Newsong – Glue / Already Loved / Can’t Keep a Good Man Down (Single)

Glue

Already Loved

Can’t Keep a Good Man Down

HHM Records

Release Date: April 23rd 2018 (Glue) / July 9th 2018 (Already Loved) / July 27th 2018 (Can’t Keep A Good Man Down)

Reviewed by: Joshua Andre

Newsong– Glue/Already Loved/Can’t Keep a Good Man Down (Single)

Track Listing:

  1. Glue
  2. Already Loved
  3. Can’t Keep a Good Man Down

If you guys haven’t heard about Newsong by now, then I won’t write any more paragraphs on a ‘long-ish intro’ like the previous reviews. Instead I’ll direct you to the reviews of “Bright”, “Down” and “I Am A Christian”, for you to read how the band has been in and around the CCM industry for more than 30 years. So before you dive in and read about how the band’s latest three singles “Glue”, “Already Loved” and “Can’t Keep A Good Man Down” have all resonated in my own life, you can first skim through the intros on the previous reviews. Ok, so have you all done that? Good! Now that you’re up to date with the band and how they’ve created countless albums, are still hosting Winterjam every year, and seem to have no plans of slowing down, even though they’re all in their late 50’s/early 60’s… it’s time to see how their next three new songs fare to other hit CCM songs in 2018.

“Can’t Keep A Good Man Down” has a certain…shall we say 80’s/90’s throwback feel to it- and the answer is that this song is actually a re-recording. Newsong originally cut this song in 2000, and now the group has reimagined the track, modernising it just a bit. The result is a confronting yet comforting song that still has relevance today, as Billy Goodwin lead the track and proclaims that even though each one of us can ‘…close your eyes, You can say it’s a lie, You can stick your head in the sand, You can turn away, even try to explain He was just another man…’; the fact still remains that Jesus is alive regardless if we believe it or not. “Glue” is a 3 and a half minute pop tune led by both Russ Lee and Matt Butler, which reiterates that Jesus is the One who holds everything together in the palm of his hand; yet it is “Already Loved”, the duet with Tedashii that really piques my interest and really delivers something musically different- so much so that all of us will stop and listen. It’s a good thing- the marrying of two different styles that wouldn’t normally mix, but works wonders here; as Newsong and Tedashii work well together- each of them glorifying God in their own unique way. For those who haven’t heard the song though, I won’t really give that much away- an instead I’ll point you to this awesome music video that you can see- in fact the band recorded music videos of all of their most recent songs that you can watch if you want to, so check them out!

While 2013’s Swallow The Ocean may not have been the most lyrically creative or musically challenging album out, and 2015’s Faithful is in another category all together (praise and worship category!), with the worship anthems are probably some of my favourite worship songs of 2015; “I Am A Christian” is Newsong at their brilliant best- it’s great to hear Matt, Russ and Billy sing songs and reinvent themselves over the years, and evolving their style to stay relevant, yet also never wavering in their faith and their heavily Bible based lyrics. “Down” is a sadly a step down into ‘CCM sameness’ if you want to call it that, yet “Bright” recaptures why I reckon Newsong is still relevant in today’s society. Now with three more songs released; Newsong have done us proud and reminded us all why they are a force to be reckoned with! Along with the first three songs though, the band’s last three tracks released each have me excited to hear what is next from Newsong. So while we wait for a brand new full length album, or EP, or whatever God is laying on their heart to do next; let us relax and be immersed in Newsong’s music- and if you haven’t heard of them, then now’s the perfect time to start! Well done guys, and I can’t wait to hear your next new song! (see what I did there!)

Score: 4/5

RIYL: Jason Crabb, Matt Redman, Chris Tomlin, Phillips Craig And Dean, Steven Curtis Chapman

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