NEWS SOURCE: Kompolt
October 22, 2008
In conjunction with the first annual “Building a Greater Los Angeles Gala” held October 1, 2008, celebrity volunteers and supporters of Hollywood for Habitat for Humanity have donated several items and opportunities to get involved with music, film, and television stars. Among the featured listings is an item from contemporary Christian rockers Third Day—who’ve had an ongoing relationship with Hollywood for Habitat for Humanity for years, donating funds that built several Habitat homes and building alongside several homeowners in the past. This summer, during the Music Builds Tour, Third Day worked alongside Habitat homeowners building Habitat homes while raising funds for Habitat for Humanity.
In support of the partnership with Hollywood for Habitat for Humanity, and to help Habitat raise funds Third Day has generously donated this unique and hand painted guitar. Jam to your favorite Third Day song with a PRS SE Electric Guitar with hand painted artwork from the new album Revelation. Autographed by the band, the guitar is strewn with messages of hope and inspiration, all in an edgy design—this special edition guitar is truly a musical revelation!
The auction runs now through October 30th, so place your bids today by entering at www.ebay.com/habitat.
Christian Music News Source
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
HM Magazine Spotlight: Third Day
HM: Hey, I have been enjoying the new record. It feels familiar, yet it sounds like you’ve pushed beyond the traditional comfort zones for Third Day. Was it just time to do something different?
Mac Powell: Yeah, it was a little bit of a lot of different things. The main thing is that we’ve done this for a number of years now—I forget the count, this is either our ninth or tenth studio record, depending on what you consider a studio record—and there was this sense of urgency in me personally, and I think in the rest of the band, that we didn’t want it to be, "OK, there’s another Third Day record." I didn’t want that this time. I wanted it to be, "Wow, look at this Third day record." It needed to be a little different, it needed to be bigger and better.
HM: This is a very weird time in the music industry, by and large, and that has implications for the Christian music world. People are buying less CDs and downloading or sharing more. CCM Magazine is now only available online. The technology and the market and the generational shifts have everyone in a state of flux. As a result, what’s commonly called Contemporary Christian Music as a whole seems dominated by in-house focused worship product. Which means, the vision I grew up with—that Christians would make great, relevant and artful rock statements—has been pretty much abandoned. Instead of influencing the mainstream markets, we’ve carved out our own little ghetto niche, and are largely disregarded by the larger media forces of radio, etc. Where does all that leave Third Day?
Mac: For us, it’s always felt like, on the one hand we’re one of the main bands in Christian music, but on the other hand, sometimes you don’t feel like you belong at all. That being said, I’m very positive about our market. I love being a Christian band. To take what you said a step further, even if we went out and tried to be a mainstream band, and tried to not be a Christian band, we couldn’t pull that off. There’s too much music out there now, too much that’s been said. We can’t hide who Third Day is.
HM: Anybody with Google and some spare time can learn way too much about all of us. There’s no hiding or pretending to be something different than you are anymore.
Mac: But that doesn’t frustrate us; that actually makes us feel comfortable. To do something to sound cool or be different than that would finally sound silly. After 15 years, we know who we are. And in that, you’re still striving to do more and be better. Even musically there’s that balance—how do we play the music that’s who we are, and what we’re good at, and what our fans want to hear, and at the same time push it in a little different direction? There’s this constant balancing act, where hopefully you’re morphing a little bit—not too much, but enough to keep it interesting.
And then there’s the seasonal things, too. I can’t wait until we get to do another worship record, I’m very excited about that. However, on the flip side of that, we’re constantly trying to make music that’s going to go outside of our market as well.
HM: Do you even think that’s possible these days?
Mac: Yeah, absolutely. I think you make a quality product, and a great song is a great song. There are many examples from friends like P.O.D., Sixpence and Jars, that prove that if you have a great song, it can go beyond… But that’s not automatic. So many other things have to line up. There are many variables, but it is possible. So, that’s our hope. I don’t think we’ll, by any means, have a No. 1 hit on mainstream radio, or anything like that, but there’s mainstream stations today that are playing our music. We’re getting a song in a video game, and people are getting songs in movie soundtracks, so you can still have some mainstream accessibility without even having to go to radio.
HM: Radio seems pretty dead and repetitive; it’s probably over.
Mac: I wouldn’t go that far, but it’s not what it was.
HM: I know very few people who are listening to radio, who depend on it to supply their musical fix or to introduce them to new music. Those that are tuned in are listening to satellite, where the plethora of channel options mean you’ll be very unlikely to hear music or programming that doesn’t fit your established values, tastes and politics—which makes it more niche-y.
Mac: It’s a great new format. But all that being said, I know for us, there’s a difference—at this point right now, and things are rapidly changing everyday. If we go to a city that has Christian radio, there’s a difference than in the city which doesn’t have Christian radio, as far as the number of people there, the songs that they know. So, it’s still a viable thing, and I’m sure Jon Bon Jovi and Daughtry could tell you the same thing from their perspectives. It’s rapidly changing and it’s scary, but it’s exciting at the same time. It seems like the music business is dying, and yet music is doing fine.
Christian Music News Source
Mac Powell: Yeah, it was a little bit of a lot of different things. The main thing is that we’ve done this for a number of years now—I forget the count, this is either our ninth or tenth studio record, depending on what you consider a studio record—and there was this sense of urgency in me personally, and I think in the rest of the band, that we didn’t want it to be, "OK, there’s another Third Day record." I didn’t want that this time. I wanted it to be, "Wow, look at this Third day record." It needed to be a little different, it needed to be bigger and better.
HM: This is a very weird time in the music industry, by and large, and that has implications for the Christian music world. People are buying less CDs and downloading or sharing more. CCM Magazine is now only available online. The technology and the market and the generational shifts have everyone in a state of flux. As a result, what’s commonly called Contemporary Christian Music as a whole seems dominated by in-house focused worship product. Which means, the vision I grew up with—that Christians would make great, relevant and artful rock statements—has been pretty much abandoned. Instead of influencing the mainstream markets, we’ve carved out our own little ghetto niche, and are largely disregarded by the larger media forces of radio, etc. Where does all that leave Third Day?
Mac: For us, it’s always felt like, on the one hand we’re one of the main bands in Christian music, but on the other hand, sometimes you don’t feel like you belong at all. That being said, I’m very positive about our market. I love being a Christian band. To take what you said a step further, even if we went out and tried to be a mainstream band, and tried to not be a Christian band, we couldn’t pull that off. There’s too much music out there now, too much that’s been said. We can’t hide who Third Day is.
HM: Anybody with Google and some spare time can learn way too much about all of us. There’s no hiding or pretending to be something different than you are anymore.
Mac: But that doesn’t frustrate us; that actually makes us feel comfortable. To do something to sound cool or be different than that would finally sound silly. After 15 years, we know who we are. And in that, you’re still striving to do more and be better. Even musically there’s that balance—how do we play the music that’s who we are, and what we’re good at, and what our fans want to hear, and at the same time push it in a little different direction? There’s this constant balancing act, where hopefully you’re morphing a little bit—not too much, but enough to keep it interesting.
And then there’s the seasonal things, too. I can’t wait until we get to do another worship record, I’m very excited about that. However, on the flip side of that, we’re constantly trying to make music that’s going to go outside of our market as well.
HM: Do you even think that’s possible these days?
Mac: Yeah, absolutely. I think you make a quality product, and a great song is a great song. There are many examples from friends like P.O.D., Sixpence and Jars, that prove that if you have a great song, it can go beyond… But that’s not automatic. So many other things have to line up. There are many variables, but it is possible. So, that’s our hope. I don’t think we’ll, by any means, have a No. 1 hit on mainstream radio, or anything like that, but there’s mainstream stations today that are playing our music. We’re getting a song in a video game, and people are getting songs in movie soundtracks, so you can still have some mainstream accessibility without even having to go to radio.
HM: Radio seems pretty dead and repetitive; it’s probably over.
Mac: I wouldn’t go that far, but it’s not what it was.
HM: I know very few people who are listening to radio, who depend on it to supply their musical fix or to introduce them to new music. Those that are tuned in are listening to satellite, where the plethora of channel options mean you’ll be very unlikely to hear music or programming that doesn’t fit your established values, tastes and politics—which makes it more niche-y.
Mac: It’s a great new format. But all that being said, I know for us, there’s a difference—at this point right now, and things are rapidly changing everyday. If we go to a city that has Christian radio, there’s a difference than in the city which doesn’t have Christian radio, as far as the number of people there, the songs that they know. So, it’s still a viable thing, and I’m sure Jon Bon Jovi and Daughtry could tell you the same thing from their perspectives. It’s rapidly changing and it’s scary, but it’s exciting at the same time. It seems like the music business is dying, and yet music is doing fine.
Christian Music News Source
Friday, September 19, 2008
Third Day - Revelation
Three years ago, Third Day released one of their most popular recordings to date, the more contemporary-styled soundtrack for hope, Wherever You Are. Now a Christmas album, two Chronology installments, and one less guitarist later, the rock quartet is ready to release one of their strongest recordings to date, Revelation.
The aptly titled album isn't quite about what its title might suggest, as the title track, "Revelation," boldly addresses the doubt and uncertainty many believers encounter during their walk when wondering what direction to go in next ("Give me a revelation / Show me what to do / ‘Cause I’ve been trying to find my way / I haven’t got a clue / Tell me should I stay here / Or do I need to move Give me a revelation / I’ve got nothing without you"). And this is hardly the final chapter of an incredible musical journey. Opening with the attention-getting rock anthem "This Is Who I Am," the album is off to strong start right out of the gate. The production, this time presented by mainstream producer Howard Benson, is crisp and vibrant, never sacrificing the raw energy of a Third Day live show or feeling too polished for its own good. It was difficult not to be completely disenchanted with the CCM-friendliness of the band's last record, as much of it seemed fashioned for radio airplay and over-produced and sanded down of a lot of things Third Day fans have grown to like about the boys from Atlanta. Instead, Revelation brings back a bit of the edge of Wire along with the more southern leanings of Time, topping it all off with honest and real lyrics to help make this album potentially the band's most accessible effort yet. While "Cry Out To Jesus" was a big radio hit when Wherever You Are released, Revelation's "Call Your Name" is an unashamedly catchy pop rock anthem that surprisingly has a similar lyrical message to its radio single predecessor, just presented from Christ's own perspective this time around. Its longevity as the top song at radio for over six weeks just goes to show it's a song that sticks with you.
Powell's voice has also never sounded better as the opener, "This is Who I Am," helps establish the band's confidence and security in who they've become through their years together. Even when the guys slow it down for some folk-flavored ballads like "Born Again," which beautifully features Lacey Mosley from Flyleaf, or "Let Me Love You," a love song from God's perspective to us as His children, Third Day maintains a nicely organic and even intimate sound. And Mosley isn't the only talent to aid Third Day this time around. Chris Daughtry of mainstream rock band Daughtry, who is also a long time Third Day fan, offers background vocals on another album highlight, the rocker "Slow Down," while Lacey offers backup on "If I Run To You," and Robert Randolph provides some pedal steel guitar work on another standout track, the southern rock longing for eternity, "Otherside."....
Continue Reading at this Christian Music Review
The aptly titled album isn't quite about what its title might suggest, as the title track, "Revelation," boldly addresses the doubt and uncertainty many believers encounter during their walk when wondering what direction to go in next ("Give me a revelation / Show me what to do / ‘Cause I’ve been trying to find my way / I haven’t got a clue / Tell me should I stay here / Or do I need to move Give me a revelation / I’ve got nothing without you"). And this is hardly the final chapter of an incredible musical journey. Opening with the attention-getting rock anthem "This Is Who I Am," the album is off to strong start right out of the gate. The production, this time presented by mainstream producer Howard Benson, is crisp and vibrant, never sacrificing the raw energy of a Third Day live show or feeling too polished for its own good. It was difficult not to be completely disenchanted with the CCM-friendliness of the band's last record, as much of it seemed fashioned for radio airplay and over-produced and sanded down of a lot of things Third Day fans have grown to like about the boys from Atlanta. Instead, Revelation brings back a bit of the edge of Wire along with the more southern leanings of Time, topping it all off with honest and real lyrics to help make this album potentially the band's most accessible effort yet. While "Cry Out To Jesus" was a big radio hit when Wherever You Are released, Revelation's "Call Your Name" is an unashamedly catchy pop rock anthem that surprisingly has a similar lyrical message to its radio single predecessor, just presented from Christ's own perspective this time around. Its longevity as the top song at radio for over six weeks just goes to show it's a song that sticks with you.
Powell's voice has also never sounded better as the opener, "This is Who I Am," helps establish the band's confidence and security in who they've become through their years together. Even when the guys slow it down for some folk-flavored ballads like "Born Again," which beautifully features Lacey Mosley from Flyleaf, or "Let Me Love You," a love song from God's perspective to us as His children, Third Day maintains a nicely organic and even intimate sound. And Mosley isn't the only talent to aid Third Day this time around. Chris Daughtry of mainstream rock band Daughtry, who is also a long time Third Day fan, offers background vocals on another album highlight, the rocker "Slow Down," while Lacey offers backup on "If I Run To You," and Robert Randolph provides some pedal steel guitar work on another standout track, the southern rock longing for eternity, "Otherside."....
Continue Reading at this Christian Music Review
Third Day - Chronology, Volume Two (2001-2006) (Essential)
Sounds like … the more adult contemporary friendly side of Third Day's Southern pop/rock catalog, closer to Hootie & The Blowfish and MercyMe than The Black Crowes or Lynyrd Skynyrd.
At a glance … the DVD documentary is excellent, but the songs—from the second five years of Third Day's career—are an unfocused mishmash of covers, live tracks, and tepid AC pop.
In this so-called "Year of Third Day," celebrating the Southern rock band's first decade, Chronology, Volume One (1996-2000) summarized their first five years of hits almost perfectly. Picking up where it left off, Chronology, Volume Two (2001-2006) gets the job done, though not nearly as well.
Both Chronology projects span three studio recordings and one Offerings worship album, but the similarities end there. Not even the cover art matches, needlessly Photoshop-ing a band photo on the second cover to remind those who can't read that this is indeed a Third Day album....
Continue Reading at this Christian Music Review
At a glance … the DVD documentary is excellent, but the songs—from the second five years of Third Day's career—are an unfocused mishmash of covers, live tracks, and tepid AC pop.
In this so-called "Year of Third Day," celebrating the Southern rock band's first decade, Chronology, Volume One (1996-2000) summarized their first five years of hits almost perfectly. Picking up where it left off, Chronology, Volume Two (2001-2006) gets the job done, though not nearly as well.
Both Chronology projects span three studio recordings and one Offerings worship album, but the similarities end there. Not even the cover art matches, needlessly Photoshop-ing a band photo on the second cover to remind those who can't read that this is indeed a Third Day album....
Continue Reading at this Christian Music Review
Third Day - Chronology, Volume One (1996-2000) (Essential/Provident)
Sounds like … Third Day's less flashy Southern rock years, influenced by the likes of The Black Crowes and Hootie & The Blowfish, plus some adult contemporary pop and worship.
At a glance … an impressively packaged compilation representing the first (and best) half of Third Day's career, loaded with new goodies and extras for fans, though perhaps a tad disjointed with its array of live tracks, remixes, and bonus tracks.
It's incorrect to assume all greatest hits collections are created equally. Record labels don't always put effort into such projects, which vary greatly from hastily thrown together afterthoughts to carefully constructed events like this one.No surprise the red carpet treatment has been bestowed upon Third Day, whose popularity has endured for more than ten years. They're part of the reason Christian music saw a renaissance in the mid-'90s, selling millions of albums (most going Gold or Platinum) while continuing to score highly on Christian radio charts and drawing adoring fans to their concerts. Obviously a best-of collection is not only justified, but also perhaps overdue.
Well, Provident is sparing no expense with this one. In what's being dubbed as the "Year of Third Day," fans can expect not one, but two anthologies (the second releasing in August 2007), each disc bundled with a DVD of extras. It's a worthwhile set, and one of the more interesting best-of collections seen in a long time.
As the title indicates, Chronology, Volume One (1996-2000) focuses on Third Day's first four albums. With over 78 minutes worth of music, the compilation relies heaviest on their 1996 self-titled debut, tracing their career up to their first worship album Offerings. Remember when Third Day delivered Southern rock in the spirit of The Black Crowes and Hootie & The Blowfish? Have they recorded rockers any better than "Nothing at All," "Have Mercy," "Sky Falls Down," and their signature scorcher "Consuming Fire?" Have they written a ballad more sweetly affecting than "Love Song?" Is there a worship song in their catalog more stunning in scope and performance than "King of Glory?" It's all here, and after this trip down memory lane, I maintain that the first half of their career represents the salad days of Third Day.
If there's a weakness, it's that this collection tries to be all things to all consumers, which has its pros and cons. The downside is that the album doesn't preserve Third Day's best songs as you remember them. But the upswing is that fans looking for a compilation that has more to offer than the tracks they already own will find a lot to love in Volume One.
For starters, the songs from the first two albums have been newly mixed, if not redone altogether. This helps revitalize their early material, though not dramatically so. Aside from a little more low-end bass and more prominent vocals, I doubt most people will notice, and though the songs remain great, the production admittedly sounds a tad dated ten years later....
Continue Reading at this Christian Music Review
At a glance … an impressively packaged compilation representing the first (and best) half of Third Day's career, loaded with new goodies and extras for fans, though perhaps a tad disjointed with its array of live tracks, remixes, and bonus tracks.
It's incorrect to assume all greatest hits collections are created equally. Record labels don't always put effort into such projects, which vary greatly from hastily thrown together afterthoughts to carefully constructed events like this one.No surprise the red carpet treatment has been bestowed upon Third Day, whose popularity has endured for more than ten years. They're part of the reason Christian music saw a renaissance in the mid-'90s, selling millions of albums (most going Gold or Platinum) while continuing to score highly on Christian radio charts and drawing adoring fans to their concerts. Obviously a best-of collection is not only justified, but also perhaps overdue.
Well, Provident is sparing no expense with this one. In what's being dubbed as the "Year of Third Day," fans can expect not one, but two anthologies (the second releasing in August 2007), each disc bundled with a DVD of extras. It's a worthwhile set, and one of the more interesting best-of collections seen in a long time.
As the title indicates, Chronology, Volume One (1996-2000) focuses on Third Day's first four albums. With over 78 minutes worth of music, the compilation relies heaviest on their 1996 self-titled debut, tracing their career up to their first worship album Offerings. Remember when Third Day delivered Southern rock in the spirit of The Black Crowes and Hootie & The Blowfish? Have they recorded rockers any better than "Nothing at All," "Have Mercy," "Sky Falls Down," and their signature scorcher "Consuming Fire?" Have they written a ballad more sweetly affecting than "Love Song?" Is there a worship song in their catalog more stunning in scope and performance than "King of Glory?" It's all here, and after this trip down memory lane, I maintain that the first half of their career represents the salad days of Third Day.
If there's a weakness, it's that this collection tries to be all things to all consumers, which has its pros and cons. The downside is that the album doesn't preserve Third Day's best songs as you remember them. But the upswing is that fans looking for a compilation that has more to offer than the tracks they already own will find a lot to love in Volume One.
For starters, the songs from the first two albums have been newly mixed, if not redone altogether. This helps revitalize their early material, though not dramatically so. Aside from a little more low-end bass and more prominent vocals, I doubt most people will notice, and though the songs remain great, the production admittedly sounds a tad dated ten years later....
Continue Reading at this Christian Music Review
Third Day: Christmas Offerings
“Christmas Offerings” is sure to satisfy Third Day fans and draw in some new rock lovers as well, lending its classic Southern rock grit to a mix of nine Christmas classics and four original songs from the band. Several tracks were recorded traditionally, while others were laid down live in a theater recording session in Atlanta, Third Day’s home base. The result of all this fusion is thirteen tracks of warm Christmas cheer that goes past the standard holiday fare and enters into the realm of sincere worship. An offering, actually.
Even as Mac Powell’s familiar rough vocals soar from opener “O Come All Ye Faithful,” Tai Anderson’s twangy bass line assures you that “Christmas Offerings” is going to be more than the ordinary holiday album. The tasty guitar riffs and gently sizzling keys of “Do You Hear What I Hear?” second the motion. But it is the slight Celtic take of the band’s own “Born in Bethlehem” that first grabs your attention. Throughout the project the band’s intricate, crisp arrangements stand out, at times for their unexpected delicacy (“Angels We Have Heard on High”), at other times for their solid rock flavor (“Joy to the World”)....
Continue Reading at this Christian Music Review
Even as Mac Powell’s familiar rough vocals soar from opener “O Come All Ye Faithful,” Tai Anderson’s twangy bass line assures you that “Christmas Offerings” is going to be more than the ordinary holiday album. The tasty guitar riffs and gently sizzling keys of “Do You Hear What I Hear?” second the motion. But it is the slight Celtic take of the band’s own “Born in Bethlehem” that first grabs your attention. Throughout the project the band’s intricate, crisp arrangements stand out, at times for their unexpected delicacy (“Angels We Have Heard on High”), at other times for their solid rock flavor (“Joy to the World”)....
Continue Reading at this Christian Music Review
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