Posts belonging to Category Music News

June 22, 2010
- Revive – Blink – Essential Records – Provident
- Addison Road – Stories – INO Records – Provident [Hope to review this shortly]
- Grits – Quarantine – Revolution Arts – Provident
- Runaway City – Armored Heart – Vertusent Music Group – Provident
- Dewayne Woods – My Life’s Lyrics – Verity Records – Provident
- Stuart Townend - There Is A Hope (2 CD) – Kingsway – EMICMG
- Sue Dodge - The Best Of Sue Dodge CD/DVD – Spring Hill – EMICMG
- Darwin Hobbs - Champion – Universal Music – EMICMG
- Trip Lee – Between Two Worlds – Reach Records
- Josh Wilson – Josh Wilson – Sparrow Records – EMICMG

June 29, 2010
- Hillsong LIVE – A Beautiful Exchange – Hillsong – EMICMG
- Hillsong KIDS - Ultimate Collection Kid’s Album – Hillsong – EMICMG
- Jonny Lang - Live At The Ryman – Universal Music – EMICMG
- Robert Randolph – We Walk This Road – Word Records – Word
- Katherine Jenkins – Believe – Word Records – Word
- Children 18:3 - Rain’s A Comin’ – Tooth & Nail – EMICMG
- Haste The Day - Attack Of The Wolf King – Tooth & Nail
- Future Of Forestry – Travel III EP – Credential Records – EMICMG
- Stuart Townend – There Is A Hope – Kingsway – EMICMG
- Various – Open The Eyes Of My Heart: Platinum Edition – Provident
- Silverline – Voices In The Night EP – VSR – EMICMG
- Various – Gotta Have Gospel: Ultimate Choirs – Gospo Centric – Provident
- Phil Tarver - Place Of Worship – Universal Music – EMICMG
- Patrick Paegel - Find Me Pure – Universal Music Group – EMICMG
- D-MAUB - Inside Out – Universal Music Group – EMICMG
- Melodie Joy - The Life, The Journey, The Voice – Universal Music Group – EMICMG
- Eric Bibb - Booker’s Guitar – Universal Music Group – EMICMG
- Kristina Halloway - Free – Universal Music Group – EMICMG
- Lowell Pye - Finally – Universal Music Group – EMICMG
- Tru Serva - Paper Boy – Universal Music Group – EMICMG
- Joe Justiz – Eternal – Underground Blaze Records
- City Of Life – Worship – In:Ciite Records – Word
- Jake Schwein – Overwhelmed – In:Ciite Records – Word

July 6, 2010
- John Mark McMillan – The Medicine – Integrity Music – Provident
- Joel Auge – Invisible Things – Integrity Music – Provident
- Promise Keepers – City Transformation Worship – City Of Peace – Provident

July 13, 2010
- Newsboys – Born Again – InPop Records – EMICMG
- Kutless - The Beginning – BEC Recordings – EMICMG
- Audrey Assad – The House You’re Building – Sparrow Records – EMICMG
- The Showdown - Blood In The Gears – Tooth & Nail – EMICMG
- Various - Wow: New & Next – WOW – EMICMG
- Various - The Best Of WOW 2004 – WOW – EMICMG
- Various - The Best Of WOW 2005 – WOW – EMICMG
- Various - The Best Of WOW 2006 – WOW – EMICMG
- Various - The Best Of WOW 2007 – WOW – EMICMG
- Jake Hamilton - Marked By Heaven – Kingsway – EMICMG
- Various - Rejoice! Musical Soul Food, Vol. 2 – Holy Hip Hop – EMICMG
- Various - Inspiration Jam Vol. 3 – Holy Hip Hop – EMICMG
- Y’Anna - The Promise – Universal Music Group – EMICMG
- Various – World Class Gospel Music Jubilee – Universal Music Group – EMICMG

Wow, been waiting for this one for quite a while.  Especially after getting to see these guys live a couple of months ago, they were awesome by the way.  But I am a little puzzled about the direction the guys are going….it is going to take me a few days to really get into the lyrics and melodies before I make a final judgement, but “The Light Meets The Dark” seems to be heading in a different direction from “Over and Underneath” musically.  To me “Light” is heading toward a sound very similar to Switchfoot, and lyrically even though their faith is in there everything is mainstream friendly.  Not that there is anything wrong with that, look at Switchfoot and Needtobreathe, they get to share their faith with a lot more people than the average Christian artist or band ever would.  After a couple more days of listening I hope to update this review with my final thoughts.

Update 5/13/2010 – I have spent the last two days listening to “The Light Meets The Dark” trying to get a better feel for the music and the lyrics.  I must say this is a really good CD, and would be a great second album for anybody else, but I was expecting more for these guys.  From a Christian stand point I was really looking for more of what they gave us with Over and Underneath.  As a fan of Tenth Avenue North I definitely like the cd, the music is good, the lyrics are deep:

The Truth Is Who You Are

Flesh and blood, You offer us
Oh to eat the bread and drink the cup
Oh to taste, to see, to feel, to touch
Emmanuel
God with us
Emmanuel
God with us

Cuz You came to bring the chains apart
You wake the dead and sleeping of our hearts
You gave us truth
The truth is who You are
Its who You are
Its who You are
Its who You are

For some reason at the end of the CD I am still looking for more.  There are some good tracks, I would recommend:

1. The Truth Is Who You Are
2. All The Pretty Things
3. House of Mirrors
4. Empty My Hands
5. On and On

The guys have definitely grown as musicians since their first release.  This album is very well produced, lots of nice overlays and fills that definitely add to the overall feel of the album.  Again if you are buying this expecting more of what you got with Over and Underneath you will be a little surprised.  Musically this CD is somewhere between the first release and the mainstream.  If you are looking for Christian anthems or praise and worship go get the Passion Awakening CD.

Don’t get me wrong this is a good CD and I am definitely not knocking the guys for their growth as musicians.  I didn’t buy this CD expecting it to be full of praise songs, but I was a little surprised at the direction that they went with this CD.

All in all I give it 3.5 out of 5 stars.

Here is a recap of this year’s Dove Awards, my correct picks are in BOLD.  Congrats to all the winners.  Needtobreathe stole the night with 3 Dove awards including Group of the Year.

ARTIST OF THE YEAR – FAN VOTE
Casting Crowns – My pick was Skillet, but nothing wrong with Casting Crowns

NEW ARTIST OF THE YEAR – FAN VOTE
Sidewalk Prophets – My pick was Kari Jobe

SONG OF THE YEAR
“By Your Side”; Mike Donehey, Philip LaRue, Jason Ingram; Essential Publishing – Hey got one right, Tenth Avenue North has a great future.  I think this has become my wife’s favorite song.

MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
Brandon Heath – my pick as well, he deserves this, I am sure this will not be his last Dove

FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
Francesca Battistelli – what can you say, she had a breakout year last year.  I can’t wait to hear what she does next.

GROUP OF THE YEAR
NEEDTOBREATHE – my pick here as well.  These guys are great, wish I could have been in B’ham over the weekend to see them.  Maybe this will get them the exposure they deserve.  They are probably the best kept secret in Christian music today.

PRODUCER OF THE YEAR
Jason Ingram, Rusty Varenkamp – my pick was Ed Cash but all those guys are great.

ROCK RECORDED SONG
“Mess Of Me”; Hello Hurricane; Switchfoot; Jonathan Foreman, Tim Foreman; Credential Recordings – my pick was Hero but nothing wrong with Mess Of Me.

ROCK/CONTEMPORARY RECORDED SONG
“Lay ‘Em Down”; The Outsiders; NEEDTOBREATHE; Bear Rinehart, Bo Rinehart; Atlantic Records – Got another one right, and that isn’t even the best song on the CD.

POP/CONTEMPORARY RECORDED SONG
“City On Our Knees”; Tonight; tobyMac; Toby McKeehan, Jamie Moore, Cary Barlowe; Forefront Records – another one bites the dust

WORSHIP SONG (award given to writer and publisher)
“Revelation Song”; Jennie Lee Riddle, Gateway Create Publishing, Integrity’s Praise Music – got another one right, but I think everybody had this one picked

ROCK ALBUM
Innocence and Instinct; Red; Rob Graves; Essential – this is a shocker to me, I thought Skillet had this in the bag

ROCK/CONTEMPORARY ALBUM
The Outsiders; NEEDTOBREATHE; Rick Beato, NEEDTOBREATHE, Jim Scott, John Alagia; Atlantic Records – as I have said before this is the best album of 2009.  Absolutely brilliant.

POP/CONTEMPORARY ALBUM
The Long Fall Back To Earth; Jars of Clay, Ron Aniello, Essential Records, Gray Matters – I had Jeremy sneaking in there and getting this one, but Long Fall is a good album.

PRAISE & WORSHIP ALBUM
Church Music; David Crowder*Band; David Crowder*Band; Sparrow Records/sixsteps Records – can’t say enought about DCB, this guys are great and gave us another great album last year.

I know from time to time I find something I really like by looking at what everyone else is buying. Here is the current list of best sellers at MUSICHRISTIAN:

MUSIC BESTSELLERS

1. Born Again by Newsboys Release Date: July 13, 2010 List Price: $9.99 Our Price: $9.99 2. Reinvention AUTOGRAPHED, INSTANT DOWNLOAD & CHANCE TO WIN by Superchick Release Date: April 20, 2010 List Price: $9.99 Our Price: $9.49 Save: $0.50 3. The First Three Gears KEYCHAIN, AIR FRESHENER & LICENSE PLATE by Relient K Release Date: April 20, 2010 List Price: $29.99 Our Price: $18.99 Save: $11.00 4. Passion Awakening by Passion Band Release Date: March 9, 2010 List Price: $13.99 Our Price: $10.99 Save: $3.00 5. The Generous Mr. Lovewell by MercyMe Release Date: May 4, 2010 List Price: $18.99 Our Price: $9.97 Save: $9.02 6. Tonight by Tobymac Release Date: February 9, 2010 List Price: $13.99 Our Price: $10.99 Save: $3.00 7. Live AUTOGRAPHED by DecembeRadio Release Date: March 23, 2010 List Price: $9.99 Our Price: $9.99 8. Pieces Of A Real Heart INSTANT DOWNLOAD by Sanctus Real Release Date: March 9, 2010 List Price: $9.99 Our Price: $8.97 Save: $1.02 9. The Light Meets The Dark by Tenth Avenue North Release Date: May 11, 2010 List Price: $18.99 Our Price: $11.47 Save: $7.52 10. Until The Whole World Hears + INSTANT DOWNLOAD by Casting Crowns Release Date: November 17, 2009 List Price: $15.98 Our Price: $12.6 Save: $3.38 11. Shine Out by The People’s Church Release Date: December 16, 2008 List Price: $9.99 Our Price: $9.99 12. We Shine by Fee Release Date: September 25, 2007 List Price: $13.99 Our Price: $8.97 Save: $5.02

The Dove Awards will be handed out on April 21st at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville.  Thought we might just take a closer look at the nominees today.  The Nominees are (MY PICKS IN BOLD):

41st Annual GMA Dove Award Nominees

Artist of the Year VOTE NOW

• Francesca Battistelli
• Casting Crowns
• Jason Crabb
• Jars of Clay
• TobyMac
• Mary Mary
• Skillet – Monster and Hero were a smash hits, I think they will get the fan vote here

New Artist of the Year VOTE NOW

• Jonny Diaz
• Kari Jobe – this girl can just flat out sing, I think every praise band in the country is doing her stuff
• Revive
• Sidewalk Prophets
• Bluetree
• Crystal Aikin
• Brian Courtney Wilson

Note: Fan voting not available in the following categories. Become a Gospel Music Association (GMA) member today! Visit gospelmusic.org for details.

Group of the Year

• Casting Crowns
• Gaither Vocal Band
• Jars of Clay
• NEEDTOBREATHE – The Outsiders was the best release in Christian music last year
• Tenth Avenue North
• Hezekiah Walker & LFC
• Skillet

Female Vocalist of the Year

• Francesca Battistelli
• Natalie Grant
• Mandisa
• Dawn Michele
• Laura Story
• Karen Peck Gooch
• Heather Headley

Male Vocalist of the Year

• Jeremy Camp
• Jason Crabb
• Michael English
• Brandon Heath
• Bebo Norman
• Mark Schultz
• Donnie McClurkin
• Smokie Norful

Song of the Year

• “Born To Climb” by Jeff & Sherri Easter, Wayne Haun and Joel Lindsey
• “By Your Side” by Tenth Avenue North
• “Free To Be Me” by Francesca Battistelli
• “God Is There” by Diamond Rio
• “I Will Rise” by Chris Tomlin and Louie Giglio
• “Let the Waters Rise” by MIKESCHAIR
• “Revelation Song” by Jennie Lee Riddle
• “Somebody Like Me” by Neil Thrasher, Michael Boggs
• “Two Hands” by Jars of Clay
• “Why Can’t All God’s Children Get Along” by Karen Peck & New River

Producer of the Year

• Ed Cash
• Ian Eskelin
• Wayne Haun
• Bernie Herms
• Jason Ingram
• Rusty Varenkamp

Rock Recorded Song of the Year

Rock/Contemporary Recorded Song of the Year

• “Always,” Switchfoot, by Jonathan Foreman
• “Can’t Take Away” MIKESCHAIR; MIKESCHAIR; Sam Tinnesz, Mike Grayson, Jason Ingram; Curb Records
• “How He Loves,” David Crowder*Band, by John Mark McMillan
• “Lay ‘Em Down,” NEEDTOBREATHE, by Bear Rinehart and Bo Rinehart
• “You Gave Me A Promise,” Fireflight, by Dawn Richardson, Justin Cox, Glenn Drennen, Wendy Drennen, Phee Shorb, and Rob Hawkins

Pop/Contemporary Recorded Song of the Year

• “City On Our Knees,” TobyMac, by Toby McKeehan, Jamie Moore, Cary Barlowe
• “Free To Be Me,” Francesca Battistelli, by Francesca Battistelli
• “Let The Waters Rise,” MIKESCHAIR, by Sam Tinnesz, Ben Glover, Mike Grayson
• “My Deliverer,” Mandisa, by Chad Cates, Jason Walker, Tony Wood
• “Until The Whole World Hears,” Casting Crowns, by Mark Hall, Bernie Herms, Jason McArthur, Roger Glidewell

Worship Song of the Year

• “Alive Again,” Matt Maher, by Jason Ingram
• “Hosanna,” Paul Baloche, by Brenton Brown
• “I Will Rise” Chris Tomlin, by Louie Giglio, Chris Tomlin, Matt Maher and Jesse Reeves
• “New Song We Sing,” Meredith Andrews, by Jason Ingram and Keith Everette Smith
• “Revelation Song,” by Jennie Lee Riddle

Rock Album of the Year

• Awake, Skillet, Howard Benson
• Constellations, August Burns Red; Jason Suecof
• Crash, Decyfer Down; Paul Ebersold
• Innocence and Instinct, Red; Rob Graves
• Searchlights, Abandon; Christopher Stevens
• Welcome to the Masquerade, Thousand Foot Krutch; Aaron Sprinkle and Trevor McNevan

Rock/Contemporary Album of the Year

• Church Music, David Crowder*Band; David Crowder*Band
• Confessions, Pillar; Rob Graves
• It Is Well, Kutless; Dave Lubben, Kutless and Brown Bannister
• Love & War, BarlowGirl; Otto Price
• The Outsiders, NEEDTOBREATHE; Rick Beato, NEEDTOBREATHE, Jim Scott and John Alagia

Pop/Contemporary Album of the Year

• Come Alive, Mark Schultz; Shaun Shankel, Brown Bannister, Bernie Herms and Paul Mills
• MIKESCHAIR, MIKESCHAIR; Jason Ingram and Rusty Varenkamp
• Speaking Louder Than Before, Jeremy Camp; Brown Bannister and Jeremy Camp
• The Long Fall Back to Earth, Jars of Clay; Jars of Clay, Ron Aniello
• These Simple Truths, Sidewalk Prophets; Ian Eskelin

Praise & Worship Album of the Year

• A Grand New Day, Women of Faith Worship Team; Chance Scoggins
• Alive Again, Matt Maher; Paul Moak, Christopher Stevens
• Awaken the Dawn, Keith & Kristyn Getty; Phil Naish
• Church Music, David Crowder*Band; David Crowder*Band
• Jesus Saves: Live, Travis Cottrell; Travis Cottrell

Short Form Video of the Year

• Beautiful Ending; Barlowgirl; Tim Morgan
• “Free to Be Me,” Francesca Battistelli; Andy & Jon Erwin; Dan Atchison
• “Hero,” Skillet; Dan Atchison; Andy Erwin and Jon Erwin
• “Live Life Loud,” Hawk Nelson; Etypical; Kayvan Ghavim
• “Lose My Soul,” TobyMac featuring Kirk Franklin and Mandisa; Danny Yourd; Danny Yourd and Steve Hoover
• “Monster,” Skillet; Andy Erwin and Jon Erwin; Dan Atchison
• “Too Bright to See,” Underoath; Anders Foreman
• “Wait and See,” Brandon Heath; Eric Welch; Tameron Hedge

Long Form Music Video of the Year

• “45 Days” (documentary w/music), Demon Hunter; Cale Glendening; Don and Ryan Clark
• “A Gospel Journey,” Oak Ridge Boys; Doug Stuckey; Bill Gaither, Barry Jennings and Bill Carter
• “A New Hallelujah: The Live Worship DVD,” Michael W. Smith; Steve Gilreath; Steve Gilreath
• “Faith + Hope + Love,” Hillsong Live; Luke Irvine and Magdalene Phillips
• “Live At Oak Tree: Austins Bridge,” Austins Bridge; Graham Bustin; Paul Corley, Tre Corley, Norman Holland, Michael Turner and Shannon Lancaster
• “Live Revelations,” Third Day; Andy and Jon Erwin; Dan Atchison, Jonathan Erwin and Andrew Erwin

The new Tenth Avenue North CD is available for pre-order at musichristian.com.  The CD is set to release on May 11, 2010.  I am sure this will be flying off the shelves and heavily downloaded.  For more info click the banner above.

Worship Frequency is having another worship songwriting contest this year, and you don’t have much time left to enter.  The contest ends April 8th.  Top songs will be featured on Frequency Radio, top ten songs could be featured even longer.  Chris Tomlin, Christy Nockels, and Jesse Reeves will be the judges.

Contest Details

I am working on getting a couple of songs in myself.

ASCAP, BMI Honor Josh Turner, Writers of “Why Dont We Just Dance”Composers Darrell Brown, Jonathan Singleton, Jim Beavers Spotlighted

via CMT : News : ASCAP, BMI Honor Josh Turner, Writers of “Why Dont We Just Dance”.

Congrats to all these guys.  Josh Turner is a great Christian role model for up coming artist.  Jonathan just keeps turning out the hits.

Media Credit: Eric Evans

Congrats to Hobo Hippie!

via Hobo Hippie to open Old Main Music Festival – Entertainment.

Man what a Tuesday!  New Passion CD Awakening, Sanctus Real “Pieces of a Real Heart”, Chasen, Stellar Kart, and more.  The Passion CD is great, we watched the live link on Monday night, and I couldn’t wait to get the CD Tuesday morning.  Powerful, wonderful, worship is about all I can say to describe it.  I also picked up the Sanctus Real CD “Pieces of a Real Heart”.  I am really liking this CD as well.  I really like the acoustic tracks.  Lyrically this is a great Christian release. Really fits the daily walk and life of Christians in todays world.  I will have more on both of these releases in a few days.

March 9