Hey all, I am very excited. First I have heard from My friend at WECU here in Greenville North Carolina, and I want you all to know that The reason why he didn't get back to me was because WECU was having some changes done to their web site causing all of their e-mails to vanish into cyber space, so upon speaking with my main man Moses we are still on for some sort of program. The details still need to be ironed out but God is good!
OK as for the review. There will be 13 categories total. Six for music content and 7 for the lyrics. I have some comments from my Brother-in-law Scott Wills who graduated from Philadelphia Bible University with a degree in Youth Ministries, and he is now working on his Master of Divinity. He is my best friend and I trust his opinion on all spiritual matters. He is a spiritual Ninja! (Inside joke between him and I. Love you Scott!)
Here the catagories.
1. Vocals
2. Guitars
3. Drums
4. Overall production quality
5. Does the song make you just want to "Headbang". (Mom's that is a good thing)
6. Overall.
Let me explain #6. Overall isn't 1-5 averaged out. It has nothing to do with the quality musianship or the producer. Overal answers the question "Is it a hit?"
Remember, I HAVE NO MUSICAL ABILITY WHAT SO EVER! But I know that Carlos Santana is a better guitar player than Marco from P.O.D.
It's a blog people I don't work for Rolling Stone.
OK the lyrics catagores and the one most mom's and Pastors care about. Just so you guys know I found the lyrics for my 4 pastor friends at www.jesusfreakhideout.com. I encourage everyone to read them for yourself.
This song had an interesting theme - Matthew 18:3 -...unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
I don’t have much to say about this one - again, don’t not like it, but it didn’t really toot my horn either I like the idea of being ok not fitting the world’s understanding of success.
1. Just from reading the lyrics can you tell that this is a Christian band? Based upon the theme and the ‘hallelujah’s at the end, yes I would.
2. Can the message of the song point someone towards Christ? Probably not - seems to be intended for believers.
3. Can you understand what the artist spiritual point is? Yes, I think he communicated it clearly.
4. Is that point muddled or lukewarm? It’s sort of a ‘he who has ears let him hear’ kind of a song, but not lukewarm.
5. Would these lyrics confuse a new Christian? I don’t think so.
6. Did you find the lyrics "worshipful"? No, but I think it was intended more as a song to speak into the Christian experience than to be ‘worshipful’.
7. Solely based on the lyrics would you recommend this song to someone as an alternative to secular Heavy Metal? Sure! Why not!
OK as for the review. There will be 13 categories total. Six for music content and 7 for the lyrics. I have some comments from my Brother-in-law Scott Wills who graduated from Philadelphia Bible University with a degree in Youth Ministries, and he is now working on his Master of Divinity. He is my best friend and I trust his opinion on all spiritual matters. He is a spiritual Ninja! (Inside joke between him and I. Love you Scott!)
Here the catagories.
1. Vocals
2. Guitars
3. Drums
4. Overall production quality
5. Does the song make you just want to "Headbang". (Mom's that is a good thing)
6. Overall.
Let me explain #6. Overall isn't 1-5 averaged out. It has nothing to do with the quality musianship or the producer. Overal answers the question "Is it a hit?"
Remember, I HAVE NO MUSICAL ABILITY WHAT SO EVER! But I know that Carlos Santana is a better guitar player than Marco from P.O.D.
It's a blog people I don't work for Rolling Stone.
OK the lyrics catagores and the one most mom's and Pastors care about. Just so you guys know I found the lyrics for my 4 pastor friends at www.jesusfreakhideout.com. I encourage everyone to read them for yourself.
1. Just from reading the lyrics can you tell that this is a Christian band? (High number is good)
2. Can the message of the song point someone towards Christ? (High number is good)
3. Can you understand what the artist spiritual point is? (High number is good)
4. Is that point muddled or lukewarm? (Low number is good)
5. Would these lyrics confuse a new Christian? (Low number is good)
6. Did you find the lyrics "worshipful"? (High number is good)
7. Solely based on the lyrics would you recommend this song to someone as an alternative to secular Heavy Metal? (High number is good
2. Can the message of the song point someone towards Christ? (High number is good)
3. Can you understand what the artist spiritual point is? (High number is good)
4. Is that point muddled or lukewarm? (Low number is good)
5. Would these lyrics confuse a new Christian? (Low number is good)
6. Did you find the lyrics "worshipful"? (High number is good)
7. Solely based on the lyrics would you recommend this song to someone as an alternative to secular Heavy Metal? (High number is good
OK Here we go.
Brian Head Welch - Adonai
I love this song! I love the CD! I love the testimony! This is Heads first release after his miraculous conversion to Christ and his leaving Korn. The song is my favorite from the album and a must have for any christian who is into any kind of Heavy Metal.
Music
1, 3.5
2. 5
3. 3.5
4. 3.75
5. 3
6. 4.25
(Scott)
I don’t mean to sound hyper-critical, but I was a little confused by the scattered and competing themes of this song. It starts out aggressively engaged in the world -
I will attack
I came to fight...
I will raise a generation up to be my soldiers
(presumably to be Christ’s hands and feet, unless I’m misinterpreting)
Then, he suddenly shifts gears to -
Leave me alone
I’m not from here
My home’s in Heaven
Leave me alone
I imagine he’s going for a Romans 12:1-type of theme here - “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind” But it seems a little bit separatist, especially considering the ‘generation of soldiers’ he is suggesting.
I’m also a little uneasy about the line “Life is just a test from Adonai”. Again, it seems a little bit left-field and I’m not sure I would agree with it theologically without some context to clarify what he means. But maybe I’m just going a little theology-nerd on his art.
Overall - I don’t hate the song, but I don’t love it. I have a soft spot for the name ‘Adonai’ (not sure why), so I like his use of it. But overall, as I said, I found it a little vague, confused and conflicted.
1. Just from reading the lyrics can you tell that this is a Christian band? Song is not overtly Christian, but I think you can pick it up - particularly if you are familiar with the name ‘Adonai’
2. Can the message of the song point someone towards Christ? I think it has elements that can - (Lift all your worries up to Adonai, You will all stop hurting come to Adonai)
3. Can you understand what the artist spiritual point is? Unclear - I think I get the heart of things, but it is a little confusing.
4. Is that point muddled or lukewarm? No - even though it seemed to have conflicting points, they were both aggressive!
5. Would these lyrics confuse a new Christian? They could, but I could also see themes that would appeal, too.
6. Did you find the lyrics "worshipful"? Not particularly, but I don’t know that it was intended to be overtly worshipful.
7. Solely based on the lyrics would you recommend this song to someone as an alternative to secular Heavy Metal? I would, but would probably try to use it as a springboard to discuss the themes.
I don’t mean to sound hyper-critical, but I was a little confused by the scattered and competing themes of this song. It starts out aggressively engaged in the world -
I will attack
I came to fight...
I will raise a generation up to be my soldiers
(presumably to be Christ’s hands and feet, unless I’m misinterpreting)
Then, he suddenly shifts gears to -
Leave me alone
I’m not from here
My home’s in Heaven
Leave me alone
I imagine he’s going for a Romans 12:1-type of theme here - “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind” But it seems a little bit separatist, especially considering the ‘generation of soldiers’ he is suggesting.
I’m also a little uneasy about the line “Life is just a test from Adonai”. Again, it seems a little bit left-field and I’m not sure I would agree with it theologically without some context to clarify what he means. But maybe I’m just going a little theology-nerd on his art.
Overall - I don’t hate the song, but I don’t love it. I have a soft spot for the name ‘Adonai’ (not sure why), so I like his use of it. But overall, as I said, I found it a little vague, confused and conflicted.
1. Just from reading the lyrics can you tell that this is a Christian band? Song is not overtly Christian, but I think you can pick it up - particularly if you are familiar with the name ‘Adonai’
2. Can the message of the song point someone towards Christ? I think it has elements that can - (Lift all your worries up to Adonai, You will all stop hurting come to Adonai)
3. Can you understand what the artist spiritual point is? Unclear - I think I get the heart of things, but it is a little confusing.
4. Is that point muddled or lukewarm? No - even though it seemed to have conflicting points, they were both aggressive!
5. Would these lyrics confuse a new Christian? They could, but I could also see themes that would appeal, too.
6. Did you find the lyrics "worshipful"? Not particularly, but I don’t know that it was intended to be overtly worshipful.
7. Solely based on the lyrics would you recommend this song to someone as an alternative to secular Heavy Metal? I would, but would probably try to use it as a springboard to discuss the themes.
Lyrics
1.4
2. 3.75
3. 4
4. 3.5
5. 3
6. 2.5
7. 3
A Plea for Purging - Heart of a Child
Right off the bat I want everyone to know that I am not a fan of this kind of hard core / death metal vocals, but the music in this song is great. I wish that they were singing instead of this screaming growling thing they do. I know it's a popular way to sing now but it's just not my thing.
Music
1. 2.5
2. 3.5
3. 3.75
4. 3.75
5. 5
6. 3
(Scott)
This song had an interesting theme - Matthew 18:3 -...unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
I don’t have much to say about this one - again, don’t not like it, but it didn’t really toot my horn either I like the idea of being ok not fitting the world’s understanding of success.
1. Just from reading the lyrics can you tell that this is a Christian band? Based upon the theme and the ‘hallelujah’s at the end, yes I would.
2. Can the message of the song point someone towards Christ? Probably not - seems to be intended for believers.
3. Can you understand what the artist spiritual point is? Yes, I think he communicated it clearly.
4. Is that point muddled or lukewarm? It’s sort of a ‘he who has ears let him hear’ kind of a song, but not lukewarm.
5. Would these lyrics confuse a new Christian? I don’t think so.
6. Did you find the lyrics "worshipful"? No, but I think it was intended more as a song to speak into the Christian experience than to be ‘worshipful’.
7. Solely based on the lyrics would you recommend this song to someone as an alternative to secular Heavy Metal? Sure! Why not!
1. 1.75
2. 1.75
3. 1.75
4. 0.50
5. 1
6. 1.25
7. 2
My Epic - Lower Still
This song was not what I expected after listening to all the other songs on the FACEDOWN RECORDS sampler that I downloaded. All the other bands were the screaming growling vocal types. My Epic is way more singing than I expected.
I have to say that this song speaks for it's self. Everything about it rocks. The singer Aaron Stone sounds like he is begging people to see what Jesus did for us on the cross. the guitars and drums are sharp. I can't say enough about it. Here is a link to youtube wherer someone mixed the song to scenes of THE PASSION OF THE CHRIST. It is very moving. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-YzADEqp_ao
Music
1. 4
2. 4
3. 3.5
4. 3
5. 3
6. 4
(Scott)
Lower Still - My Epic
Now this song I was digging!! It is sort of an artful narrative of Christ from birth to death, contrasting Christ’s divinity and humility. My only objection is admittedly petty - he mentions ‘swine’ being around at Christ’s birth, but pigs were considered unclean to Jews so they probably wouldn’t have been around. Other than that I found this to be a very beautiful poetic telling of Chris’s story, his humility, his enduring of torture and death, and his ultimate victory.
1. Just from reading the lyrics can you tell that this is a Christian band? Yes!
2. Can the message of the song point someone towards Christ? Yes!
3. Can you understand what the artist spiritual point is? Yes!
4. Is that point muddled or lukewarm? No!
5. Would these lyrics confuse a new Christian? No!
6. Did you find the lyrics "worshipful"? Extremely!
7. Solely based on the lyrics would you recommend this song to someone as an alternative to secular Heavy Metal? Abso-tootaly-ootly!!
Now this song I was digging!! It is sort of an artful narrative of Christ from birth to death, contrasting Christ’s divinity and humility. My only objection is admittedly petty - he mentions ‘swine’ being around at Christ’s birth, but pigs were considered unclean to Jews so they probably wouldn’t have been around. Other than that I found this to be a very beautiful poetic telling of Chris’s story, his humility, his enduring of torture and death, and his ultimate victory.
1. Just from reading the lyrics can you tell that this is a Christian band? Yes!
2. Can the message of the song point someone towards Christ? Yes!
3. Can you understand what the artist spiritual point is? Yes!
4. Is that point muddled or lukewarm? No!
5. Would these lyrics confuse a new Christian? No!
6. Did you find the lyrics "worshipful"? Extremely!
7. Solely based on the lyrics would you recommend this song to someone as an alternative to secular Heavy Metal? Abso-tootaly-ootly!!
1. 4.5
2. 4
3. 4.75
4. 5
5. 4.75
6. 4.75
7. 4.75
Please remember I am not a "Music expert" I am just a fan. I am trying to help parents and new Christians find good Hard Christian Music.
Please comment people I want to know what you think.
Dominic
