5 comments about What I Was Made For.

1. What to do with $15 in birthday money? You're at Wal-Mart and you have the choice of Joy Williams' "Genesis" or Big Daddy Weave's "What I Was Made For". You've heard a couple of songs off both albums, and like them. What did I choose? Well, I thought buying Joy Williams would be embarrassing and not "manly" enough, so I said hello to the Big Daddy, and some bubble gum.
   
   Big mistake. There's only 3 1/2 songs I like, and one is a Wal-Mart exclusive live song of "Neighborhoods". With that song, I think the Big Daddy should make a live record.
   
   The album starts off well, "What I Was Made For" is a great rockin' song, and the band's best. "You're Worthy Of My Praise" is a great modern worship song, and Barlow Girl's best duet (that Selah one was just gosh darn awful). I also like Fred Hammond's part in "Killing Me Again". I think he has great lyrics in his part, and his short part in the track is better than all the tracks I haven't mentioned off this album, combined!
   
   That's right, the rest is pretty bad. After a couple of songs, the album becomes VERY formomatic. Other songs are just poorly constructed, and poorly executed. And even after reading the explanation to "The Track Of Silence", I still think it's an excuse to lengthen the album, so it actually seems like you're getting your money's worth. You're not.
   
   Overall, another bad formomatic album for the Big Daddy. I would recommend only buying the songs I mentioned off the Wal-Mart MP3 store to get the bonus track. Sorry Big Daddy, try a live record.



2. These guys rock and this cd is no exception to their brilliant reputation!! My favorite songs on this cd are Just the way I am and His name is Jesus. However, they are all awsome!!



3. You guys have done it again and better! This new CD should be rated with 10 stars. It is so Christ filled. The growth of you guys as a band is amazing. Every single song on the CD is magnificent. "Without You", is the greatest of all !
   The talent of Big Daddy Weave is the best out there.
   This CD showcases it all!



4. It seems so often in the field of Christian music that you have to choose between meaningful lyrics with spiritual insight and the often-noisy `rock' songs that are so catchy and enjoyable. However, with Big Daddy Weave's album WHAT I WAS MADE FOR...you get both!
   
   The title track `What I Was Made For' is a catchy rock number with uncompromising lyrics. It grows on you with each listening. (In fact, I was so intrigued by this song, I listened to it three times before I even listened to the rest of the album). Definitely one of the highlights of the album, 5 stars.
   
   "Just The Way I Am" is another great song with another great message. 5 stars
   
   "For Who You Are" demands that you turn it up. It is definitely one of the loudest, clearest songs about God's attributes that I know. 5 stars.
   
   "It's All About You" is one of the slower songs on the album...although it is far from boring. A good modern praise song. It's simple lyrics will make it easy to learn. 5 stars
   
   "You're Worthy of My Praise" has been one of my favorite modern worship songs since I first heard it on a Passion album BETTER IS ONE DAY. Barlow Girl (a great band) joins Big Daddy Weave on this rendition of this modern classic. 5 stars.
   
   "His Name Is Jesus" is a slighty-less-catchy rock song (compared to "What I Was Made For" and "Just The Way I Am", but a great song all the same. With repeated listenings, it's sure to accumulate fans. 5 stars
   
   "Give Up, Let Go" is a good song. 4 stars
   
   "Killing Me Again" is probably my least favorite song on the album. It is very different musically from the rest of the songs on the album. 3 stars.
   
   "Without You" is another slower paced song with merits all its own. 4 stars.
   
   "Words of Life" is another slow song. It is definitely one of the highlights on the album. 5 stars.
   
   Great for fans of Sonicflood, Third Day, Kutless, and Jeremy Camp.



5. The guys from BDW are the greatest bunch of guys you would want to know. Humble, Christ-driven, and down to Earth. I was first exposed to their music when I came across their independent release, "Neighborhoods." Ever since then, they've been on God's straight and narrow in doing what He wants them to do through their talents and music. This new album is right on with all of their previous releases: Honest, worshipful, encouraging, and inspires anyone who listens to it to want to grow their relationship with Christ. What a novel idea to leave the last track silent!!! Just The Way I Am, Give Up, Let Go, and Without You are some of my favorites. The sound is different...a little more heavy, but it's done so well. And the drum tracks are done to perfection. New and old fans, you won't regret this purchase.

5 comments about Take Me to Your Leader.

1. This is definitely the very best of the Newsboys cds. I grew up listening to this cd. The lyrics (Steve Taylor, you rock!) are challenging and funny. The music is great, varied, and interesting- not just sounding like a variation on the same theme. The album art- alright, you get the message. Some of the best Christian music around- BUY THIS CD if you like Christian rock.
   
   Has anyone else noticed that in the original case, if you take out the cd and pop out the plastic piece that holds the cd in place, there is a little picture of Peter Furler dressed up like an alien? With the plastic in place, all you can see is his eye...



2. Hello, This album is a good CD. I like the music. The songs are good too. Especially the Take me to your leader.



3. This is the album The Newsboys have not been able to top but should try to,although "Thrive" was a little close,but not close enough.The Newsboys sound like a full band here all the way through the disc,not leaving behind one bit of filler."Lost the Plot"is my personal favorite,the message is so "in your face""Reality","Breakfast",the title song, are all superb, to say the least.This album along with d.c.Talk's "Jesusfreak" are essential to any serious cd collection,really.............Enjoy!



4. I think this is the best album made by the Newsboys. This was made while Stve Taylor was still writing lyrics for them. And if you know Steve Taylor's style it generally has some sarcasm which makes you think a little while you listen to the great sound of the music. Breakfast is a real classic song which shows off the talent of both Steve and Peter. If you like the way the Newsboys sound then you will like this album.



5. I love this CD so,so much! Now,for my own little comments on each song:
   God is not a secret 7/10 This song kinda sets the mood for the CD,not one of my favorites but,it's OK.
   Take me to your leader 9/10 This one really draws you into the album,rock on!!
   Breathe 6/10 This one has the best guitar in it,but the cymbals get on my nerves after a while.
   Reality 8/10 Nicely done percussion!
   Breakfast 11/10 I think you get the point!
   Let it go 9/10 This one calms things down a bit,very nice acoustics!
   Cup o' tea 10/10 This song probaly is the hardest song on the CD.
   It's all who you know 7/10 Nice guitar riffs!
   miracle child 8/10 Starts off slow,but kinda get's a beat.
   Lost the plot 6/10 Probaly my least favorite,it's just too long!
   Breathe (benediction)9/10 A very sweet melody,I love the way Phil sings on this one!
   Overall,a very awesome sounding album.I highly recommend this!

5 comments about 11 Live - Jars of Clay in Concert.

1. very good
   satisfied on that dvd
   composition was perfect very graceful, and great~
   they are just great!!



2. Since these guys rarely tour the Northeast it was the only way for me to see them in concert. Pure entertainment. A DVD that I can leave on repeat all day. My 11 month old daughter enjoyed it as well. She seemed to find her rythm while watching. Great music, great message, great performance.



3. Jars of Clay are one of my favourite bands and I was blessed enough to see them live last year. They really inspired me to pick up my guitar again after a 5 or so year hiatus and now I'm gonna be worship leading at my local church!

   Inspiring is a good word to describe this dvd as well, it's really great. They cover most of my favourite songs (except "Frail", but you can't have everything) including highlights for me of "I need You", "Worlds Apart", and of course "Flood". The picture and sound quality of this dvd are perfectly fine, (why people want concert's in 5.1 I don't know, they generally are in stereo as are cd's). Jars are a quality outfit who sing and play with great passion and skill. I could watch these guys play for hours.

   Thanks for reading and enjoy this dvd, and thanks amazon for sending it so quickly to me!




4. After listening to Jars' for a couple years, I got this DVD so I could actually "see", them. I cannot explain this very well, but I see the band much differently after watching this. I saw who they really were.

   This DVD has a few special features outside the actual concert. It's great to watch if you are a Jars' fan. If you aren't really into them, you might not enjoy it very much. The quality is alright, nothing compared to a feature film though.




5. I thought that this DVD was great. I didn't notice anything wrong with the quality, but I don't know much about the technicalities of creating a DVD like this, so I think I'll leave that to the people who do. As far as the music, it's great, they picked some awesome songs and they sound great live. The extras such as 10:30 and artflick were cool too and I especially liked the acoustic performances. I think it would have been cool if they had included videos from some of the songs off of "The Eleventh Hour" too, but just the same, they had some nice extras. Overall though, I definitely recommend this DVD, I loved it. If you can't catch Jars in concert, then this is a good buy for you to experience them live.

5 comments about Bethany Dillon.

1. Her voice is so crisp and clear, and she is such a talented singer/songwriter. You would enjoy this for sure!



2. This project landed somewhere between alternative and folk. There are several good messages in the project, not just the same old same old in Christian music. The best songs on the project are "Revolutionaries", "Great Big Mystery", "Move Forward", the hit "All I Need", the Amy Grant cover "Lead Me On", and "A Voice Calling Out".



3. Bethany Dillon has one of the BEST VOICES I have ever heard! Her music grabs your heart, and doesn't let go. What a truly AMAZING TALENT!!



4. I love Bethany Dillon!I saw her CD in Borders and listened to a clip. I thought it sounded pretty good so my parents bought it for me for my birthday. I fell in love with the CD! I wrote her management and they sent me an autographed picure. I bought a Bethany Dillon shirt at her concert and she signed the back of it.
   
   She has the most touching lyrics! I was going through a rough time and her song "Hallelujah" from Imagination really touched my heart.



5. This is one teenager with a truly amazing voice. With a voice like this at 15, it will be a real treat to hear it when it has matured a bit. She may be in a category by herself by the time she is twenty.
   
   Bethany has the best super young voice I've heard since Lean Rimes first started singing professionally at twelve or whatever she was at the time.
   
   This CD has a big advantage over even Rimes. Bethany Dillon has meaningful songs with well written Christian lyrics. With those words added to her sound, she has a truly incredible combination.
   
   One interesting thing to me is the first song 'Revolutionaries.' On that song, her voice sounds a lot like Jennifer Knapp, who is one of my favorites. In the rest of the songs, her sound is quite different, but equally good.
   
   Some of the songs that I think are particularly good are: 'Revolutionaries', 'Beautiful', and 'All I Need'. None of the songs on this album is a dud though.
   
   Although I hadn't heard her before, I will definitely be watching for her recordings in the future.

5 comments about What a Heart Is Beating For.

1. I liked it but feel Chris Rice isn't singing the real Chris!!
   What happened to Deep Enough to Dream and great cds like that?
   i probably wont give it much play time, but am hoping he'll get back to writing great tunes again.
   geoff



2. I'm a relatively new listener of Chris Rice's music. His first albums were a breath of fresh air in what can be a genre that can get muddled with cliché (all be it often generally well intentioned). He seemed to be able to speak honestly about the rather mixed up state we call 'life' in an open, vulnerable and (for me at least) easy to relate to manner. Each of his albums seemed to build upon the last whilst introducing something a little bit unexpected, either musically or lyrically. So I was really interested to hear this album myself after reading the somewhat mixed views represented on Amazon.
   
   'What a heart is beating for' does not disappoint in any way, it feels like hearing from a person you haven't met for a little while. With much familiar to hear balanced finely with new things to share and experience.
   
   I agree with others that the inclusion of 'Lemonade' was a little surprising (rather like listening to a friend relate a story you've heard before), but it is not a terribly unwelcome surprise and its inclusion doesn't upset the musical balance of the album in the slightest. I find his love songs tender, familiar (in terms of common experience) and occasionally funny all at the same time and I'm glad that they're present with the more thoughtful themes explored here.
   
   In summary, 'What a heart is beating for' is a great title of this album and it is well worth purchasing.



3. I am sorry to say it but this is my least favorite cd by Chris Rice. The Lyrics specifically have really gone downhill.



4. This is certainly one of my favorite CDs of all time. The only even slightly low points are "Sneakin' into Heaven" and "Pardon My Dust."
   
   "Tell Me the Story Again" is rapturous. The title track is invigorating. All the tracks are inventive and have memorable melodies.



5. Wow- This is my first dive into Chris Rice and what a experience. His songs are deeply impacting me. I can just put it in and never have to skip a song. His music makes you think of great pictures with moving lyrics and awesome guitar/piano playing. I just can't say enough about this album- I think I will buy amusing next and see where that one leads me!

3 comments about Behind the Eyes.

1. Easily the most undervalued and underrated album of Amy's career, it is without a doubt one of her greatest. On some days I'd say it's THE greatest.
   
   Like the other contender for that title, 'Lead Me On', it is not one of her best-selling titles. Many fans don't like Amy's dark, honest side. Also as with 'Lead Me On' a decade before it, this album was like a cathartic purge of all the gunk that had built up over several years of making sugary sweet pop. Grant just lays all her emotional cards on the table, good and bad, and says, "This is me. Take it or leave it."
   
   Take it.



2. Behind the Eyes by Amy Grant was released a decade ago but it still stands as her most personal and honest album ever. This cd was about her marriage breaking up and afterwards she went on to marry country superstar Vince Gill. Grant plays guitar for the first time and co-wrote almost every track. My personal fave is Cry A River, this song just gets to me everytime. Like I Love You, Takes A Little Time, I Will Be your Friend, Missing You, and Nobody Home are also standout tracks. Good album so go out and purchase it.



3. Some albums are pure fluff - they serve as the soundtrack for roadtrips and lazy summer days in the sun, when life is good and all's right with the world. And then there are albums that change your life. These albums make you re-evaluate your journey on earth and lift you up on a ray of hope by simply reminding you that in your darkest hours, when life is messy and full of problems too great to bear, you are not alone. Amy Grant's "Behind the Eyes" is just such an album for me. And in this newly remastered version, it never sounded better!
   
   Initially, the dramatic shift in both lyrical content and production values on "Behind the Eyes," from the synth pop sound of one of my then favorite albums, 1994's "House of Love," was incredibly jarring. After years of anticipating new music from Amy, I didn't quite know what to make of the album but I kept listening. In September of 1997, I had just entered my freshman year of high school and, like Amy, was doing a lot of growing while I explored the various themes and emotions on "Behind the Eyes." After a while I warmed up to the album and over the next couple of years it seemed that every few months I'd cite a different song from "Behind the Eyes" as my new favorite, depending on my mood and stance in life. Through crushes and first loves, breakups and funerals, 9/11, and my fairly recent graduation from college, the album provided the soundtrack to my constantly maturing view of the world both echoing my joy at reaching a new stage in my life and comforting my sorrow when events ultimately ended.
   
   Today, I listen to "Behind the Eyes" more frequently than any other Amy Grant album and with each new listen it continues to reveal layers of depth and meaning to me, even when I thought I knew the album both inside and out. I'm constantly finding new levels of solace, hope, and peace within Amy's honest lyrics. Her pain and suffering throughout the writing and recording process of "Behind the Eyes" shines through the finished product and that rawness elevates the album to a higher status; a benchmark, if you will, among her accomplished discography that all future albums will no doubt be judged against.
   
   Take a chance and journey with Amy "Behind the Eyes." You won't regret the ride.

5 comments about Upstairs.

1. Wow, this is truly the best CD I have listened to in a long time. Finally, Christian music that is not orchestrated or pretentious! All of these songs are so..organic, flowing. You can just sense the passion of Shane and Shane, they're just singing to Jesus. It's not complex, over the top music. Just guitars, light drums, good vocals. Highly reccomended.



2. i definately destroyed the cd by listening to it so much...didnt know that was possible but evidently it is. the music is awsome and i like every song on the album



3. I heard of Shane & Shane through a good friend of mine who let me borrow her CD (Upstairs), and ever since listening to it, true worship has taken on a whole new meaning.
   I have since then purchased their other albums, all of which are just as wonderful - their CD's almost never leave my CD player!!
   The music is clean, pure and unique; their voices are soothing, but strong, and very easy to listen to; their lyrics are intricate and meaningful, penetrating something deep inside ones's heart. They make me think of David's psalms - showing the heart of a man broken before, dancing for, crying out to, praising the Lord through the many twists and turns of life...
   Shane & Shane put everything they have into their music...desire, yearning, sorrow, peace, joy...the songs are like prayers - as though no one but YAHWEH will ever hear them, they are for HIM alone; and that's what makes their music so touching and beautiful - they are doing it for HIM alone, and are giving us a taste of their intimacy with, and passion for, the Father...and you can't help but be drawn into that place of worship.



4. This is my favorite Shane and Shane CD (however, they are all great!). I love the story on the inside of the CD of how everything was going wrong when recording and how they almost scrapped it. I'm so glad they pushed through because this is a strong CD. The Shanes have a gift of blending flawless harmonies into folksy songs that make you want to close your eyes and breathe it all in. The Shanes excel in simple yet poignant lyrics that Shane Barnard delivers in a breathy angelic kind of way. Highlights include Psalm 13, Holy, Beauty For Ashes, The Answer, I Want It All, and Yearn. And all of the rest of the songs are also good. I love a CD that can say so much without having to say a lot. Shane and Shane can only get better, too, so I look forward to their CD!



5. Every song is excellent. Great Christian music for working, driving, etc. The CD's production quality and clarity is great and Shane & Shane's voices are terrific. I would definitely recommend Upstairs.

5 comments about Better Questions.

1. Better Questions does just that, question if there are better ways to live and show your love for Christ. I attended church with Todd as our Music Director so I could've personally taken offensive at some songs but instead knew it wasn't about our specific church but all churches that need to ask questions of themselves; if you don't know what those questions are then listen again with a more open mind & ear. That's why our church is called "the perfect place for imperfect people", are all churches that way? Are you that accepting of others or just showing up? These songs test you and make you look hard within yourself, the way God knows you.



2. This reflects some of his best work. It is refreshing and his vocals are heartfelt. One of my favorites.



3. This is a very unique sound. Great for new believers and young ones(because of the wording it fits young in the Lord crowd). I bought this for my husband but my teenage daughter loves it and wont let it go. If you love a country sound this is great, if you love the blues this is graet ,if you love pop this is great, not just one style but many and its wonderful!



4. Every new CD Todd puts out I expect to finally be sub-par to the previous. However, I have yet to be let down. His newest spin is a great addition to his previous releases. I love his sincerity. He speaks from the heart and his songs are like the psalms, real, honest and applicable. Better Questions... how does he keep doing it?



5. My teenaged daughter and I have been Todd Agnew fans since "Grace Like Rain" came out a few years ago. In October, we went to see him in concert and it was the best musical experience ever. Todd is a gifted singer/songwriter but he is humble, funny and very articulate as well. An all around genuinely nice guy and his love for God shines through. Our favorite songs on the "Better Questions" CD are the rock-n-roll tunes, "Least of These" and "The War Inside." Most of the songs are very deep and thought provoking. It is evident that he put his heart into this project; I am so grateful that he shared it with us!

5 comments about Last One Picked.

1. I have enjoyed Superchick ever since I heard the song, 'We Live' when it first came out. My teenage daughter thinks that they are the best.
   
   This album is very good. It is full of catchy songs with positive messages. Some of their lyrics are quite overtly Christian, but even the ones that are not have good messages. They deal with relevant topics for teens such as peer pressure, superficiality, relationships, and God.
   
   Some of these songs are guaranteed to have one singing them even after the CD is done playing. Some of the ones that are particularly good include: 'High School', 'One And Lonely', and 'Song 4 Tricia (Princes and Frogs)'.
   
   I highly recommend this CD. It would be a great gift particularly for teenage girls.



2. I am 33 and a mother of 5 children one of which has just became a teenager. I heard Superchick's song Hero and wanted to know which group has such a great sound plus good morals, so I looked them up. I enjoy every one of their songs. My daughter also enjoys their CD too. We both ripped their CD to our computer and added them to our playlist on our MP3 players so we can listen to them anywhere. With all the other "musical garbage" out their this is a refreshing change. I highly recommend this CD and any of Superchick's songs they are a great band!!!



3. This is my favourite Superchick album. At first I thought: "Should I or should I not buy this album?". Well I decided to buy it and I think it's one of my best decisions ever! It's hard to find any better Christian rock sung in English, only The Benjamin Gate is better than Superchick but not much! This album has many "hits" like "High School", "So Bright (Stand Up)", "Hero", and great peaceful songs "I Belong to You", "One And Lonely", and "We All Fall". I have to say that the only song I don't like is "Song 4 Tricia (Princes And Frogs)" which is the only song isn't sung by Tricia. Great rock / hip-hop album by Superchick! May God be with them!
   Stars: So Bright (Stand Up), Real, One And Lonely



4. Being a pagan, one wouldn't expect me to enjoy Christian music... and normally I don't. However, I picked this CD up at Goodwill the other day and found that despite its dubious origins, I really like it. It has a very positive, welcome message - that it's more important to be yourself than to fit in (not exactly the message I'd expect from this country's religion of conformity), and sound-wise is a lot like Green Day or Reel Big Fish - with a vocalist who reminds me more of some of the less 'edgy' female groups or singers. Quite honestly, I wish I had found this CD when I was still in high school. I think it would've made the ordeal much more bearable.



5. First of all, this isn't my CD. It belongs to my daughter who picked it up with her birthday money for her 14th birthday. I couldn't be more thrilled; she's listening to something with a positive message.
   
   Now, my daughter, the target audience, loves this CD. She rates it 6 stars on Amazon's 1-5 rating system. She has listened to it almost non-stop since she bought it. She has all the songs memorized and loves to dance and sing along. *Shrug* She a teenager.
   
   As a mother, I think this title is great. The message of the songs challenges young people to be themselves and to stand up for what is right. It suggests they throw off the pressures to please everyone and to look like a model, and rejoice in who God made them to be.
   
   The lyrics present valuable lesson to be drilled into the minds of our children (for that is what music does, drills messages-for good or evil-into our minds) at a time when they are exceptionally vulnerable to the lies this CD tries to counter (namely, that they must try to fit in at all costs and that compromises must be made between your values and fitting in.)
   
   The music is not my genre. It's not terrible or annoying, but it isn't my favorite either. I'm more of a Third Day fan, myself. But my daughter loves it (and it beats the Christian rap my son is starting to fall in love with. Someone save me...) I would also say that the music is a bit sophomoric; while being much better than the Christian music offered to teens when I was young, it still doesn't reach the level of many popular secular bands.
   
   But, this title is a positive step in the right direction for Christian music and comes highly recommended by this mom for your teens if they like this music style. You can't get better than having your Christian teen singing, "Some days it's hard to be a One Girl Revolution."
   
   Ah, but praise God my daughter is willing to try, and that Superchic[k] is there with positive music to support her on her quest.

5 comments about All to You... Live.

1. I keep buying this CD and then giving it to my friends because it has yet to get old for me. Listening to this CD is like having worship in my car! For many of the other contemporary Christian CDs that give me that same feeling, I know it's because they remind me of the experience I had when I saw the artist live. However, I've never seen Lincoln live and yet this CD makes me feel exactly the same way - like I'm right there worshiping with him. Amazingly, some of my friends agree 100% of how it makes you feel -- like you're worshiping! So, if you ever feel like you need to worship on the road or at home, buy this! You'll be blessed!



2. I cannot believe only 5 people have reviewed this album. This is a great live album. Every song is great, no filler. Next time I run into Prince I'm gonna say, "Hey there's this Christian guy who plays guitar like you do and it's worship music." I love listening to this at home and especially out on the road. I am so thankful someone introduced me to it.



3. Lincoln Brewster is a great worship leader and performer and this CD is a must for anyone who loves worship music. What a wonderful collection. Buy this one and Aaron Shust's "Anything Worth Saying" and listen to them over and over. You will certainly be uplifted!



4. Wonderful and from the heart. Lincoln is a gem with so many gifts. I highly recommend this Cd to all believers.



5. I love to listen to worship music and Lincoln's CD is amazing! This CD is live and it makes you feel like you are right there at the concert! Every time I listen to it I feel led to the Lord and I am led in to a meaningful time of worship. Lincoln is an awesome worship leader and his songs ROCK!! His music is also good for listening to around non-Christians -- they always comment as to how good the music is!