Newday - This Is Life

About this time every year, or sometimes just before Christmas, the summer festivals release their latest live albums. A compilation of songs which bring back memories of muddy fields, fellowship with others and of course the amazing God-lead worship. These albums are also a great way to show those who couldn’t make the festivals, what awesome songs are coming out of the meetings, and pass them on to those who wish to sing them in their own church gatherings.

This leads me to my latest review, “This Is Life” – the new live album from Newday in 2008. I have never been to this festival but I am told that it’s a great event.“This Is Life” has tracks from Paul Oakley, Phatfish, YFriday, Simon Parkin and Tree63. I have to admit that it is nice to hear songs that haven’t been overplayed at other festivals. There’s something new yet very British about it. I liked that Paul Oakley used some dance beats in a couple of his tracks. It added a new sound to the worship. As for YFriday, you have the opportunity to hear one of their newest tracks ‘Alive’, and I have to say that they are one of the most underrated British bands out there.Overall, I am giving this album the thumbs up. But I do have two small issues with it. One, the last track on the album by Tree63 is from 1996 (and to be honest, I would have rather heard something live from their album ‘Sunday’), and two, Simon Parkin has two tracks which are only one line each. (Which is fine, but why not make it all one track?)

This album is full of uplifting worship, and most tracks on here you may not have heard unless you have the artist’s albums. This is a good thing because it means not every festival is playing the same songs, so we have more than just the different recordings to listen to and compare. As I said before, it’s nice to hear different worshipers trying different things.

Jono’s rating - 4 out of 5 stars
Stand out tracks
Alive,
We Shine,
This Is Life.