The Listening EP
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Dan At my first listen, Listening was the only song that stood out to me. However, after a few more listens I began to like the other songs as well. It takes some time to grow on you but it's good enough to...
For Love Of You EP
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Audrey Wow a fantastic EP! I can't wait to hear more stuff from her! She definitely does remind me of Brooke Fraser! I think she has a lot of potential and could dominate this year's christian music market just...
Everything Is Different Now
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Stellar Kart Stellar Kart has been a driving force in the christian rock industry ever since their debut album "All Gas. No Brake." in 2005. Their debut album actually had a cover of the famous song "Livin' On A Prayer"...
Takes a few listens | Posted May-18-2012
At my first listen, Listening was the only song that stood out to me. However, after a few more listens I began to like the other songs as well. It takes some time to grow on you but it's good enough to make me want to buy his full album and give it a try.
Fantastic new artist | Posted May-23-2010
Wow a fantastic EP! I can't wait to hear more stuff from her! She definitely does remind me of Brooke Fraser! I think she has a lot of potential and could dominate this year's christian music market just like Francesca Battestelli did in 2009!
Some things never change | Posted February-14-2010
Stellar Kart has been a driving force in the christian rock industry ever since their debut album "All Gas. No Brake." in 2005. Their debut album actually had a cover of the famous song "Livin' On A Prayer" by of course Bon Jovi. In my opinion that cover was just awful compared to the original and so I was a little skeptical when I heard that their newest album contained a lot of covers. I'm glad to say that I was wrong.
Stellar Kart is known for their pop/rock tunes of hits such as "Finish Last", "Me And Jesus", "Innocent", and "Hold On". The new album, titled "Everything Is Different Now", keeps one thing the same. The pop/rock styling of SK that makes them so famous.
Just a little background story of the album for you, SK played at some summer camps and led praise and worship for the happy campers. They realized how much they loved to be able to lead people closer to Christ with the classic worship songs we all know from our youth groups. This was the beginning of "Everything Is Different Now".
Starting with the original song, "All My Heart", Stellar Kart felt different. It had me awestruck to hear these guys sing such an amazing worship song. It wasn't the SK I was used to and I liked it. The lyrics were just honest and reminded me of "How Great Is Our God" just more pop/rock-ish. But overall it contained the everlasting message that Jesus is just amazing and we are to worship our Saviour. I could just picture singing this song with my youth group! I was skeptical about "We Shine" because of how Stellar Kart butchered "Livin' On A Prayer", imo, but it was so natural and just so SK. When these guys sing worship songs, they do it with such honesty and devotion that you can't help but be moved. The title track of the album is definitely my favourite song. The lyrics ring true to me. When Jesus came into my life He truly changed everything in my life. "Only One", a Yellowcard cover, is just done beautifully with the brilliant guitar arrangement throughout the chorus and the synth during the verses. "You Never Let Go" is one of my favourite worship songs to sing with my youth group and so when I heard Stellar Kart was doing a cover of it, I couldn't help but be excited. I really love it when rock bands do covers of worship songs because it's something different and helps teens in their journey with Christ. The acoustic guitar sounds so beautiful opening the song. The electric guitar doesn't take away from the message that the song delivers proving worship songs don't need to be always Chris Tomlin, or Michael W. Smith like. Overall the album is a great success. Although it is very different then previous SK albums, I think that's what they meant to go for.
Stellar Kart has made many changes from their "Expect the Impossible" album to this new album, including changing record companies, losing their awesome guitarist Cody and gaining a new one, and changing their song content to be more worship song like. I wouldn't write them off as a worship band now because this is just one album but it seems as though they might be heading that way and I like it. Stellar Kart is one of those bands who do mention Jesus and God much more than the likes of Relient K and Skillet. Just take a look at their hit songs "Finish Last", "Me and Jesus", "Jesus Loves You", and "Second Chances". I love that they just bluntly mention how awesome Jesus is and how he works in our lives and still make the song fun enough to dance to. I hope that they make a few more albums like this because when SK plays worship songs it's like a whole different band. It's refreshingly different and I think it's a change for the better. This is definitely a highlight album of 2010! Keep up the great work Stellar Kart!
'Cause it starts tonight!!! | Posted February-10-2010
tobyMac has been a force to be reckoned with ever since his days with dcTalk and with the release of his 4th solo album, tobyMac brings in the hits again.
When I first heard his single "City On Our Knees" I was a little disappointed because I fell in love with the sound of "Made To Love", "I'm For You", and "Burn For You". It took quite a bit of listens for me to actually like this song but now that I've heard the album version I really love the song! There are subtle, minor differences between the radio edit and the album version but it is so much more enjoyable!
Kicking the album off with "Tonight" featuring the famous rocker, John Cooper, this track could be the highlight of the album. Cooper's vocals compliment the edgy tone of the song while still maintaining a tobyMac feel. It's not too much Skillet and not too much tobyMac, the best of both worlds! "Get Back Up", "Showstopper", "Changed Forever" feels a lot like a sequel to Portable Sounds but that's what made tobyMac so liked by the general public. They are hits I'll listen to many times over and over again! "Hey Devil" is great lyrically, as with many of toby's songs, and brings a new feel to the album. "Wonderin'" featuring Matthew Thiessen is a refreshing mix of Relient K's piano driven style and tobyMac's genius lyrics. Of course with any albums there are those hit and misses. For me "LoudNClear" was alright at first but I couldn't handle listening to it 50 times. "Funky Jesus Music" was too cheesy but I still love the song musically just not lyrically. I mean seriously "we got the funky Jesus blazer"??? Must you use those lyrics? The reggae styling of "Break Open The Sky" featuring Israel Houston just didn't stick with me.
Overall this album has amazing songs especially the ones that feature the famous frontmen of Relient K and Skillet. The two songs sounds like a mix of the band and tobyMac without feeling too much like Relient K, Skillet, or tobyMac.
This is definitely an album worth purchasing (I'd get the deluxe edition though :D) and playing over and over again. tobyMac does it again with his amazing lyrics and hip-hop flavor that he brings to the christian music community.
Although it's not the best album tobyMac has put out, this is a strong second.
Highlights: "Tonight", "Get Back Up", "Changed Forver", "Hey Devil", "Wonderin'"
It's a Day of Fire alright | Posted January-22-2010
Starting the album with "Light 'Em Up", Day of Fire starts it off with a bang. With it's driving bass line, and interesting chord progression, Day of Fire never fails to please. "Hello Heartache", "Landslide", and "Long Highway" are some of my favorite songs on this album and now that I've listened to it I just might buy this album! All in all this is a very solid album, although a few improvements could be made, Day of Fire launches 2010 off with some dece songs :D
A great beginning to a long career | Posted January-22-2010
Starting their music career with the hit single "Sound of Your Name" it captured my attention immediately. The lead singer had such a unique voice and the song had almost a surf rock/brit-pop rock feel to it. I listened to the whole album and I love listening to it all day! "Streets", "Love", and "The Haunting" are just few of the highlights to this wonderful album. Check it out!
Not so smart on marketing but amazing music | Posted January-22-2010
Not a very smart move releasing an EP with just one new song (and technically it's just an acoustic version of an old song). I still love her music though. It was a good choice of putting her hit singles together but I would have loved it if she released some more new songs like some B-Sides songs. "It's Your Life" is such an amazing song though especially the acoustic version. Her voice is amazing! She'll go far in the music business :)
If you say so :D | Posted January-22-2010
I first heard of Israel and New Breed when I bought the iWorship Platinum Edition. I heard "Friend of God" and it was just a fun praise and worship song! I searched some of his songs and I heard deeper and we started playing it at our youth band. It was such an amazing song. My local station played "Say So" and I was so hooked on this song that I bought the album and it was pretty good. I feel like praise and worship songs are very cookie cutter now but Israel and New Breed bring some creativity to this cookie cutter mold christian music has fallen into. Admittedly some of the songs on this album aren't something I would listen to all the time but overall this is a very decent album. I definitely recommend listening to "Say So"!
If I were a Monster would you wince when you look at me? | Posted October-20-2009
A promising EP to the sophomore album of the Almost's Monster Monster. Their sound has changed a bit from the alternative, driving leads to a more smooth rock sound. "Lonely Wheel" just proves how much Aaron Gillespie has matured and the sound has taken a better turn. The song "Hands" is made for mainstream radio. The catchy chorus and the "o oh o oh"s will have you singing the song anywhere you go.
"July" and "Brimingham" are not included in Monster Monster but fits so well with the 5-song EP. Albeit "July" sounds very one-dimensional but you grow to love the song. The last song on the EP and Monster Monster is the song "Monster". With such beautiful lyrics and raw sound, Gillespie proves how mush his vocals get strike your very soul.
Highlights from the EP are "Hands", and "Monster".
I look forward to the Monster Monster LP yet to come.
What can I say and do? | Posted September-19-2009
Probably one of the greatest Christian writers of all time. Matthew West can take any song and give it a new depth with his amazing lyrics. Truly a God-given gift, West brings another home-run with this single. If you love this song I recommend any of Matthew West's album!
game_maniac05's Music and Book Reviews 
