Michael W. Smith, one of the pioneers of CCM/worship music, has been creating albums and recording inspiring songs since the 1980’s. The author of famous songs such as “Secret Ambition”, “This Is Your Time”, “Friends”, “Live The Life”, “Place In This World”, “Agnus Dei” and “Healing Rain”; now Michael is making a comeback, with a label change from Reunion Records to Sparrow Records.
DREAM Records
Release Date: April 15th 2014
Reviewed by: Jonathan Andre
Cindy Cruse Ratcliff– Heaven Raining Down (Amazon mp3/iTunes)
The society that we are in can be a tricky one. Everywhere we go and everywhere we turn, there’s always something or someone telling us what we should and ought to be. We watch the television, read the newspaper, check out yahoo from time to time, and there right before us are stories of people who have been successful. There before us are ideal scenarios- that you’ll only be happy if you have this, or that, or move interstate, overseas, or whatever you want to place in the blank that says, you’ll only be happy if you have _____.
Fair Trade Services
Release Date: May 13th 2014
Reviewed by Joshua Andre
Fellowship Creative– Running To Follow (Amazon mp3/iTunes)
Independent
Release Date: May 6th 2014
Reviewed by: Jonathan Andre
Kyle Kupecky– Kyle Kupecky EP (Amazon mp3/iTunes)
Independent
Release Date: April 15th 2014
Reviewed by Joshua Andre
Chayah Miranda– No Other Way (Amazon mp3/iTunes)
Independent
Release Date: April 29th 2014
Reviewed by: Jonathan Andre
Becca Bradley– Shaken (Amazon mp3/iTunes)
One of my favourite music videos of this past few years was the LEGO music video of “SMS Shine” by the David Crowder*Band. Though lyrically simple, the visuals were nothing short of amazing and remarkable as the video was created by using a LITE-BRITE® branded toy board, as well as 700,000 pegs. It’s no mean feat to do what David Crowder and his friends did all by themselves, however what eventuated is truly a masterpiece. “SMS Shine” won an award at the Dove Awards in 2011, which was expected and satisfying as well. Fast forward 4 years later and Sidewalk Prophets have semi-used this technique to create the music video for “Keep Making Me”.
If there’s a band that has possibly the most energy within the CCM/pop/rock music industry currently, it’ll have to be Royal Tailor.
Stylos Records
Release Date: March 25th 2014
Reviewed by Joshua Andre
Michael Boggs– More Like A Lion (Amazon mp3/iTunes)