Live Life Loud Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)On the title track and opening song of their fourth album, Hawk Nelson urges its listeners to Live Life Loud. That sentiment, founding member Daniel Biro notes, is "as Hawk Nelson as Hawk Nelson can be." Live Life Loud. It's not just a matter of volume, mind you; it's a philosophy. Part of living at the extreme that title suggests is embracing all of life, accepting and even celebrating a little pain and darkness and finding a way to let it enrich life.
The album kicks off with Hawk Nelson's signature rock/punk sound with the title track, complete with cheerleaders. "Live Life Loud" reminds me of previous rock anthems "Friend Like That", "Bring `Em Out" and "California", but there is a maturity and musical diversity that really makes Live Life Loud the best overall album by Hawk Nelson from beginning to end in my opinion. "Never Enough" and "Eggshells" keep the rock going, and the guitar work has never sounded better. The band lists Jimmy Eat World as a musical influence and if you like that rock/punk sound combined with spiritual lyrics, this album is for you.
Catchy first single "Meaning of Life" continues the search for significance, harmoniously determining to "start today for a new beginning...find a way to make a change in all of us who need to find the meaning of life". The song reminds me of some of my favorite more pop-style songs recorded by Hawk Nelson, including "From Underneath", "Everything You Ever Wanted" and "One Little Miracle". The message of "Meaning of Life" is that we need to stand-out and not blend in with the crowd. We should be bold with our faith, Christians need to make a difference in our world. Next song "Alive" is about losing one's self and serving others. Another highlight for me is the song "Shaken" which includes some convicting lyrics "Open my eyes and help me see there's a world outside of me...Lord use me take me where You want me to go".
The second half of the album includes some more reflective songs including "Lest We Forget", a great cover of the hymn "Tis So Sweet" with guest vocals by Jenn Helvering (Sandi Patty's daughter), and the touching closing song "The Final Toast", written about Jason Dunn's grandfather. If you've liked previous albums by Hawk Nelson, you'll love Live Life Loud.
This is the best overall album by Hawk Nelson in my opinion. For me the standout songs are "Live Life Loud", "Never Enough", "Meaning of Life", "Alive", "Shaken" and "Tis So Sweet". If you like rock/punk like Jimmy Eat World, FM Static and Stellar Kart, then you can't go wrong with Live Life Loud by Hawk Nelson.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Live Life Loud

On the title track and opening song of their fourth album, Hawk Nelson urges its listeners to "Live Life Loud."That sentiment, founding member Daniel Biro notes, is "as Hawk Nelson as Hawk Nelson can be." Live Life Loud. It's not just a matter of volume, mind you; it's a philosophy. Part of living at the extreme that title suggests is embracing all of life, accepting and even celebrating a little pain and darkness and finding a way to let it enrich life. "Live Life Loud" features the hit singles "Meaning Of Life", "Live Life Loud" and "Shaken". This powerhouse, pop rock foursome hailing from Canada has won the hearts of fans nationwide since their 2004 debut release "Letters to the President."

Click here for more information about Live Life Loud

Church Music Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)David Crowder*Band, the Dove Award-winning six-piece band, crafts compelling, inimitably progressive electronic rock. They are back with their new release "Church Music" arguably their most innovative effort to date. Packed full with 17 full tracks, "It's our stimulus package," the frontman player jokes. "We're doing our part." The band hopes this album serves as a reminder of the continual evolvement of music within the Church.
One of David's favorite selections from "Church Music" is "God Almighty, None Compares," because he loves "the guitar harmony...the guitarmony, if you will, and shredding is involved, which always makes me smile." The band is rounded out by guitarists Jack Parker and Mark Waldorp , bassist Mike Dodson, drummer Jeremy Bush and electronic violinist Mike Hogan. For the epic "Eastern Hymn," which is the rest of the band's favorite song on the disc, David commissioned the translation of an ancient Chinese prayer book which he'd found last summer while the band was on the Passion World Tour, and portions of the translated tome appear in the song's chorus.
The album opens with "Phos Hilaron (Hail Gladdening Light)", which sets the tone for this excellent album, my top album of 2009 and my favorite overall album by this amazing band. If you liked "Illuminate", "A Collision" and "Remedy", then "Church Music" is for you. The album blends previous musical and lyrical styles with some new ethereal and ambient songs and an incredible cover of my favorite song of the year, "How He Loves". To add to the uniqueness of the album, the 17 songs on the album play continuously from beginning to end with one song blending into the next. In order to accomplish this, the band poured an immense amount of work into the process, sequencing the tracks before anything had been recorded so keys and tempos could be finalized. The result: 73 full minutes of music. "Alleluia Sing" is next and has that signature David Crowder*Band praise and worship style similar to "Open Skies". "The Nearness" and "Shadows" bring back the electronic feel from "Remedy" like "Everything Glorious" and "Can You Feel It?". "Eastern Hymn" is truly epic and flows beautifully into the next few tracks "SMS (Shine)", "The Veil" and "We Are Loved". This section reminded me of the brilliant section of "A Collision" from "Do Not Move" to "Our Happy Home".
The band even tackles a cover on the disc that has to be heard to be believed: Flyleaf's "All Around Me." As if the album wasn't impressive already, David Crowder*Band's beautiful cover of "How He Loves", originally written and recorded by John Mark McMillan, is spectacular. The band finds a unique balance of capturing the sweet lyrical moments of the song but continually crescendos the intensity of the song and the message as the simple chorus builds over and over again. The genuine sound of the song reminds us of the simplicity yet magnanimity of God's love for us. "Can I Lie Here" and "Birmingham (We Are Safe)" bridge to the final section of the album in the style of "...neverending..." and "Rain Down" before the title track "Church Music (Dance)", one of the most fun tracks on the album. I can't wait to see this song performed live as it has an electronic feel that will remind you of a 1970's disco. The album closes with an amazing section from the unashamed praise of "What A Miracle", and "Oh Happiness", which reminded me of "We Win!", the guitar-shredding of "God Almighty, None Compares" and the epic closer "In The End (O Resplendent Light)".
This is my favorite overall album by David Crowder*Band and my top album of 2009. For me, this is truly a 5 star album! My favorite songs are "Alleluia Sing", "The Nearness", "Eastern Hymn", "All Around Me", "Church Music (Dance)", "God Almighty, None Compares" and my song of the year "How He Loves".

Click Here to see more reviews about: Church Music

David Crowder*Band, the highly accessible fan-favorites are back with their new release Church Music, arguably their most innovative effort to date. Packed with 17 full tracks, the band hopes this album serves as a reminder of the continual evolvement of music within the Church. David Crowder*Band is leading the way defining innovation, accessibility and fanconnectivity.

Click here for more information about Church Music