Disco de Newsboys: “Born Again”

I have to admit that when I heard that Peter Furler was stepping away and that Michael Tait would be the new Newsboys frontman, I did a double-take. Not because I don't like Tait -- I think he has a fabulous voice and have liked his solo stuff since the dc Talk days -- but because it seemed about as drastic a change in a lead singer as a band could make. While I like Furler's singing, what really stood out to me was his 'showmanship', the way he would interact with the crowd as they sang along with some of the most lyrical quips imaginable (thanks in large part to song-writer extraordinaire, Steve Taylor).

As much as I have liked the Newsboys (especially 'Step Up To The Microphone' & 'Thrive'), I must admit that I have lost interest over the last few years as they have been a part of the 'recycled worship' movement that has yielded some nice takes on existing songs, but very little creativity and 'newness' (as in 'Microphone' & 'Thrive'). The Newsboys have been one of my fave bands to see in concert, because they had so much energy and Furler's 'showmanship', but the last few CD's have seemed to lack the creativity and 'punch' that their earlier stuff had.

Enter Michael Tait. While I agree that this CD really doesn't sound like the (early) Newsboys, I feel that it IS an improvement over what they had been slowly drifting into. 'Born Again' carries more energy & emotion, and the title couldn't be more appropriate considering the transformation they are undergoing. I have always liked Peter Furler, but I didn't feel like the last few Newsboys projects had really captured that swagger that he had shown on the early projects and in concert.

Here is a few thoughts on the 'Born Again' CD:

1: BORN AGAIN -- it certainly doesn't take long to hear the difference in the Newsboys, as they start off with a no-nonsense rocker that is lyrically 'up-front' and tailored to Tait's singing style. A very bold song to begin this new era, which obviously refers to the new life one has in Christ, but also to the new life (symbolically) that both Tait and the Newsboys have with this new direction. 10/10

2: ONE SHOT -- I like this song for the very reason that some on here have dissed it -- the fact that it refers to Twitter & FaceBook. While it does date the music, it is also very relevant to the here and now, much like the lyrics that KJ-52 has in some of his songs. Another very up-front song with lyrical boldness, this one is very easy to sing along with. 7/10

3: WAY BEYOND MYSELF -- I like the dance feel this song has, and it again exemplifies the variety and wide range of music that Tait can sing with. I usually prefer good rockers, but I really like the unique sound of this song and find myself repeating it quite often. 9/10

4: IMPOSSIBLE -- another very good song, but to me it is not as strong as most of the other songs. Great message and lyrics (as with all the other songs), but nothing really makes this song stand out like most of the rest. 6/10

5: WHEN THE BOYS LIGHT UP -- now this could be a Peter Furler song! The style of this song is so Furler, and yet it describes the very 'coming together' of Tait and the Newsboys. Very creative song and is very hard to get out of your head (and that's a good thing). 9/10

6: BUILD US BACK -- although it is slow, I really like the message and the way it 'builds' as the song unwinds. great set-up for the next couple of songs on the CD. 8/10

7: ESCAPE -- Here is the song that I am bound and determined to wear out! The lyrical genius of Steve Taylor and a straight-ahead hard rocking sound that deals with a topic that is seldom dealt with -- dealing with temptation. There is no doubt that this is NOT the old Newsboys, as it has a great edge to it. 10/10

8: MIRACLES -- After an opening that either annoys you or hooks you, this song has a very chunky sound that carries you along as it rocks. As with all the other songs on this CD, the lyrics are refreshingly BOLD and do not hold back. This song continues the musical momentum carried over from 'Escape' and is another rocking hit. 10/10

9: RUNNING TO YOU -- My favorite slow song on the CD -- one of the best on this collection. "Running" continues the momentum built by the previous two tracks and makes this trio the best stretch on the CD. 10/10

10: ON YOUR KNEES -- Very good song, but a little cliche in my opinion. Great song regarding the power of prayer and need for it. 7/10

11: MIGHTY TO SAVE -- This is one of my favorite praise songs, and I like the spin the band puts on it. It is indeed a little 'heavier' with more emphasis on the guitar. A new take on a well-known song. 7/10

12: JESUS FREAK -- A remake of a classic, which is almost always a recipe for disaster. It really sounds much like the original, and I am a big KJ-52 fan so I like the rap, but I miss the heavier feel of the original, especially with the screeching guitar near the end of the song. While this version is very very good, it seems like the jagged edges are a little rounded off. 8/10

Overall, I think the quality is top-notch and I really like the boldness of the lyrics -- strong Christian witness without being overbearing or sappy-sweet. As much as I have liked Peter Furler (and still do!), there is no doubt in my mind that Michael Tait is a superior singer who has a much broader range, enabling the Newsboys to be even more diverse now. Every song is very good to great, with the 'Escape-Miracles-Running To You' trio taking best show, along with the title track. A very solid start to what is a very unique band transformation -- I look forward to what lies ahead for the Newsboys as they move forward . . . .

To explain my title, I did not in any way mean that they needed salvation; I have always been impressed with the lyrical quality of the Newsboys. What I mean is that the band seemed to be stuck in the 90's and was becoming increasing irrelevant in today's Christian music culture. Michael Tate has brought the Newsboys to the 21st century with a new sound that, quite frankly, I love a lot more than the stereotypical 90's praise that the boys have been churning out for a while. Below is a review of each individual track on the Born Again STANDARD EDITION cd, or you can just skip to the bottom for a general review:

1. Born Again - 9.5/10 - The title track, and also the first single from the CD, is nearly flawless, combining a catchy pop-rock sound with good lyrics. I can't honestly say they're GREAT lyrics, I've heard more explicitly spiritual ones before, even on this album, but the message is still evident and makes for a great first track.

2. One Shot - 10/10 - One of my favorite tracks off of this CD, One Shot proclaims that believers should always proclaim their love for God, no matter what the circumstance. As many have pointed out, after a while this song will become dated due to its references to Facebook and Twitter ["Things change, just like the Twitter that you update, or the Facebook status on your front page, but there's no comment you can leave to change my mind..."].

3. Way Beyond Myself - 9/10 - A little more pop than rock, this song sounds gorgeous but leaves a little to be desired lyrically. Although dripping with religious metaphor, you'll have to listen closely to hear the actual reference to the Lord in the chorus.

4. Impossible - 6/10 - The first slower song of the CD, the sound is okay but while the lyrics are empowering, a unbeliever might miss the Christianese in them.

5. When the Boys Light Up - 9/10 - A fun pop rock anthem, this songs is reminiscent of a 90's boy band sound, but still expertly produced and lyrically sound, although still mostly metaphoric.

6. Build Us Back - 9/10 - Perhaps my favorite worship song on the album, Build Us Back is a simple yet elegant song about relying on God to build us up when we endure hardships in life.

7. Escape - 7/10 - Bringing us back to the Newsboys' new rock element with a bang, Escape is a really fun rock song with really generic lyrics. While it sounds cool, it almost seems like a distraction from the fact the lyrics in this song have almost no substance to them.

8. Miracles - 10/10 - Another one of my favorites from this album, this track is a powerful rock anthem that is another great testament to the impeccable production values instilled in this album. Some Newsboys fans will still be disappointed with the lack of an actual reference to God, but He is still quite evident in the lyrics ["You got me up from down, faith has shattered my doubt, I believe in miracles"].

9. Running to You - 10/10 - Another great worship song with very explicitly Christian lyrics ["More than just emotion, my broken heart has chosen, Jesus I'm running to You..."]

10. On Your Knees - 9/10 - The final original song on Born Again, On Your Knees examines the journey of a young woman searching for salvation. It never tells of the woman actually accepting Christ, but it does lay out a fairly clear salvation message.

11. Mighty to Save - 8/10 - The only reason this gets as low as a rating of 8 from me is because the Hillsong original has been redone so many times, so many ways that it's just starting to get old. The Newsboys actually did a fantastic job with this upbeat worship track, just wish they could have chosen something a little more unique.

12. Jesus Freak w/ KJ-52 - 10/10 - Many people have scrutinized this track unduly simply because it's a remake of the much-revered dcTalk hit. Here's my version: I actually like the flow of this version better than the original. When comparing the two songs, there are some aspects that sound better than the original, while others can completely ruin the song for diehard dcTalk fans. I will admit that KJ-52's rendition of TobyMac's raps leave something to be desired from the original, but at the same time it is a fresh take which is delivered at the top of his game. It simply depends on your perspective.

Overall, I really like the "reborn" Newsboys. More rock, less 90's pop. Unfortunately, the lyrics did suffer some on this album, probably in an effort to appeal to a wider audience, although the message of Christ is still clearly communicated if you take the album as a whole. One thing that struck me when I was listening to the album's fourth track was that Michael Tate's voice seems to be better suited for rock than contemporary worship. No one can deny that Tate is very talented and has a unique voice, but on the approximately 50% of the album that's targeted toward the CCM crowd, his voice seems to be a bit out of place, a bit too powerful, if you will, for the genre. I wonder if the Newsboys' next album will be more focused on the rock aspect of their rebirth.

I think this is simply one of the best albums I've heard in awhile. While they kept some of the old Newsboys sound and groove, they are a completely new group. There is no doubt about that. But I've always like Michael Tait (from way back in the DC Talk days), and feel his voice lends to the sound splendidly.

In my opinion, the covers (Jesus Freak, Mighty to Save, etc) aren't as good as the original versions, however I think pretty much all of their new songs are fantastic... Especially "Way Beyond My Self" and of course, "Born Again."

Nine new songs or edits are worth the purchase. I never have understood why bands release material with the same songs from the prior CD, but with nine new or re-mixed songs, this will fill the Newsboys appetite until more new music is released. Also, for any Newsboys fan, you will be glad to know that Peter Furler, prior frontman, has just released his first solo effort - On Fire, and it is really good. Check both of these out! Great music! MAD

It's good, but it just doesn't seem to match exactly--it's not less "chocolatey," though, nor bad-tasting (as those two elements would be when mixed together). It would just take a couple of "swigs" to adjust the expectations with the results. I love the Newsboys of their musical morphs over the last 20+ years; I loved dc Talk in their prime. I loved the two groups' distinction during their great runs in the 90s--you weren't going to confuse who was who, even if you liked both. When I heard that Michael was going on the road with the Newsboys, I figured his voice would match very nicely with their catalog and would be a good fit. So I was quite excited to hear how it all would work in the studio and bought the new album on Tuesday.

All of that being said, I didn't *love* this CD and feel bad for not doing so. On paper, everything should work, and they do sound great; but they don't sound like the Newsboys. I used this analogy to a friend, when describing the album: it's like two cousins married and recorded an album.... Or something. If you were hearing them for the first time--no knowledge of Peter Furler or Toby & Kevin--you'd probably rave about how "adorable" their "kid" is. If you think about it too long, though, it seems odd. Maybe I'm just being shallow and am hung up on the name of the group. Maybe I am just going to have a difficult time moving on from Furler's so distinctive sound as lead singer. Maybe I just got a bit nostalgic to hear the old dc Talk back in the game.

But life moves on and so do the Newsboys and their music. I have enjoyed listening several times since Tuesday but have not been blown away. The songs are all good--no fillers or fluff--but I wasn't "wowed" by any one of them (for reference, "Lead Me To The Cross" and "No Grave" blew me away from the last CD, "Something Beautiful" and "In Wonder" from _Go_, and "Stay Strong" from their live concert disc). "Born Again," "Running To You," "When The Boys Light Up" and "Build Us Back" stood out a bit from the pack. I thought at least three of the tracks really echoed themselves musically, especially "Born Again" and "One Shot." I was really excited to hear them do "Mighty To Save," but I was a bit underwhelmed--maybe just too high expectations. I was also skeptical when I saw "Jesus Freak" as a title--they would have been far better just to leave that association alone and wait for some future anniversary/"best of" compilation to revisit the dc Talk catalog--just don't go there yet. A reviewer on iTunes suggested that both tracks #11 and 12 be bonus tracks on a digital version, which sounds about right to me.

Bottom Line: Good, not great. They really piqued my curiosity with the addition of Michael, and I bet it will ultimately work: ten years from now (or even five), I might not remember Peter Furler or that Michael sang with dc Talk....