5 comments about Emmanuel: God With Us.

1. He Can Fix What Is Broke, has really been a blessing to me. Thank you MS MASS for a job well done. This particular song is really a testimonial song for myself as well as another choir member in which we will be doing lead on. Oh I can't seem to tell you how much this song has really given my spirit man a lift, and gave me hope that whatever I am going thru, God not only can fix, but He already has fixed my problems. such as sickness, heartbrokeness, rejection, abuse etc., Oh I thank God for delieverance. To you who are hurting just give it to Jesus and I am a witness that if you do, He can fix whatever. Glory to Jesus, all you have to do is to call upon Him, and as Sis Rogina says with such powerful anointing, He Can Fix What is Broke.......Be Blessed in the Lord, and if you haven't purchased this cd you need to add it to you collection,



2. Hey Everybody!!! If you think LISTENING to this song rocks your spirit, check out the VIDEO!!! I have it and seeing the choir in action will REALLY get you on your feet and dancing for the Lord!!! Everytime I see it, I CANNOT sit still!!! Tears roll down my face ( tears of JOY ) and I sing and dance my heart out!!! Also, I don't know if it will work, if all else fails, put your TV on closed caption and maybe, just MAYBE, the words will appear on the bottom of your screen! I intend to purchase the CD so I can praise the Lord in my car, at work, ANYWHERE!!! Hope this helps!!! God Bless!!![.]



3. I really enjoyed the song "They Got the Word," so much I had to find the lyrics. The site is below, however, if you can't access it, then go to Google.com and enter in [Mississippi Mass Choir + lyrics], and you should go to various links that display the lyrics to this song.

   http://www.straightblack.com/culture/African-American-Music/Mississippi-Mass-Choir/They-Got-The-Word.html




4. I love the Mississippi Mass Choir you all are my favorite.



5. I just borrowed this cd from a friend yesterday and it tis the Bomb!! I love Mississippi and I would like to have the lyrics to the songs They Got The Word and He Can Fix What Is Broke. This is really my favorite song on the whole cd and I would like my choir to sing it as well, but I don't have the lyrics. May God Bless this wonderful choir!!!!!

5 comments about Passion for Praise, Volume One (1).

1. Passion for Praise is a must for every Christian. There are many music styles in this CD...you will be clapping, dancing, crying, laughing, praising and praying!



2. This is indeed the very best Praise and Worship album. Carman is my favorite and coolest Gospel artiste of all time.



3. Oh that Carman would release another album like this.

   It has to be the best P&W album I've ever heard. It is incredible and is Carman at his best. Would that he would record another album such as this.




4. When listening to this album by Carman you cannot help but be lifted up in praise and worship. Songs of praise to our God has always been the heart and soul of the Christian experience. Our Heavenly Father delights in our praise and worship. Carman not only sings these songs but composed them himelf and this is what makes this album so special



5. If you are like me, the first thought you had was that Carman had jumped on the recent "praise album" bandwagon. And to be sure, there are a lot of artists that have done so recently (with mixed results). But Carman has been doing praise songs in his own style for years. A couple of those songs he has redone for this album, and has added his version of some other praise classics to go with it.

   Overall this album is classic Carman. Every one of the songs on this album are clearly stamped with Carman's style. For the most part, it works, though in my opinion his remake of Rich Mullins' classic "Awesome God" falls just a little short.

   If you have ever seen Carman in concert, or even seen a video of him in concert, you know that Carman gives 100% of himself. The intensity of these songs shows that he gave just as much of himself during the recording of this album as well.

   If you are a big praise & worship fan, or a big Carman fan, then you will certainly want to add this album to your collection. And if you are a fan of both, like I am, then you have no choice but to do do.

5 comments about Take Up Your Cross.

1. I first heard these guys back in the late 80's when I was going to high school with a group of christian radicals I hung out with often. Twenty years later I am an athiest and have absolved my life of christianity as much as possible. That said, I still listen to these guys from time to time because they are just THAT good. They made some great punk/hardcore music at a time when it was still an underground form of music. Take Up Your Cross is thier debut. As other reviewers have stated, it is more punk than thrash- which is a valid observation. Listening to this beside the sonic fury of Pillars Of Humanity is a definite contrast in musical styles. It's remarkable how well this stands up, though, even today. I just gave it a long overdue listen and I am still impressed by the A) The songs B) The quality of the recording for a first release demo c) The insane drumming of Jim Chaffin, and D) Mark Soloman's lyrics, even at this infant stage of their career. This album really stands apart in every way. I saw The Crucified live at Cornerstone in 1988 or '89 and I remember how amazing they were live. They had the tent packed that night and delivered in a BIG WAY. People were stage diving and getting body passed throughout the whole show- I had never seen that at a christian rock concert before. It was a shame they disbanded, but fortunately we have these albums to always remind us of what an incredible band they were. And also, anyone who is a fan should always be on the lookout for the cassette only release "Live At The New Order". This is a well recorded concert from 1988 that was released between "Nailed" and their self- titled debut. It is a great document of them live.



2. This is some fast, agressive Hardcore in the vein of Minor Threat. This same demo material was also released by another label on a CD entitled 'Nailed'. Whilst this is certainly an enjoyable recording, I still think they didn't really come into their own until their self-titled debut full-length. (And yes, I like that 'stupid anti-papal song' (titled 'Man in a suit and The Pope') because, both musically and lyrically it is spot-on, although I would have been harder on the Pope.) 'The Pillars of Society' is worth a listen as well. It has better production than the previous releases but the songs are better on 'The Crucified'.
   Once again, don't let any prejudices you might have against Christians/Christianity deafen you to some great music.



3. This sounds like a Christian version of Minor Threat with the vocalist from Anti. A little goofy, but pretty powerful. Actually, their self-titled CD is aeons better, with an almost speed-metallic hardcore punk version, except their stupid anti-papal song.



4. This is a great hard-core punk album, and I recommend this to fans of 90 Pound ... and Lugnut. This is a must buy! Just listen to one of the samples and you'll see.



5. This is one of, if not the best, old-school thrashy christian punk albums of all time. these guys are so fast, they'll leave you speechless. Enjoy!

5 comments about Petra.

1. This is Petra's first album ever. The singer was Greg Hough in that time. The style was quite near Led Zeppelin and some other rock bands. Most people say that this is one of Petra's worst albums but I like it! It really rocks! That's why Petra means rock! The songs such as "Walkin' in the Light", "Get Back to the Bible", "Storm Comin'", and "Wake Up" really rock! The blues rock songs "Backslidin' Blues" is a good song too...like the country rock song "Lucas McGraw". The peaceful songs "Parting Thought" And "Mountains And Valleys" are great too. You should try this album!
   Stars: Walkin' in the Light, Storm Comin', Lucas McGraw



2. While certainly not their best this is a great addition to any Pethead's library. I have to say that new Petra fans probably, if the name Petra was not on the front would have no idea who it is. Like Bruice I suggest that you get Petra's better known albums
   
   To an avid Petra fan though this album is priceless.
   
   I also have to say that it is not the best recording job. And just a little trivia for you, "Petra" was recorded for around 900.00 dollaes and it took three weeks to record.



3. I know that this is the rarest petra cd but c mon lets b reasonable i love this band but whos realisticly going 2 pay that much!!!!!!!!!



4. The year was 1974 when Christian rock pioneers Petra released their self-titled debut album. This was during the height of the 'Jesus Movement' and the album was probably the heaviest to come from that period. The band also generated plenty of controversy at the time because of them being 'Christian' and 'rock' at the same time, much in the same way Stryper would be criticized for being a Christian heavy metal band 10 years later.
   So, exactly how great is Petra's first album? It all depends. If your a long-time fan, there's no doubt that you'll love this album. However, if you're new to the band's music and started off with one of their later releases, this album may take a few listens to digest.
   At the time, the band did not have a lead singer. The vocal duties were shared by guitarist/founder Bob Hartman and second guitarist Greg Hough. While the vocals are rather weak here, the band does more than its share of making up for it musically. Both Hartman and Hough trade off and harmonize with some stelth dual guitar leads. The rhythm section of bassist John DeGroff and drummer Bill Glover also flex some strong musical muscles.
   Musically, Petra's first album is along the same lines as many of the popular mainstream acts of the era. "Walkin' In The Light" and "Get Back To The Bible" are both straight forward rockers in the style of early Kiss. "I'm Not Ashamed" has a definite Allman Brothers style to it. "Gonna Fly Away", "Storm Comin'" and "Wake Up" have elements of the Tom Johnston-era Doobie Brothers, Lynyrd Skynyrd and REO Speedwagon. The folkish-ballads "Mountains and Valleys" and "Parting Thought" are in the typical Jesus Rock style with acoustic guitars and gentle melodies. A real standout on this album is the humorous bluegrass novelty song "Lucas McGraw" complete with banjos, mandolins and high-pitched vocal harmonies. The lyrics tell the story of a hillbilly who has found Jesus. People who know Lucas start to notice his radical change and begin wondering if perhaps God really does exsist. The other standout is the excellent "Backslidin' Blues" which is probably the very first Christian blues song ever. Both Hartman and Hough display some great guitar work here while its lyrics deal with struggling to stay afloat spiritually.
   While Petra's first album didn't get a whole lot of attention back in 1974, it has since become a Christian Rock classic. If it weren't for this album and what Petra continued to do in the coming years, there's no doubt in my mind that Contemporary Christian Music as we all know it today would be quite different. This is where it all started for Petra and this is where CCM began to take shape. A pioneering album, definitely.



5. Most of the reviews here are spot-on. I was first introduced to Petra's music around 1983 (or maybe '84)....a friend owned "Not of This World" which was and continues to be one of Petra's greatest works. This first album is decent.....they certainly get a B+ for effort. Lyrically, some of the songs are a bit "young", but these guys were right in the middle of the Jesus Movement and they WERE young! They were simply singing about the Lord whom they loved. "Wake Up" is one of the best songs on this album, and no, musically the whole album doesn't have nearly the "shine" (production-wise) that some of their later albums have, it's still worth adding to your collection....just don't judge all of Petra's music by this VERY freshman effort.

No comments about The Hidden Face of God.

4 comments about He Who Made the Rain.

1. What Can I say expect that if you love Jesus and Country Music this one is for you. EXCELLENT!!!!!!



2. Ken Holloway gives us a country-flavored taste of the grace of God, and does it straight from his heart. I'ts great country music, and it has a powerful message.



3. I highly recommend this CD for those who love true country style but have reservations about the lyrics that so often accompanies todays secular music. Ken sings from his heart about things that he has lived and how Jesus Christ has changed his life. It's real life music with a message, not just canned, for profit Christianity to put change in someone else's pocket. Ken sings with his heart. I have truly benefitted from his music, beginning with this CD.



4. I highly recommend this CD for those who love true country style but have reservations about the lyrics that so often accompanies todays secular music. Ken sings from his heart about things that he has lived and how Jesus Christ has changed his life. It's real life music with a message, not just canned, for profit Christianity to put change in someone else's pocket. Ken sings with his heart. I have truly benefitted from his music, beginning with this CD.

5 comments about Dichotomy A.

1. The GRITS take it to a new level here with a boatload of inspiration that produced 2 cd's (the other is Dichotomy B). Musically amazing.. simply amazing!! The instrumentation.. the production on this album is flooring.



2. Outstanding lyrics, outstanding beats! Every song is your favorite! It is possible to renew your mind and jam at the same time. Thank you grits!!!



3. This is a really great Christian rap CD. I was totally surprised because I never thought I could enjoy listening to anyone rap about Jesus in a rap song. This is one of my favorite rap groups. Since I enjoyed Dichotomy B so much I decided to buy Dichotomy A. I am not disappointed. My favorite songs are "Anybody" "High" and "Mind Blowin". Anyone into Christian rap music, please check out the GRITS.



4. Wow! God has truly blessed these men with hip hop talents beyond any other! I really enjoy their music and songs because I enjoy rap , but I do not like the explicit lyrics types. I really enjoyed this for it has great songs and beats and best of all: spreading God's Word! Definitley check this out. By the way, this is not Michael L Matheny, this is his son, Nathan L Matheny.



5. From what i heard on this album, The grits are a talented christian rap duo. There are a few boring songs on here, But for the most part, There are enough interesting songs on here. The best songs are ''Anybody'' [The best song on here], ''Gutter boy'', ''High'', And ''Hittin curves''. Some of the beats aren't too good, But the lyrics are quite decent [Especially the ones by coffee]. Christian rap fans should be satisfied by this album. It's not one of the best christian rap albums out there, But it's 1 christian rap album that's worth at least 1 listen. Hope the review helped you. Be blessed.

5 comments about A Fragile Stone.

1. The Musicians on this album flat out know how to play. This CD is worth the purchase just for that alone. The lyrics are very powerful and very well written. The them of the album is the interaction between Peter and Jesus. There is a wide mix of music from piano, bluegrass, gospel, Celtic, and jazz. The standout songs are "A Fragile Stone" "Sea of Souls" and "walking on the Water." The only problem I had were the vocals which I just couldnt really get into on a lot of the songs and that is why I gave this 3 stars.



2. I was first introduced to Michael Card early in the nineteen eighties. My daughter bought me three of his tapes; namely "The Final Word", "Scandalon"and "Known by the scars" where MC sang through the birth, life and death of Jesus. (I waited many years for these songs to be put on CD's and they are now available on a double CD called "The Life".) Then, a few years later my second youngest daughter came to study in the States and she bought me the CD "Present Reality"... I did not even own a CD player at that time! When I started my collection of Christian music, Michael Card was up there with Steven Curtis Chapman, Dallas Holm and Ray Boltz, also three Godly men who have written awesome scriptural songs. Michael Card has left a legacy of Christian music that will last as long as there are people who love gospel music. He is indisputably the greatest composer, singer and musician of Christian songs. All his songs are based on the bible, from "The Ancient Faith" which is a double CD written on the old testament to "Unveiled Hope" which covers Revelations and many more. Over the years, his style of music has changed... bringing in the celtic sound in the CD "Brother to Brother" and "Poeima".
   
   However, this CD is different. He has introduced a new sound as well as sticking to his old styles. This CD meant so much to me because I have always felt that I related to Peter more then anyone else in the bible. I rush in where angels fear to tread. I have (like Peter) disowned my Lord on many occasions and have gently been reminded that He still loves me despite my shortcomings and because of this I have been able to renew my love and commitment to Him.
   
   As far as the songs on this CD is concerned...if I had to choose a favourite then it would have to be "fragile Stone" which is an awesome song regarding Peter"s life and his eventual death on the cross. Being of Irish descent I love the music that accompanies "Sea of Souls"... I can almost see Irish dancers dancing to it.
   
   Each song on this CD is beautiful in itself and the backing orchestration and vocals are phenomenal. I truly pray that there will be many more years of wonderful music from Michael Card.



3. I've been a MC fan for a long time and I have to say that this album represents the biggest departure from his "traditional" musical style yet. The album is fairly heavily influenced by bluegrass themes, which is a natural progression from the Celtic flavored music from Poeima and Soul Anchor. The playing is, for the most part, very good. The song "Sea of Souls", however, is truly transcendent. At seven minutes, the listener is treated to a couple of thought provoking verses and choruses but where the song really takes off is at the extended ending that is purely instrumental. Working with several very talented artists, including Bela Fleck, MC creates a tapestry woven of many colorful, improvisationally-invented musical threads. The album is worth the price of admission for that one tune alone.

   The theme of the album springs from Card's study of the role of Peter in the New Testament and in the early church. Songs are taken from all parts of Peter's ministry and life but mainly focus on his interaction with Christ. Other notable and memorable songs include the title cut, "Fragile Stone" and the gospel influenced, "I Left Everything to Follow You".

   Finally, Mr. Card continues the theme of creating music in a community of faith and more than on any other of his albums that shines through here. Other vocalists are featured, other instrumentalists are given center stage and you get the feeling that you aren't being presented a finished work so much as entering into a conversation with fellow travelers on the same journey as you are. That closeness makes this album a wonderful experience for a listener that wants to join in.




4. I've followed Michael Card for most of my Christin life now (~16 years) and let me tell you this: if you've never discovered the music of Michael Card, you're missing out on a great musical genius! No other artist can compare to the depth of his lyrics nor the beauty of his arrangments. To top it off, I've met the man and he is indeed a living testimony to what he preaches: humble service to Christ. But be forewarned: his lyrics are heavy and convicting and are best appreciated by the most mature christians. So if your looking for some watered down pop, this ain't it!

   His knowledge of the bible and theology approach that of an experienced biblical scholar and it surely shows in his projects. Take for example A Fragile Stone, Mike's best begining to end thus far. The entire album is about Simon Peter! This is Mike's latest trend after albums on Revelation and Hebrews, both awesome.

   So get with man! Mike Card is one of a kind and his music, somehow, is even getting better with time!

   An amazing album!




5. Michael Card never disappoints w/his lyrics, orchestration and variety of musical styles. Fragile Stone offers a bit of Celtic (as most of his efforts do), soulful gospel on "Not that Kind of King" and a little bluegrass in a piece written in the 70's "Walking on the Water" (my personal favorite for use while working out!) This CD presents a look at the character of Peter, in which I think we can all identify. As always, Card continues to be my absolute favorite Christian musician in a sea of pop star wanna be's. He con't. to fill his music w/deeper thoughts and orchestration that pulls at my own heart's search for a truer relationship w/Christ.

1 comments about Undivided.

1. Undivided Attention, that's what I give to this First Call album. Fine lyrics and lovely music. One of my all time favorite groups and style of music. Get your hands on a copy if you don't already have one!

1 comments about Reign.

1. The songs are purely soulful! Intelligent, thought-provoking lyrics with catchy melodies, this album is a must-have for all Christians and non-Christians. In my opinion, Joe Sabolick's voice can be compared to Don Henley's and his songs seem to have an interesting mixture of influences stemming from the Eagles, Cheap Trick, Bob Seger, and Fleetwood Mac. I absolutely love this album and recommend it highly!