Welcome to the New
by
MercyMe It is not my norm to give negative reviews.I have eagerly anticipated every MercyMe release since Spoken For. I have always ran out and bought the entire CD without question, without fear.
Sometimes it's difficult to believe how much depth and clarity a young mind can have. These four young men have made their mark--musically, lyrically, spiritually. At all points this album is excellent....
What Happened? | Posted April-30-2014
It is not my norm to give negative reviews.I have eagerly anticipated every MercyMe release since Spoken For. I have always ran out and bought the entire CD without question, without fear.
The New may be good for some, but I am not one of them. The entire release is poorly produced with distorted everything in awkward places. Saturated drums, Over overdriven vocals, Sorry, I will listen VERY carefully to any of MercyMe's future releases before purchasing. I could not find one song on this release that really spoke to me musically or spiritually.
Sometimes it's difficult to believe how much depth and clarity a young mind can have. These four young men have made their mark--musically, lyrically, spiritually. At all points this album is excellent. The addition of the original Christmas town is like adding icing to a great cake. Hard to believe a band this excellent and tight has only been together for about five years. If you are reading this and have not heard the album, you owe yourself that treat.
Fantastic Sophomore Effort | Posted October-09-2013
Usually, when I'm looking forward to a second release from any great, new artist I get dissapointed. Glad to say that 7eventh Time Down has become one of the exceptions to that rule. Swinging from hard rock to pop, yet keeping that consistant vocal that suits both styles so well.
Pounding out the first track, Wait For You sets a great pace to the album. Gritty vocals over a straight up hard rock anthem and powerful drums. Great stuff!
Real life bad situations pointing toward running to the only one who can help is the topic of the Hard/popipsh The One I'm Running To.
Pop Hit Just Say Jesus comes up third with acoustic guitar picking layered over a great bass/drum rhythm hits. IMHO, one of the best Christian rock anthem songs of the decade.
The second hard biting anthem on the album, Good Life, gives a smooth vocal over crunching guitar and deep bass countered with intermittent distortion vocals and an interesting guitar solo / solo riff...just amazing.
Swinging back into pop, we hit Hurricanes with a great lyric about weathering the storms that come our way by anchoring in Jesus.
The next track is a nice, crunchy ballad showing heartfelt cry that whatever happens in life, it's only on Jesus we can trust because, or course, we have Nothing To Give.
Next up we hear a great opening riff followed by a slow burn build of a rocker called Shadow. Great musically, great vocally, great lyrically. Amazing Track!
Rockin', raucus, relevant Religious & Famous puts the spotlight off the band and onto their Creator. Really fun tune! Again, really fun riff/synchopation.
Free sounds very introspective. Gritty, pounding, broken with a rap section in the midst. Not unheard of but very well done.
Renegade seems like a last minute throw in. Lyrically and musically OK, but just not up to the rest of the album. Still a fun romp, but just not pointing in the direction of the rest of the album...
All in all, this is an exceptional sophomore effort. from our Kentucky friends. BEC has a definite keeper here!
Jodi & Chris have created a great audio masterpiece. Rarely have I heard smooth vocals blended on so many great tracks. I find no weak song on the entire offering, high praise from someone who picks and chooses among the MP3s-rarely buying an entire album. From the first strains of When We Love to the quick-fading last not of What A Promise, I was completely enthralled by great vocals, encouraging and challenging lyrics and well written music. If you haven't heard He Is With Us, I assume you don't listen to CCM. You owe it to yourself to listen to this entire album.
Where are the Christian lyrics? | Posted July-12-2012
I'm hearing "We can rage" I'm hearing "We are insanity" I'm hearing "We have to fight for our peace" "Fight with guns" I'm not hearing a lot of reference to God or Jesus or Savior or peace that passes understanding. The musicianship is great. The sound is very catchy. Maybe this should be a secular release?
Fresh, Clean, Slightly Under Produced Excelence | Posted March-13-2012
Baloche brings 20+ years to the table. If you are looking for a breath of fresh air in today's distorted (and I don't just mean the guitars) praise, you've found one. This is a beautiful, clean set of songs in praise to our God. You'll hear many familiar voices from one sonic society, Hillsong, Kari Jobe, etc., all blending into a beautiful tapestry of music.
The first, and title track is very catchy and brings it's point home beautifully. Highs on King of Heaven, My Hope, Oh Our God, and Loved By You (my personal favorite).
All Because of the Cross is a new chorus added onto an old favorite hymn Nothing But The Blood. Nicely done.
Just Say is a great song, but I perosonally did'nt understand the production...the droms sound out of place with a rock beat in a slow song and jazz-style sizzling cymbals added to the mix and it just didn't fit my ear canal.
The last two songs (ballad Look Upon the Lord and hard hitting Shout For Joy) are beautiful duets, produced well, sung beautifully! Great finish to a great album of worship.
Great! | Posted February-29-2012
The premier song (Current) is extremely well written. A great beat over a song that has the feel of floating down a calm river. This song is very aptly named! Veteran lead vocalist of Chasing Furies shows her stuff on soaring ballads, beautiful praise and Christian dance tunes. Well worth the listen.
Strong Debut | Posted January-11-2012
Rachel has a great heart toward God. This is evident in the lyrics she sings. She has a great voice, but needs some vocal training. Her notes are solid, but lacking strength. Given time and maturity, she will be a star of great magnitude!
Having said that, the first song, As Close, is strong, unyielding and I love the Lennon-esque guitar solo.
Prove It is by far my favorite song on the album. Mostly because this angle has never been explored by a serious release. it's catchy, fun and has a really serious message that needs to go out to teen girls everywhere!
The rest of the songs; Even Here, Show Me More, You Must Love Me, Still Singing, Ready And Waiting, You And Your Love, and Resting in You are all solid, well written songs, but somehow lacking that POW that sets great music aside from good music. She has raw talent, but some guidance and better production will make her SHINE!
Go is a good, solid album from a young lady who's obviously trying to get a message out through ministry. Definitely worth the listen.
Smooth and Mellow | Posted August-29-2011
Beautifully done. Smooth vocals with mellow music. Perfect for quiet nights when you want to just reach out to God. Many good songs on here, but I can't remember the titles. And even though I'm not a fan of secular covers, Higher Ground was done quite well. Nice slow groove. Accoustic guitars abound, one slow, smooth, jazz number, many hooks and lyrics to remember. Great album.
Sweet! | Posted July-13-2011
Vocal and insturmental textures from a vast pallet of experience! The title track is an incredibly moving song. Themes of love and adoration to our Lord and Savior, Jesus blend with anthemic rock to form a great canvas of musical totality. Great album. Keep up the good work!
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