The key to enjoying Not Ashamed, the latest from Australia's fun band Newsboys, is to come into it with different expectations than I did. Understand that, for whatever reasons, Newsboys and co-writer/co-producer Steve Taylor want to be taken seriously; so gone are the obnoxious pronouncements of faith that made Boys Will Be Boyz such a bracing delight, gone are the satirical, off-kilter gems that made Taylor's I Want to Be a Clone one of the two albums (along with 77's Ping Pong Over the Abyss) that showed me the potential of Christian music—and more importantly to me, are why I write reviews today.
That aside, Not Ashamed is a fun pop record with heavy, European dance leanings, and a dry sense of lyricism that paces itself almost like prose. Musically, Newsboys sound richer and livelier than ever, with hummable melodies and music breaks that are haunting and lush.
However, without the near-bullying of Boyz, the faith statements this time are simply, ...well, obvious and nothing more. But the subtle nuances of the songs creep in, especially with tracks like "I Cannot Get You Out Of My System," which likens Christianity to an infection—meaning it's something that works its way progressively through our systems, but it's also something those around us are afraid of catching. "Where You Belong/Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus" cleverly weaves the old hymn into a new song that shows us what we turn from as well.
At the halfway point, though, is where the stuff starts to pick up, starting with "Dear Shame," a deliciously dark conversation with the sins that haunt us ("I hear you wheezing in the hall spreading germs and old news"). Then we have a nifty-sounding cover of the DeGarmo & Key tune "Boycott Hell," which seems pretty faithful until we hit the bridge, where Taylor and the 'Boys feel confident enough to publicly slam D & K (I'm not convinced that it wasn't a cheap shot). "We Come Together" is a well-paced examination of how two stubborn people would rather wait till someone blinks before asking forgiveness.
The album closes with the wry "Lost The Sky Again," where Taylor reappears as narrator in a Raymond Chandler-esque rumination on how we so often cling to the temporal rather than the eternal: "I took the pardon and the walls came down, but I must like it here, cause I keep hanging around for a better suit, and an escort, and a winning lottery ticket."
Newsboys, through constant touring and a commitment to fun, have been slowly but steadily building a pretty huge fan base (I understand some poll, somewhere, pegged them the "alternative" music act of 1991). Not Ashamed will immediately and completely captivate those fans who only thought the band needed to focus their music a bit. Those who thought the band's most appealing element was the "yeah, I'm a Christian, wanna make something of it?" obnoxious stance will have to readjust their expectations—but those who thought the band was too corny before will no doubt see this album as a big improvement. In the final analysis, Newsboys have nothing to be ashamed about.
3.5/5