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THE FUTURE
OF
Rock
1
KUTLESS
SWITCHFOOT
RELIENT K
PILLAR
P.O.D. AND MORE
+
SIXPENCE
SAYS GOODBYE:
AN EXCLUSIVE
LETTER TO OUR
READERS
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FEATURES
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CCMMAGAZINE.COM | MARCH 2004
insideccm
32 A LEAGUE OF THEIR OWN
Prematurely dismissed by some critics
as simply being Creed sound-a-likes,
KUTLESS fought the odds and became
one of Christian music’s biggest
success stories in 2003. But C H R I S TA
FA R R I S discovered that instead of
reveling, Kutless is back with an
unabashed charge to share
Christ’s message.
36 HE’S SUCH A BALDWIN
In this month’s “Listening In,”
eavesdrop on an intriguing chat
between actor STEPHEN BALDWIN and
JOHN WELLS from Cross Movement,
complete with an unexpected visit by
Stephen’s actor-sibling, Alec.
39 ANCIENT WORDS
Rich with meaning, several renowned
hymns get a modern soundtrack on the
latest PASSION project. Now D A V I D
S C H R A D E R finds out why Chris Tomlin,
Matt Redman and others were eager
to participate.
40 SOMETHING’S GOTTA GIVE
Sure, they’ve been known as pioneers
of the modern worship movement, but
where do you find inspiration when your
world is falling apart? DELIRIOUS
reveals to fellow U.K. reporter J U D E
A D A M how the band made it through.
42 SIMON WHO?
OK, so he took a verbal beating or two
from the infamous Mr. Cowell, but
there’s definitely more to R.J. HELTON
than just placing in an “American Idol”
contest. R O B E R T M I N E O fills us in on
the rest of his story.
IN REVIEW
53
MUSIC: We weigh in on In the
Name of Love: Artists United for Africa,
Jeremy Camp’s latest and more.
61
BOOKS: Nancy Guthrie waxes
philosophical on Johnny Cash, a new
book on “U2 sermons” and more.
64
TOUR: “Winter Jam” 2004
DEPARTMENTS
4 FROM THE EDITOR: Sixpence’s
enriching song.
8
THE INSIDER: A letter from
Sixpence, Vestal Goodman and Jake
Hess remembered, studio buzz.
20 THE REEL: the TV movie Judas
66 26 THINGS you probably didn’t
COVER STORY
24
ROCK & ROLL’S NEW ROYALTY
Forget the usual tales of excess and all those tired rock & roll
clichés. From KUTLESS to RELIENT K to SWITCHFOOT and
beyond, there’s a new class of rockers emerging who combine a
faith-inspired perspective with an unforgettable sound that seems
to grow more popular by the day. Now A N T H O N Y D E B A R R O S
investigates why rock & roll is here to stay.
know about Steve Taylor
68 EVERYTHING THAT’S ON MY
MIND with Charlie Peacock
(L-R) MATT HOOPES, BRIAN PITTMAN, MATT
THIESSEN AND DAVE DOUGLAS OF RELIENT K
70 CCM HALL OF FAME: Petra
ccmmagazine.com
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CCM MAGAZINE
fromtheeditor
fromthedeitor
Faith in the Spotlight
volume 26 issue 9
For those whose lives are strengthened
through faith-informed music, CCM Magazine
goes behind the scenes to celebrate the
artistry of Christian music.
CCM Magazine is a publication of
Salem Publishing, a division of
Salem Communications.
•••• •••••••
Illustration by Jimmy A.
CCM Magazine
Don’t Dream It’s Over
hen Sixpence None the Richer’s Matt Slocum told
me he wanted CCM Magazine to be the first to unveil
this month’s major announcement, I was at a loss for words.
We knew he and lead singer Leigh Nash had composed an
important letter to our readers, but we didn’t realize we
would have the privilege of breaking the news to the music
world at large.
If Sixpence had been contemporary Christian music’s
flagship artist, then such a plan of action wouldn’t seem so
unusual a gesture. But during the past five years this band
produced a string of mainstream radio hits—“Kiss Me,”
“There She Goes,” “Breathe Your Name” and “Don’t Dream
It’s Over”—that has endeared them to Hollywood motion
picture companies, national music video networks and,
naturally, countless fans beyond the usual reach of
Christian music. And then there’s the international success
of the band, which includes landing at No. 1 hit on pop
radio in more than 10 countries, including Canada, Japan,
Israel, Australia and several in Europe. Sixpence’s fans have
ranged from members of Britain’s royal family to U2’s Bono.
So why make this shocking announcement via CCM
Magazine? As a professional I’m honored. On a heart level,
the band’s gesture moves me. I know this is about loyalty.
Sixpence has always displayed a keen awareness of its core
fanbase—a devoted legion of which I’m a part. We’re a
tribe of thousands of people, generally Christian music fans
who connected early and deeply with the songs on the
band’s first two albums—1993’s The Fatherless and the Widow
(R.E.X.) and 1995’s Dove Award-winning landmark, This
Beautiful Mess.
Now that you know I’m a long-time Sixpence fan, I have
a confession to make. My history with the band’s music
isn’t as impartial, natural and grassroots as that of the other
enthusiasts who comprise the heart of our tribe. My
background is a bit more complex.
When I first met Matt Slocum at the Cornerstone
Festival (Bushnell, Ill.) in 1991, I was serving as an intern
for one of my teen heroes, Charlie Peacock. Matt,
meanwhile, was the quiet but quite talented guitarist for
Chris Taylor’s modern rock band Windows (better known
later as Love Coma). My impression of the young Slocum
was that he felt right at home being the charismatic
Taylor’s sidekick. Um…yeah…I’ve never had a keen eye for
untapped talent.
W
Two years later I was at Cornerstone again as an intern
but this time for the now defunct alternative label R.E.X.
Music. While I’d only been on board a few months, I’d
already become enamored with the demos from a young
band R.E.X. had just signed. I donned my new Sixpence
None the Richer T-shirt and proudly strolled around the
festival—I knew I was privy to something fantastic that
would soon be unveiled to thousands of music lovers.
Though I’d reconnected with Matt several weeks
prior as he passed through Nashville, I still hadn’t met
the keeper of the band’s angelic voice. As I was tending a
friend’s table in Cornerstone’s merch tent, the everdelightful Leigh Bingham approached me and asked,
“Hey, where’d you get that shirt?” Leigh, who had just
turned 17, struck me immediately as a young lady who’d
appreciate a protective big brother. Whether she liked it
or not, she was adopted.
Matt and Leigh went on to become two of my dearest
friends. And while I worked for multiple record labels
before joining CCM, it seemed I was always in the right
place at the right time with regard to their band. As a
label publicist, I had the pleasure of promoting every
Sixpence album, with the exception of their most recent,
Divine Discontent (Squint/Word).
Now at CCM, I have the unusual responsibility of
bringing you their extremely gracious letter (see
“Insider”)… Thankfully, Leigh and Matt came to this
hard decision in a very good way. Their friendship is not
based on whether or not they’re working together on a
regular basis. So Sixpence fans, take joy in the integrity
of their relationship. And if I may offer some therapeutic
advice as one who is “right there with you,” find solace
in what will apparently be their last two Sixpence
recordings—the new performances of “Love Is Blindness”
on In the Name of Love: Artists United for Africa (Sparrow) and
“Every Heartbeat” on Charlie Peacock’s Full Circle: A
Celebration of Song and Friends (Sparrow).
Publisher James R. Cumbee
Associate Publisher & Editor in Chief
Roberta Croteau
Managing Editor Jay Swartzendruber
Associate Managing Editor
Stephanie Ottosen
Contributing & Reviews Editor Christa Farris
Art Director Lee Steffen
Production Director Ross E. Cluver
Contributing Editors Andy Argyrakis, Joan
Brasher, Michael Ciani, Nancy Guthrie, Kent
Morris, Michael Nolan, Charlie Peacock
Contributors
Jude Adam, Janet Chismar, Lizza Connor,
Anthony DeBarros, Andrew Greer, Kevin
Hendricks, David Jenison, Aaron King, Li Liu,
Robert Mineo, David McCreary, Jessica
Robin, David Schrader, Julie Steffen,
Web Editor Christa Farris
Circulation Director Buffy Booker
Customer Service Representatives
DeAnn Bishop, Leesa Smith
Executive Director of Advertising
L. Smitty Wheeler
Senior Director of Advertising DeDe Tarrant
Account Executive Gregory Byerline
Account Executive Laurice Jackson
Account Executive Phil Davis
Marketing Coordinator Michael TenBrink
Administrative Assistant
Mechelle Sheneman
Advertising Coordinator Carol Jones
Main Office
104 Woodmont Blvd., Suite 300,
Nashville, TN 37205
615/386-3011 (ph)
615/386-3380 (business fax)
615/385-4112 (editorial fax)
615/312-4266 (advertising fax)
Subscriptions/Customer Service
CCM, 104 Woodmont, Ste 300, Nashville 37205,
800/333-9643 or
[email protected].
Annual subscription rates:
United States, $19.95/one year,
$35.95/ two years, $53.95/three years;
Canada, (U.S. funds) $27.95 per year;
all other countries, (U.S. funds)
$33.95 (surface) or $67 (airmail).
For address changes or other inquiries,
please include both old and new addresses
and mailing label. Allow four to six weeks
for new subscriptions to begin.
Cover photo by Kris McCaddon
Jay Swartzendruber
[email protected]
NASDAQ SYMBOL: SALM
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yourfeedback
“Wow! You should make prints of that January cover available! I may frame the one we have here.
What a great group! Toby [tobyMac] holding the mic wasn’t lost on the shot either. Keep it going.”
—Timothy Braddock, WBOB/WTSJ, Cincinnati, OH
a listener of Pillar’s music since
my youth pastor introduced its
music to me a couple years ago.
I love how they bring the
message of hope in Christ while
completely rocking out!
—Cherlyl C., Providence, RI
THE GOOD, THE BAD
AND THE UGLY
I really enjoyed January’s issue. I’m
so glad Third Day won “Favorite
Band” [CCM Readers’ Choice
Awards] because they deserve it.
When you talked about when the
artists started filing in for the
photo shoot, you mentioned
Rebecca [St. James] had her
makeup artist; but what about
Peter Furler’s eyeliner artist? Just
kidding. I love the Newsboys;
they’ve got so much talent and
taste. Good job, CCM.
—Faith Zubaly, Narvon, PA
Wow! You should make prints of
that January cover available! I may
frame the one we have here. What
a great group! Toby [tobyMac]
holding the mic wasn’t lost on the
shot either. Keep it going.
—Timothy Braddock,
WBOB/WTSJ, Cincinnati, OH
My disgust over this month’s issue
of CCM [January] is overwhelming.
Never has an issue had so much
poor writing and content—from
the cover on down! What was the
point of the cover saying “Phat
Pack” across it? Do you mean
“phat” as in “pretty hot and
temptin”? This is certainly not
what those artists stand for!
Moreover, that term is so 1998.
Your magazine may have a 2004
look but definitely does not sound
that way. Then, much of the
writing in the issue is cheesy
and fluffy instead of solid and
informative. Lately it seems your
magazine needs help. I hope you
take a serious look at what your
6 ccm march
04
ccmmagazine.com
magazine is becoming. In the past
two years it really turned into
something great, but these past
couple months are showing a turn
for the worse.
—Jason Schneider, via e-mail
Wow, Jason (if we may call you that),
it looked for a second there like you had
us on the mat. Turn to dictionary.com,
and you’ll see we were actually using the
2004 definition of “phat.” (Your definition
is so 1998.)
It was fun to see Max [Lucado]
picked as your readers’ favorite
author once again [January CCM].
Your cutline says Max has 15
million books in print, but he
actually has 33 million in print.
It was such a big gap I thought
I should mention the correct
number.
—Pamela McClure, McClure
Muntsinger Public Relations
Chet, our official staff mathematician,
replies: “Thanks, Pamela, for your
thoughtful and timely letter. As soon
as I finish cleaning out my locker over
here, do you think there will be any
openings over there?”
I love your magazine! I loved
your magazine even more when
I picked up the January issue and
saw Pillar featured in it! I’ve been
TRUE-LY DISAPPOINTED
I was extremely disappointed
with the response given to the
question about True Vibe
[“Feedback,” January]. And I
probably can guess that the writer
of that question isn’t too pleased
with the response, either. It was
as if you didn’t even try to answer
the person’s question about what
True Vibe is doing now. I know a
little about what is going on with
True Vibe—actually, just the guys
who left True Vibe (Jordan,
Nathan and Jason). Jordan and
Nathan have formed their own
band and a good one at that from
what I hear on the radio here in
Naples, Florida. Their single
(“Fire from the Rain”) has been
playing here for a while, and the
deejays are always talking about it
and the band. Please consider
answering the question from that
fan who wanted to know what
happened to True Vibe.
—Peter, Naples, FL
Consider it done. See this month’s Insider
(page 10) for the latest on True Vibe.
Thanks, Peter.
“INVISIBLE” MESSAGE
I read in your most recent issue
that people have been requesting
that you interview Clay Aiken.
Please be aware that other
Christian magazines (Focus on
the Family’s Plugged In
and Guideposts for Teens)
have made the mistake of
assuming that because
this Christian young man
has good morals, his
music is also harmless.
That couldn’t be further
from the truth. As a big fan of
Christian artists and their music,
I feel it should be noted that
Aiken’s debut album, Measure of a
Man, crosses over the line for
music that can be recommended
for Christians.
Several objectionable items
appear on his album: the use of
the word “damned” in the song
“I Survived You”; creepy lyrics in
the song “Invisible” (“If I were
invisible, then I would just watch you in
your room”). Watch her do what?
And lastly, the entire last song on
the album entitled “ Touch” is
problematic. The lyrics of this
song do not belong in the mouth
of any Christian artist on a
Christian or secular label.
I personally would love for
your magazine to interview Clay
Aiken. I would like you to be the
first Christian magazine to
actually ask Aiken why he is
singing these types of lyrics.
Please provide your readers with
the full story so parents and teens
alike can make a wise decision on
their financial support of this
young man’s album.
—Martha S., Nashville, TN
WHERE
IS SHE
NOW?
I was
wondering
what is up
with
Jennifer
Knapp. I
wanted to
find out
some
information,
but she has
fallen off the face of the planet.
Her Web site is gone, and there is
no word about her anywhere. Do
you guys know anything?
—Chris, via e-mail
Hey, Chris. Jennifer recently took a break
from her sabbatical (Wait—can you do
that?) to contribute a thoughtful letter to
the liner notes of her new two-disc
collection, Diamond in the Rough
(Gotee). While her next step professionally
is a mystery indeed, we’re eagerly
anticipating her eventual return to the
recording studio.
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A Q & A with Russ Lee and five questions with John Reuben
RUSS LEE: IN THE LINE OF FIRE
5
QUESTIONS
WITH JOHN REUBEN
Known for high-energy shows and witty lyrics, John
Reuben arrived on the Christian music scene with his
label debut, Are We There Yet? on Gotee Records in
2000, followed by Hindsight in 2002. Having toured
North and South America, Europe and even India, the
MC/producer/artist is currently on the road in support
of his new album, Professional Rapper.
1.
If you could trade responsibilities with
someone for a day, who would that person be,
what would the job be, and why would you chose
to do it?
I would trade responsibilities with the people who
have to work with me because I would like to see
what it is like to have to deal with me. Then I
would know how to relate better to them.
2.
When was the first moment you realized
you wanted to pursue music for a living?
I don’t know if there was a defining moment. I
was very committed to making music from the
time I was 15 years old, and I made whatever
sacrifices were necessary to make it happen.
3.
Describe your most unforgettable date.
My ideal date would be a romantic evening on a
paddleboat in the Atlantic Ocean with a six-pack
of Snapple.
4.
What are you obsessive-compulsive about?
Making sure I answer interview questions right
and just about anything else you can think of!
5.
What characteristic of God has surprised
you the most these days?
Unconditional love because I know how hard it is
for me to love people unconditionally.
ot often is a Christian artist given the ministry opportunity that Russ Lee received this
past fall. Lee, a former member of NewSong and now a Christian Records solo artist,
was approached by one of his Nashville songwriting buddies about a mission trip that
would take him to the American troops in Iraq. Lee’s co-writer’s brother-in-law was serving as
a chaplain for the 101st Airborne Division, which was, at the time, stationed in northern Iraq.
The chaplain was looking for an artist who would make the trip—not only to entertain the
troops but to spend time with them and help boost morale.
After prayerful consideration, Lee and his label head George King, who had experience as
a touring artist with the USO years prior, packed their bags and embarked on a “life-changing
experience,” Lee told CCM Magazine. Not only would the trip have an impact on his view of
global affairs and inspire him to seek out other world mission opportunities, but Lee says,
first and foremost, it was an obligation he felt compelled to fulfill. “These soldiers were our
neighbors,” he explains. Soldiers of the 101st hailed from Ft. Campbell, Ky., just north of
Lee’s hometown of Nashville. Says Lee, “We run into them at the mall and in restaurants.
Now they are over in Iraq protecting our lives.”
Upon arrival in Mosul, Iraq (and spending the first night in one of Saddam Hussein’s former
palaces), Lee and King spent 10 days ministering to the troops through song, prayer
breakfasts, chapel services and one-on-one time. One thing that really moved him during his
trip, he notes, is the role of the Army chaplain and how often overlooked that position is in
the scheme of war. These chaplains, Lee explaines, serve on the front lines with the soldiers
and deal with every aspect of their lives—physical, emotional and spiritual.
Lee also gained a more accurate picture of what the military is doing, as he witnessed the
Army restoring Iraqi schools and purifying the local drinking water, for example. “I think what
we see on the news is exaggerated, only because it’s all that’s highlighted. In order to be
fair and balanced, you have to show both sides of what’s happening. You don’t hear about
the positive aspects like those I witnessed.”
Perhaps the most inspiring moment of the trip for Lee came one morning in the Army mess
hall. “I went to breakfast, and a soldier motioned for me to come over. He said, ‘I was at your
concert last night, and I’m a Christian; but I haven’t been to chapel since I’ve been over here.
A friend twisted my arm to go, and I was encouraged to get back involved in my faith. This
guy beside me is Randolph. He was my bunkmate for four months, and the whole time I never
talked to him about God. If there’s anyone I’ve ever met who needs someone to talk to him
about God, it’s this guy beside me!”
Lee and the soldiers then discussed some of the things Randolph was struggling with,
along with some of his fears. “I had the opportunity right there to share the gospel with him,”
Lee says. “Sitting in the mess hall in Mosul, Iraq—a Muslim nation—I sat with a soldier from
Connecticut and talked to him about God’s love, about how he didn’t have to face alone the
things which were overwhelming him. He sat down as a kid who was confused, and he stood
up encouraged, with a new faith.” —L I Z Z A C O N N O R
N
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the Mend Following Serious Car Accident • Gospel Music Association Reports Christian Music Sales Rebound
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>>>
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presents
BY S T E P H A N I E O T T O S E N
Connecting
fall in love for all the right reasons
Many of your favorite artists have recently made the trek to the
matrimonial altar. From Big Daddy Weave’s Mike Weaver, to Across the
Sky’s Jason Unger, to Bebo Norman, to Jeremy Camp, among others, love
seems to be in the air! But now that they’ve tied the knot, what do they
think about married life? How did they know the other was “the one”?
Find out what some of these and other newlyweds had to say.
JOY TO THE WORLD
Reunion artist Joy Williams recently announced her engagement to Nate
Yetton, Inpop Records’ director of promotions. Says Williams, “I’m ecstatic
to be marrying my best friend. He is truly the greatest extension of
Christ’s love that I’ve experienced on this planet.” The couple got engaged
on Christmas Eve and plan to marry in California on June 12. Williams will
soon hit the road for the “Free Experience” tour with headliners ZOEgirl
and guest Superchic[k]. Best wishes and happy wedding planning!
LOVE AND
MARRIAGE…
Bleach’s guitarist, Milam
Byers, recently got married to
Ashley in mid-January at
Crossroads Community
Church in Franklin,
Tennessee. As a side note:
Ashley’s sister is married to
Matt Hoopes of Relient K.
Small world, eh? It gets
smaller: Their father is
producer Mark Lee Townsend.
(See “Industry Beat”)
BABY BOY,
BABY BOY
Sixpence former lead singer
Leigh Nash is singing lullabies
these days, as she and husband
Mark recently welcomed their
first child, Henry Bingham, to the
Nash family. Congratulations to
the new parents!
>>>
MARCH BIRTHDAYS:
02 – Fernando Ortega
04 – Chonda Pierce
16 – Bryan Duncan
20 – Aaron Sprinkle
23 – Phil Keaggy
24 – Nathan Walters (Plus One)
Alisa Girard of ZOEgirl, who married ZOEgirl drummer Mike Childers last
August, says: “Since I’ve been married I’ve come to the most amazing place
of rest. When it’s right, it’s like your soul comes home. My husband pushes
me toward my calling. I see more than ever how important ZOEgirl’s ministry
is. I believe more than ever in what we’re doing!”
Jeremy Camp, who married The Benjamin Gate former lead singer Adrienne
Liesching in December, says: “I think after about two or three months, I
pretty much knew. I took probably a month to pray about it, but I just knew
this was the one God had brought into my life. It was definitely evident. I
went through a lot of confusion, a lot of pain and a lot of guilty thoughts of,
‘Am I betraying my first wife by getting remarried?’ But God really just
reassured me that He wanted to bless me. And it really helped that, before
she died, Melissa had told me if she didn’t make it, she wanted me to
remarry. At the time I didn’t want to hear it, but later it really helped. And
Adrienne was just so patient with me, so I didn’t feel any weird pressure
at all.”
Kristy Starling, who married her husband, Adam, more than a year ago,
says: “There is no better feeling in the world than knowing you have married
the man God intended specifically for you after patiently waiting, trusting and
praying. God knows us better than we know ourselves and meets our needs.
He was more than faithful in finding the perfect match for me with Adam.”
Jaci Velasquez, who married musician Darren Potuck, says: “The thing that’s
surprised me the most about marriage is the fact that it is forever [laughter]!
I mean, you are always with this person. If you’re selfish, well, say goodbye
to selfishness because marriage will just eradicate that pretty quickly! Of
course, I’d heard that before; but it’s one of those things I don’t think you
understand until you live it. I think getting married helped me understand the
relationship between God and the church in a new way—the Bride and the
Groom makes so much more sense to me now. It made me understand how
God views us as His people; and I understand where I’m at and where I’m
going more than I ever have before. I know that my faith is not just what I’ve
been raised with—it’s what I make of it each and every day.”
For more information, visit eharmony.com. Dedicated to helping people find the right partner for life
long love and happiness, e|harmony offers free personality profiles, a risk-free seven-day trial period
and membership packages to help get you started on the path to finding the right mate for you.
ticker continued on page 16
in Latter Half of 2003 • The Rev. Al Green, the Late Vestal Goodman, Sandi Patty and Frances Preston
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industrybeat
BY JAY SWARTZENDRUBER
A conversation with an industry insider
and the latest industry buzz.
friends with the guys, their guitarist, Matt Hoopes, married my oldest
daughter, Danielle. So he’s my son-in-law. (And hey, get this: My
middle daughter, Ashley, just got married to Milam Byers, the
guitarist for Bleach.) But, I’ve been blessed to do these records with
Relient K. Every EP, everything they’ve ever recorded has been done
in my house. It’s not a territorial thing, though. As a matter of fact, I
hope Jerry Finn (blink 182, Green Day) or Mark Trombino (Jimmy Eat
World, Something Corporate) gets to work with them some day.
What can you tell us about the new O.C. Supertones album
you’re producing?
One thing the Supertones have always had is tremendous ministry
skills, and that’s one thing I’ve always appreciated about them. It’s
exciting to be able to work on a record with them and support that.
I’m a big lyric guy. As a producer I qualify lyrics and melodies big
time. And that’s a little bit of a lost art, for the most part. I want to
make sure the artists understand the scope of what they’re trying to
say. And with the Supertones, I love where Mojo [lead singer] is
coming from lyrically—it’s going to challenge kids in a great way in
their spirituality. Musically, the Supertones has always had an
underlying southern California punk element. It’s not hardcore pop
punk, but it’s that Clash form of punk. That’s actually one of the
things we’re accentuating on this record.
Tell us about your new record label and the role you’re playing.
TUNING IN TO TOWNSEND
Before producing albums for bands such as Relient K, The Evan Anthem and
now O.C. Supertones, Mark Lee Townsend played guitar for Bash-N-The Code,
Steve Taylor, dc talk and Zilch—the band that founded Sonicflood after
Townsend, who was also the primary vocalist and principal songwriter,
departed. On the way Townsend made cameo appearances on guitar with First
Call, The Walter Eugenes, Sonicflood and Jennifer Knapp, among others. Since
2001 the Columbus, Ohio, native has also periodically taken time out to teach
music business courses at Malone College in Canton, Ohio. Townsend recently
relocated to the Nashville area, where he’s helping with the launch of a new
record label.
Do you consider yourself a producer or a guitarist?
I’ll always be a little of both. I traditionally don’t play guitar on the things I produce,
unless a group begs me. On Relient K’s stuff I’m credited as Rob Roy Fingerhead. I
credited myself as that because it’s an absurd name out of an episode of “The
Monkees.” As far as my production style, I think I would disgust most Nashville
producers because I don’t do it the way they do. I’m disorganized, but I know the
goods when I hear it. We don’t use a [white] board with a chart that says “vocals” and
stuff like that. We keep track of things in our mind. I’m very much into the band having
a lot of participation. Generally, somebody will go, “Oh, you know, it might be cool if we
throw this down.” We’ll try it. OK, it worked, so we put it on the record. And when the
song is done, we look at it and know the song is done.
Sonicflood was an offshoot of your band Zilch. Weren’t you almost the group’s
lead singer?
I did play some guitar on the Sonicflood record; but, for me and where I was at in life, I
didn’t resonate with doing a cover album of worship songs. I have nothing against
worship music on any level; some people are called to it. But I wanted to stay with
original material, just flog it out and try to see if we could break a band. Otto Price and
Jason Halbert (former Zilch bandmates) did me a great favor because when they did
the Sonicflood thing, instead of using the Zilch name, they just said, “Mark, the Zilch
thing is you. The name was your idea, and the writing and a lot of the style was yours,
so you just run with it and take it.” So I actually still do Zilch today. We played some of
the festivals last year and regularly do about two dates a month.
You “discovered” Relient K and have produced all three of its albums. Do you
have an actual production deal with the band?
No, I don’t. I have better than a deal with them. In addition to being the closest of
I’m doing executive production, A&R and studio production for an
upstart label called Rambler Records. It’s the mainstream/indie rock
division of BHT’s new company [see below]. While I’m committed to
them on every single level, I am allowed to do outside production
and continue to do the Zilch thing. Working with BHT is a really
exciting opportunity for me to join forces with my friends and work
toward a common goal. It’s almost like they’ve said, “Mark, just take
what you do, and let’s just morph some of that into our label
artists.” While the artists with Rambler Records will be believers,
they won’t fit completely into the Christian market. They’ll be better
geared toward going out into regular world venues, carrying the
message of Christ. We want to be a very artist-friendly label that has
relationships with our artists. We don’t want to sign 50 artists and
not return their calls.
AND THE BEAT GOES ON...
Longtime artist managers Mike Blanton, Dan Harrell and Steve
Thomas have partnered to form BHT Entertainment, which is
comprised of three separate record labels with each focusing on a
specific genre. Beatmart Recordings (R&B/urban), Rambler Records
(rock) and a yet-to-be-named pop division will all be overseen by general
manager Troy Collins, former marketing and sales executive for Gotee
and ForeFront Records.
Hip-hop duo Camp 8, known until recently as the Gospel Gangstaz,
has announced a partnership with H20 Productions, the music
production company owned by Allan Houston, the New York Knicks AllStar guard and Olympic gold medalist. H20 Productions will provide
marketing, promotion and creative support for future projects by Camp
8. H20 is reportedly negotiating with multiple record labels to secure
distribution for Camp 8 and other projects.
MercyMe’s multi-format smash, “I Can Only Imagine,” continues to
connect with increasingly diverse audiences. Long after becoming a
staple on several Christian and mainstream pop charts, the band now
has a hit on country radio. At press time MercyMe had cracked both
the Billboard and R&R country charts.
ticker continued on page 20
>>>
Were Recently Inducted Into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame • Squint Entertainment Signs Rockers Building
18 ccm march 04
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>>>
@
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BY JOAN BRASHER
Tom Fontana’s made-for-TV-movie Judas
SCENES FROM JUDAS
udas. The Scriptures don’t tell us much about him. We know he was
Jesus’ friend and that he betrayed him for 30 pieces of silver. But
why? Now on Judas, an upcoming Paramount/ABC made-for-TV
movie, attempts are made to answer that question and to reveal a
more personal look at the man whose name will forever be
identified with the greatest betrayal in history. Tom Fontana, known for
writing for acclaimed television series like “Oz,” “Homocide: Life on the
Street” and “St. Elsewhere,” co-executive produced and penned the script
for Judas, which was shot in 2001 in Morocco. It airs Monday, March 8, 911 p.m. (EST). CCM Magazine recently tracked down Fontana to get his
take on Judas.
Were you trying to find a way to help the audience empathize
with Judas?
Having written some very graphic and violent scenes for such shows
as “Oz” and “Homicide,” how difficult was it to switch gears and
write a biblical story?
Well, first of all, I don’t live in Hollywood! I live on the other end of the
planet [New York]. But I will tell you, if you look at my work—“St.
Elsewhere,” “Homicide,” “Oz”—they may not be as obvious as something
like Judas is; but one of the first things I do when I create a character is
figure out what he or she believes. That’s one of the questions you have to
answer before you put words in a character’s mouth. A lot of my characters
are struggling to find God, define God or defy God, just the way people [in
real life] do. If you look at the places my series have been set—a hospital,
a homicide unit, a prison—those are places where, if you can find God
there, then you know He exists. It’s easy to find Him [when you are] at a
cathedral; it’s harder to find Him buried in a prison somewhere. There is
always an element of a search for spirituality, but what I don’t do is give out
any easy answers.
J
First of all, this was my second biblical story. Twenty years ago, when I was
writing “St. Elsewhere,” I wrote an adaptation of “The Fourth Wiseman,”
which starred Martin Sheen and Alan Arkin. But what was interesting this
time around was that I finished the last script for that season of “Oz,” and
the next morning I was sitting at the same desk reading the Bible and
writing Judas. I had this moment where I thought, “How lucky am I in my
career that I’m allowed to go to so many places searching for the truth
about life?”
Your religious background is Catholic, and you already knew the story
of Judas. What was the preparation process like in writing the script?
I got about seven different Bible translations to give myself a sense of the
language. One of the most useful versions was the literal translation of the
original Aramaic. It was fascinating to read and see the difference in the
meaning of certain words. For example, the word “Satan” in Aramaic is a
derivation of a word that means “one who’s lost his way.” That was very
helpful in trying to build the character of Judas because we didn’t want to
portray Judas as we’ve seen him before—a one-dimensional character. We
really wanted to explore him as a man searching for truth but not being
able to recognize it. He really was looking for something, and he got close
but couldn’t recognize it and, as a result, was lost.
>>>
I wanted them to at least understand him. I didn’t portray him as a
particularly lovely human being. He is rude to people, he’s impatient, he’s
angry, he’s quick to judge. But it’s coming out of this emptiness inside him
because he is looking for something deeper than his job, home life, all of
those elements that aren’t satisfying enough. We tied a lot of it to his initial
anger at the Romans for their occupation of Palestine. Hopefully it fills him
out by putting him into a historical context.
What was it like to write something that relates to your faith? That’s
not usually a popular topic in Hollywood.
What do you want viewers to take away from this movie?
Ultimately, this is a story of compassion. At the end of the film, after Judas
has hung himself, three of the apostles go and cut him down and pray over
him. One of them says, “Why are we doing this?” And Peter says,
“Because he [meaning Jesus] would have wanted us to.” So, ultimately, it’s
about forgiveness and understanding.
Tom Fontana is currently writing an upcoming FOX television series called
“The Jury.”
429 • Rolling Stone Reports That “God-Fearing” Kid Rock is Looking For a Church to Attend • Stop
20 ccm march 04
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>>>
CCM_03.04_Rock.v9
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T
h
e
Verdict
I
s
I
n
:
“Rock &
Roll Is
Here To
Stay.”
/
0
/
B
y
Anthony
DeBarros
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K
Y O U !
(L-R) STU G, TIM JUPP, JON THATCHER, MARTIN SMITH, STEW SMITH, NAME NAME
months before their CD dropped or managing to generate the kind
of advance buzz from critics that would pique the curiosity of music
fans on release week, Kutless remained relatively under the radar—
that is, until the band packed up its gear and hit the road.
It was then—when the band took its aggressive rock anthems like
“Your Touch” and teamed up with Audio Adrenaline and MercyMe
for the “Go Show,” among other influential touring jaunts—that
Kutless began to make a mark in front of impressible audiences and
rock radio alike. With little fanfare as it traveled coast to coast, the
slow build to recognition began and eventually propelled Kutless to
becoming the Tooth & Nail family’s fastest-selling debut with almost
150,000 units sold. To put this number in perspective, take a quick
look at toothandnail.com to see how many bands comprise the label’s
roster, and you’ll find it’s difficult not to be impressed by how this new
act managed to stand out with so much friendly competition.
While that figure alone would’ve been enough to highlight an
impressive press kit, the band continued to be a Christian music
industry success story the rest of the year and beyond. As album
sales kept pace with the likes of Michael W. Smith and teen dance
act Jump5, the guys continued to be surprised since they never
really anticipated such accolades. “We came into all of this really
with the intent of doing this the best we could. You never know
what could happen with your first record; it’s always a big
unknown,” lead singer Jon-Micah Sumrall says. “We’re very
pleased that it’s done well, and we’re super thankful everything has
come together. Just the fact that we’re able to get into a tour bus
after only a year of touring is a miracle!”
And now, almost a year-and-a-half after the release of its debut
record, Kutless continues to call the cozy confines of its tour bus
“home” most days. But what’s particularly exciting news in the
Kutless camp are the new songs to incorporate into its repertoire
as it recently released a sophomore disc, Sea of Faces (Tooth & Nail).
ccmmagazine.com
march 04 ccm 33
CCM_03.04_Kutless.v11
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8:58 PM
W E
Page 32
W I L L
AFTER A SURPRISING WHIRLWIND DEBUT
IN 2002,
KUTLESS’
JON-MICAH SUMRALL
& CO. ARE BACK WITH MORE BLISTERING
GUITAR GUSTO, A NO-APOLOGIES CHRISTCENTERED FOCUS AND A MISSION TO
REACH OUT WITH ROCK & ROLL THAT’S
CATCHY BUT FALLS MORE ON THE ARTFUL
SIDE OF THE MUSICAL SCALE.
32 ccm march 04
BY CHRISTA FARRIS
ccmmagazine.com
R
If we conducted a musical time-travel experiment and
ventured back to 2002, here’s a quick snapshot of what
we’d discover about the state of rock & roll. As boy
bands moved the way of the bargain bin, music fans still
clamored for the spiritually charged sounds of the likes
of Creed and Linkin Park, but they also enthusiastically
embraced the garage-rock renderings that launched
bands such as The White Stripes and The Strokes into
the stratosphere of “cool.” During that same year (in
July), a group of unknown Oregonians, known simply as
Kutless, quietly debuted their influential brand of rock
on a self-titled disc.
Avoiding the usual pre-release publicity hype that
would’ve heralded Kutless as the “next big thing,” these
rockers didn’t follow the common cookie-cutter
scenario in pursuit of success. Instead of making the
huge splash at Gospel Music Week in Nashville a few
O
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YOU’RE THE
INSPIRATION!
We’ve already established that Kutless knows
how to rock, but every band needs its muses,
right? So we asked the guys to name the
artists who rank as their favorites right now.
1. SWITCHFOOT
2. JOHNNY CASH
3. FALLING UP
4. FOO FIGHTERS
A MUSIC MAKER’S
METHODOLOGY
Checking in from his home in Medford, Ore.,
located just north of the California border on a
day he describes as “sunny with just a bit of
snow on the ground,” Sumrall’s afternoon is
decidedly low-key compared to most. With a
slew of interviews to give and an inbox full of
e-mails to answer, it’s a relaxing pace he hasn’t
quite become accustomed to, considering all
the big aspirations he’s had on his mind lately.
Like most artists who’ve experienced success
with their first record, Sumrall has wrestled
with—and is determined to conquer—the
34 ccm march 04
ccmmagazine.com
proverbial demon known as the “sophomore
slump,” where the follow-up attempt doesn’t
quite measure up to the success or notoriety of
the first effort. While there are no guarantees
on how the album will perform compared to
its predecessor, he claims the band was
intentional on making music that is artful but
also commercially viable—something that
almost defies the indie spirit of a label like
Tooth & Nail.
“A lot of bands, particularly on our label,
will just create art; and that’s fine,” Sumrall
notes. “They aren’t necessarily designing or
creating it with the intent of getting on radio
stations. So when we started the process of
making a record, we were very intentional in
5. SEVEN PLACES
6. JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE
7. PAUL WRIGHT
8. LINKIN PARK
what we did. We weren’t just looking to be
another Tooth & Nail band. We really wanted
to be a successful band, and we worked very
hard at that.”
And while some of the Tooth & Nail faithful
would cry “sell-out” at a statement like that,
Sumrall confidently maintains he wants to
strike an appropriate balance between the two
facets with what Kutless musically brings to
the table. “Some people create art for
themselves, but I like making art for other
people. Some artists like to be able to express
what they feel, what they think; and it’s kind
of a way to vent for them,” he comments. “And
while I still enjoy lyrics that talk about things I
have dealt with or watched people go through,
our intent is to share and make that relate to
our audience. When we present music, we
want it to be the most enjoyable experience
for the listener.”
Aside from contemplating his artistic
philosophies, Sumrall also finds himself
thinking a lot about Jesus’ crucifixion lately
after having viewed Mel Gibson’s The Passion of
The Christ. “After seeing this movie, I’ve been
absolutely blown away and reminded of God’s
love for us and what He went through on that
cross,” Sumrall adds. “It’s something you don’t
really want to ever think about because it’s so
terrible. But, at the same time, you’re so
thankful for it; and then once again you realize
that sacrifice for us is the greatest thing ever
but so horrible at the same time. You just
continue to wrestle with it.”
And this wrestling match of sorts is woven
into the lyrics of a couple songs on Sea of Faces,
such as its current single, “Treason,” and a
track appropriately titled “Passion” that was
being considered for one of the soundtracks
for The Passion at press time.
“I’ve found myself really dealing with this
whole issue as I was getting ready to go and
see the movie. I didn’t really want to see it, but
CCM_03.04_Kutless.v11
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9:06 PM
Page 35
yet I did,” Sumrall said. “But after seeing it, I
realized that this account of what He did for
us is going to have a huge impact on a lot of
lives. It reminded me of how much God loves
us and continues to love us to go through what
He did.”
PROVIDING AN
ALTERNATIVE TO
WHAT’S ALTERNATIVE
Something else that Sumrall and his Kutless
compadres, who include guitarists James Mead
and Ryan Shrout, drummer Kyle Mitchell and
the bassist who just goes by “Stu,” have been
sorting through lately are the Jerry Maguireesque kinds of realizations about their mission
statement. While they haven’t written it down
in “memo” form like the movie, Sumrall said
they see the band’s purpose as a two-fold
ministry focus.
“Primarily, our first focus is to reach unsaved
people,” Sumrall explains. “We hope our music
is good and fun enough to bring people in
who aren’t Christians. Hopefully we’ll be able
to open their eyes and the door to them to
realize, for the first time, that you can rock
out, have a good time and still be a Christian.
“Our second mission is to provide an
alternative to our fellow Christian brothers and
sisters. There is a lot of music out there that is
very negative. All these bands I enjoyed before
we started our band, like Staind, Nickelback
and Puddle of Mudd, make great music; but
some of the messages weren’t quite so positive.
I mean, take Puddle of Mudd and its song ‘She
F------ Hates Me.’ It’s like, ‘Man, this is
probably not the best stuff to be listening to.’ It
was very frustrating to me because I didn’t
want to listen to that stuff, but I really enjoy
the musical style. And so we hope our band
can be an alternative to that, and Christians
can have fun and be encouraged.”
In the coming months, it looks like the band
will get plenty of opportunities to do just that
as it launches the “X2004 Sea of Faces Tour”
this month with labelmates Thousand Foot
Krutch, FM Static, Falling Up and youth
speaker Ryan Dobson in more than 30
markets. While road life has become a
familiar—and even enjoyable, according to
Sumrall—staple for the band, he is quick to
throw out a final request before the group
starts logging thousands of miles coast to
coast. “If anyone wants to donate a Leer jet to
us, we’d be willing to take it off his or her
hands.” ccm
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1) A BUS DRIVER
“Our bus driver is pretty essential. The driver we have right
now is great. He knows a lot about our bus and keeps it
running well, as it has lots of little odds and ends to get
things going smoothly.”
2) VIDEO GAMES
“We play skateboarding and pro-surfer games, ‘Tiger
Woods’ golf, and our road pastor who comes out every
once in while brought ‘Madden’ with him. So we have some
pretty big football games between us—some real rivalries
going on.”
3) DVDS
“We have a lot of DVDs; and we’ve all been working on
expanding our collections so that when we have a lot of
long drives, we can just pop in a movie. I can’t read while
we drive because I get car sick. On the other hand, for my
wife, a good book is essential for all the long drives.”
4) MICROWAVE BURRITOS
“Microwave burritos are definitely a popular commodity.
They are an instant meal!”
5) OTHER PORTABLE CUISINE
“We also like microwavable macaroni and cheese and
sandwich stuff—turkey and cheese. And of course, we like
to have the occasional Ben & Jerry’s ice cream fix.”
ccmmagazine.com
march 04 ccm 35
CCM_02.04_ListeningIn.v7
(
1/29/04
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Listening In...
with Stephen Baldwin, John Wells of Cross Movement and an unexpected guest, Alec Baldwin
(L-R) STEPHEN BALDWIN, JOHN WELLS
W
Alec: Did you guys just meet, or do you know
each other?
Stephen: We met at a Christian hip-hop thing
in Harlem that I just showed up at.
John: The Bronx. Rap-Fest in the Bronx.
Stephen: I only went there to see these guys.
John: Which was crazy.
Stephen: A big part of my whole freaky-deaky
kind of tip early on in my salvation was that
there wasn’t anything cool for me to watch or
listen to. So one day I found a CD by the Cross
Movement, a record called Human Emergency. It
was… as slammin’ as anything else I heard by
Puffy or this or that guy. When I first heard Kirk
Franklin, I said to myself, “OK, well, maybe this
whole Christian content thing in relation to
film, TV, music isn’t there yet; but it’s coming.”
And one of the confirmations of that, for me,
was your record.
36 ccm march 04
ccmmagazine.com
)
ALEC BALDWIN
hen we heard that Stephen Baldwin (The Usual Suspects, “Celebrity
Mole”) was teaming up with Luis Palau’s ministry to create Living It,
a faith-based DVD featuring skaters and BMXers, the Hollywood actor
had our attention. And when we discovered he and Cross Movement’s
John Wells were good friends, we knew it was time to eavesdrop on
a conversation. But when they met for the interview in a New York
restaurant, who should show up but Stephen’s older brother, Alec
(The Hunt For Red October, The Cooler), who was there for a press
conference. We wish we could share the entire conversation (all two
hours), but, alas, space wouldn’t allow. However, you can catch more
of their discussion at CCMmagazine.com.
Alec: What are you eating?
Stephen: I ordered the steak things on a stick.
What do you call that?
Alec: You feel that slicing up and scorching the
flesh of a cow is not any kind of impediment into
the gates of heaven? But rolling the leaf of the
tobacco plant and smoking that in your
mouth—that is, of course, forbidden.
Stephen: Your body is a temple.
Alec: Your body is a temple, but to inject into
the body the scorched, seared cow flesh is not
an impediment?
Stephen: No. All things have been made clean.
When Jesus came He made all things clean.
Alec: Jesus said, “I put the cows here for you to
burn them and to consume them, to eat them”?
Stephen: Absolutely. (laughs)
Stephen: So what I was saying was that one of
the things that was a push for me was Human
Emergency. And I was sitting there going, ‘I’ve gotta
get in touch with Kirk Franklin; I’ve gotta get in
touch with these guys, The Cross Movement and
say: “Hey man, what can I do to help? How do we
get together?’ It’s just very interesting for me to
know that on the Hollywood side of things,
whatever I could do to stitch it up or to be a part
of creating new content that is not completely of
the world would be cool.
John: I know that’s got to be a hard road. Being a
Hollywood Christian is almost similar to what
people would say about being a Christian hiphop artist: It seems like an oxymoron. How is it
possible for that to exist?
Stephen: Cross Movement is a hip-hop group of
believers. You’re already in that genre, world, etc.
Stephen Baldwin is a guy who the world sees as
this crazy rebel guy, and now the Lord’s done
snatched me up. I’m still in the transitional period
where I know what’s going on with me, and I’ve
CCM_03.04_Passion.v8
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8:51 PM
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SOMETHING OLD,
SOMETHING
NEW
PASSION’S MODERN WORSHIPERS GO BACK
IN TIME FOR A UNIQUE HYMNS RECORDING.
espite sales of more than one million “Passion”-related
albums to date, founder Louie Giglio won’t fully
accept his deserved place in the so-called modern
worship music movement. This 45-year-old Atlanta
pastor knows “there is nothing new under the sun”
(Ecclesiastes 1:9).
“If you want to be on the cutting edge, you have to
look backward, not forward,” says Giglio, offering a glimpse of the
thinking behind the organization/movement’s new CD, Passion: Hymns
Ancient and Modern—Live Songs of Our Faith (sixstepsrecords). Along with his
younger artistic collaborators, Giglio insists worship is timeless in God’s
eyes, whether conveyed in an elaborate 1833 hymn or a simple 2004
praise chorus. Now these two eras merge for this compelling offering.
“Worship isn’t modern or ancient to God,” explains Giglio. “[But] these
hymns remind us that our faith and worship aren’t a week old. We’re part
of a stream that is thousands of years old. Many have gone before us and
found Him to be true. I don’t know how it can be better than that.”
The Passion movement officially began in early 1997 when Giglio and
other campus ministers welcomed 2,000 people to a prayer and worship
event in Austin, Texas. Hoping to encourage spiritual awakening among
college students, they saw attendance multiply for subsequent Passion
rallies; and in 2000, its first “OneDay” gathering brought 40,000 students
worldwide to a farm outside Memphis, Tennessee. Guest speakers at
these summits have included pastor/author John Piper (Desiring God, Don’t
Waste Your Life), Beth Moore (Breaking Free, Living Beyond Yourself) and the
late Bill Bright, founder of Campus Crusade for Christ. The worship
music of Passion—from artists such as Chris Tomlin, David Crowder
Band and Charlie Hall—was given a permanent home in 2001 with the
creation of the sixsteps record label, a division of Choice Resources
(parent ministry for the Passion conferences).
Recorded last spring at the Passion’s annual “Thirsty” conference,
Hymns Ancient and Modern was created by the participants with the selfimposed rule that no revisited song could be less than 100 years old. The
essence of the project had been simmering for years. Tomlin, for
example, was already known to infuse his order of worship with hymns
and to morph classics like “When I Survey the Wondrous Cross” into
sing-alongs such as “The Wonderful Cross.” But it was a group discussion
on the A.D. 200 hymn “Phos Hilaren” (“The Hilarious Light”) that
ultimately led to an entire Passion assembly of what Giglio calls “ancientfuture worship.”
D
BY DAVID SCHRADER
Coincidentally, “Phos Hilaren” had separately intrigued both Crowder
and Giglio. The hymn was sung in Jerusalem two centuries after the
resurrection of Jesus. Early Christians had built a church over His tomb
where a lamp was kept burning at all times. When they would gather for
worship, the lamp—the “hilarious light”—was brought out from the
tomb to represent Christ’s presence among them. The lyrics of “Phos
Hilaren” survived, but the melody was lost, inspiring Crowder, Giglio and
Tomlin to write new music.
On the disc, the ancient words are spoken in corporate worship (“Hail
Gladdening Light… Worthiest art Thou, at all times to be sung with undefiled tongue.
We hail the Father, Son and Holy Spirit Divine”). Then, the updated
composition “No One More Worthy” segues in with similar phrasings
and bright, anthemic rock-textured instrumentation that is consistent
throughout the set and with previous Passion recordings. “Though we
really didn’t want to set the exact wording to music, we were moved by
its confession and wanted, in some way, to allow it to continue to be
sung,” explains Giglio of the fresh track. “We don’t pretend to think that
it rivals the original but hope it causes you to stop and marvel that you
stand in a long line of followers of Christ.”
Tomlin, meanwhile, takes on 1833’s “O Worship the King,” faithfully
rendering the well-known verses and writing a new chorus that also
portrays God as a shining light. British worship leader Matt Redman
follows with “Father Let Me Dedicate” from 1864. Originally sung only
on New Year’s Day, Redman tweaked the opening line, changing the
word “year” to “life” because he says the song is, “biblical, poetic and
relevant… It felt far too powerful to only make an appearance once every
365 days.” Watermark vocalist Christy Nockels offers 17th-century hymn
“Fairest Lord Jesus,” adding a new chorus as well. Other contributors
include David Crowder Band (“Doxology”) and Charlie Hall (“How
Great Thou Art”).
Giglio addresses the practice of altering the original songs by saying,
“In many cases, ‘breathing room’ has been added—an attempt to balance
the abundance of words and verses that characterize many hymns with a
simple, repeating chorus, more in the style of contemporary music.”
And therein lies the most immediate purpose of Passion: Hymns Ancient
and Modern—Live Songs of our Faith: It connects today’s worship music
listeners with vital songs of the past, shifting the “ancient hymn vs.
modern praise chorus” debate away from fleeting matters of style to focus
on eternal matters of the heart. ccm
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DELIRIOUS’
LONG AND
WINDING ROAD
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(L-R) STU G, TIM JUPP, JON THATCHER, MARTIN SMITH, STEW SMITH
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BY
JUDE ADAM
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Many artists aren't even fortunate enough to qualify as a “one-hit
wonder,” let alone have several songs and electrifying live shows
that resonate with audiences worldwide. But in its eight-year
tenure, DELIRIOUS has fallen into that prestigious category and
provided the church with a modern worship soundtrack that includes
popular congregational favorites “I Could Sing of Your Love
Forever” and “Did You Feel the Mountains Tremble?”
Ironically, Delirious seems to have more in common with renowned
hymn writers (who penned songs like “It Is Well With My Soul” and
“Amazing Grace” out of tragedy) than with successful rock/worship
stars. The year 2003 proved to be a difficult season. From the
downsizing of its Furious Records’ label (which the band owns) to
the unexpected death of a close friend, the band was left
demoralized and seriously questioning its future.
Just more than a year ago (and coincidentally, the night
before the interview for Delirious’ March 2003 CCM
cover story) a leader in the church where the band
members attend died suddenly at the age of 44, leaving a
wife, four teenage daughters and a large hole in the
community. John Thatcher Sr. was also bassist Jon
Thatcher’s uncle, and three other members of the band
are married to Jon’s three sisters. Needless to say, it
affected the entire band deeply.
In reaction to the tragedy, Martin Smith, the softspoken lead singer, wrote the track “Mountains High”
which appears on Delirious’ latest, World Service (Sparrow),
the night John passed away. “The opening line is ‘Sorrow
came to visit us today,’ and I was really just trying to imagine
sorrow like a person walking into a room,” says Smith. “It’s
like you’re shaking hands with someone, and that’s his
name—you know? The song doesn’t have a happy
ending; there’s not a nice, rounded off answer to it like,
‘Now that we’ve gone through all that, isn’t it great we’ve
come through it and here we are?’ I don’t think we’ll ever
get through it in that way. The song is just a cry, asking
God to help pull you over it and knowing it will be an
ongoing process.
“When someone close to you dies, it’s actually a
mixture of shock and emotion,” he continues. “But it’s also
a very spiritual moment in that you actually feel God’s
presence in an amazing way. There’s a line that says ‘Only
tears can tell/Of this holy hour…’ It really did feel like the God
who created the heavens and the earth had just decided
to step into time and take him [John] home. You can’t get
holier than that.”
The reality of “Mountains High” is echoed in many of
the other songs on Service, and this is exactly what the
band wanted.
“In the past we’ve tried a bit hard to write for a certain
direction,” says lead guitarist Stu G. “We recorded Glo as
a real congregational worship album, and we recorded
Touch as an effort to write some radio songs. The first
thing we thought coming into this [album] was that we
just wanted to write with purity and integrity. We found
a real freedom with that. And then you’ve got stuff
happening around you… like we lost quite a lot of money
business-wise this year and had to lose some staff, John
dying and the war in Iraq. It made us get on our knees.”
Says Smith, “There’s a lyric in ‘Feel It Coming On’ that
says, ‘Look at where we’ve come, a boy becomes a man/But for the first
time in our lives, we come without a plan,’ and that rings really
true. We’ve still got a lot of vision; but I don’t think we
know actually how it’s going to pan out, which is exciting.
And if that means playing support to Bon Jovi again, we’ll
do that; and if that means playing a massive crusade in
America, then we’ll do that. It’s very freeing.”
“When the business [Furious Records] started to go
wrong, it was actually important because it made us reevaluate things and ask, ‘What are we in this for?’”
explains Jon. “Is it to create a great record label? Is it to
become rock stars? Or is it more than that?”
Smith agrees. “The main thing we said was that if the
band went [away], we would be devastated; but if
everything else around it went, we could live with that,”
he says. “We want to play music, and we want to get out
there and do what we do; and that was a fantastic
realization for us.”
Is this their “world service,” so to speak, as the moniker
of the band’s new album implies?
Stu G. laughs, “We were toying with the idea of God’s
communicating with us and with someone else at the
same time on the other side of the world, and I mentioned
that you can be anywhere in the world and pick up the
BBC World Service. We really do believe it’s our service
to the world,” he says, grinning. “So it’s a bit tongue-incheek but serious at the same time.”
“And what a privilege it is!” Smith interrupts. “It’s an
amazing privilege to be crafting something in private and
then, all of a sudden, the record comes out; and people all
over the world resonate with it and want to sing the
songs! This is what we do,” he continues. “And we
actually do it quite well, so we’d better get on and do it
even better.”
“The personality of the band is made up of five
different ones, and I think that tension is what pushes us
on,” says keyboardist Tim Jupp. “When you look back to
the early days, we always said we’re on a journey; and so
nothing’s changed. It’s just the journey that continues.
Like Martin said, we’re still very full of faith and excited
to see what God will do with us, but I don’t think we’ve
ever clearly known how we were going to get from ‘A’ to
‘B.’ The fact is that we still believe there’s further to go,
and that’s as vibrant as ever.”
While the band might not be sure of its ultimate career
or ministry path, Delirious is presently on a 40-date U.S.
tour that includes several dates as the featured band for
Teen Mania Ministries’ “Aquire the Fire” events.
“We hadn’t actually heard of them [Teen Mania] until
last year,” says drummer Stew Smith. “The shows are
brilliant, and it’s been great. Their whole ethos is very
similar to what we’ve grown out of—basically motivating
kids to really get out there and make a bit of a difference.
That definitely struck a chord with us, as it feels similar to
what was going on here in the United Kingdom in the
‘90s.” ccm
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PHOTO BY ISABEL SNYDER
1/29/04
BY ROBERT MINEO
WHILE HE MAY HAVE COME ACROSS THE
AUDITION ANNOUNCEMENT FOR “AMERICAN
IDOL” BY MISTAKE, IT WAS NO ACCIDENT
R.J. HELTON MADE IT TO THE TOP FIVE AND NO
FURTHER. NOW, WITH A NEW RECORD AND A
PASSION FOR VICTIMS OF ABUSE, HE’S MAKING
HIS DEBUT IN THE CHRISTIAN MUSIC WORLD.
AMERICAN
DREAMS
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merican Idol” contestant R.J. Helton
has apparently been asked this question
before. “Simon’s not as bad as he seems
on TV,” he offers before the query is
ever made. He also reveals that Simon
often complimented him after the end of an
“American Idol” taping, much to the singer’s chagrin.
During a recent promotional tour, Helton stopped by
the CCM offices for a friendly visit and to showcase
songs from his debut release, Real Life (B-Rite),
including final mixes he hadn’t even heard yet. While
our tendency may have been to feel sympathetic for
this fourth-runner-up, who has now decided to make
his foray into Christian music (of all things); he, on
the other hand, carries no regret.
“When we [the other contestants] got to the top
10, we all realized we did not want to win because of
what it would entail,” he explains of the contractual
obligations to which the singers would be held. “I
am actually glad I was No. 5; if I had been No. 4, I
would have had to stay attached longer.” (For the
record, Helton is still friendly with “Idol” contestants
Kelly Clarkson and Christina Christian and enjoys
weekly Bible studies with Tamara Grey when he’s in
Los Angeles.)
But, with his “American Idol Tour” long since
completed, Helton is free of any obligation to the
franchise’s machine and is happily signed to GospoCentric’s B-Rite label, home to artists such as Kirk
Franklin, Byron Cage, Dorinda Clark-Cole and Kurt
Carr. “Since Kirk [Franklin] broke down so many walls
[between the mainstream and Christian markets], I
knew that would be the label to go with,” says Helton.
The fact that he signed with a Christian label
comes as somewhat of a surprise, considering the
offers he got from other mainstream labels. But when
asked why he made the decision to enter the Christian
market simultaneously with the mainstream, Helton
recalls an experience from his “American Idol” days.
“People magazine said the only thing limiting me was
my devout Christianity. I am proud to be known in
that way and know that God blesses those who are
bold and speak who He is.”
And while Helton has certainly proclaimed his faith
in his songs, he hasn’t created music that sounds like
your typical Christian adult contemporary or even
R&B fare. Drawing inspiration from four producers,
including Tommy Sims (Kelly Clarkson, CeCe
Winans), Reed Vertelney (Luther Vandross), Bernie
Herms (Natalie Grant, Plus One) and New Tone
Productions (Dana Glover, Black Eyed Peas, Eric
Benet), to create Real Life, Helton showcases his vocal
chops and a writing ability that fall more in line with
what’s heard in the general market today—just with a
more redemptive spin.
“My goal is to bring happy, good music to the
mainstream,” he says. “We’re missing good influences.
My message is that there is hope and to look above.”
Helton is quick to give credit to the various
producers on Real Life for the help to make that vision
come into focus. “I made friends with them,” he states.
“[A few] really allowed me to break free. They helped
me to be a man of God by showing me honesty and
integrity as well as being there to pray, encourage and
provide accountability.”
“A
Having that support was important, given the
nature of some of the songs Helton co-wrote. One
song in particular, “Delicate Child,” reflects the
freedom he feels after having dealt with the pain of
child sexual abuse at the hand of a close family friend.
“I did not really come to terms with it until my junior
year of high school,” he says. “Writing became part of
the healing process for me.”
The process also included coming to terms with the
concept of forgiveness, initially a stumbling block for
Helton. “A Way to Forgive” speaks of that acceptance.
“Learning how to forgive was a tough issue. I had a lot
of anger to deal with, and I couldn’t trust anyone,” he
states. “But a good friend told me that forgiving
someone is like setting a prisoner free, and that
prisoner is you.”
Helton has also developed a passion to help other
“prisoners” break free. At home in Atlanta he has
become involved with agencies that help victims of
childhood abuse, and he looks forward to delivering a
hopeful message to child and adult victims. Based on
statistical data indicating one out of every three
women and one out of every six men have been
sexually abused at some point in life, Helton firmly
believes that many of his potential fans are struggling
with this issue. Since, as a rule, sexual abuse isn’t
talked about much—especially concerning young
boys—Helton wants to be one to speak out.
His lifelong ambition will give him the platform to
do just that. “I have been singing since I was 3, and
music has been a part of my entire life,” Helton says.
“All of my life I wanted to be in the entertainment
industry.” When he was 5 he earned standing ovations
in talent competitions and began performing solos at
his first home church in Pasadena, Texas. Three years
later, he attended a performing arts school and gained
exposure to theater and dance. Throughout high
school Helton joined local community theater
programs and landed lead roles in several musical
productions. Following graduation he took part in a
promotional tour sponsored by Reader’s Digest, visiting
more than 150 schools nationwide and developing an
initial fan base of nearly 10,000. (Coincidentally,
“American Idol” judge Paula Abdul performed on this
tour as well early in her career.)
Musical aspirations brought Helton to Nashville,
where he first waited tables and eventually performed
and sought a record deal as part of a Christian “boy
band” in the making. But after a few months with no
response, he went on the road for another artist,
selling merchandise and sleeping on the floor of a tour
bus. Six months later Helton headed back to Atlanta
and became a personal trainer and a gymnastics
instructor for children. It was in Atlanta that he
happened to surf past a channel and see the fateful TV
spot for the “American Idol” auditions.
As he lives out his dream to be a recording artist,
the journey to this point in life seems to be every bit
as significant as his actual achievements. “I’ve grown
so much just through the making of this album,”
Helton notes. “I was really forced to look inside and
deal with some things I had not dealt with before. It
was a huge learning experience for me. I think I’m
finally getting the chance to grow into the man I want
to be, and it feels great.” ccm
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special advertising section
HOW TO ✯ ✯ ✯ ✯ ✯
ROCK
YOUR WAY
THROUGH ✯ ✯ ✯ ✯ ✯
PAYING FOR COLLEGE
As college costs continue to
escalate, the pursuit of a higher
education may seem more like a
pipe dream than reality. But
earning money for school just may
be easier than you think if you
start—early. Now read on and find
out a few secrets that will rock
your success quotient.
Sure, it’s only March, and it’s difficult to peel
yourself away from those Final Four games or the
latest fashion mags advertising the upcoming
spring shoe line. But believe or not, it’s already a
great time to start pooling your resources together
and thinking about college—more specifically, how
you can pay for school your way. Surprisingly
enough, with a few scholarships, you don’t even
have to be independently wealthy to stay closer in
the black rather than the red when it comes to
college costs.
Whether you’ve just begun your freshman year of
high school or are a senior on the verge of
acceptance at a major university, it’s never too
early to get the proverbial ball rolling when it
comes to financial matters. And despite all the
dismal statistics about increased college costs and
fewer financial aid opportunities, there’s hope in
sight as plenty of scholarships are available to help
alleviate the burden—all you have to do is take the
time to apply.
By Christa Farris
Photos by Lee Steffen
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Now it’s no secret that students with high grade-point averages,
a shelf-full of prestigious honors and a wide range of extra
curricular activities are usually the ones who are awarded these
kinds of financial accolades. But even if your academic record
seems a little lackluster, even you, yes you, can try and apply
for financial assistance. All it takes is dedication and some
clever public relations ability to make the most of what you
have to offer the world.
Now that you’re motivated, how exactly do you go about
getting started? We’re glad you asked! Here are a few tips
that’ll help you get on your way:
Information Please?
The first step to success requires a little bit of organizational
ability. Get the process rolling by making a file all about you.
Have you ever written an article for your campus newspaper?
Make sure you add that clip to your folder. Star as the lead in
your school play? Include the playbill. Participate in honors
choir? Include the program from your last concert. While these
things may seem insignificant, they’re not. Any talent you have
outside of the classroom is an asset in showing just how wellrounded an individual you are.
If you’re a senior, you’ll also want to build a resumé of sorts
that emphasizes your strengths (for great examples on how to
format your resumé, check out resume-resource.com) and helps
document your high-school career. Make sure to include the
following in your folder:
∑ G.P.A., along with your class rank and area of concentration
for your coursework. This would include any specialization
such as fine arts or advanced placement classes.
Grab attention with your lead, be concise but specific at the
same time with your writing. Stay focused, and make sure to
have a teacher or a trusted writer take a look at what you’ve
typed out to suggest possible revisions and—most importantly,
realize that you may not get it right with your first draft, but
you’ll continue revising your work until it’s of Pulitzer quality.
Next up, you’ll want to have three reliable people in mind who
would be willing to write a letter of reference for you. This can
be a teacher, a former employer, a pastor or someone who’s not
related to you but really knows your skills, strengths and even
your weaknesses. Make sure you give him/her plenty of notice
so you’ll be able to meet your application deadlines. After all,
nothing is worse than asking for a favor and rushing the person
after he/she has graciously agreed to help you out.
Get Ahead of the Game
Unlike that major research paper that you put off until the last
minute, procrastination will not get you far when it comes to
scholarships. You’ll want to get an early start, not only to meet
the deadlines and have a killer application but to be able to
apply for as many opportunities as possible.
Most scholarship applications require a specific application
form—that personal essay we talked about earlier—and one or
more letters of recommendation. When you fill out the
application form, make sure you answer every question as an
incomplete form may be disqualified or overlooked. Once you’ve
completed the questions form, it would be wise to set up an
appointment with your school counselor or academic advisor to
get his/her input on what you’ve written. They may also have to
verify your academic record or provide you with the transcripts
you’ll need to include with your paperwork.
∑ Any work or volunteer experience.
∑ Your SAT or ACT scores. (These are usually taken during
your junior or senior year of high school. Ask your guidance
counselor for more details on how to find a testing time in
your area.)
∑ Honors and awards you’ve received.
∑ Hobbies and interests.
After you’ve compiled the essentials, take some time to
consider your educational and career goals. What is your
planned course of study? Can you accomplish that at a two or
four-year institution? Where do you see yourself five years from
now, and what are your best characteristics and talents? And
do remember that honesty is always the best policy. Like a
good journalist, you never want to fabricate your facts. After
you’ve given these questions some serious thought, you’ll want
to pull these ideas together into a short essay that you’ll likely
include with most of your future scholarship applications.
When you write this essay, make sure to take into account all
the things you’ve learned in your English and grammar classes.
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special advertising section
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Page 48
COLLEGE SPOTLIGHT
Alaska Bible College
Greenville College
In a gorgeous, retreat-like setting nestled in the
woodlands of Glennallen, Ala., it would be difficult not to
get a better appreciation for God’s creation when
pursuing your education at Alaska Bible College. With a
small campus, personal attention is a priority for this
college’s students as they pursue studies in the field of
missions, the pastoral realm or more general educational
opportunities. Given its location, there are also unique
options to minister and learn more about the Alaska
Native community.
Probably best known to Christian music fans as the
place where Jars of Clay wrote some of the nowlegendary songs that ended up on the band’s self-titled
debut, Illinois’ own Greenville College caters to the
creative types with a variety of liberal arts programs.
With majors that include studies in Contemporary
Christian music, art, media promotions and more, that’s
really just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to
academics. More professional-oriented students can
also earn degrees in everything from biology to
management to modern manguages.
To get more details on what Alaska Bible College has to
offer, visit akbible.edu.
Emmanuel College
Proving that Georgia has more great things to offer than
the best peaches and boiled peanuts, Emmanuel College
is housed on a beautiful 150-acre campus in Northeast
Georgia. With Athens, Anderson and Atlanta within
driving distance, this private school features 4-year
educational opportunities with an Evangelical,
Pentecostal foundation. With its liberal arts focus,
students can prepare for graduate study, ministry work or
professional careers like teaching, psychology and the like.
Be sure to check out emmanuelcollege.edu for more
information.
Find out more about what Greenville college has to offer
by surfing over to greenville.edu.
Liberty University
Also boasting a rich Christian musical pedigree with
three former students who later begged the question,
“What would people think if they hear that I’m a Jesus
Freak,” Liberty University is located in the heart of
Lynchburg, Virginia.
With all of its academic teachings resonating with a
Christian worldview, students can enjoy learning that
feeds both body and soul, whether pursuing
professional or ministry-minded educational fare.
From aviation to fine arts to government, Liberty
University has a diverse palette of majors to choose
from and also features several graduate level
opportunities as well.
Log online to liberty.edu to find out more about what
the school has to offer.
Mid-Continent College
For those who favor warmer temps, a school with rich
tradition and a splash of Southern culture, Mayfield, KY.
Mid-Continent College just may be worth considering.
According to its Web site, the school has prepared a
large number of students for Christian ministry for
more than half a century. It has been estimated that as
many as 70 percent of Baptist ministers in western
Kentucky have completed course work at Mid-Continent.
But more than just for the ministry-driven, the school
also features a variety of professional studies as well
that includes everything from Behavioral Studies to
Elementary Education to English.
Prospective students can learn more about MidContinent at midcontinent.edu.
48 ccm march 04
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special advertising section
CCM_03.04_CollegeADV.v13
1/29/04
6:48 PM
Page 50
Another thing to remember when crafting your award-winning
application is that neatness counts. In most cases, you’ll want
to type your answers, but regardless if it’s typed or
handwritten, remember that your application should be legible.
Also, be sure to retain a copy of every scholarship you apply
for. This will allow you to properly follow up at a later date. And
finally, having good manners will never hurt either. Be sure to
send a thank you note to those who assisted you with letters
of recommendation or helped you proofread your work. If
you’re granted a scholarship, it’s also critical to stay in touch
with donors—especially if it’s an award of the renewable variety.
Details, Details
Now that you have the tools of the trade to be eligible for
scholarships, another thing you’ll want to remember is to be
detail-oriented. When you request application forms or
information about scholarships via snail mail, be sure to
50 ccm march 04
ccmmagazine.com
include a self-addressed stamp envelope. This way, you’re
likely to receive information more quickly.
As soon as you receive the forms you’ve requested, be sure
to use common sense and read the instructions carefully,
paying particular attention to all the information they’re
asking for. They may require transcripts from all the schools
you’ve attended, which can be a tedious process that requires
even more advance notice and follow-up.
Above all, a little care and common sense is essential. If
you still don’t have the process down, ask someone who does.
A little advice from someone who’s “been there, done that”
could go a long way. And who knows? Once you’ve mastered
the process, your college bills could be minimal, allowing for
some great Spring break trips in your future. Now, who
wouldn’t be excited about that?
✯✯✯✯✯
special advertising section
CCM_03.04_CollegeADV.v13
1/29/04
6:56 PM
Page 51
Additional Resources: ✯
(Available at your local bookstore or amazon.com)
✯✯✯
Books:
Winning Scholarships for College: An Insider’s Guide by Marianne Ragins (Owl Books)
How to Go to College Almost for Free by Ben Kaplan (HarperCollins)
The Scholarship Scouting Report: An Insider’s Guide to America’s Best Scholarships
by Ben Kaplan (Harper Resource)
Money-Winning Scholarship Essays and Interviews: Insider Strategies from Judges
and Winners by Gen S. Tanabe and Kelly Y. Tanabe (Supercollege)
Online:
Calgrants.com
telscorp.com/scholarships
fastweb.com
scholarsite.com
FinancialAidOfficer.com
special advertising section
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inreviewmusic
inreviewmusic
When Love Comes to Town
PHOTO: GETTY IMAGES
With musical agendas and egos checked at the door, many of today’s leading
Christian artists unite for a unique project with a greater mission.
VARIOUS ARTISTS
In the Name of Love:
Artists United for Africa
Sparrow
Christian music’s brightest stars get in
touch with their inner Bono.
Musically speaking, it’s hard to think of a
project with higher expectations than one
with artists contributing songs for a
compilation of U2 covers. First off, there’s
File under:
Grade: B+
Pop/Rock
the
band’s fanatical fanbase to contend
For fans of... timeless tunes with a
modern twist.
with. Any attempt to remake the group’s
revered tracks is surely going to be
harshly—and perhaps, unfairly—scrutinized. And if that wasn’t enough for
artists to wrestle with, there are also the sheer dynamics of trying to
channel the charismatic vocal range that Bono brings to the table.
Ultimately, the best result anyone could hope for is not to compete but,
rather, to have fun in making his/her interpretation an unique effort.
While the album is not officially endorsed by U2’s camp, the CD’s cover
art was designed by the band’s longtime graphic artist, Steve Averil.
And unlike the usual tribute project, In the Name of Love: Artists United for
Africa was recorded with more than a musical purpose—for each album
sold, 50 cents will be donated to World Vision (WorldVision.org) to help fight
the HIV/AIDS emergency in Africa.
Now with all of that in mind, an important question remains: How did
these artists approach this seemingly arduous musical task? Pillar, Sanctus
Real and Delirious on “Sunday Bloody Sunday,” “Beautiful Day” and “Pride
(In the Name of Love),” respectively, preferred to stick pretty close to
prototype, with a slightly enhanced musical score to keep things current.
Both Pillar’s and Sanctus Real’s tracks ring with passionate vocal delivery
and a rollicking guitar sound, while Delirious’ Martin Smith & Co. prove
once again why comparisons to U2 always abound, with a performance
eerily reminiscent of those Irish lads and an accent slightly more London
than Dublin of course.
Continuing in the vein of U2’s original take, worship leader Chris Tomlin
serves up a tightly executed rendition of the anthemic “Where the Streets
Have No Name,” while new Sparrow artist Starfield capably handles the
hopeful strains of “40.” And while there’s nothing to complain about when
a song matches up well against its predecessor, there’s something even
more special about the tracks that aren’t quite as homogenous.
For instance, on Jars of Clay’s version of “All I Want Is You,” the song
actually shifts moods from Bono’s serious and solemn tone to a slightly
countrified, soulful sing-a-long that’s really enjoyable listen after listen.
TobyMac also provides a tasty twist (with surprisingly Bono-esque vocals) of
“Mysterious Ways” that brings the Achtung Baby days to the present, with
amazing backing chops courtesy of new Gotee artist Sarah Kelly.
Sixpence None the Richer adeptly lends its trademark sound and Leigh
Nash’s pixie voice to “Love Is Blindness,” while GRITS’ interpretation of
“With or Without You” is fun with its hip-hop sensibilities sprinkled
throughout. Todd Agnew keeps musical diversity flowing with his gritty
delivery on “When Love Comes to Town.”
And with any project like this, there are bound to be varying opinions
on what would have made the album even better. So here’s this critic’s
two cents: First of all, why didn’t anyone cover U2’s most prolific,
faith-provoking song—No. 1 radio smash and world-wide classic,
“I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For”? (Ironically, this is the band’s
most “covered” song, according to U2.com.) Also, why did dc talkersturned-solo-artists tobyMac and Michael Tait both record a track but not
Kevin Max? After all, he, arguably, has the Bono warble down to a science.
But those minor complaints aside, what listeners will find here is a diverse
take on timeless songs for a worthy cause. Now who can’t help enjoying
something like that? CHRISTA FARRIS
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Sea of Faces
Tooth & Nail
A “kut” above the band’s
freshman days
Sometimes the hardest act
to follow is your own. With
its 2002 self-titled bow, the
Portland, Ore.-based rock
group Kutless earned the
distinction of being the
fastest-selling new artist in
Tooth & Nail’s history. Like
most bands, Kutless had
years to hone songs that
eventually made their rookie
disc, but these five
youngsters barely had time
to unpack their tour bags
before holing up again with
KUTLESS
sounding gimmicky.
For those seeking more
testosterone, the band
kicks up the attitude with
“Treason,” a bitter rocker
featuring searing guitar
chords over an electronicsounding drum track.
Lyrically, songs like
“Not What You See” and
“All Alone” mix ideas that
seem both vague and
familiar, allowing listeners to
frame their own experiences
within the context of the
songs. At the same time,
Kutless doesn’t shy away
from its spiritual roots, as
evidenced in the graphically
themed “Passion” and the
emotionally sweeping “It’s
Like Me.”
Whereas its debut
inspired comparisons to
various commercial groups,
Sea of Faces helps better
define the characteristics
that make these Beaver
State rockers unique.
Though the layering of
instruments and slight
industrial touches bear
some resemblance to
Linkin Park, Kutless’ new
effort surely shows a band
eager to meet the
challenges of individuality.
DAVID JENISON
You have to deal
with SERIOUS ISSUES:
✘
✘
✘
✘
✘
✘
drugs
nagging parents
alcohol
pornography
lying
peer pressure
Here’s how to get
some SERIOUS ANSWERS.
R
Revell
www.bakerbooks.com
Available at your local bookstore
ANDY ARGYRAKIS
File under:
Grade: B+
Worshipful pop/Rock
For fans of... artists with musical
flavorings similar to Alanis Morissette or
Sheryl Crow and thematic optimism
abounding.
REBECCA
ST. JAMES
File under:
Grade: B+
Pop
For fans of... an amazing voice on a
variety of songs that span the genre lines.
Live Worship: Blessed
By Your Name
DAVID PHELPS
ForeFront
Revelation
Word
A tasty praise appetizer
keeps fans hungry for
future offerings.
Phelps’ voice is the true
revelation here.
Australian pop queen
Rebecca St. James may
have made fans wait a
As one-fourth of The Gaither
Vocal Band, David Phelps
adds depth, harmony and
AVALONLIVE.COM
KUTLESS
while since properly
following up her last studio
disc, Transform, but at least
she’s kept fans from
starving with the release of
several other projects.
Worship God was able to
showcase St. James’ praise
interpretations (plus a
handful of original songs).
And her recent career
retrospective brought to light
just how much her
repertoire has developed
since adolescence.
Now her latest offering
further traces Rebecca’s
growth, particularly as a
worship leader and cuttingedge instrumental arranger;
but this time it’s in the
concert setting (culled from
last year’s “Let My Words
Be Few” tour). As a result,
many of the sounds you’ll
hear are beefed up and
fleshed out, courtesy of a
live band. Familiar favorites
like “Here I Am to Worship”
and “Above All” feature an
alternative twist, thanks to
Rebecca’s corralling vocals
and the band’s loop-driven
interpretation ingenuity. On
the original front, alumni of
the Worship God sessions
include the fellow keyboardstocked “Lamb of God” and
the reverent rhythmic thump
of “Omega,” certifying this
record as yet another
splendid salivating point for
new material.
훿 2004 Sparrow Records.
File under:
Grade: B+
Rock
For fans of... a grown-up progression of
what’s endeared the band to rock fans.
producer Aaron Sprinkle
(Poor Old Lu, MxPx)
to record their follow-up,
Sea of Faces.
Kutless clearly sets out
to raise the bar with its
second round in the retail
bins. Each song on the
11-track disc demonstrates
an affinity for lush musical
layers and a perfectionist’s
drive for detail. Sea of Faces
doesn’t aim to be the
loudest or the wildest rock
release but, rather, focuses
on balanced arrangements,
passionate vocals and
warm-sounding tones. With
poised equilibrium, this disc
gets aggressive without
alienating the migrainesensitive and flows into
mellower moments without
sounding like musical
melatonin. Generally
speaking, Sea of Faces
finds a way to explore
various influences and ideas
without ever abandoning the
band’s core identity.
The disc’s acoustic-led
title track epitomizes
Kutless at its most
mainstream, yet the song’s
poppy dynamics and hefty
chorus reach wide without
y
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soaring vocals to many
southern gospel favorites.
But on his solo debut for
Word Records, Revelation,
Phelps brings new meaning
to the word “virtuoso.”
His vocal range is masterful
and nothing short of
beautiful on this diverse
collection of songs.
From the Spanishflavored “Perdoname Dios”
to the R&B sound of
“Satisfaction,” Phelps
demonstrates he can use
his acclaimed instrument
in fresh ways. The
dramatic “Revelation”—
which could easily be
adapted to a Broadway
stage or rock opera—is
brilliant, while “Love Goes
On” is the sweetest of
ballads. The stirring
message of “Virtuoso” is
also set both to a club-mix
soundtrack and a quieter,
gentler “Reprise.”
Displaying a knack for
lyrical crafting, Phelps
wrote or co-wrote (along
with Cindy Morgan, Rita
Baloche and Regie Hamm)
most of the songs on
Revelation. Each
composition attempts to
point listeners to the true
nature of Christ: “Forget
what you’ve heard about
Jesus if it doesn’t begin
and end with love” he
sings on “Break Free.”
“Just As I Am” reflects a
very human struggle for
control/surrender to the
God of the universe.
Those unfamiliar with
Phelps shouldn’t dismiss
this release outright. True,
not all audiences will
appreciate the eclectic mix
of styles, but no one can
deny that Phelps has one of
the best voices in Christian
music today. It only takes a
few extra spins to
appreciate the pure art
level of Revelation.
JANET CHISMAR
File under:
Grade: ?
Modern Rock
For fans of... thought-provoking songs
that satisfy a rock fan’s musical
appetite.
FALLING UP
Crashings
BEC
Ministry-minded music
that rocks!
For rabid Christian modern
rock fans, there are two
things guaranteed to always
generate musical interest:
the unveiling of a new Tooth
& Nail/BEC artist and the
ubiquitous production savvy
of Aaron Sprinkle. With that
said, fans should be
intrigued by the debut from
the Oregon-based “pash
rock” outfit, Falling Up.
Musically, Crashings is a
bonafide rock experience,
appealing to fans of Trapt,
Linkin Park and P.O.D. While
tracks such as the coursing
“Broken Heart,” the guestvocal-laden “Jackson Five”
and the moving “Falling in
Love” are solid offerings,
the remainder of Crashings
is not easily distinguished
from the dozens of other
rock albums currently
clamoring for attention.
Nevertheless, the sincerity
of the message and
passion for ministry is
where Falling Up truly rises
above the pack.
Founded nearly five
years ago when the guys
were still in high school,
Falling Up has since grown
into a full-fledged rock
band, creating music that
is both passionate and
lyrically substantial.
JULIE STEFFEN
File under:
Grade: A
Rock
For fans of... rock & roll worship,
minus the circus.
JEREMY CAMP
Carried Me:
The Worship Project
BEC
Jeremy Camp is here
to stay.
Consider the best modern
worship albums of the last
few years, and you’ll find
they’re all connected by one
thread: passion. Milestone
albums like Sonicflood’s
debut and Third Day’s first
Offerings effort not only
have great songs, but the
artists’ passion for the
AVALON
훿 2004 Sparrow Records.
AVALONLIVE.COM
THE CREED
y
The new studio album
featuring “All”
and “ You Were There”
AVAILABLE NOW
CCM_03.04_IR_Music.v4
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Page 56
hot
releases.
cool
prices.
WoW Worship Red
VARIOUS ARTISTS
$19.99
2-CD SET
Love, Peace
and Happiness
OUT OF EDEN
$9.99
The Message
Remix
EUGENE H. PETERSON
$17.99
Hymns Ancient
& Modern
PASSION
$12.99
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VARIOUS ARTISTS
$19.99
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Go to CCMmagazine.com today
to get these great deals! Available at
The CCM Store for a limited time only!
inreviewmusic
inreviewmusic
promising new artists of the
new millennium, Carried Me
will. This is worship at its
most passionate and a
welcome boost to the genre.
JEREMY CAMP
ANTHONY D E BARROS
Creator gives the material
the unmistakable stamp
of authenticity.
Jeremy Camp’s music
conveys that same authentic
sort of passion; and that’s
why his latest, Carried Me:
The Worship Project, will go
down as another modern
worship milestone.
Carried Me is a gift to
fans, an album to bridge the
gap between his 2002
debut, Stay, and its follow-up
due later this fall. Originally,
Carried Me was scheduled
for last September, but the
ongoing popularity of Stay
prompted his record
company to push it into
the new year. And the wait
was worth it. With 13 tracks
clocking in at 50 minutes,
it’s a cohesive mix of new
songs, recent worship
standards and classics.
Fans of Stay will instantly
recognize Camp’s strong,
expressive voice, which still
evokes hints of Creed’s
Scott Stapp. They’ll also
quickly recognize Camp’s
ability to rock. Few artists
could revitalize an old
worship chestnut like David
Ruis’ “You’re Worthy of My
Praise,” but with guitars
blazing, he does. (Turn the
stereo up to 11 for that
one.) He also works Danny
Daniels’ 1980s classic
“Trust in You” into a guitarand-drums fest.
The best material,
though, is a handful of
mellower tracks from
Camp’s own pen. “Hear My
Voice” is a heartfelt
expression of thanks, while
“Longing Heart” declares
truths about God’s mercy
and grace. Meanwhile, his
“Revive Me” (based on
Psalm 119) offers a quiet
plea for restoration, and the
56 ccm march
04
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moody title track gives praise
for God’s faithfulness during
times of trouble.
To round out the album,
Camp covers a handful of
newer worship songs, the
best of which is the radiofriendly “Beautiful One” by
Tim Hughes. Bonus alert: It
includes Camp’s new wife,
also The Benjamin Gate
former singer, Adrienne,
on harmonies.
About the only headscratcher is the inclusion of
“Walk by Faith,” which
already appeared on Stay
and here sounds virtually
identical—although it fits
well into the album’s flow.
But that is the most minor of
quibbles. If Camp’s debut
album didn’t establish him
as one of the most
File under:
Grade: C+
Ska/Rock
For fans of... horns, guitars and
swinging beats
THE INSYDERZ
Soundtrack to a
Revolution
Floodgate
The Insyderz are back with a
revolutionary “call to arms.”
Sometimes you simply have
to give credit where credit is
due. And certainly The
Insyderz deserves props for
continuing to stay true to its
ska roots on Soundtrack to a
Revolution, the band’s first
album in three years. It’s
also encouraging to see that
three years of domestic bliss
Indie Pick:
JUSTIN MCROBERTS
Interventions
Independent
File under: Acoustic Pop
Grade: AFor fans of... introspective guitar music that won’t put you to sleep.
An intervention for those tired of gimmicky pop fare
Justin McRoberts released two albums on 5 Minute Walk
Records and since the label’s demise has struggled to
release three more projects independently. His latest release,
Intersections, is more proof, however, that he doesn’t need
the record company establishment to succeed. His acousticpop is backed with a stable of gifted musicians and
songwriting that is deep and original. And to top it off, his
voice is soaring, unique and full of rough edges.
Listeners won’t find over-polished pop with McRoberts, nor
will they find songs written by a committee. From the rocking
“Undecided” to the brutally honest “Qualifications for Love,”
this album is full of fine-crafted material. And even when he
doesn’t write them (Read: a cover of U2’s “One”), he delivers
a stirring rendition.
All things considered, the album offers unique
arrangements and an intimacy without the hindrances of
industry expectations.
KEVIN D. HENDRICKS
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and off-stage ministry for
many of the members hasn’t
mellowed the band out too
much. Indeed, lead singer
Joe Yerke describes the
songs on Soundtrack as
“fight anthems,” as
evidenced by the first two
tracks, the title cut and the
clarion “Call to Arms” that
urges the listener to
“prepare for war.”
Soundtrack is full of
overtly spiritual lyrics, such
as “Testimony,” a perky
number that affirms
“You are God/the Great I Am/
You help me be a better
man.” In another jaunty tune,
Yerke speaks of being glad
that God is his “Better Half,”
while the album’s closer,
“Shame On Me,” finds Yerke
proclaiming “This revolution
will start with me.”
Yerke’s voice is an
acquired taste, with a
gravelly, rough, aggressive
character to it that, at times,
even veers into the
cartoonish. Thankfully,
producer Royce Nunley
(The Suicide Machines)
keeps things moving at a
hefty pace throughout. He
throws elements of straightup rock & roll into many of
the songs to minimize the
homogenous tendencies that
ska music often employs.
One complaint: Though it
contains 10 songs,
Soundtrack clocks in at just
under 32 minutes, which
seems awfully short after a
three-year wait.
Still, absence makes the
heart grow fonder, as the
saying goes, which means
that fans of The Insyderz are
likely to greet Soundtrack to
a Revolution with open arms.
AARON KING
MAMMOTH CITY
MESSENGERS
Mammoth City
Messengers Volume I
ForeFront
File under:
Grade: B
Children’s pop
For fans of... Jump 5 and comic books
Innovative interactive fun
for all
Picture this: A group of
talented youngsters sings
upbeat pop and performs an
animated drama depicting a
good-versus-evil saga.
That’s the essence of
Mammoth City Messengers
Volume 1, the first in a
three-part soundtrack
series accompanied by
companion comic books,
an interactive Web site
(mammothcitymessengers.com)
and a 15-episode radio
program, all aimed at
reaching “tweens” (kids
ages 6 to 12).
Created by producers
Matt Bronlewee (Jars of
Clay, dc talk) and Jeremy
Bose (Across the Sky, Wes
Cunningham), the 20-track
project alternates between
brief fictional scenes and
electronic pop- and rapinflected tracks. Slick
production and fast pacing
make for a distinctive aural
experience likely to resonate
with young listeners.
The host of bouncy
scenes unveils five
improbable middle school
students attempting to
make a positive impact on
their Mammoth City
community while struggling
against the formidable
Evel Beetle, a billionaire
tycoon who’s attempting to
control young minds.
Listeners who follow along
with the comic book,
written by Homecoming
Magazine’s Managing
Editor Chris Well, should
remain captivated; but
those who simply hear the
CD will have to listen
closely to keep up.
Musically, the soundtrack
offers glossy power pop
that recalls the more
manufactured stylings of
Jump 5 and ZOEgirl—hence
it should appeal to girls as
much as boys. The 10
tracks feature songs that
speak of trusting God for
protection (“Jumping
Inside”), dealing with fear
and loneliness (“Hang On”)
and relying on Him
when life gets tough
(“Boomerang” and “Time”).
Mammoth City
Messengers offers kids
an enjoyable and engaging
alternative to mainstream
comics and music.
ForeFront should be
commended for creating
such relevant content
for the growing but
underserved tween
demographic.
DAVID M C CREARY
File under:
Grade: B+
Emo/Alternative Rock
For fans of... acts like Snapcase,
Thursday and Juliana Theory.
EMERY
The Weak’s End
Tooth & Nail
A solid beginning that’s far
from feeble
The term “alternative music”
can mean something
different to various groups of
music fans, but Brandon
Ebel’s latest find, Emery,
seems to cover all the
bases. The South Carolina
band’s label debut not only
consists of hardcore yelps
with emo/ screamo nuances,
but there’s also a hint of
grunge, a dash of thrash and
some good old fashioned
rock & roll. This sextet of
recent college grads begin on
the heavy front with the gutbusting guitars and dueling
vocal howls of “Walls,”
followed by the melodic tone
and yearning instrumental
temperament of “The Ponytail
Parades.” The amped-up
guitars and reckless screams
throughout “Disguising
Mistakes With Goodbyes”
evoke the glam era at its
most infectious, while the
gliding instrumentation and
fragile vocals within
“Fractions” are enough to
make female fans fawn.
As has been the case of
many bands in recent years,
part of the disc’s topical
structure is gleaned from
current world affairs—
particularly the nation-altering
events of Sept. 11, 2001.
Whereas topics of patriotism
and war responses have
been driven to the ground by
other acts, Emery looks to
that fateful day as a catalyst
to reignite members’ faith.
The murky emo tone of
“Under Serious Attack”
alludes to the spiritual
struggles one should avoid
under the society’s sorry
state and the dirge-like “As
Your Voice Fades” provides
prodding for forgiveness and
reconciliation. Sharing
deeper reasons for living only
enhances Emery’s
compelling stylistic switches,
providing enough ammunition
to survive beyond any
fleeting scene.
ANDY ARGYRAKIS
KIDS IN THE WAY
Safe From the
Losing Fight
Flicker
File under:
Grade: B
Hard Rock
For fans of... driving guitars on a
gregarious mix of hopeful songs.
Music kids will love and
parents will politely tolerate
Promising to “put the ‘hard’
back in hard music,” Flicker
Records newest act, Kids In
18th Annual Festival
August 1-4, 2004
Newsboys • Audio Adrenaline • Third Day • Relient K • FFH • Big Daddy Weave
Petra • Tait • Denver and the Mile High Orchestra • Jeremy Camp • Pillar
Supertones • Skillet • Casting Crowns • Kirk Cameron • Reggie Dabbs • Kutless
Cool Hand Luke • Holland • Paul Colman• Among Thorns • Jason Upton
Paul Baloche • David Crowder Band • Sanctus Real • Superchick • Seventh Day Slumber
For Tickets and Information
800-461-4485 • www.kingdombound.org
ccmmagazine.com
march 04 ccm 57
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Soulerman Music Group, Inc.
Releases
A Tree Firmly Planted
This CD introduces Roy Edwards
...a new face...a new sound
roy edwards
a tree firmly planted
Page 58
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inreviewmusic
the Way, rocks its way into the
music scene with its debut,
Safe from the Losing Fight.
Attempting to recreate the
engaging electric live
performance rock audiences
have come to expect, this
album offers more than its fair
share of addictive melodies and
aggressive hooks.
Reminiscent of the band’s
opening slots for 2003’s
“Festival con Dios” and bestselling labelmate Pillar’s
“Underground Uprising” fall tour,
Safe From the Losing Fight
combines its driving
musicianship with frontman
Dave Pelsue’s exceptional leads
and raw production from Jason
Burkum (Audio Adrenaline, The
Swift) and Nathan Dantzler.
Toying with alternative rock and
power-chord induced punk, fans
of early Switchfoot and Good
Charlotte should find plenty to
sink their teeth into as well.
Most impressive, however, is
the band’s tight musicianship,
aptly displayed in standout cuts
“Scars that Save,” “Phoenix
With a Heartache” and radio
anthem “Hallelujah.” Though
lacking originality throughout the
CD’s duration and employing
slightly mysterious lyrics, rock
fans should find Kids in the
Way’s debut a worthy
supplement to their collection.
With a few more years under
the band’s belt, these kids
should be on their way to
becoming a staple in the
Christian rock scene.
ANDREW GREER
Wrap Yor Ears around the CD
that speaks to Your Soul!
File under:
Grade: BPop/AC
For fans of... a singer/songwriter’s
pontifications on life.
ERIN O’DONNELL
Wide Wide World
Inpop
Welcome to the world,
according to Erin.
For additional Info and to Order Your CD
Erin O’Donnell finally feels right
at home in the wide wide world.
After two shuttered record
58 ccm march 04
ccmmagazine.com
JOSH
JOSH BYRD
BYRD
labels (which produced
three albums and nearly a
dozen top 10 radio hits),
O’Donnell has joined forces
with Inpop Records, one of
Christian music’s biggest
upstart success stories of
the last few years.
Produced by Alain Mallet
(Jonatha Brooke) and
Mark Hammond (Nichole
Nordeman), Wide Wide
World is a personal album
of reflection, gratitude and
confession. O’Donnell’s
experience as a wife and
mother bring an added
layer of depth and a feeling
of “settledness” to her
fourth album.
O’Donnell had a hand in
four of the 11 acoustic/pop
tracks here, while husband
Brad wrote or co-wrote six
and acclaimed artist/writer
Cindy Morgan contributed to
three. The strongest cuts
are “To Be Loved” and the
title track, where O’Donnell
reflects on the brevity of
life. Oddly, though the lyrics
throughout are transparent,
it occasionally feels difficult
to connect to O’Donnell
through her music. Still,
fans of artists like Sarah
Masen or Cindy Morgan are
likely to find this album a
breath of fresh air in a world
that too often beats us
down instead of lifts us up.
LI LIU
JOSH BYRD
Beautiful
Independent
File under:
Grade: B
Acoutic Worship
For fans of... stripped-down worship
with an edge
A promising voice in the
world of worship
Josh Byrd’s background in
leading worship is evident
throughout the songcrafting
style of the 11 tracks that
make up Beautiful. While his
lyrics and melodies are
simple, they speak directly
to the heart of the matter on
tracks like “Hold Me” and
“Be.” Most memorable upon
first listen are the songs
“Fall” and “Better Than
Life,” with familiar lyrical
choices like “I want to fall in
love with you” and “Your love
is better than life.” The soft
acoustic musical blend is
reminiscent of Vineyard
acoustic worship as well as
early ‘90s acoustic alt/rock
acts like LSU and The Choir.
But what truly makes this
album special is the
creative production provided
by guitarist Paul Moak
(Plumb, dc talk). Each song
is textured with layers of
gorgeous sounds, from
floating vocals to
atmospheric chords to
unique instruments such as
harmonica, hand bells and
mandotar. An upbeat and
fun (but still acoustic)
version of “Swing Low,
Sweet Chariot” tops
off the album, which is
an impressive first step
by Byrd.
JES SICA ROBIN
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newreleases
newreleases
newreleasesin
music
Tait
BY CHRISTA FARRIS
Tree63
"March Madness." While the term is generally reserved for those
crazy college basketball fans, who can literally camp in front of the tube
for weeks on end with an assortment of junk food in tow, there’s plenty
of it to go around this month as Christian music fans also have a
bounty of tasty treats to look forward to.
For instance, South Africa’s own Tree63 gets a little help from its
friend Matt Redman on a brand new single "Blessed Be the Name"
from its third studio album, The Answer to the Question (Inpop). Look
for the band’s return to its signature rock/worship hybrid on March 9.
Also speaking the international language of worship on March 23 is
Australia’s No. 1-selling modern worship band, United, with the release
of More Than Life (Hillsong/Integrity). With an amped-up mix of
pounding guitar licks on 10 new songs, fans can also enjoy an exclusive
behind-the-scenes DVD with documentary footage of the recording
process, rehearsals, tour highlights and more.
On that same day, Dennis Jernigan’s latest offering, Hands Lifted
High: Classic Worship Songs From Dennis Jernigan (Doxology Worship)
will hit store shelves. In addition to several new tracks, Jernigan gets
into the community spirit as he duets with some of Christian music’s
finest, including Nichole Nordeman, Twila Paris, 2nd Chapter of Acts,
Watermark and more. And if that wasn’t enough to help you get your
praise on, Sheila Walsh also has a "best of" CD coming out that
features 11 of her favorite songs from the "Women of Faith"
conferences, plus two new classics.
Switching gears a little to the literary for a moment, Michael Card
has teamed up with renowned author Brennan Manning (The
Ragamuffin Gospel, Signature of Jesus) to release a special edition of
Manning’s new book, The Rabbi’s Heartbeat (NavPress) that will
feature a CD single Card wrote exclusively for the project. Look for the
limited release in bookstores early this month.
Essential Records is also delving into some different territory this
month, as it unveils an original concept series that depicts Jesus’ birth,
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Audio Adrenaline
life and passion on The Christ: A Trilogy. Featuring both new material
and songs previously released via the "City on a Hill" series, the
collection showcases Christian music’s biggest names to tell the story
through song. Third Day, Jars of Clay, Sixpence None the Richer, Bebo
Norman, Caedmon’s Call, The Choir are among the artists included in
this March 9 effort.
Keeping things lively and soulful this month are the sounds of Pastor
Rudolph McKissick Jr. and the Word & Worship Mass Choir on What a
Time (Emtro Gospel). Emtro was recently launched by well-known
artist/producer Troy Sneed, who worked on The Preacher’s Wife
soundtrack and with The Georgia Mass Choir. Pastor McKissick
oversees 10,000-plus members at the 165-year-old Bethel Baptist
Church in Jacksonville, Florida. What a Time hopes to capture one of
the church’s worship experiences for a wider audience on March 9.
It looks like team spirit is also key for the March 11 drop date of the
latest VeggieTales compilation, Veggie Rocks (ForeFront). Relient K,
Tait, Audio Adrenaline and Newsboys are just a few of the acts on
board. Apparently, squash makes them smile, too!
Closing things out for the month, fans of music that’ll cause you to
contemplate life on a deeper level will certainly have much to think
about with new releases from singer/songwriters Sara Groves and
debut Rocketown artist Taylor.
On Sara’s third record, The Other Side of Something (INO), fans get
a hearty dose of that gorgeous voice along with compelling songs that
reflect the recent hardships and joys of her spiritual journey.
Meanwhile, in that Bruce Springsteen "The Rising" sort of vein,
Taylor inspires with cohesive renderings on themes of love, rock and
revolution on his first full-length effort, The Overflow, a title taken from
a statement in John Piper’s book, Desiring God. When you listen, it’s
hard to believe he’s only 23. Guess that just means there’s plenty
more where that came from. Amazing!
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BY N A N C Y G U T H R I E
I
I might as well admit it. While I
would hate to say I have no
imagination, it is not uncharacteristic
for me to proclaim in the middle of a
science fiction or fantasy movie,
“Yeah, like that could happen!”
Admission No. 2 is that I am
always skeptical of people who want
to describe what heaven is like. To
me, though very real, heaven is so far
beyond our wildest imaginations that I
resist any attempts to give it mundane
characteristics or earthly attributes.
With that said, you might
understand my initial misgivings about
Room of Marvels
(Broadman &
Holman), a new
novel by James
Bryan Smith, which
tells the story of a
grieving man’s
vivid dream about
a journey to
heaven and his
encounters there
with departed acquaintances, distant
relatives and personal heroes. What
made me want to open the cover of
the book was the credibility of an
afterword by Dallas Willard (The Divine
Conspiracy), who describes it as a
“wonderful story” in which “the
biblical and theological content is
quite solid—though surprising.”
Though penned as a work of
fiction, Room of Marvels very closely
mirrors the author’s own story of the
loss of his mother, his 2-year-old
daughter and a close friend. In fact,
you may remember an earlier book by
Smith about his
musician friend in
Rich Mullins:
An Arrow Pointing
to Heaven
(Broadman &
Holman).
While he has
another name in
the book, the free-spirited songwriter,
who played the dulcimer and lived a
life of poverty prior to dying in an
automobile accident, is clearly based
on Mullins. Room of Marvels is
Smith’s effort to help himself and
others resolve the myriad of
questions one has about God, death,
meaning and eternity when you lose
someone you love.
CeCe Winans offers another
glimpse of heaven in her new book,
Throne Room: Ushered into the
Presence of God (Integrity),
written with Claire
Cloninger, which
coincides with
Winans’ latest CD
of the same title.
[She describes
true worship as a
“taste of heaven”
our Father wants
us to have every
day while we’re on earth. She makes
a life of worship so appealing, the
reader can hardly resist.] As you read
Throne Room, you have the sense
that Winans knows what she writes
about from experience and that her
love for worship flows out of a
genuine relationship with the
One she worships. Winan's fans
will enjoy her song-by-song stories
about her Throne Room
(Purespring/INO/Epic) CD.
“Over and over again, God the
Holy Spirit has used prophets—
biblical and contemporary—to
separate people from the lies and
illusions to which they’ve become
accustomed and to put them back
on the path of simple faith,
obedience and worship in defiance of
all that the world admires and
rewards. Prophets train us in
discerning the difference between
the ways of the world and the ways
of the gospel, keeping us present to
the presence of God.” Who would
you guess these words, written by
Eugene Peterson (The Message), are
describing? Someone behind a
pulpit? In seminary? Over a
denomination? Nope. Peterson
continues in the foreword to Get Up
Off Your Knees: Preaching the U2
Catalog (Cowley): “In the pages that
follow, some of my friends welcome
U2 into the company of prophetic
voices that through the centuries
have prepared the way of the Lord.”
U2 has long had its outspoken
fans among Christian music
enthusiasts as well as artists,
including Michael W. Smith,
Switchfoot, Kirk Franklin, Sixpence
None the Richer, Audio Adrenaline,
Kevin Max and Jennifer Knapp.
Get Up Off Your Knees is actually a
collection of sermons by a wide
variety of pastors and professors
who use lyrics from U2 music as
their theme or starting point. This is
a “must-have” for any communicator
who is looking for creative and
credible ways to connect culture and
faith. Included in the book is a sixsession study guide that details
which concert videos and CDs to
have on hand and supplies questions
for discussion groups to delve into
the truths from the band’s lyrics.
And speaking of U2, one of my
favorite little quips
in The Man Comes
Around: The
Spiritual Journey of
Johnny Cash
(Relevant) by Dave
Urbanski tells of
when Cash got a
visit from U2
members Bono
and Adam Clayton. As the three of
them sat around a table before their
meal, Cash offered an incredible
prayer of thanksgiving to God. Then,
without skipping a beat, he raised
his head and quipped, “Sure miss
Making Your Life Count
John Piper is a favorite author of new rock artist Taylor,
whose CD, The Overflow releases this month from
Rocketown. The title of the new CD comes from his
reading of Piper’s Desiring God in which Piper writes,
“Love is the overflow of joy in God which gladly meets
the needs of others.” We asked him to read Piper’s
newest book, Don’t Waste Your Life: A Passionate Plea to
Make Your Life Count for Christ by John Piper (Crossway
Books) and tell us what he thinks.
CCM: How would you capsulize the message of
Don’t Waste Your Life?
Taylor: Wasting your life = a life absent of really loving
(and loving does not mean being nice or lovey but putting
the gospel in motion) = dying.
Not wasting your life = being a mover and shaker of
the world by really, truly, actively loving = life.
CCM: What is one of your favorite quotes from the book?
Taylor: You cannot love man or honor God without doing
both.” This is the gospel lived out. It’s Piper’s passion
for getting at the real power of love that always really
moves me, seeing how love of neighbor/man and love of
God are not separate. If we truly love, we live as we are
created to, glorifying and enjoying Whom we are meant
to glorify and enjoy.
CCM: How has this book had an impact on you?
Taylor: I am encouraged to keep on doing my best
(knowing that I fail daily), to love (something so much
deeper than it’s made out to be, as Piper will tell you) my
brother, neighbor, friend and even enemy and hope to
move others to do the same. I have to promote the
gospel wherever it takes me. If the church could wrestle
with some of the issues Piper presents, that would be a
great step toward moving the culture toward doing love.
booktalk
BOOKtalk
the drugs, though.” This well-written
and researched book drew me in
before I knew it. Full of revealing
quotes by Cash and those around
him that reflect the depth and
genuineness of his faith in Christ as
well as the contradictions of his life,
the book draws a vivid picture of
redemption in a less-than-perfect
saint-sinner. Dan Haseltine of Jars
of Clay writes in the foreword,
“There are reasons to rejoice that
God found His way into the broken
places of Johnny Cash and filled
them with faith.” I would have to
agree. And the book even recounts
a dream Johnny had the night before
his father’s funeral in which he
spoke to his father in heaven. To
that I would have to say, “Yeah, that
could definitely happen.”
Our Highest Joy
Rebecca St. James on The
Pressure’s Off by Larry Crabb
(Waterbrook), which releases in
paperback this month.
The Pressure’s Off really
ministered to me at a time when I
needed to discover the freedom we
have in Jesus. I’ve grown up
thinking that if you do the right
things then you won’t get into
trouble; and if you do bad things,
then you will get in trouble. This
carried over into my adult life,
thinking that if I do the right things,
my life will be easy, peaceful and
joyful. I found myself in the place
where I was doing the right things,
but my life was not peaceful or
joyful. I was struggling with the
pressures of being a leader and
with loneliness when a friend
recommended this book.
Honestly, I’ve shied away from
books on grace. I get bugged by so
many people using grace as an
excuse to do whatever they want
morally. They’re missing the point!
Jesus has done so much for us, so
the least we can do is seek to live
a life that pleases Him.
In The Pressure’s Off, Larry
Crabb talks about how we can’t do
anything to make God love us more
or less, which is very freeing. It
taught me that when my life is
difficult, it is not necessarily
because God is showing me His
displeasure or punishing me. God
promises to be with us through the
good and bad times and to draw
us closer to Himself through all of
our experiences. I recommend this
book to everybody because we all
struggle with pursuing happiness
instead of pursuing God, no matter
what comes. The truth is, our
highest joy is found in God Himself.
ccmmagazine.com
march 04 ccm 61
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inreviewgear
BY K E N T M O R R I S
BASS GUITARS: THE BOTTOM LINE
FIND A BASS AND DISCOVER BASS-PLAYING TECHNIQUES TO TAKE YOU TO THE NEXT LEVEL
GROOVING FOR HEAVEN: VOLUME 3
Bass Instruction DVD with Norm Stockton
Any project with the subtitle “The Art of
Groove” must be musically engaging. Thus,
true to form, Norm delivers a groove deeper
than the San Andreas Fault. From his days
touring with Scott Wilkie, Steve Laury and
the Maranatha Praise Band, Norm can explain
pop-band interaction, while his solo work,
showcased on Pondering the Sushi (Stocktones),
explores the details of advanced fusion.
Norm’s approach to teaching is to lay out the
fundamentals of rhythm and harmony and
then add contextual designs to the foundation.
Next, he covers the interworkings of the
“pocket” —the melding of drums and bass into
a cohesive, rhythmic whole. Finally, he divides
the apparently similar yet differing terms of
tempo into their respective camps and
describes how to convey musical emotion
while retaining self-control. With the
assistance of renowned jazz drummer
Dave Owens (Thomas Dolby, The Lion King),
Norm cooks up a dialogue sure to please any
bass player looking to advance his/her craft.
This disc serves as a reminder that good music
matters and, while not easily achieved, is a
goal worth pursuing.
$35
normstockton.com
CARVIN XB75
Long-scale basses are not a new concept, but
Carvin’s team spends extensive time in the
woodshed before they let this bass see the
light of day. With a 35 and one-quarter in
scale neck, the XB75 has an immediate tone
62 ccm march
04
ccmmagazine.com
described as “punchy” without relegating the
instrument to a single musical genre. There is
enough sweetness in the body to mellow the
rock maple neck’s aggression when
appropriate. Further refinements include
graphite-reinforced rods, a coil splitter system
for expressive tonality and active and passive
electronics for dialing in the most retro or the
latest alternative sounds. Carvin basses have
earned a reputation for playability and
stability, making them a favorite of musicians
who play for a living—not just a hobby.
$899
carvin.com
IBANEZ GSR200
Beginner’s basses should be easy to play and
worthy of the effort it takes to learn the
instrument. Fortunately, the GSR200 is both.
From a player’s perspective, it has a usable
one-piece neck, the classic P/J pickup
configuration that incorporates Fender Jazz
and Precision Bass layouts and large frets to
make fingering a doable task. Priced as an
entry-level bass but built with “secondinstrument” quality, the GSR200 is a bargain
when compared to lesser instruments a few
dollars shy of its asking price. Ibanez is on a
roll, with popular guitars, amps and acoustics
filling store shelves; and this bass is an
example of what can be accomplished
when globalization is used to make better
products for less.
$299
ibanez.com
SQUIER AFFINITY P-BASS
Fender’s entry-level line boasts a family
heritage no other bass manufacturer can
equal. For 20 years, Squier basses have been
slung across the backs of aspiring players
worldwide. With the Affinity, almost anyone
can afford to get a “real” Fender bass that
looks and plays like its older siblings. A maple
neck flows into a reasonably hard body
adorned with the ever-cool split coil pickup
made famous by Leo’s Precision Bass.
Typically only available in black, the Affinity
is, nonetheless, a worthy addition to the
Squier line and to anyone’s axe rack.
$279
fender.com
YAMAHA RBX-170
If a Yamaha bass works for Nathan East (Eric
Clapton, Andraé Crouch, Michael Jackson),
it will work for you, too. Even the most
affordable model in Yamaha’s line sports a
solid Agathis body with good sustain
characteristics, a rosewood fingerboard above
a quick maple neck and a limited lifetime
warranty. When you play the RBX-170 for
the first time, it feels comfortable and emits a
surprisingly versatile tone palette that will
satisfy almost any pop, rock or alternative
player. Yamaha’s attention to detail is evident
in the shapely contours of the horns and the
proper fit and finish of the pickups and paint.
Value is written all over this piece, especially
when viewed in the available striking red
metallic finish.
$249
yamaha.com
BOSS TU-6
Tired of using a pitch pipe or a throwaway
cheap tuner? Then go get a TU-6. It won’t
break the bank, but it will save the audience
from having to listen to you play as flat as
Barney Fife sings. Its dedicated bass mode is
sensitive to the low notes on your bottom
grinder, and its easy-to-see-in-the-dark meter
makes mid-set tune ups a breeze. Throw one
in your bass case and head to the gig
confident even your wrong notes will
be in tune.
$59
rolandus.com
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26
THINGS YOU PROBABLY
DIDN’T KNOW ABOUT:
STEVE TAYLOR
BY MICHAEL NOLAN
Dana Davis
26. COMING ATTRACTION
“It’s Training Day set in an inner-city church,” Taylor says of his first featurelength film. Co-written with Ben Pearson and Chip Arnold, cameras roll this
summer with a target release date of early 2005.
25. OUT WITH THE OLD, IN WITH THE NEW
“Now I’m in the position of convincing savvy movie people that I’m not just
another musician dilettante who thinks it might be fun to make a movie.
And I know how they feel,” laments the film school alum. “Every time I hear
about Russell Crowe, Kevin Bacon or Keanu Reeves playing in a band, I’m
immediately suspicious.”
24. IF ONLY…
While Steve is stepping out of the musical spotlight these days, we
wondered what he’d sound like if he were just getting started. “I’d probably
be doing hip-hop—maybe something like The Streets.”
23. TAKING A WALK ON THE MILD SIDE
His icon-blasting satire earned him a reputation as a wild child in the mild,
formative years of contemporary Christian music. His take: “It’s all relative,
isn’t it? In a genre not particularly known for renegades, it was like being
called the ‘Teletubby with Attitude.’”
22. TALENT SCOUT
Aspiring musicians often ask, “What does it take to make it as an artist?”
With a strong record of predicting success, Steve enthuses, “You’ve got to
have undeniable talent; you’ve got to have a good work ethic; and, ideally,
you need to have at least one thing about you that’s unique. In concert
Chevelle has an amazing ‘telepathy’ that probably comes from being
brothers. L.A. Symphony has all these world-class rappers combined into
one crew. With Sixpence, it was Leigh’s uniquely beautiful voice singing
Matt’s songs.”
21. “KISS” AND TELL.
Although Steve was an ardent believer in Sixpence, even he was
astonished by the band’s success with “Kiss Me.” He recalls, “The odds
were insane: The band had been on the verge of breaking up, Squint was
an indie start-up with no major label affiliate, and this was our first album. I
knew ‘Kiss Me’ was a catchy track, but the original lyrics weren’t very
memorable. Matt went back to work on it and returned with something so
poetic and accessible I knew we had our first single.” Following a year of
relentless performance and promotion, the song took off. “Ultimately, the
ccmmagazine.com
20. DON’T SET UP THE CARD TABLE ON HIS ACCOUNT.
“My nieces and nephews make me play Monopoly on holidays,” he moans.
“It’s torture.”
19. TURF TALK FROM A THIN, WHITE GUY
In 1983 Sparrow Records
took a chance on a lean,
limber youth pastor who
cartwheeled and pogo’ed his
way into Christian music with
an eclectic, enlightened take
on punk rock and some
mariachi and African tribal
callbacks along the way.
Steve Taylor broke new
ground for Christian music,
becoming the first modern
rock artist to start selling
more than 100,000 copies per
album. (Can you say 150,000plus?) Highly successful turns
as a writer, producer
(Newsboys, Sixpence None
the Richer), music mogul and
video director have
augmented his career, and
Taylor is now focused on the
film industry (as a director/
producer) with production
underway on his first project
titled Second Chance.
66 ccm march 04
biggest surprise to me was the way ‘Kiss Me’ traveled around the world,
spreading love and good cheer to the ends of the Earth. My only
disappointment was that it didn’t win a Nobel Prize.”
Although he’s not really a football freak, he says, “I’m a Broncos fan because
I grew up in Denver, so I had no choice. It’s like skiing—you do it because it’s
the law. I follow the [Tennessee] Titans because I’m planning on trying out for
the team this spring.”
18. CLONE COOK-OFF
To mark the 20th anniversary of his 1983 debut EP, I Want to Be a Clone
(Sparrow), Steve reports he “burned an exact duplicate of the original.”
17. PROCRASTINATE LATER.
In 1987, he released an album called I Predict 1990 (Myrrh). Will there be a
follow-up for 2010? “Yeah,” he sighs, “that sounds like a reasonable
deadline. You can’t rush these things.”
16. TWO ARTISTS, ONE HOUSE
Many may not know that Deb, Steve’s wife, is an award-winning artist (aka
D.L. Taylor) who works primarily in oils. (One of her paintings is in more than
one million homes... as the front cover of Sixpence’s 1997 self-titled album.)
15. CELL LOCKDOWN
Unlike most entertainment biz folks, Steve resisted getting a cell phone for
years. He’s finally given in but uses it sparingly.
14. PLAYING FAVORITES
“I recently came across a fan site that did a poll of their favorite Steve Taylor
songs, and I was surprised how closely their top picks corresponded with
mine,” he observes. “‘The Finish Line’ was number one, which I’d probably
agree with. And in the top 20 were songs like ‘Jim Morrison’s Grave,’ ‘Clone,’
‘Hero,’ ‘Jesus Is for Losers,’ ‘Cash Cow,’ and ‘Since I Gave Up Hope, I Feel a
Lot Better’—all of which I still like. There are also many of the songs I’d
written with [Newsboys’] Peter Furler and most of what I wrote with my
bandmates in Chagall Guevara. I could list the songs I’ve written that I don’t
like, but, thankfully, they haven’t conducted that poll yet. “
13. DUET DREAMS
Unlike most artists of the past 20 years, Steve has never recorded a duet
with Amy Grant, Sandi Patty, Russ Taff or Christine Denté. But his ideal? “I
wanted to join L.A. Symphony, but they never asked me.”
12. HIS OWN DIVINE DISCONTENT
“I was always surprised when other label heads would admit to me that a
particular act of theirs wasn’t very good but that they signed it because it
would sell,” he laments. “Why would you pour your life and the life of your
staff into something you don’t believe in? If it’s good and it doesn’t sell, at
least it’s still good. If it’s bad and it doesn’t sell, everybody involved looks
foolish and desperate.”
11. GUILTY (DIS)PLEASURES
Steve has very good intentions of answering his fan mail—even those letters
he read long ago and hauled to the attic when he couldn’t keep up with the
volume. “It’s like ‘The Telltale Heart’ up there. I guess I could have hired
someone, but my signature is too illegible to be properly forged.”
10. ALL SARCASM ASIDE
For the past few years, U2’s Bono has devoted himself to D.A.T.A. (Debt,
AIDS, and Trade for Africa), his organization that is strategically pushing for
assistance from the world’s wealthiest nations. Steve became actively
involved by producing a video of Christian artists calling on the church to rise
up in support of Africa. “The response was unlike anything I’ve ever seen in
Christian music,” he gratefully acknowledges. “Bono was surprised at how
quickly the evangelical church led the charge and how effective we were in
gaining government support. We were able to mobilize thousands of people
who politicians rarely hear from.” In December, President Bush announced
more than $2 billion in developmental help had been designated for use,
primarily in Africa.
9-1. MOVIE MANIAC
An avid moviegoer, Steve sees 60-70 films a year in theaters. For your
consideration, here are his favorite movies for each decade.
1920s: The Passion of Joan of Arc 1930s: The Rules of the Game 1940s:
The Bicycle Thief 1950s: The 400 Blows 1960s: Once Upon a Time in the
West 1970s: Barry Lyndon 1980s: Tootsie 1990s: Rushmore 2000s:
The Lord of the Rings trilogy
Back Issues Ad_9X11
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Then & Now
From big hair and spandex to hip-hop urban chic,
CCM Magazine has covered it all for you.
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GEOFF MOORE & THE DISTANCE
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MY UTMOST FOR HIS HIGHEST
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OUT OF THE GREY
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03.04 Classifieds.v3
1/29/04
5:31 PM
Page 69
CLASSIFIEDS
RECORDS/TAPES/CDS
SPEAKERS
CD REPLICATION WITH NATIONAL CHRISTIAN
RADIO PROMOTION Oasis CD Manufacturing
offers top-quality CD manufacturing AND promotes
your music to Christian radio nationwide on the
acclaimed Oasis Inspirational CD sampler.
Phone: 888/296-2747 Web: oasisCD.com
E-mail: [email protected]
DANIEL HOOPER, "speaker for hire", conferences,
retreats, rallies and pulpits. 731/696-2887;
www.goddball.com E-mail:
[email protected]
RUGGED CROSS MUSIC P.O. Box 42146,
Charleston, SC 29423-2146,
www.RuggedCrossMusic.com,
[email protected], CDs, LPs,
Cassettes, Videos and more
SEASONED CHRISTIAN Musician/Songwriter
seeking full-time ministry. Skills include:
lead/background vocals, lead/rhythm guitar, bass,
drums/percussion. 828/894-5581
HUGE SELECTION OF CHRISTIAN MUSIC
classics from ’60s to ’90s—CDs, cassettes, LPs,
videos; www.rocksolidmusic.com 877/887-4324
PRINTING SERVICES
BAND WEB PAGES
CHRISTIANBANDS.NET Web pages, $10/month,
promote your band, upload MP3s, more.
E-mail [email protected] for details.
Mary Jo Moore
Music Since3
197
WITH A SONG IN MY HEART
SEEKING MINISTRY POSITION
YOUR SONGS PROFESSIONALLY PRINTED
from manuscript or cassette. Free brochure on
fees and copyright security. Not a publisher.
Willaco Music, P.O. Box 2501, Calumet City, IL
60409-2501. E-mail: [email protected]
complete hymn piano course. Play hymns from
first lesson, beginner through advanced, 5
books, 5 cassette tapes covering every page of
course, only $100.00, free shipping. Satisfaction
guaranteed or money refunded. Order from:
Mary Jo Moore, Dept. HC, 108 New Haven
Court, Nashville TN 37214 (615) 884-1133
CDs-Full Color Complete Packages
500 for $799 · 1000 for $989 · 2000 for $1789
CDs in Printed Jackets: 1000 for $975
DVD-5: 1000 for $1795
Creative Sound (800) 323-PACK
http://csoundcorp.com
Classic Jesus Music-http://sonrisemusic.com
INTERNET RADIO
UK CHRISTIAN ARTISTS on internet radio.
Listen to “Sing A New Song” and enjoy
contemporary Christian music British style!
www.live365.com/stations/300886
Subscription/Customer Service Information: Write CCM, P.O. Box 706, Mt.
Morris, IL 62054–0706 or call 800/333-9643. In the U.S., $19.95/one year,
$35.95/two years, $53.95/three years; Canada, (U.S. funds) $27.95 per
year; all other countries, (U.S. funds) $33.95 (surface) or $67 (airmail). For
address changes or other inquiries, please include both old and new addresses
and mailing label. Allow four to six weeks for new subscriptions to begin.
CCM [ISSN 1524–7848] is published monthly by Salem Publishing.
Copyright: CCM © 2004 by Salem Publishing, 104 Woodmont Blvd.,
Suite 300, Nashville, TN 37205. Contents may not be reproduced in any manner,
either whole or in part, without prior written permission of the publisher. Editorial:
The editor cannot assume responsibility for unsolicited manuscripts and will return
only those accompanied by a stamped, self–addressed envelope. Writers’
guidelines available upon request. Advertising: Neither the advertisers nor the
contents of advertisements appearing in this publication are necessarily endorsed
by Salem Publishing. We cannot accept liability for any products, services, etc.,
offered in advertisements, but please contact us if you experience any difficulties
with advertisers. Periodicals postage paid at Nashville, TN and additional offices.
POSTMASTER: Send address changes to 104 Woodmont Blvd., Suite 300,
Nashville, TN 37205. Printed in the U.S.A.
HOW TO PLACE CLASSIFIEDS
To place a classified ad, send a check (payable to CCM
Communications) or a credit card number and expiration date, along
with your ad copy by the 15th of the month—two months in advance
of the issue in which you want the ad. (For example, by March 15 for
the May issue.)
Cost: $3.00 a word with a minimum of $50 per month.
Display ads run as follows: $175 (B/W), $225 (2 color) and $295
(4 color). Marketplace ads run as follows: $275 (B/W), $325 (2 color)
and $395 (4 color). CMYK colors only.
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Send ad copy for classified listings and/or an electronic digital file
on CD for display/marketplace ads with your check or credit card
number with expiration date to: Classified Ads, CCM Magazine,
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Please contact [email protected] for further information.
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