Not many Christian bands can last as long as dc Talk or the Newsboys. You have to have originality, which both these bands definitely have because they started a revolution of Alternative Christian music. Even though the Newsboys lasted longer, and released about twice as many full-length albums the bands had about an equal effect on Christian music. Thrive was incredibly the Newsboys 9th release but there first studio release since 1998, the album was good but not the bands best.
What should I look for?
The Newsboys are one of the few bands that can change genres just from song to song. One song well could be a worship and praise song the next thing you know your listening to the next track, which is totally Brit Pop, it's pretty amazing. Another amazing thing is that the band always has high-energy when they are live their live shows are always well a show. Their must controversial and probably worst album was Love, Liberty, and Disco were the consistency that they usually have, and their loyal fans have come to expect. Would that consistency come back on this album? Yes.
Track by Track:
1. Giving It Over
A nice and rocking start to an album. Kind of has a 70's clapping beat to it, and the fast paced lyrics really fit into the song. The chorus is the three words in the title, which takes some of the originality away from the track. Some of the lyrics don't make sense but it's still fit in with the song.
2. Live In Stereo
The song starts out with a beat similar in a few ways to the first track on the album but the lyrics are even faster paced, and the chorus on this song is better. And I think this song has a better subject manner as well. The song really got me into the album and got me to review it. 4/5
3. Million Pieces
This song has that chorus that is always going to get stuck in your head. But it doesn't annoy you. That's why this song is great. And for the first time in this album the lyrics that surround the chorus are impressive as well. The riff for the instruments played in this song work as well. Overall it was a great effort from the band and you really feel that this album could contain some classic songs that the Newsboys earlier albums had. 4.5/5
4. Thrive
Starts out with a kind of depressing beat for a Christian song. What I said earlier has just happened the band completely changed their style of music from track to track. The last song was the "Encouraging Christian Music" this song is more of a dark song. But that's what gives this song a weird edge to the other songs. The lyrics in this song are really deep and the Newsboys finally prove their critics wrong as great "Song Writers" not just "Chorus writers" But the chorus in this song is pretty deep in powerful as well. 4.6/5
5. Rescue
Is another complete genre change. This is the kind of song that you would clap to in church, not the song you cry to. The song is very uplifting and comparable to the next track "It is you", which is a great song. I never absolutely loved this song, but I like it. The lyrics have some good points in them, but the subject manner isn't really there like in previous songs when it was there. Not a skippable track, but not one of my favorites. 3.5/5
6. It Is You
Has a lot of deep thoughts and lyrics for a praise song. It doesn't have a clapping theme but is the most recognized song on the album. The song sounds like it is coming from a live performance of the band but then it mellows out into a beautiful and graceful song. One of my favorites on the album because it's one of those song you fall in love with the first time you hear it, and you understand it the first time you hear it. I think that's what's made it appealing to some audiences. What a great song, one of my favorites from the Newsboys. 5/5
7. Cornelius
Wow, what a weird track. I don't have much praise for this track except it's a little bit catchy and very original. Some of the track moves fast and the other part is slow, it is just a weird track that you can't sing along to at all. 3/5
8. The Fad Of The Land
Starts out with a riveting acoustic beat. Just listen to how it fits the song. The song really jumps into a chorus real quickly but the chorus is powerful and some drums are included in the song. The lyrics in the song are all right but nothing great like It Is You, still an improvement over the last track. 3.5/5
9. John Woo
Is a very weird but yet listenable song unlike Cornelius. The song has a clapping slow beat for a while then jumps into power chords and heavy drums, it's a ground breaking song because the instruments are the focus of the song unlike the vocals which rarely happens in Christian music. 4/5
10. Lord [I don't Know]
One of my favorites on the album, and it's good especially for a closer. The chorus is very good and the beat changes are once again dramatic. Another good song. 4/5.
I really like the risks that this album takes. It has drastic changes from song to song, which I really appreciate. A great album with good songs.
