Nine Lashes: Anthem of the Lonely Music Video

Check out Nine Lashes' new music video for their single "Anthem of the Lonely"! It's a bit violent, but has an excellent message:

 

New Sidewalk Prophets Single: Live Like That

Check out Sidewalk Prophets' brand new radio single "Live Like That"! You can also check out the preorder options for their new album at their website, here!

 

Rapzilla Announces New Album King Kulture to Sponsor Education in the Congo

If you're a fan of Christian hip-hop, I have good news for you! Rapzilla.com, the world's largest Christian Hip Hop website, in conjunction with Syntax Distribution, is releasing a collaboration album on January 31st, 2012! The 16-song album, titled King Kulture, features all your favorite hip-hop artists including KJ-52, Lecrae, GRITS, Benjah, and plenty more! The cool thing is, all the proceeds go toward a school in the Congo, Ecole de la Borne. By buying the album, you will provide school supplies and scholarships for the students there. How cool is that? The whole album is worth a purchase just for that, whether or not hip-hop is your favorite genre, right?

Highlights from the new album include track #8, "Drop It On 'Em," by KJ-52 and featuring Japhia Life and Kelly Kelz. Also, "New Shalom (Dubstep Remix)" is performed by Lecrae, one of hip-hop's front acts, and it also features Pro!

Below is the official track listing. Do NOT miss this album on January 31st! You'll be getting some awesome hip-hop music for your ears, while helping sponsor a worthy cause. Below is the official track listing and album art:

Track listing:
1 Welcome to the Kulture (George Moss, Amber Fugitt)
2 Beautiful Thing (GRITS)
3 Lift Up ( Braille)
4 Faith (Dezcry)
5 Get Wise (Sho Baraka)
6 Breaking Out The Box (theBREAX)
7 It's Going Down (Benjah, Watchman, Stefanatto)
8 Drop It On Em (KJ-52, Japhia Life, Kelly Kelz)
9 Nothing For Us (Eshon Burgundy, HotHandz)
10 Fight On (Young Joshua)
11 Beautiful Struggle (Yaves the Street Pastor, Ron Riley)
12 Don't Leave The Dash Out (K-Drama)
13 Stop (Jeremiah Bonds)
14 King Kulture (Beautiful Eulogy, Theory Hazit, Lee Green)
15 Bars (T-Word)
16 New Shalom Dubstep Remix (Lecrae, Pro)

Find out more details, including the pre-order link, on Rapzilla's official press release here.

Music Video: Seventh Day Slumber -- "Wasted Life"

New music video from Seventh Day Slumber! This is for their new song "Wasted Life." Man, these guys are ever so awesome! :)

  

Manafest: Never Let You Go

New song from Manafest! This is "Never Let You Go" from his album Fighter, slated for release on April 10th! Not exactly what I would have expected from a hip-hop artist, but great nevertheless!

  

Kari Jobe's Where I Find You Album Now In Stores!

Kari Jobe's new album Where I Find You releases today, and it's already at #1 on iTunes! Here's an acoustic performance of her new single "We Are" for your listening enjoyment. Don't forget to check out Bethel Live, Group1Crew, and Tidewater, also releasing today!

 

Andrew Greer: Angel Band - The Hymn Sessions Review

When you hear a timeless hymn, what enters your mind? For many, it’s thoughts of the moment we first encountered Christ. For Andrew Greer, respected singer/songwriter, that’s exactly what inspired his latest work Angel Band: The Hymns Sessions. The collaborative album lands Andrew singing duets with many talented vocalists that are some of Andrew’s personal influences, including Sonya Isaacs (from The Isaacs), Ginny Owens, Cindy Morgan, Sandra McCracken and more. This heavenly and inviting album shares through hymns the story of how Andrew found Christ’s love for him and lets the listener experience His love for themselves.

Opening the album with acoustic guitars and tambourines, the mellow “O Come Angel Band” features Sonya Isaacs and Laura Sue Brod. Though the female vocals are not easily audible, the passion of the vocal mix is, and Andrew’s soft vocals (much like Elias Dummer’s from The City Harmonic) are very engaging. “Never Grow Old” takes on more of an upbeat country sound, as the hymn paints a picture of longing for heaven. Regina McCrary (The McCrary Sisters) and Marc Scibilia add very nice backing vocals as well.

Very energetic and upbeat with a bluegrass tempo, “Down by the Riverside” features Julie Lee. Together, the duet covers the African-American spiritual very well, in a fun way. At this point, the listener should definitely be engaging along in worship with the eclectic covers offered through the Angel Band album. “Softly and Tenderly” follows, again a slower cover, but probably the best cover I have heard of this track yet. Sonya Isaacs again lends her backing vocals, making very heavenly harmonies.

“Jesus Paid It All” features the McCrary Sisters, as well as a second verse that Andrew himself wrote for the hymn. Though I didn’t particularly care for this track, you can’t argue that having the McCrary Sisters singing along with Andrew is a great listen. Banjos make up “The Lord’s Prayer,” a classic that was new to me personally, but actually goes back to 1935. This track is very short and sweet.  

“In the Garden,” a favorite hymn of mine, is covered nicely in an unexpected swing tempo, keeping the simplicity of the track but adding fun measures here and there. A Fanny Crosby collaboration follows next, “I Am Thine O Lord/Jesus Keep Me Near the Cross.” As Andrew intended it to, it has a quirky touch to it, more on the mellow side and features vocals from Ginny Owens, fittingly.

The only original on the Angel Band project, “I’ve Been Searching,” written by Andrew as a tribute to the Gospel artists that inspire him, again features The McCrary Sisters with their supportive gospel vocals. This track also seems to sum up the reason Andrew recorded this project, showing that we can find what we are all searching for in Jesus. The bluegrass “The Unclouded Day” features Sandra McCracken, and Marc Scibilia again. It’s a fun track, but its lyrics are serious describing our longing to be home with Jesus where we belong.

The 1922 hymn “Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus” was very welcome, featuring a new verse written by Andrew and sung by Cindy and her angelic vocals. Acoustic guitar makes up the track, very serene and prepares the album to come to a close. “All Creatures of Our God and King” closes the album, highlighted by the pipe organ played by Andrew’s mom who led him into a life of music in the first place. This worshipful hymn is an excellent closure for the album, as are Andrews vocals – together, simply blissful.

I’m definitely a hymns person. There’s something so timeless and heavenly about them and they always end leaving those listening or singing in an awe of the goodness of God. Angel Band: The Hymns Session by Andrew Greer is an awesome project, to say the least. The eclectic album is heavenly, peaceful, and fun to. If you’re looking for something out of the ordinary and passionate to add to your music library, this is definitely an album you’ll want to check out!

Rating: 4.5/5

Track listing:
1. O Come Angel Band (feat. Sonya Isaacs and Laura Sue Brad)
2. Never Grow Old (feat. Regina McCrary and Marc Scibilia)
3. Down by the Riverside (feat. Julie Lee)
4. Softly and Tenderly (feat. Sonya Isaacs)
5. Jesus Paid It All (feat. The McCrary Sisters)
6. The Lord’s Prayer (feat. Ron Block)
7. In the Garden
8. I Am Thine O Lord/ Near the Cross (feat. Ginny Owens)
9. I’ve Been Searching (feat. The McCreary Sisters)
10. The Unclouded Day (with Sandra McCracken and Marc Scibilia)
11. Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus (feat. Cindy Morgen)
12. All Creatures of Our God and King

Releases January 31, 2012!

Tidewater: This Beautiful Life EP Review

Brett Allen, better known as Tidewater, has been making a name for himself ever since his self-published debut The Seas We Sail. After releasing a follow-up digital EP with major success (charting at iTunes Singer/songwriter chart at #4), Brett re-released his independent project with an added cover of “Christ is Risen,” originally performed by Matt Maher. Now signed, Brett returns with his Inpop Records debut, a three-song EP titled This Beautiful Life. Though it's short, it’s enough to show you what a polished singer/songwriter Brett actually is, and the listener will also be blown away to know that Brett did almost all the instruments by himself!

The powerful ballad “Not Just Any Love” immediately hits the listener with a sense of peace, as we are reminded of God’s unending love for us all. Honestly, it’s hard not to receive God’s love that penetrates through the speakers through the heart-felt lyrics: “It’s love, not just any love/ the love of the Father for His daughters and sons/ and no matter where you go, He’ll find you there…” More upbeat and fun, with more of a pop/rock twist, the title track single follows speaking of enjoying life, particularly Brett meeting his nephew for the first time. Closing the EP, overpowering strings and a quirky drumbeat help compose “Desire,” a mournful track despite its fun tempo. It speaks of how we often get lost in desires that hold us to the ground.

The This Beautiful Life EP by Tidewater is simply a masterpiece! Check out this EP and you will definitely be pumped up for the full-length album by the same name, to be released later this year. You will not want to miss Tidewater’s eclectic beats, deep lyrics, and enjoyable music!

Rating: 4.5/5

Track listing:
1. Not Just Any Love
2. This Beautiful Life
3. Desire

Sixteen Cities Talks to Jay About Their New Single "Love is Making a Way"!

This past weekend, I had the chance to see Sixteen Cities again. They played a few new songs from the upcoming record, due sometime in March, as well as played favorites from their previous albums. The guys were kind enough to make an exclusive video for Jay's Musik Blog, promoting their new single "Love Is Making a Way"! Check it out, and enjoy!

Thanks, Sixteen Cities! You guys made my week :)