Stare the Monster Down
DELIRIOUS?

Producer(s): Martin Smith, Stuart Garrard, Sam Gibson
Writer(s): Martin Smith, Stuart Garrard, Jon Thatcher
Label: Sparrow

Over the years, comparisons between Delirious? and Irish rock band U2 have flooded reviews, slowly giving the illusion that the band is capable of more than crafting worship anthems. With the dawning of Kingdom of Comfort, that lie has become truth by more than mere repetition. UK radio has picked up the thrilling “Stare the Monster Down” to become 2008’s summer rocker, and I don’t blame them – I’ll be the first to admit that I am heavily biased towards songs about people’s troubles, e.g. heartbreak, absentee fathers, and of course, cancer, the inspiration for “Stare.” Yet there’s more to this song – perhaps its poignant melody, the healthily electrifying rift, or throwback to 80’s joyfulness – that keeps me listening beyond the subject matter. I cannot help but smile at the marketability of all this; are they trying to cater to the U2 comparison? …if doing so translates to more tunes like this one, then sign me up.

Verdict: 5/5

- Clem

Brainwash
NICOLE C. MULLEN

Producer(s): Tony McAnany, Nicole C. Mullen
Writer(s): Nicole C. Mullen
Label: Word

A couple of months ago Nicole announced in an interview that the sequel to the wonderfully-written, artistically-sound Sharecropper’s Seed, Vol. 1 would be more “upbeat and fast-paced” – I really did not know what to expect, seeing that Mullen’s best works were her storytelling ballads, not her rock-driven pop tunes. Lo and behold, the lead single for A Dream to Believe In, Vol. 2 is a rock-driven pop tune. Surprisingly, “Brainwash” holds more than a candle to her previous upbeat hits (which are countable on one hand) and the song’s verses are so au corant that you will wonder whether it is Nicole C. Mullen you are hearing. But halfway through a debut listen of the song’s memorable hook, you will have already memorized it and been able to sing along with a hundred-percent precision, leaving the following thirty-five times a painful tread. It would be of utmost irony if radio attached itself to this song over the beautiful “One Touch” or “Convinced,” both snubbed last year.

Verdict: 3/5

- Clem

7 Things
MILEY CYRUS

Producer(s): John Fields
Writer(s): Miley Cyrus, Antonina Armato, Tim James
Label: Hollywood

What is this? Miley’s uninhibited accent + lyrics more fitting for a direct-to-video C-list chickflick + unlistenable screechy hook = killed momentum for the Disney star. “See You Again” was tolerable when in a certain kiddy mood, but this is only tolerable if you are either tone deaf, a diehard Miley fan, or both (they intersect more often than you suppose). She begins the single with a pleasant acoustic aura, only to launch full-throttle into hyperactive ADHD-child mode, rambling words that, like her image of purity, are shot down the drain. If this is supposed to be her Breakout, she needs to identify what she is breaking out of – the asylum?

Verdict: 1.5/5

- Clem

Burnin’ Up
JONAS BROTHERS F/ BIG ROB

Producer(s): John Fields
Writer(s): Nicholas Jonas, Joseph Jonas, Paul Kevin Jonas II
Label: Hollywood

The Jonas Brothers has had their fair portion of flak and adoration from reviewers and tween followers alike. There are two main ingredients in the recipe for a critically-acceptable song: decent craftsmanship and the vocalist’s ability to redeem the writing… while the Jonases have been lacking both components since their debut “Mandy,” this Camp Rock-tied summer single from upcoming A Little Bit Longer (suggestive much?) verily satisfies the former prerequisite, even channeling Maroon 5’s vibe. Yet if this were recorded in 2010 when Joe Jonas’s voice matures, it would eliminate much of the oozing puerileness. Not to mention it is highly disappointing that Hollywood, with its qualified budget (the video is the band’s most entertaining to date), chose to put the boys’ bodyguard on the track in the stead of a more certified rapper. I will nevertheless check Radio Disney charts in a month and expect to see this burnin’ up the pole position.

PS. The radio edit sans repulsive rapping pushes this to a 3/5.

Verdict: 2.5/5

- Clem

The Hunger
FIREFLIGHT

Producer(s): Rob Hawkins
Writer(s): Justin Cox, Glenn Drennen, Wendy Drennen, Ben Glover, Dawn Richardson, Phee Shorb
Label: Flicker

When reviewers pinpointed Fireflight’s March release Unbreakable with the word “epic,” I disagreed. When radio programmers sent the lead single of the same name to the penthouse of Christian Rock charts, I disagreed. But now the follow-up “The Hunger” is beginning to ravage American and UK airwaves, and I agree. I agree that the amalgamation of six songwriters, surprisingly enough, ended not in a classical trainwreck but in a brilliant mainstream-catering picture (“and you want him, you need him, but you act like he’s not there”) that still emanates Christ’s glory as bright as a city on a hill. I agree that the energizing arrangement of fueled harmonies and invigorating instruments keeps the heartbeat pounding and the head humming. I agree that this is Fireflight at its best since “You Decide.”

Verdict: 4.5/5

- Clem

True Love
PHIL WICKHAM

Producer(s): Pete Kipley
Writer(s): Phil Wickham
Label: INO

Somewhere along the prorogation of release dates and confusion with the lead single, the impetus of Wickham’s sophomore album was put on stasis; “True Love” is coming off of an enormously popular duo of singles followed by “After Your Heart,” which only heralded the grandiose Cannons marginally at best. This single is where the divining rod enters play, distinguishing Wickham as an able artist who can portray with more than verbatim Biblical quotes. His artistry as evocative and ambient as OneRepublic lead singer Tedder’s, the song is carried to a new height when he re-sings “Jesus is alive / Jesus is alive,” full with conviction as one who had beheld the Resurrection. Radio will have no problem embracing this, especially with the enriched radio edit that alleviates the drag this song may have. If “True Love” somehow fails to become this album’s “Divine Romance,” all else will fall short as well.

Verdict: 4/5

- Clem

Hurricane
JIMMY NEEDHAM

Producer(s): Dale Bray
Writer(s): Jimmy Needham
Label: Inpop

Every summer needs a dynamite anthem to alleviate the torrid heat – and I have just stumbled upon this year’s remedy. The second single off of Jimmy Needham’s Not Without Love is the epitome of “pop ballad,” its lyrics even more accessible than its latching melody. If Needham’s cool Mraz-like delivery of “I need you like a hurricane / thunder crashing, wind and rain / to tear my walls down / I’m only yours now” cannot satiate thirst, nothing else can. Needham has furtively groveled under the radar for the past few years, but expect this epidemic to catapult him into an A-list limelight, perhaps even on crossover formats.

Verdict: 4.5/5

- Clem

One Love
JORDAN PRUITT

Producer(s): Keith Thomas
Writer(s): Jordan Pruitt
Label: Hollywood

Jordan who? Other than requiring to substantiate herself as the distinctive vocalist that she is, Jordan Pruitt really has her prospective road paved and set for traversing. While her Hollywood effort No Ordinary Girl failed to dent any non-Disney nationwide chart, her debut single “Outside Looking In” proves that something raw, something vulnerable remains untapped within her. Even if this summery jingle does not propel her in that direction, it is hardly a misstep – reminiscent of Britt Nicole’s reggae-infused sound or even Natasha Bedingfield’s epidemic smashes, “One Love” just might become this summer’s guilty pleasure.

Verdict: 3/5

- Clem

Jesus Messiah
CHRIS TOMLIN

Producer(s): Ed Cash
Writer(s): Chris Tomlin
Label: Sixsteps/Sparrow

GMA’s 2008 Artist of the Year seems to know no vacation, already striking with the lead single off of Hello Love while See the Morning’s final single still lingers inside the Top 20 of AC radio. His seventh full-length album slated for a September release, Chris Tomlin readily represents the face of today’s congregation, reeling in those who fall susceptible to plain melodies and commonplace lyrics. Granted, the single’s grandiose production fashions a quasi-anthem in the concluding thirty seconds, but the end is no way to justify the means – formulaic composition implementing a five-note range. Perhaps the church would mature if it could be weaned off of baby food… this may be the next “How Great is Our God,” but only because it is essentially a replica.

Verdict: 2.5/5

- Clem

Goodnight Gravity
FALLING UP

Producer(s): Aaron Sprinkle
Writer(s): Aaron Sprinkle
Label: BEC

The third Rock single off of Falling Up’s Captiva is succeeding a string of #1 hits (“Hotel Aquarium,” “Good Morning Planetarium”) – and accordingly, has large shoes to fill. “Goodnight Gravity” also stems from a band with six chart-toppers to date; to say that much is anticipated of this Sprinkle-written and -produced song is a sizable understatement. It takes several listens to pry through the laden vocal-concealing production, but the classic sing-along tune laying at its heart is worth the endeavor. Give it a spin – maybe two or three – and discover that Falling Up certainly breaks gravity with this one, and is heading for great heights.

Verdict: 4/5

- Clem