In Stereo, 3OH!3, Let Me Run and Four Year Strong.
Votes do not carry over to each round. Go back and vote for your favorite band today. Voting for this round ends October 30th, so don't wait - check the BEST OF THE BEAT section for this round of head-to-head band match ups. Scroll down and click on 'Fireflight' on the left and vote! Do this once a day for the next week for us to head to the next round!
VOTE: http://www.feedthebeat.com
Also, we have been nominated for the GMC (Gospel Music Channel) Video Awards! We have been nominated for our video of 'Unbreakable'! Head over to their website and vote for us in the ROCK category once a day! Help us win our first ever GMC Video Award!
VOTE: http://www.gospelmusicchannel.com/topspins
Thank you for your votes!
FIREFLIGHT"
Christian Music News Source
"We have advanced to the next round! After more than 48,000 nominations, Feed The Beat is psyched to announce the Top 24 bands hat advance to the next round of Taco Bell's Best of the Beat: Fireflight, The Devil Wears Prada, Thousand Foot Krutch, Alesana, Hit The Lights, Maylene And The Sons Of Disaster, Soul Control, A Skylit Drive, The Lives Of Famous Men, Between The Trees, Hymns, City and Colour, Underoath, Person L, Quietdrive, Verse, Racing Kites, This Time Next Year, A Static Lullaby, Oh, Sleeper, Crime In Stereo, 3OH!3, Let Me Run and Four Year Strong.
Votes do not carry over to each round. Go back and vote for your favorite band today. Voting for this round ends October 30th, so don't wait - check the BEST OF THE BEAT section for this round of head-to-head band match ups. Scroll down and click on 'Fireflight' on the left and vote! Do this once a day for the next week for us to head to the next round!
VOTE: http://www.feedthebeat.com
Also, we have been nominated for the GMC (Gospel Music Channel) Video Awards! We have been nominated for our video of 'Unbreakable'! Head over to their website and vote for us in the ROCK category once a day! Help us win our first ever GMC Video Award!
VOTE: http://www.gospelmusicchannel.com/topspins
Thank you for your votes!
FIREFLIGHT"
Christian Music News Source
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