Newsboys

Item: Step Up to the Microphone
Author: James Stewart

Step Up to the Microphone

(1998)

Reviewed by James Stewart

Discogs Apple Music TIDAL Amazon Music Spotify YouTube Music

Label Star Song RecordsThe Phantom Tollbooth1998

ccm electronic modern rock pop rock

Step Up to the Microphone is indeed an apt title here, as founder/member and frontman John James has now left the Newsboys for the familiar pastures of his homeland Australia and a career as a speaker/writer. His place has been filled by the other founder-member, Peter Furler, who has left his drum kit behind to come out front. This is a hotly anticipated album, the follow-up to the huge-selling Take Me to Your Leader, and tipped to be the record that will break the boys into the mainstream marketplace.

Musically, this moves away from the clean-cut pop/rock of its predecessor and mixes guitars with loops, synthesizers, and sound effects. There are elements of earlier Not Ashamed-era songs, newer songs, and a number of outside influences. One thing that strikes me is that a couple of introductions sound almost as if they've come from Delirious? songs, and the band's U2 influences are evident in many places--the electronic sounds of Pop (although the album isn't given over to them) and some Joshua Tree-esque guitar. The vocals remain close to John James's--I get the impression that Peter Furler has a slightly smaller, but very similar vocal range to James.

This is the first album the Newsboys have recorded without Steve Taylor producing and helping with lyrics since he stepped in to help with 1992's Not Ashamed. The lyrics aren't as immediately singalong-able as before, but there is still a pop quality to them. The humour present on the last few albums seems to have been severely reduced, perhaps one place in which Steve Taylor will be missed, but there are still parts where that legacy remains. There is also a degree of transparency brought to the fore; for example, on "Believe" where Peter Furler sings "I just believe, I just believe it/And sometimes I don't know why."

The title track is reminiscent of a slowed-down version of Delirious?'s "Deeper," with some jazzy horns thrown in. It is an interesting sound, something of a departure for the boys. The lyrics seem to explore the role they feel they play as musicians, from the distortions that being on stage can make to your image to sharing the gospel:

Step on right up to the microphone
I say hey man there's only one way
One God, one body, one faith alone
I say hey boy, it's a narrow road

"Tuning In" starts perhaps predictably with the sound of a radio being tuned, and actually first caught my attention for the line "You may be in London, waiting on a train," which I heard while on a platform in a London station(!). This is a more traditional number for the band, sing-along pop with pop-rock guitars and a strong melody.

"Hallelujah," the eighth track, is very different from what precedes it on the album. A strong programmed drum beat is mixed with some abrasive guitar and many sound effects for the verses, before the chorus returns to more familiar Newsboys territory--distorted guitar underpinning sing-along vocals. The last two tracks, too, are quite different, taking a more laidback position with strings and arpeggioed guitars alongside drums, loops, and some more programming. These tracks will certainly have the arms in the air at shows.

Overall, this is an interesting development from the Newsboys and is a step up from its predecessor. The bass lines could do with a bit more life, and some more discerning music fans may be disappointed by the lack of innovation, but as a pop album this has more to keep the listener interested and should be successful.

3.5 tocks