Jon Foreman - Limbs & Branches

Review by Becky Pullen Like a gentle stroll down a tree-lined avenue in dappled sunlight, Jon Foreman’s Limbs and Branches calms the soul and soothes your mind. The distinctly acoustic countrified sound that Foreman’s solo project brings an aura of a lazy summer afternoon on the front porch, perfect for those chilled-out evenings at home, or some background music while you’re plodding through that essay. I must admit that I was surprised by this Jon’s solo work, I expected something with a similar sound to that of Switchfoot, but this change of scene is not entirely unsavoury. Jon’s time away from the band, an opportunity for him to explore his own ideas with freedom, and will hopefully breathe some fresh air into the Switchfoot sounds.

Most songs on this album are reflective in nature and slow in tempo, but my favourite, Resurrect Me, has a faster tempo, and some true cowboy-style guitar sounds. In all honesty, I will admit that this song is most like Foreman’s work in Switchfoot, which I prefer to this solo project. However, I think this track brings a bit of life to an album that would otherwise caress your ears to the point of slumber.

The album has a very back to basics, earthy, raw sound, which Foreman has used to explore his faith and some issues that he has clearly been struggling with. This can most clearly be seen in Instead of a Show, which examines the ways we worship God and calls for us to be involved in social justice.Overall, this album is a good collection of the best Jon's Foreman 4 solo releases, Winter, Spring,Summer & Winter and an interesting change from his usual style of performance.

Becky rating 3 out of 5 Stars
Standout Tracks
Resurrect Me
Instead of a Show
In the House of God, Forever

The Kings Chamber Orchestra - Lost In Love

review by Jono Davies The debut album from The Kings Chamber Orchestra certainly created a buzz and people soon began using "Strings of Heaven" in their Bible quiet times, devotionals & other such "hushed" church moments. Now they're back with the eagerly anticipated second album "Lost in Love". This album is, of course, in the same general style as the debut album; it sees a selection of worship songs, old and new, pulled together with the addition of the smooth sounds of the orchestra on each track. I am told that The Kings Chamber Orchestra, lead by Gerard Le Feuvre who founded the orchestra back in 1985, are sensational live and the overwhelming sense of worship that you get listening to this album seems to confirm this.

I loved the debut album "Strings of Heaven" with its great track listing and I'm sure this album will sell well, if you enjoyed the first album you should certainly pick it up. In my opinion, the track listing is not as interesting as the first and it seems to be missing one or two extra 'classic' tracks. Despite this the album is of top quality, reproducing the orchestras great live sound on CD without losing anything of the atmosphere through the recording process. I now can't wait till the next offering.

Jono rating 3 out of 5 stars
Standout Tracks
My Jesus, My Savior
Worthy Your so Wothy
Faithful One

Choirboys – The Carols Album

review by Rich Smith

For one that isn’t keen on carols and choirs, this was an interesting album to review, however I was taken slightly by surprise as to how good I thought it was. It has given me a new fondness of carols, and I actually want to now go out and sing some. It is very well produced and the boy’s vocals are on form, getting all the right notes, and harmonies in the right places, it is classical, and in a way quite stylish, though it is how carols generally sound, but it is different, it sounds more heavenly. The music from the instruments, mainly woodwind with some strings, and also some brass added to the blend really compliments the album and goes well with the vocals, the arrangements are very well done.

I think some tracks could have been arranged differently though; giving the boy’s a bit more of a chance to display their style, maybe put silent night in some different languages, but now im just being picky. But the album finishes with the perfect ending. In general it is what you would expect from a Carol album, it is traditional, and those who are fans of traditional carols will not be left disappointed, it is a gentle, easy listening album.

Listening to it, brings images of Christmases from long ago, where people would gather together in the village square and sing carols together, on Christmas eve, a beautiful time, a time of peace, and this is what this album offers, it offers listeners to just feel at peace and I feel that is something that is missing from Christmases these days, is the peace, so much is going on around, people shopping, people panicking because of the credit crunch, but its not about presents and shopping, its not about money, Christmas is about the birth of a king, the birth of our saviour Jesus, and this album is just a very gentle reminder of the meaning of Christmas. I recommend just listening to this, take some time away from the crazyness and just welcome the peace the Jesus offers. Beautiful.

Rich Smith Rating 4 out of 5 Stars
Stand out tracks:
In the Bleak Midwinter
Coventry Carol
Hark! The Herald Angels Sing

Switchfoot – The Best Yet

review by Jono Davies

6 Albums, 10 years, Switchfoots 'The Best Yet' is out. Many people think of greatest hits albums as cashing in on a bands success; a last ditch attempt to hang on as the band is falling away from the public eye, or simply a way to say "We're finished. Thank you and goodbye". Thankfully this particular 'best of ' album doesn't fall into any of those categories. This greatest hits album is a way of giving an album, to all the people who become fans when Switchfoots latest album "oh Gravity" was released, which summarises the highlights of the previous 10 years. It's also an album to cap off a great ten years which have seen the band grow in musical ability as well as seeing their fan base increase exponentially. It must have been hard for the San Diego band to pick their 'best of' as they have so many great albums to look into. However they have succeeded and settled on 18 great tracks which have been featured in movies and won awards over the past decade.

"The Best Yet" includes the massive hits "Meant to Live" & "Dare You To Move" as well as their radio hits "Stars", "Oh Gravity", "Awakening" and "This is Your Life". Each track on this album is pure anthem for a generation. I suppose, if you have all of Switchfoots albums, this might not really need to be purchased, but for anybody who has just recently discovered the pure brilliance of the San Diego boys, then this is a must. The one real problem with Switchfoot's "The Best Yet" it's the knowledge that there's way, way more to come.

Jono Rating 5 out of 5 Stars
Stand out Tracks
Meant to Live
Dare you To Move
Stars

Matthew West – Something to Say

review by Rich Smith Matthew West is back with his third album and he really has something to say, to sing infact. This album has come out of a time when Matthew could not say anything, he lost his voice had to have an operation on his vocal chords and could not speak for a long time, and through that time he had no idea if he would be able to sing again.

Something to say is one miraculously incredible album and I say it is Matthew’s best work to date and definitely one of the best albums of the year! Apart from being fantastically produced, and sounding so on form with both music and strong vocals, the lyrics are just spot on and awesome, which will strongly encourage people from all walks of life, with cry out anthems like all the broken pieces to quieter tunes like safe and sound you can hear the passion and plea in Matthew’s voice through out, which adds to the strength of this album.

This album is really soaked with the spirit and has the ability to speak out to people, really this review does not do the album justice, but sometimes there are no words to describe just how much this album can blow you away by listening to it, if your going through tough times, have questions, or just want one incredible album then this is for you, prepare to be in tears crying out to God, as you take a journey from the start to the end of this album. I have something to say about this album, summed up in one word: incredible.

Rich Smith rating 5 out of 5 Stars
Stand out tracks:
Life inside you
The moment of truth
All the broken pieces

Tobymac – Alive & Transported

review by Ben Sutton

It seems to be a growing trend to release a CD/DVD combo once an artist or group has amassed a certain amount of following and back catalogue material. And if you’re good live why not? I personally love these packs although they make me slightly annoyed at the times when I had to buy both separately. Iv never been a huge fan of Tobymac but have liked enough of his songs to give him a few chances to impress me, and after being keen for a him to do a best of I gladly purchased this album with the hopes of hearing his best songs on CD and seeing what he’s like live. And that is a perfect overview of what you get here. Tobymac’s best of, presented live but with double the passion and energy they could ever capture in the studio.

Tobymac was one of the three men who made up DC Talk, one of the most innovative and successful Christian groups to date, but the Tobymac here or on any of his solo albums is far from alone, his group “the Diverse City band” are as important here as he is. Each member is given their own moments to shine and all accompany each other to great effect as each have their own talents and attributes that shine through on different songs, all of which floats around and compliments Tobmac brilliantly. That said, its clear it’s all about God and there is no one trying to claim any glory here, bible readings, prayers, speeches and continual pointing upward remind us what it’s all about.

The songs are superb, they really pick the best material from Tobymacs three studio albums as well as a good version of DC talk’s “Jesus freak” where Rebecca Barlow appears on stage to guitar with them (though you have to look really hard on the DVD to realise!)The crowd are involved and you can hear them sing along without drowning anyone out, and the recording isn’t too tinny or distorted there’s a very good balance. Whilst watching the DVD you’re enthralled and whilst listening to the CD you could close your eyes and picture being there because the energy comes across on both formats.

There are some great moments that stick in my mind from the DVD, one of the Diverse City band stand on top of a speaker toward the end and does a full back flip off a speaker nearly twice his size! There’s a great bit during “Jesus Freak” where everything stops mid song, the instruments, dances, everything and its like a freeze frame then suddenly all in sync they burst back into life it sent a shiver down my spine! There’s the bit right at the climax of the concert where Tobymac just runs and dives straight into the crowd. And there are many more it’s an amazing concert, it will make you wish you where there if you weren’t!

It’s hard to pick any stand out tracks from a superb collection but “ignition” is always one of my favourites and at the beginning of the concert it works excellently to give u a feel for what is ahead. “Jesus freak” is a fine nod back to Tobymacs previous outings with DC Talk. “Burn for you” is a wonderful track with a beautiful guitar rift that’s very well sang, one for the crowd to join in with and though less lively than some of the other tracks its one that gets you moving in other ways and helps show the diversity of Tobymac and his band. “Extreme days” is just a rip roaring adrenaline fuelled anthem from Tobymac’s first album and stands out at the end of the concert.“Catchafire (Whoopsi daisy) is great fun, another sing along catchy tune for the crowd to get into.

This is one heck of a good concert, fuelled with passion, energy and love for God that comes across plenty with Tobymacs bible readings and talks with the crowd, and then the documentary on the DVD shows the serious side of where he’s at and why he does it all. Though he’s not a young man, he has twice the energy of many people half his age and this comes out in abundance on this CD/DVD. The sheer value of getting two for one and knowing how good Tobymac and Diverse City are live should get you excited, but if not, trust me its fantastic. Hip Hop, pop, rock, R&B, metal, even jazz there are so many genres and music tastes present here without ever feeling lost or confused about what it’s trying to be.

Ben Sutton Rating 5 out of 5 stars.
Standout Tracks
Ignition
Jesus Freak
Extreme Days