Many fans felt that Newsboys peaked with Take Me to Your Leader. That faction looked at the albums Step Up to the Microphone and Love Liberty Disco as a steady decline from the heights to which Newsboys' fans had grown accustomed. The commonly held view was that with the departure of their lead singer and of producer Steve Taylor, the group had taken a different direction, one of finding their own way, that while interesting, was less satisfying to those who had been around since Going Public.
For those who feel this way, Thrive is for you. Steve Taylor has returned as producer, and Peter Furler's vocals are more like that of Take Me to Your Leader than any previous CD. The "disco" sound of the last album has been replaced by fuzzy guitars and real drums. The result is a short but sweet return to the old sound of the Newsboys.
"Giving It Over" is about letting God be in control, about "giving myself over to a true love that lasts". "Live in Stereo" could also be known as "Breakfast, Part 2," given its sound. "Million Pieces (Kissin' Your Cares Goodbye)" is more of a ballad that musically combines the styles of Charlie Peacock and Steve Taylor. "Cornelius" is another Taylor sound-a-like, reminiscent of Taylor's "Shortstop" from the Roaring Lambs compilation.
"It is You" is a modern praise hymn, while "Rescue" is probably more like the Love Liberty Disco era than any other on this CD, featuring a catchy keyboard background. "Fad of the Land" seems like a Steve Taylor throwaway, railing against the pressures of trendy living and temporary satisfaction.
"Thrive" shows its subject pining for closeness to God:
Will you lift me up with tender care?
Will you wash me in the palm of Your hand?
Thrive marks a return to the old Newsboys, with elements of humor and loud guitars and a well-turned phrase. If Steve Taylor is their Svengali, I can only hope they remain under his spell for many more years to come -- that is, if he's not releasing his own material any time soon.
4 tocks
Other coverage for this album
The Rebel Base 2002Reviewed by David MartinI'm sure you're familiar with the old adage "If it ain't broke, don't fix it." Well, there's a corollary to that rule: "If it weren't broke, and ya done fixed it, then fix it back to the way it was before it was broke, ya IDJIT!" This is more or less the approach that the Newsboys took on their latest album, Thrive. Virtually all of the output we've heard from these former kings of Christian…The Phantom Tollbooth 2002Reviewed by John Wilson1998's Step Up To the Microphone was supposed to signal a new era for the Newsboys, one of Christian music's flagship bands, and for the most part, it did, showing that the band could survive without departed lead singer John James and longtime producer Steve Taylor. The album showcased a new, more serious, more textured pop-rock sound and image for the band. And it was a success. 1999, however,…Similar sounding releases
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