Heat Advisory: The 2013 Fourth Quarter - Pop

Down to the Final Four. Sometimes it does seem like March Madness around here. Of Course, our final four is where the heat is, so to speak. We begin today with Pop, and the other three are Hip Hop, Hard Rock and Rock. Pop music had a very good quarter. 11 entries and a mix of new sounds and old.

Pop Music

• Love and The Outcome - Love & The Outcome
• Dara Maclean - Wanted
• Mandisa - Overcomer
• Newsboys - Restart
• 1 Girl Nation - 1 Girl Nation
• Shine Bright Baby - Dreamers
• The Sonflowerz - Love Walked In
• Ryan Stevenson - Holding Nothing Back
• Tammy Trent - Sunny Days
• Tricia - Radiate
• Christa Wells - Feed Your Soul

A few comments are in order. I've had somewhat of a hot-cold relationship with Newsboys lately. Luckily things are swinging back to hot.  I really liked Michael Tait's debut (Born Again), but was less than impressed with the Follow Up (God's Not Dead). However, like Gungor, while the studio album failed to impress, the Live Concert Album was a winner. Restart has gone dance pop and I think it suits the new lineup to a T.

 

The Same with Tammy Trent. I was thinking her music had passed me by. Kind of Like How I grew out of my Amy Grant Phase. However, I think it was just the latest albums that failed to impress. The Dance-Pop style of Sunny Days really suits her voice.

 

Three to go. Until next time, I am Awaiting Your Reply.

Throwing a Pity Party All By Herself

And You're Not Invited.

One of my fondest memories of my years in Christian Music was the 2001 Inside Out Soul Festival at Loon Mountain, New Hampshire. I was a volunteer with Sparrow Records that year. Now besides the free pass to the festival, and the free swag, the inside track was the best experience.

We had to push a lot of upcoming artists, among them a group by the name of Switchfoot. (I wonder if they ever made it big?). One of the up and comers was a self-styled "garage band" by the name of Superchick. It takes a real man to say you are a Superchick. Cheerleader Rock was what you could call it, complete with Tricia Brock singing through a megaphone, an early band signature.

Fast forward a dozen years. The band has disbanded and members have gone their own ways. The megaphone was long gone, but the fun attitude always remained. Four Studio albums made with fun and plenty of attitude.

Though Superchick may have hung up the megaphone, Tricia is still here. Radiate is the lead singers debut, if you don't count The Road, her worship album under Tricia Brock. It is a fair baton pass. There is worship, rock, and plenty of the sarcasm that Superchick was known for:

Bummed out, it's never enough. Suburban living, she has it rough. She's got almost everything, but there's something missing.

Not enough shoes, not a big enough home. She doesn't even have the latest iPhone. Why does this always happen to her. She's gonna do something about it.

She's throwing a pity party all by herself. Yeah it's a pity party all by herself. A pity party all by herself. And you're not invited.

Solo debuts are a mixed bag, because you remember the band. Tricia has brought the excitement that was Superchick to Radiate . As such it is getting a near perfect rating of 4.75 Emeralds. The Revolution continues. I am Awaiting Your Reply.

Before I go, just a reminder. Go to the giveaway page and enter the Great WENC Night beat 3rd Birthday Giveaway for a chance to win one of four 5 Emerald Rated albums. It's on until September 30, so you've still got plenty of time.

The Heat is On: PVA 2011 3rd Qtr Nominees - Pop

The biggest category of all, as expected. There are sixteen entries this time around, enough for over two years awards. This is always going to be the genre which requires the most work. Since there is so much to do, I think we should get right on with it.

Pop

Again, just like modern worship, there were some double nominees here, and we'll get to them in a bit.

• Anthem Lights, Anthem Lights (D)
• Inside These Walls, Brandon Bee
• The Road, Tricia Brock (D)
• One Girl, Katelynne Cox (D)
• Jonny Diaz, Jonny Diaz
• My Brain Says Stop but My Heart Says Go, FM Static
• On Fire, Peter Furler (D)
• Love is Taking Over, Dakota Green (D)
• Plain and Simple, Crystal Lewis
• Captivated, Nicole C. Mullen
• Born Again: Miracles Edition, Newsboys
• One True God, Newsong
• Blessings, Laura Story
• Black and White, Royal Tailor (D)
• In the Name of Love, Christina Tarlev (D)
• Home, Nathan Tasker (D)
• You Can Be Loved, Beth Williams

A whole lot of "Debuts" this time around, though of the eight on the list, three are Solo debuts from established artists (Peter Furler, formerly of Newsboys; Tricia Brock, currently of Superchick) or an American Debut (Nathan Tasker has four albums in Australia). Newsboys get a second year in a row nominee by releasing the old Deluxe Album, but it works. You can check my full review of Born Again: Miracles Edition, as well as Anthem Lights, My Brain Says Stop, But My Heart Says Go , One Girl, and Home by clicking on the respective title.

That was a lot. One More category to go, Rock. As it is also a biggie, I will wait until Monday. As always, I am Awaiting Your Reply

A Tale of Two Tricia's

Not really, I just liked the way it sounded. I guess I'm a sucker for alliteration. There really is just one Tricia, Tricia Baumhardt (nee Brock), the lead singer for the pop/rock band Superchick. After ten years of singing to millions through a megaphone, she has released a solo project entitled The Road. Now anyone who isn't familiar with her work with Superchick will take right to this album, a top rate modern worship entry that can go toe to toe with the best out there. If you're familiar with Superchick, you're in for a shock.

Mind you it's a good shock, but a shock is a shock. There isn't a lot of chances to highlight your vocal range in modern CCM, or pop music of any kind these days. As a result most of the music is just various shades of a scream. That's not good or bad, it just is. Modern Worship is singer friendly in such a way that it allows the artist to showcase themselves. I know, it sounds strange in a field that is supposed to be "all about God." Trust me, it's good. It prevents the genre from becoming stale.

The CD kicks off with the rocking "Breath of God", a song which would be perfect for a Rebecca St. James worship release if RSJ hadn't gone soft. Sorry Rebecca, love you, but I will praise you was a little lacking in the volume department. You Hear highlights her abilities perfectly. To put it simply, this "Chick" can sing. And it has strings. It's my favorite. Broken for Love's sake, the closing cut, is a Acoustic Duet compete with Banjo. It's a beautiful song.

I'm going to give the album 4 Emeralds. We'll see how that holds up in modern worship. On a traditional star rating I would say maybe 3.5 to 4 stars. For an opposing view, Christianity Today gave a fairly dismissive review, calling it a "Hillsong Knockoff". I think at times that Hillsong should be so lucky to do an album like this. This is a "Road" you wont regret taking. Your comments are always welcome. As always, I am Awaiting Your Reply.