Pros: Packed with old-school Newsboys bounciness and clever lyrics.
Cons: Tries too hard to be like the Newsboys of old (short album length and all).
The Bottom Line: Lots of fun; Newsboys fans who felt jilted by Love Liberty Disco will feel vindicated. But Steve Taylor seems to be a bit too much in charge here...
I'm sure you're familiar with the old adage "If it ain't broke, don't fix it."
We'll, there's a corollary to that rule: "If it weren't broke, and ya done fixed it, then fix it back to the way it was before it was broke, ya IDJIT!"
This is more or less the approach that the Newsboys took on their latest album, Thrive. Virtually all of the output we've heard from these former kings of Christian power-pop in the past few years has leaned suspiciously toward a more "adult contemporary" sound. The apparent trend started four years ago when the 'boys released their first album with current lead singer Peter Furler "stepping up to the microphone". Sure, some songs on that album still rocked, but overall, the group was showing a tendency towards a smoother sound. Since then, we've seen the solo debuts of bassist Phil Joel (which was nice, but not all that stimulating) and guitarist Jody Davis (which was rooted in more of a 70's/80's pop/rock sound). And let us not forget the pinnacle of the Newsboys' exploration of the softer pop sounds of yesteryear - Love Liberty Disco. While it wasn't all kitsch, it wasn't all that attention-grabbing, either. After the release Shine... the Hits in 2000 (which completely ignored the existence of LLD, I might add), I'm sure some people expected that the Aussie-bred band was officially on its way back down under.
And yet there was a glimmer of hope found in the new songs recorded for Shine: The Hits. They were upbeat and catchy as ever, and much to jaded fans' disbelief, Steve Taylor was back in the saddle, helping the 'boys churn out lyrics once again after being largely absent from their last few, more lyrically straight-forward records. One of the new songs, "Joy", ended up being one of the biggest songs of the band's career, which is rare for a "leftover" song thrown onto a greatest hits compilation. I don't know the exact sales figures, but I'm willing to bet that Shine sold much more quickly than Disco did. And I can imagine that the conversation between Taylor and the 'boys upon examining this evidence went something like this:
Peter Furler: Hey mates, this 'ere reviewer says he thinks that Shine is selling much faster than Disco.
Phil Joel: Is that right?
Jody Davis: I told ya it wouldn't sell well if you make me keep the guitar down.
Phil Joel: Aw, go on with your whining. Not my fault your solo record didn't sell well.
Jody Davis: For the last time, the record label went under!
Peter Furler: You could have signed to my label. Anyway, that's not important right now. Sparrow says we're due for another album, and I'm plum out of ideas after planning the last few tours. Anyone got any ideas?
Duncan Phillips: We could get Toby Mac to do another song with us. The youngsters quite liked that one.
Peter Furler: Naw, 'es rappin' on everyone's tracks now. We need to write some songs that people are gonna remember.
Phil Joel: What, like "WooHoo"? 'at's easy! I can come up with another one right now. Just sing something' all bouncy like "Na na, na-na-na na na-na na..."
Peter Furler: Listen, mates, this is serious! We need lyrics! I've been tryin' to write for months and alls I got's this simple worship song, and every band on the planet's doin' those now!
Jeff Frankenstein: We could beg John to come back.
Peter Furler: For the last time, John ain't comin' back! He was quite happy with the fact that no one could tell our voices apart when he left! He's off doin' his speakin' thing or something now.
Duncan Phillips: Well, what about Steve?
Peter Furler: Steve as in "Taylor"?
Jody Davis: He's runnin' his record label now, tryin' to keep it out of the hole. That's not gonna work... Oh, wait! He quit with those Squint guys a few months ago! We should call him up!
Phil Joel: What about my idea? Man, I've got a whole chorus written out here, bass line and all!
Peter Furler: Well what you gonna call it then? The "Nanana" song?
Phil Joel: Well, I don't know, maybe call it something silly like "Cornelius" or something. I don't have all the answers here! If it sucks, just blame it on Steve.
Peter Furler: Yeah, kinda wish I had him around to blame for the last record. What's 'is number again?
You get the idea. Of course I'm just making up the dialogue, but I'm sure that the 'boys realized the potential to relive their glory days, and went for it. Out of the 10 songs on Thrive (the band doesn't seem capable of releasing an album that runs past 40 minutes), a good 2/3 of the lyrics were supplied by Steve Taylor. As a result, the remaining few are noticeably more serious and less witty. It's not a bad thing for the band to have their serious songs - in fact, many of their more reflective songs are my personal favorites. There were even a few cuts on Love Liberty Disco that I really connected with. It's just that the sudden return to the 'boys bouncy glory days seems a bit too suspicious, as if Taylor had been called in at the last minute to rescue a batch of floundering song ideas.
Can I blame them for more or less going back to their old style? Not really. Many of these songs are as memorable as ever, despite the feeling that this has all been done before, and there are a few points where the 'boys stretch and try something that's new to them. But for the most part, Thrive barely survives on a slim diet, settling for reheated portions of a meal that was once more fresh and tasty than it seems to be now.
Giving It Over You offered me drink, I wanted more than a sip
But I couldn't let go of the straws I was clinging to...
If you were dreading another Love Liberty Disco, the chugging guitar riff that starts the album off should lay your fears to rest. The musical flavor here is a smart blend of the Take Me to Your Leader and Step Up to the Microphone eras, and thanks to some culturally-informed lyrics from Taylor, this song bounces along authoritatively, giving listeners a first-person encouragement to let go and give God control. The Newsboys have always had a knack for putting across fairly basic theological concepts across in a series of amusing metaphors and rhymes. This song has a lot going for it, including an ever-changing chorus and subtle time signature changes in the bridge (which is repeated later in the song - I love it when bands do that), and so it's a little disappointing that it ends off with a traditional Nashville fade.
Live in Stereo The best-laid plans are in my other pants
The base camp's buried in an avalanche...
Can you say "Breakfast, Part 2"? If this song's bouncy, syncopated rhythm wasn't a dead giveaway of what the 'boys were trying to accomplish with this song, then the whistling and "la-la" sing-along will certainly clue you in. Okay, so it's decidedly more frenetic than the controlled bounce of "Breakfast", and I can't think of any objects that this will cause fans to throw at the band during their concerts, but wow, does this one cut it close to being a rip-off! I'm guessing most of the band's younger fans may not mind - or even realize, for that matter, as the Newsboys have admitted that a lot of the youth groupers who loved them years ago could well have grown out of it by now (which explains the temptation to seek out an older audience). To this song's credit, the lyrics are among some of Taylor's most clever ones, describing the futile task of seeking wisdom without seeking God. Also clever is the fact that the word "Live" in the title has a short "i" instead of a long "i", because the song encourages listeners to "live in stereo" i.e. to listen for another voice instead of just their own. Okay, so it makes for a slightly awkward rhyme when the wrong syllable is accented in the word "moNO", but I'll let that one slide.
Million Pieces (Kissin' Your Cares Goodbye) When that muffled sigh says you're barely getting by
Cut your burdens loose and just simplify...
Letting go seems to be the true theme of this album. This smartly-produced pop tune reminds us how unnecessary it is for us to drown in our own worries, the words carried along on a confident, assertive, yet mid-tempo and AC-friendly beat. This probably explains Sparrow's choice to release the song as the record's second single. Peter Furler's slightly scratchy voice is smartly accompanied here by the other vocally capable members of the band (come to think of it, I don't think Phil Joel sings lead anywhere on this album), and a lot of bubbly keyboard sounds and so forth ensure that the song remains buoyant. I love the image of a person's worries breaking apart and falling to the ground like confetti in a "ticker-tape parade". Not as strong as some Newsboys classics, but definitely a fun summer song for Newsboys fans of all ages.
(Edit: This has since become one of my favorite Newsboys songs, since it has special meaning to me and my girlfriend. I guess you can never predict which songs will mean the most to you ahead of time.)
Thrive Down here in the valley nothing's able to grow
'Cause the light's too low...
Keeping things at a medium pace, the album's title track seems a little lackluster at first, but quickly gains power, gliding along on a slightly moody chord structure and lyrics that sound a little closer to the sort of stuff we've heard from Peter Furler on the last few albums. In this case, it's a good thing - this tune is stronger than most of the tunes on LLD, carrying a similar spirit to "Beautiful Sound" (which is honestly one of my favorite Newsboys songs to date). I really like the descriptions of life "down here in the valley" - usually Christian music doesn't do justice to the concept of "valleys" as spiritual rough spots, but here, a picture is painted of a place where people remain trapped until old age, where plants can't get sunlight, where "every puddle of mud's made of tears and blood". (Hmmm... was that an intentional reference to the band Puddle of Mudd? They mentioned Outkast purposefully in the first song. Kind of makes you wonder...) While it doesn't grab the listener as immediately as most of the tunes on the record, it's a good "sleeper hit" and one of the most artistically sound tracks on the album.
Rescue All of the time in this life
Can't loose the ties that blind you
They're new everyday, old as the fall...
This peppy dance tune was one of the first that really caught my ear - it was more of a collaboration between several of the band members, and while the lyrics still have their share of puns and witticisms, they're not as zany as some of what Taylor has yet to unleash. This tune sounds heavily programmed, with a solid beat, and slightly cheesy but fun keyboards accompanying a happily modern song of thanksgiving to a God who continually rescues sinners on a daily basis. A few of the lyrics don't seem to make sense to me during the verses, but I don't mind that so much if it means there's more to the song than I originally thought. I think the song's an important reminder, if you really listen to it, that God doesn't just save us once and then sit back and let us go our way. He continually intervenes and encourages us to grow and turn from folly.
It Is You As we lift up our hands, as we call on Your name
Will You visit this place by Your mercy and grace...
Interestingly, the mellowest track on the album was released as its first single. "It Is You" is a straightforward worship song that Peter Furler wrote all by himself in a matter of minutes - apparently he was reluctant to actually have the Newsboys record it, thinking it wouldn't fit in alongside their usual material. He wanted to let another band record it, but I think his wife persuaded him to go ahead and record it despite the seeming disparity. I have to admit, it fits into the album so far quite well, despite the simplicity of both the lyrics and the chords. What works so well for the song is how it builds from a quiet, ambient meditation into a full-blown praise jam that you can't help but sing along with. I'm sure this one is just divine in concert. Don't be fooled by the trip-hoppy beginning of the song - it's rather non-sequitur. They'll explore that style a little later in the album, I promise.
Cornelius And history proves the axiom
Surface skimmers choke on scum...
I think I ended up eating my words on this one - I thought this peppy, fast-paced rocker was total cheese the first few times I heard it. Now it's my favorite song on the record. I guess I missed the fact that underneath the extreme bounciness and guitar riffage that launches this song into overdrive (and it's quite a jarring transition after "It Is You"), the lyrics are actually a clever call to spiritual depth and maturity, using the Biblical example of a centurion by the name Cornelius. It's as "cheerleader" as ever, but in a fun, intelligent way, much like "Shine". I haven't quite caught all the subtle wordplay of the song - there's a spoken part in the middle that runs by real fast, which seems to dissect Cornelius' name. The chorus is a pretty simple chant/sing-along that will likely annoy the critics: "Na na, na-na-na na-na-na na, COR, NE, LI, US." Add to that another spoken line, "He's ready to fight, but not to fuss, we like we like, Cornelius", and you've practically got a sports rally burned into about three minutes' worth of your CD.
Fad of the Land Soul children packin' Prozac pacifiers
Get your plug-in, we all need to plug into our Maker...
Refusing to stop to catch its breath, the first words of this song jump in immediately after the last shout of "Cornelius", as Peter Furler (acting as a proxy for Steve Taylor) begins to skewer a number of cultural fads, both new and old. To be honest, this stuff is a no-brainer for Taylor, and though the song jams along at a pretty fast pace and proves to be musically enjoyable, it seems almost petty in places. I mean, I'll be the first one to admit that cell phones and pagers are overrated, but I think I've heard one too many songs taking a potshot at said technologies lately. Other items are taken down rather randomly as well, as phrases like "got my genomes mapping" are thrown out as if to imply that these are bad things. The point of the song, which is exposed in the bridge, is that we won't find satisfaction in these things and should seek it in God instead, but I've heard it said much more profoundly.
John Woo When a bug plays chicken, feathers fly
If the driver's allergic, one sting, we die...
As "Fad" grinds to a halt on a squeal of guitar feedback, this oddball, electronically driven-piece crashes the party. The final Taylor lyric on the record leads me to believe that Steve had a lot of song ideas to get out of his system before he started work on his next solo record (yeah, like that's ever gonna happen). Surprisingly oblique in its lyrical content, even for a Steve Taylor song, "John Woo" is definitely the odd man out on the record. It's got a wonderfully snaky groove to it - likely a homage to said action director. Peter Furler's vocals are heavily processed, and along with some spoken-word parts that sound a little bit like Phil Joel, it's hard to make out most of the lyrics in the first pass. One thing I caught at first was the line "Stop, look, listen hard - this is why a band hires a bodyguard", which lead me to believe that Taylor was criticizing the glorification of violence in movies, because people would mimic what they saw on the silver screen. Turns out I was way off base. Furler went on record in an interview to say that this song is about nothing. It's about having a stinkin' bee trapped in their limo. (As someone who is allergic to bee stings, I can catch a glimpse of what must have been a massive inside joke.) Rather strange for such an evangelistic band as the Newsboys, huh? I can't say it was a bad move - just odd. It's the one point on the record where I feel like they're really stretching themselves - or perhaps Taylor is stretching them. Whatever the case, they pull it off with style, even if I could do without the spoken chant "John Woo, John Woo". The funkiness of the music alone makes it one of the coolest tracks the 'boys have ever recorded.
Lord (I Don't Know) You are the God of tomorrow
Turning the darkness to dawn...
Hmmm... we've reached the usual 10-song limit, and we placed a silly song at track 9... Time to get serious again! Okay, I know I shouldn't knock this song, given that the 'boys wrote it as a response to the events of September 11th. But I think a lot of music critics are in agreement that if you're going to write a song about 9-11 and tout it as such, it had better be some poignant stuff, because it's too easy to cash in on tragedy and make a quick buck (see Columbine for further reading on that subject). Sorry if that sounds crass, but this song doesn't do much for me. It's a poppy, mid-tempo anthem that tries to sound a little dark at first, but honestly comes off as being a little to self-assured (despite the fact that they're asserting "Lord, I don't know where all this is going, or how it all turns out.") Had the guys never mentioned what inspired the song, my reaction to it might have been different. I guess I just expected more to close out the album. Track 10 on a Newsboys album is traditionally some profound and intriguing stuff ("Lost the Plot", "Elle G.", "Lost the Sky Again"), so I'm probably extremely biased on this one. Sorry. I'm just not all that challenged here.
I know I'm hard on the Newsboys - it's not like they ever touted themselves as a deep, thinking man's rock band. Their message is usually fairly transparent, and I don't mind that, because they have so much fun getting it across and they strive to give us more than bumper sticker doctrine. I just think that Thrive is the result of the Newsboys being scared to have another album flop like Love Liberty Disco did. I still enjoy it, and I still feel like it's worth buying (well, perhaps not at full price - but that's more due to the length than content). If you loved the Newsboys in the mid-90's, this'll pick you up right where you left off. If you're new to the band, you're better off starting with Take Me to Your Leader or Going Public. If you never liked the band, then this ain't gonna change your mind.
The Newsboys may still have more of a creative life ahead of them (and hopefully Steve Taylor won't have to do as much of the work next time), so I'm still holding out for another truly stellar record. Until then, Thrive will serve as a decently tasty appetizer.
TRACK REVIEW SUMMARY Excellent: Million Pieces (Kissin' Your Cares Goodbye), It Is You, Cornelius, Fad of the Land, John Woo
Good: Giving It Over, Live in Stereo, Thrive
Decent: Rescue
Weak: Lord (I Don't Know)
Skippable: NONE
Band Members:
Peter Furler: Vocals, drums
Jody Davis: Guitar, vocals
Phil Joel: Bass, vocals
Jeff Frankenstein: Keyboards, vocals
Duncan Phillips, Drums, percussion
Steve Taylor: Lion's share of the songwriting!
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