Taking their name in response to a TV-addicted generation, these men pump out a fresh blend of heavy guitar chords, rap, and funk, with a sprinkling of reggae and ska thrown in for good measure. They REALLY want the kids to like 'em.
Tim Bushong, formerly of the King's X-ish hard rock band Lovewar, is the guitarist, trombone-player, and background vocalist here. He's also the producer, so you can be sure that the disc just oozes skilled musicianship and perfect production, total clarity and booming bass tones! There are more than enough heavy riffs to satisfy rockers, with plenty of pop sensibilities to put a smile on Mom and Pop's face.
A lot of the vocals lean in a rap direction, but it didn't really bother me (I'm no fan of rap). Jason Brown's a versatile vocalist--on a couple of tracks he sounds like the singer for Cake and on another one, James Brown! Lyrics are openly spiritual and evangelistic, but sung with style.
At first I thought the Channelsurfers were a little too slickly produced and radio-friendly. I seriously wanted to dislike their trendy sound. But it didn't take long for the incredibly infectious grooves to seize me and win my body over. We've got a winner for fans of Sugar Ray, 311, Reality Check, and the rest of the new hybrid breed.
4 tocks
Other coverage for this album
The Phantom Tollbooth 1999Reviewed by Steven S. BaldwinHybrid music that defies easy categorization is all the rage these days regardless of where you look, and the Channelsurfers prove to be one of the best examples of this pseudo-genre in the distinctively Christian music ghetto, and only a wee bit behind the times. Taking some cues from bands like the Red Hot Chili Peppers, the Mighty Mighty Bosstones, Rage Against the Machine, and the Artist Who…7ball #16Reviewed by Dan EwaldWith a name like The Channelsurfers, a smorgasbord of musical styles and pop culture references are to be expected. On their debut, Tunnel Vision, the band fuses punk, reggae and funk, all the while discussing and dissecting disposable modern culture. Highlights include: "Lonely Guy," which rattles off a series of famous "lonely guys," including TV characters, newsmakers and actors whose public…The Lighthouse Unsorted 1998Reviewed by Todd HayesTunnel Vision by The Channel Surfers is truly a breath of fresh air. Their musical stylings have been unmatched in the recent history of Christian music. The band features guitars and drums set to a reggae rhythm. I would describe them as a cross between Imagine This and The Insyderz, plus some reggae. From a secular standpoint, I would also compare them to 311 and The Red Hot Chili Peppers. The…Similar sounding releases
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