Category Archives: Articles

TOP 10 ___: Top 10 DC Talk Songs

In honour of the DC Talk Cruise in which Kevin Max, TobyMac and Michael Tait, of DC Talk fame, decided to band together for a cruise and a set of concerts reunited in front of many fans, performing some of their greatest hits throughout the years (and then afterwards some hints of more cruises and reunion tours in the near future), we as a site have decided to compile some of our favourite DC Talk songs. In fact, DC Talk is by far one of the most influential CCM bands of the 1990s, alongside Jars of Clay, Audio Adrenaline, Delirious? and Avalon. Kevin, Toby and Michael showed us that Christian rock could be cool, and that declaring and singing songs about Jesus can be relevant and unique, in a climate where mainstream pop and songs about absolutely nothing is championed instead. And while the band went on indefinite hiatus from 2000s onwards (leading on from that, we saw TobyMac chart success in the years following, as with Tait joining the Newsboys and Kevin with his stint in Audio Adrenaline and his solo EPs and albums), DC Talk never officially called it quits. Whether the DC Talk Cruise means that the band would seriously think about forming back together permanently or not is a different story. But I guess between now and whenever they make a decision either way, we as a site have decided to share some of our favourite songs from arguably one of the most influential Christian bands, ever! Read on to find out some of my favourite songs from Kevin, Michael and Toby!

Continue reading TOP 10 ___: Top 10 DC Talk Songs

TOP 10 ___: TOP 30 CCM SONGS OF THE SUMMER 2017

Hang on, didn’t we do this post already? Nope, that was last year’s similar top ten’s post, titled “Top 10 CCM Songs Of The Summer 2016”. Ok, so what about this post? Nope, not that either! That was “Top 10: 30 songs to have an impact in 2017”. This top ten’s post is instead “Top 10 (30) CCM Songs of the Summer 2017”!

Though this post will be similar compared to the other two in terms of me trying to guess which songs will be big (either on the radio or in terms of impact in changing people’s lives) by the end of the ‘summer’ (Northern Hemisphere summer!)- which means the end of August; there is one slight difference. While last year, I gave my opinion on 15 songs that I reckon would be big by the end of August 2016, this year I will double that list to 30 songs. Why, you ask? Simply because this seems to be the year that there is more music released. Simple as that. Note that I said ‘seems to be the year that there is more music released’. Not ‘there is’. Cause maybe this is the year I have been paying more attention, and maybe there’s still the same amount of music…either way, if you forgot what the point of my post was last year where I wrote a similar thing, let me give you a refresher.

Continue reading TOP 10 ___: TOP 30 CCM SONGS OF THE SUMMER 2017

BEST OF 2017- PART 5: TOP 20 MUSIC VIDEOS OF 2017 (JANUARY – JUNE)

Wow, it’s July already! Half the year is over! Time sure goes by fast! I guess it’s time to post my thoughts on my favourite music videos for the first half of the year then! But why am I splitting up the year in two, you say? Like the previous best of 2017 posts? Well, I guess it’s because this year in particular (I don’t know, maybe this is the year we’ve been paying more attention!), there are more songs, more albums, more EP’s, more music videos, that have resonated with us immensely than any other year. Of course if we now revisit previous years, and previous ‘best of’ lists, then perhaps we have to revise/expand the lists, but as of right now, I reckon 2017 is one of the best years of music in general that I have heard in a very long time. So without further ado, here’s my top 20 music videos from the first half of the year that have made a great impact on myself both spiritually as well as enjoyableness.

Continue reading BEST OF 2017- PART 5: TOP 20 MUSIC VIDEOS OF 2017 (JANUARY – JUNE)

BEST OF 2017- PART 4: TOP 15 EPs (January – June)

While I know it’s only July, in just a few months time, the year will be over and then I would’ve needed to at least have a list at the ready, to have 1- whatever of songs, EP’s and albums that were my standouts throughout the year. So I started to think, and compose a list. In this special post, I will unveil my favourite 15 EP’s 2016 has to offer. But this list is special- the EP’s are only from January – June 2017. While the year isn’t certainly over (5 months to go), I will certainly post another best-of list in December, collating EP’s from July – December and posting that at the end of the year as well. Anyway, enough preamble. Here’s my top 15 EPs that have made a great impact on myself both spiritually as well as enjoyableness.

Continue reading BEST OF 2017- PART 4: TOP 15 EPs (January – June)

BEST OF 2017- PART 3: TOP 20 SONGS OF 2017 (APRIL – JUNE)

Just a few months ago, I posted my favourite songs of 2017 thus far, from January – March 2017. Now here is a follow-up post, favourite songs from April – June 2017. And while this type of series hasn’t really been done before (in previous years, I’ve only posted one ‘top songs of ____’ post at the end of that particular year), I’ve said, and I will say again, that 2017 is the year of the song. Not just hit songs on albums, but just hit songs period- whether it’s on an album or just released as a single. Because frankly these days, when I look at the year up until now objectively, I have realised that more often now than years previously, artists are releasing singles as opposed to new albums. Don’t get me wrong, the number of albums this year is just as much, if not more than last year. It’s just that within these last few months, we have been blessed with tracks that aren’t necessarily attached to any album. And maybe that’s a good thing. To not have to wait until an artist as a collection of songs that they can release to listeners. Often if that is the case, artists may have to wait for management approval, or they’ll have to discuss about radio format and marketability before they release an album. In 2017, with artists releasing more songs as opposed to albums, we are ever reminded that in such an industry like the music industry, it takes a lot for an album or even a song to be released on iTunes- so we ought to be appreciative when an artist does release something, be it an album or a single.

Continue reading BEST OF 2017- PART 3: TOP 20 SONGS OF 2017 (APRIL – JUNE)

BEST OF 2017- PART 2: TOP 25 ALBUMS OF 2017 (JANUARY – JUNE)

Another few months later, another post. Last time I posted my Best-Of 2017 list, it was incorporating my favourite songs throughout the first three months of the year. Indeed I’ll post another favourite songs list in July (encompassing April – June) and again in September and December. Now in this best-of article, I have decided to reveal our Top 25 albums of the year thus far- from January – June 2017. Now we will also post our favourite albums of July – December in December, and then maybe do another post of the albums that didn’t make it in either list. Because frankly, there’s just too many albums that have released this year to have our favourite 25 for the whole year. There’s just too many! So without further ado, which albums throughout 2017 thus far that have impacted my life during these last 6 months? Read on to find out.

Continue reading BEST OF 2017- PART 2: TOP 25 ALBUMS OF 2017 (JANUARY – JUNE)

Message Mondays and Worship Wednesdays (Being Honest, Vulnerability and Worship)

Recently I’ve been listening and observing, interacting with people and coming to a conclusion. Whether this conclusion is completely baseless or actually really true is really a different post in and of itself. If you think what I am about to say is hogwash, then let me know in the comments. I hope to think that I am open to other people’s views…so, here goes. The human race doesn’t like to be honest with each other. There, I said it. Yes, even Christians can sometimes fall into the notion that to be honest is to unveil certain secrets and moments in our lives where we may or may not be judged if we unveil them to the world. Society sees honesty, sadly, as a form of weakness. To be honest, according to the world, is to unveil your true self. And then in doing so, to isolate yourself from everyone else who may think differently to you, or even behave or believe something different compared to what you champion or how you live on a daily basis. So what does that have to do with worship, and the whole idea of being honest not only during worship but in every moment of every day that we live, regardless of what people think of us?

Continue reading Message Mondays and Worship Wednesdays (Being Honest, Vulnerability and Worship)

Message Mondays: In the flood or the fire, You’re with me and You won’t let go (Tenth Avenue North – I Have This Hope [Ailo Remix])

Reunion Records

Release Date: June 9th 2017

Reviewed by: Joshua Andre

Tenth Avenue North– I Have This Hope Ailo Remix (Single) (Amazon mp3/iTunes)

Continue reading Message Mondays: In the flood or the fire, You’re with me and You won’t let go (Tenth Avenue North – I Have This Hope [Ailo Remix])

Throwback Tuesdays and Top Ten: Our Favourite and Most Inspirational Cimorelli Original and Cover songs/videos!

Welcome to the latest instalment of our most recent blog series Top Tens. Last time, we unveiled our top fifteen inspirational U2 songs (in honour of U2’s new album The Joshua Tree (Super Deluxe) releasing this a few weeks ago- which we will review soon!). This time, in the same vein of the U2 post and the Peter Hollens post before that, let me introduce you to another new-ish favourite group of mine- Cimorelli, and post a few videos (from now and a few years earlier!) so that you guys can all experience the awesomeness of the inspiring group of six sisters.

Continue reading Throwback Tuesdays and Top Ten: Our Favourite and Most Inspirational Cimorelli Original and Cover songs/videos!

Top Ten Inspirational U2 Songs

Welcome to the latest instalment of our most recent blog series Top Tens. Last time, we unveiled our 15 most enjoyable Peter Hollens cover videos. This time, in honour of one of the Peter Hollens videos which was one of my favourites (Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For), and also because of U2’s new album The Joshua Tree (Super Deluxe) releasing this week; I reckon it’s time to reveal our top ten inspirational U2 songs!

Continue reading Top Ten Inspirational U2 Songs