Confession: for years I basically made no effort to listen to anything by Waterdeep. Why? ‘Didn’t like the name of the band – that simple. But you can’t judge a book by the cover and I guess you can’t judge a band by their name. Since hearing (and reviewing) last year’s Pink and Blue, I’ve [...]

Seasoned songwriters Paul Dexter and Matt Bissonette, not unlike Steely Dan’s Becker and Fagen, or Procol Harum’s Brooker and Reid, make up the core essential elements of Jet Velvet – a band as comfy as a velvet couch and as energized as a jet plane. The mention of two classic rock acts is no [...]

Go and In the Hands of God were projects that saved newsboys from being perpetually labeled a ‘youth group band.’ Both albums contained sharp and insightful lyrics and songs with modern sensibilities and musical integrity. Born Again, the group’s 15th studio recording, is also the first to feature the familiar voice of Michael Tait (dcTalk, [...]

Rick Altizer is no stranger to the music scene, even though many of you might not recognize the name. Still, years of excellent solo projects in and out of the “Christian” marketplace, as well as collaborations with the likes of Prog artists such as Neal Morse (Spock’s Beard, Transatlantic) and Ajalon, have proven that Altizer [...]

Armed with several top-flight producers, several brand-new songs, a couple of never before heard gems from the vault, and sealed with a pair of re-makes, Amy Grant produces a strong package of music and observations about life on Somewhere Down The Road, her first new full-length CD in years. Amy has transitioned from entertainer to [...]

Sure, “Sunshine Collective” might sound like the name of a sixties hair-inspired pop group but this combination of talented musicians backing singer/songwriter Stephanie Richards and her husband, composer/songwriter/producer Brian Arbuckle, draw their inspiration from musical styles that go farther back than the Summer of Love. In fact, what the Collective have done here is to [...]

Very often an artist’s debut recording is safe, easy listening. Christine Vaindirlis’ Dance Mama (excuse the missing exclamation mark) is anything but safe, easy listening – in fact, this debut project from the brilliant young artist is complex, challenging, meaty music designed to move your body, speak to your spirit, and engage your mind. Currently [...]

Dispelling all doubts about whether or not they could sustain momentum following Salvation Station, Newworldson delivers twelve satisfying tracks and nearly 45 minutes of uniquely non-mainstream but universally-appealing sounds on this self-titled release (available February 23, 2010). The Canadian quartet starts off with a first track (“You Set the Rhythm”) that sounds like a simple [...]

Prog rock is a genre that manages to straddle several fences. At its best, really good prog might also encompass art-rock, while still employing elements of metal, classic rock and pop. All of this often makes it frustrating to use the generic catch-all of progressive for bands such as Ajalon. Certainly, the most identifying traits [...]

You’ve heard Tom Hemby play. Oh, you might not realize it, but you have heard him. Hemby’s much in-demand guitar skills have helped form the sound of countless albums by an amazing array of artists in and out of the CCM community – everyone from Amy Grant to Rob Thomas and Brian McKnight. His guitar [...]