Post by Laura--I wuv u all :) on Oct 20, 2003 12:24:30 GMT -5
Various artists-"Hear & Beyond
1996
Genre: CCM (contemporary Christian music)
This CD is 7 years old, so it probably doesn't represent the LATEST trends in CCM music. (What ARE the latest trends, anyway? I don't know!
) But it's definitely worth a listen, and has songs in several different styles, so you're bound to find SOMETHING you like here. I know it is still available some places on the Internet.
1. Newsboys-"Reality": Quirky, up-tempo pop-rock with humorous lyrics: "Mom and Dad, I'm fine, how are you? I have joined a small circus, that much is true. I'm a little malnourished, but try to relax. Could you find a better photo for the milk carton backs? Send money."
2. Michele Tumes-"Listen": A lush, sweeping ballad. Very Enya-like.
3. Phillips, Craig & Dean-"Mercy Came Running": Mid-tempo pop-rock with strong male harmonies.
4.CeCe Winans-"Every Time": A gentle R&B ballad. This is one of those CCM songs which doesn't specifically refer to God by name. However, the opening montage of sounds include a baby crying, which seems to symbolize the need for a parent--or Parent.
5.Sarah Masen-"All Fall Down": She reminds me of some of the current crop of female singers, such as Michelle Branch and Vanessa Carlton. This song is very '60s-influenced.
6.Aaron & Jeoffrey-"We All Need": The Benwards--dad Jeoffrey and son Aaron--deliver a bouncy, R&B/gospel-flavored pop tune.
7.Chris Willis-"Nobody But Jesus": Breezy jazz-pop a la Al Jarreau.
8.Linnae Reeves-"Haven": Her voice is sort of similar to Sarah Masen (see #5). This is a strong country-rock flavored ballad. The verses are soft and gentle, leading up to a powerful chorus.
9.Lisa Bevill-"Only a Savior": A beautiful ballad, expressively sung.
10.PFR-"Anything": One of those bands that wears their classic rock influences--in this case, Badfinger--on their sleeve. Very catchy tune. (Trivia: their original name was Pray for Rain, but they found out another group already had that name. So they shortened it to PFR.)
11.Cheri Keaggy-"Lay it Down": A soft ballad with lyrics that encourage the listener to forgive others and themselves--which is a lesson I need to learn over and over again. Nice use of acoustic guitar and piano here.
12.David Robertson-"Someone Who Cares": I'd heard this one when it first came out, and my first reaction was, "Eh." Christian radio in the '90s was not the most experimental and risk-taking of formats (although many of its diehard fans would probably have me tarred and feathered for saying that), and this song sounds like about half the songs that they were playing at that time: a ballad with synthesizers, an electric guitar solo (to provide something for the kids in this otherwise "adult contemporary"-style format, perhaps?), and let's not forget the big key change near the end. That said, it does have a good lyric, and it's not a bad song in itself (kind of Richard Marx lite), but it's definitely the weakest link here. I remember another song by David Robertson (which I think was called "I Believe in Love"), that was more upbeat--and a lot more interesting.
13.Charlie Peacock-"Insult Like the Truth": On the other hand, this entry from producer-to-the-CCM-stars Charlie Peacock does NOT sound like anything else that was being played on CCM radio at that time. Which is probably why I never heard it until I got this CD.
Minimalist (for want of a better word) percussion, combined with strings reminiscent of Led Zeppelin's "Kashmir" (of all things!) and eloquent lyrics ("there's no gunshot like conviction, there's no conscience bulletproof").
14.Dogs of Peace-"I Wanna Know": A driving party-rocker reminiscent of the James Gang.
15.Sierra-"No Higher Place": These 3 ladies have a beautiful vocal blend, and it shows here. Despite a rather repetitive chorus, this ballad has probably the most inspirational and worshipful lyrics on the CD.
16.Tony Vincent-"Whole New Spin": The first time I heard this CD, I picked out this song as my favorite. (I've accumulated several additional favorites since then, but this is still one of them.) It starts out with just drums, bass and lead vocals, then the other instruments and background vocals kick in. Very funky rock groove, reminiscent of "Owner of a Lonely Heart" from Yes. (Trivia: Tony Vincent is now acting in Broadway musicals.)
17.Brian Barrett-"Write it On My Heart": This was another of those typical ballads that CCM radio was full of in the '90s (see #12), but without the big key change this time. The lyrics aren't bad, but the best feature of the song is Brian's beautiful tenor voice--I'd like to hear more from him.
My favorite tracks on this CD (by number): 1,2,3,8,9,14,16.
1996
Genre: CCM (contemporary Christian music)
This CD is 7 years old, so it probably doesn't represent the LATEST trends in CCM music. (What ARE the latest trends, anyway? I don't know!
) But it's definitely worth a listen, and has songs in several different styles, so you're bound to find SOMETHING you like here. I know it is still available some places on the Internet. 1. Newsboys-"Reality": Quirky, up-tempo pop-rock with humorous lyrics: "Mom and Dad, I'm fine, how are you? I have joined a small circus, that much is true. I'm a little malnourished, but try to relax. Could you find a better photo for the milk carton backs? Send money."
2. Michele Tumes-"Listen": A lush, sweeping ballad. Very Enya-like.
3. Phillips, Craig & Dean-"Mercy Came Running": Mid-tempo pop-rock with strong male harmonies.
4.CeCe Winans-"Every Time": A gentle R&B ballad. This is one of those CCM songs which doesn't specifically refer to God by name. However, the opening montage of sounds include a baby crying, which seems to symbolize the need for a parent--or Parent.
5.Sarah Masen-"All Fall Down": She reminds me of some of the current crop of female singers, such as Michelle Branch and Vanessa Carlton. This song is very '60s-influenced.
6.Aaron & Jeoffrey-"We All Need": The Benwards--dad Jeoffrey and son Aaron--deliver a bouncy, R&B/gospel-flavored pop tune.
7.Chris Willis-"Nobody But Jesus": Breezy jazz-pop a la Al Jarreau.
8.Linnae Reeves-"Haven": Her voice is sort of similar to Sarah Masen (see #5). This is a strong country-rock flavored ballad. The verses are soft and gentle, leading up to a powerful chorus.
9.Lisa Bevill-"Only a Savior": A beautiful ballad, expressively sung.
10.PFR-"Anything": One of those bands that wears their classic rock influences--in this case, Badfinger--on their sleeve. Very catchy tune. (Trivia: their original name was Pray for Rain, but they found out another group already had that name. So they shortened it to PFR.)
11.Cheri Keaggy-"Lay it Down": A soft ballad with lyrics that encourage the listener to forgive others and themselves--which is a lesson I need to learn over and over again. Nice use of acoustic guitar and piano here.
12.David Robertson-"Someone Who Cares": I'd heard this one when it first came out, and my first reaction was, "Eh." Christian radio in the '90s was not the most experimental and risk-taking of formats (although many of its diehard fans would probably have me tarred and feathered for saying that), and this song sounds like about half the songs that they were playing at that time: a ballad with synthesizers, an electric guitar solo (to provide something for the kids in this otherwise "adult contemporary"-style format, perhaps?), and let's not forget the big key change near the end. That said, it does have a good lyric, and it's not a bad song in itself (kind of Richard Marx lite), but it's definitely the weakest link here. I remember another song by David Robertson (which I think was called "I Believe in Love"), that was more upbeat--and a lot more interesting.
13.Charlie Peacock-"Insult Like the Truth": On the other hand, this entry from producer-to-the-CCM-stars Charlie Peacock does NOT sound like anything else that was being played on CCM radio at that time. Which is probably why I never heard it until I got this CD.
Minimalist (for want of a better word) percussion, combined with strings reminiscent of Led Zeppelin's "Kashmir" (of all things!) and eloquent lyrics ("there's no gunshot like conviction, there's no conscience bulletproof").14.Dogs of Peace-"I Wanna Know": A driving party-rocker reminiscent of the James Gang.
15.Sierra-"No Higher Place": These 3 ladies have a beautiful vocal blend, and it shows here. Despite a rather repetitive chorus, this ballad has probably the most inspirational and worshipful lyrics on the CD.
16.Tony Vincent-"Whole New Spin": The first time I heard this CD, I picked out this song as my favorite. (I've accumulated several additional favorites since then, but this is still one of them.) It starts out with just drums, bass and lead vocals, then the other instruments and background vocals kick in. Very funky rock groove, reminiscent of "Owner of a Lonely Heart" from Yes. (Trivia: Tony Vincent is now acting in Broadway musicals.)
17.Brian Barrett-"Write it On My Heart": This was another of those typical ballads that CCM radio was full of in the '90s (see #12), but without the big key change this time. The lyrics aren't bad, but the best feature of the song is Brian's beautiful tenor voice--I'd like to hear more from him.
My favorite tracks on this CD (by number): 1,2,3,8,9,14,16.
So I have limited bits and spurts of computer time, and today I was so busy writing MY review during lunch that I didn't get to look around too much. I'll do that in more depth tomorrow. 
