By 2002, the Newsboys were solidly in the A-list of Christian music. Having already survived the departure of their original lead singer and boasting over a decade of chart-topping hits, any new album release from them was a major event. At the same time, there's always the pressure for veteran bands to continue their trend of classics without beginning to sound dull. And in that spirit, this album saw the Newsboys looking for more than just surviving as a band; they were looking to Thrive.
As the album turns 20 years old this year, we take a look back.
Pieces of Success
One of the most iconic songs from this album is the worshipful "It Is You." Worship songs weren't new for the Newsboys, but this song leans more heavily into the (at least for the time) "corporate worship" sound, albeit with some Newsboys flare. Considering the upcoming few years would see the Newsboys releasing 2 subsequent worship albums and fully embracing this side of their sound, one could legitimately tie those records to the success and popularity of this song. Its soaring worshipful choruses paired with reflective verses made for a fitting pairing and made the song of the highlights of this era of their career.
Adhering to a more traditional Newsboys sound and vibe, "Million Pieces (Kissin' Your Cares Goodbye)" was another of the album's iconic hits. Singing of the freedom found in laying down our burdens, the song has touches of the Newsboys' signature wit and relentless inspiration. It's another signature song that proved that the Aussie's best days were still ongoing.
Made to Thrive
Digging into some of the deeper cuts of the album, you'll find plenty of classic Newsboys goodness to be had. "Rescue" is a peppy and radio-ready track that packs a catchy chorus with groovy verses to produce a memorable highlight. "Live in Stereo" gives an edgier sound that balances the band's signature Aussie quirk with melodic hooks. "The Fad of the Land" follows in a similar vein, feeling the Steve Taylor influence strongly. "(Lord) I Don't Know" is an underrated gem of surrendering ourselves to God in the face of all the things we don't know or understand.
In the grand scheme of the Newsboys discography, it may feel like Thrive can get a bit lost in the shuffle. Sandwiched somewhere between their golden age of the 1990s and their worship era of the 2000s, the album produced a definite group of hits, but perhaps maybe didn't leave the collective impact as an album that some of the band's most notable works did. Nevertheless, it was a pivotal entry in their journey as a band.
Free to Fly
The Newsboys have been in business since the late 1980s, and have redefined their sound several times. As the quirky flair of the John James years passed further into the rearview, Thrive found the band still maintaining some of those quirky sparks, while more fully embracing the contemporary highs that played to Furler's strengths. Following this album would be two highly successful worship projects that would see the band's profile rise even more. Songs like "He Reigns" and "Presence (My Heart's Desire)" would become some of the band's all-time most successful hits, before the band would return with a proper follow-up to Thrive with 2006's Go. By the time that album's cycle wound down, the band would be entering the final phase of the Peter Furler years before being reinvigorated yet again with the Michael Tait era of the band.
Considering all of this took the better part of a decade to unfold, it may feel a bit weird to examine Thrive as even distantly connected. Indeed, one could argue the best was ahead for his era of the band. At the same time, the band's extended detour to the worship music side of the business sort of marks this album as one of the final "normal" albums from the Newsboys to feature both Peter Furler and Phil Joel.
Twenty years later, the Newsboys have continued their dominance of Christian music. The Michael Tait era is back in full force, and we've since witnessed the all-too-short United era. As this album turns 20, take a chance to reacquaint yourself with one of the band's early 2000s standouts.
J.J. Francesco is a long-time contributor to the NRT Staff. He's published the novel 'Because of Austin' and regularly seeks new ways to engage faith, life, and community. He is currently working on releasing a brand new novel.
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