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 By Kevin Pollard
• Laura Story: Great God Who Saves, INO
The songwriter behind Chris Tomlin’s worship hit
‘Indescribable’ offers us her debut album –
featuring acoustic pop worship songs which are every bit as unforgettable,
forged in an even deeper understanding of God’s sovereignty. Many of
the songs were inspired by her reliance on God last year, as her new
husband was diagnosed, treated and rehabilitated from a brain tumor.
The arrangements on Hillsong’s ‘Mighty to
Save’ are stripped down and intimate, giving the lyrics a new
breath of life. Songs of God’s faithfulness include ‘Immortal,
Invisible God,’ ‘Great God Who Saves,’ and ‘Bless
the Lord.’ And ‘Grace’ powerfully emphasizes her response
to Christ’s sacrifice on Calvary: “Instead of trying to repay
You / I’m learning to simply obey You.” laurastorymusic.com
• Dizmas: Dizmas, Forefront/EMI
Over the past nine years, Dizmas has offered their
intense, no-compromise, faith-fueled rock sound directly through secular
outlets. Now they are repositioning themselves for more exposure in the
Christian rock world, with their debut release on Forefront Records. Half
of the 10 tracks offered here are remastered from their first two albums,
with the balance of the CD featuring the rock anthem ‘Worth Fighting
For,’ the upbeat ‘Different,’ and the melodic rock single
‘Yours.’ dizmas.com
• Telecast: Quiet Revolution, BEC
Telecast’s third album offers beautifully crafted
songs with vast lyrical depth.
This dynamic acoustic pop album has catchy melodies,
and lyrics which ring with theological truth.
A good example is ‘Infinite Worth,’ which
declares: “You dwell between the cherubim / Yet in my heart You have
come in / Cleansed but not consumed by Your fire / You are life and yet You
died / That I might live as I abide / Now Your resurrected life is
mine.”
The liner notes sum up the driving force behind this
band: “We must give the world not a weak imitation of what Jesus did,
but a tangible expression of what he is actually still doing in – and
through – redeemed, surrendered vessels.”
telecastmusic.org
• The Murrills: Family Prayer, Verity/Zomba
This debut album offers a collection of gospel/R&B
tracks balancing contemporary and old-school music.
Brothers Darwin, Damion, Donnell, Andre and Durwood,
and sister Arnetta, have been singing together most of their lives
– and this is evidenced here.
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These accomplished singers present up- tempo R&B
hits like ‘Better’ and ‘I Declare War’; throwback
slow jams like ‘Don’t Let Me Fall’ and ‘Good Days
Bad Days’; and traditional gospel songs like ‘Family
(There’s a Healing).’ zombagospel.com
• Salvador: Awake, Word/Curb/Warner
It’s been an eventful couple of years for
Salvador’s lead vocalist and songwriter Nic Gonzales, what with
getting married to fellow singer Jaci Velasquez and celebrating the birth
of their first child.
With the release of the band’s sixth studio
album, the songwriting has a newfound maturity; and much of the album has a
subdued, laid back pop sound.
But the signature horns and Latin pop are front and
centre on songs like ‘Fly Again,’ ‘Undeniable’ and
the infectious ‘What Would it be Like.’
Velasquez contributes to both the songwriting and
performance, doing a duet with her Nic on the mid-tempo ‘Everybody
Needs You.’ salvadorlive.com
• Article One: Colours & Sounds, InPop
This Ontario-based band’s sophomore album
is already making waves, as they step up with an innovative euro-pop rock
sound.
Combining violin, synth keys, and three-part vocal
harmonies, brothers Nathan and Matthew Piche, and Dave DeSmit showcase
contagious melodies and stellar musicianship on their top 10 hit single
‘Without You (I’m Not Alright),’ ‘If the World
Gives Up,’ and the title track.
Producer Tedd T. has helped give new life, and a sound
reminiscent of Newsboys and David Crowder; yet it is so unique, mainly
because of the prominence of the violin in the mix. articleonemusic.com
August 2008
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