This week we have a new review from Crystal, the newest member of the
cMusicWeb.com team. And this week she covers John Reuben's debut, a
trip into the world of hip-hop from a white man's perspective. And,
this week, we also have some great new releases and some of the
latest news. So read on!

GOT COMMENTS?? - We want your input on cMusicWeb.com! Send it to
webmaster@... or find me on ICQ or AOL IM.

UNSUBSCRIBE?? - Logon to http://groups.yahoo.com to do so, or drop us
an e-mail telling us why you're annoyed by hearing from us.


ARE WE THERE YET? - JOHN REUBEN (2000)
by Crystal Hutcheson

"I don't set out to be different. It's just what I feel. I listen to
a guitar, or hear some real emotional indie-rock or something, and I
think it would be cool to lay a thick beat under that dark guitar,"
explains Christian hip-hop newcomer John Reuben about his writing
style. Reuben's first release, Are We There Yet? combines classic hip
hop with pop, funky beats, turn tables, and some good old fashioned
rock.

The 21 year-old native of Columbus, Ohio is a part of the ever-
growing family of Gotee Records, a Nashville label started a few
years ago by Toby McKeehan of dc talk. Not only is McKeehan the
executive producer of Reuben's freshman release, but he also joins
Reuben on the album's final track, "God is Love." The album
introduces a mature form of hip-hop into the CCM world. Rather than
simply laying rhymes over a repetitive beat, Reuben creates street-
level artistry that could only fit into the category of REAL. Are We
There Yet? shows all the sides of Reuben while giving the lucky
listener a raw insight into the daily struggle and pure joy of living
an intimate Christian life. Half the songs move to beats that the
most pious would tap their feet to, while others combine the tear-
jerking strum of a guitar with emotion-driven vocals that pass
sweetly into the ears.

The album begins with some fun hip-hop, "Divine Inspiration," then
moves on to the album's first jammin' single, "Do Not." Lacing his
ideas with the adorable sound of a young girl sweetly singing along
("Do not/ tell me what I can and cannot do when I rock"), Reuben
shares his frustrations in the anthem to "create for the creator and
not to impress you." And unpredictable is John's middle name. Right
when the listener has put aside pride to get out of their seat,
bounce around, and throw their fists up and down to the funky beats,
songs like "No Regrets" begin, causing one to sit back down and
sympathize with this truthful young man (in more mental, less visible
ways). "No Regrets" portrays a real message to his fans with lyrics
like "To my future in the palm of God's hand/ to my past as of now
that I can't understand/ to my future uncertain unclear/ to the past
I left to bring me here," explaining how he wants to live following
the Savior without regrets even though it may be tough.

Are We There Yet? goes on with the song "Jezebel": "I was confused
and chose stupidity over patiently waiting/ dag how could I not see/
that tryin' to fill a God-size void with a female would only leave me
empty/ but I did it anyway like a stupid human I fell." "Jezebel"
shows Reuben's ability to get rid of pretense and be truthful in
order to point the hopeless and shameful to God, our only source of
hope in a tainted world. Although the CD is categorized as hip-hop,
Reuben's love of all music seeps out into all of the tracks. Many of
the songs are true to the sounds of popular CCM rappers/alt artists,
as the song "X-Ray" dangerously approaches a P.O.D.-esque
sound, "Draw Near" borrows the guitar drive of Audio Adrenaline, "Him
Her He She," compliments the ears of their current punk/ska tourmates
Five Iron Frenzy and Relient K, while "God is Love" is a peanut
butter meets jelly mix of old school DC Talk and FFH.

Nothing better could be added to what John Reuben says of his
firstborn: "It's an album that everybody can relate to, from hip-
hoppers to punk rockers, skaters, to people who sit around in coffee
shops. If people are willing to open up their mind and enjoy an
album, they'll be ready for an album like this."

Find out more about John Reuben at his official site:
http://www.johnreuben.com/

Find out more about Crystal, our reviewer, at her site:
http://thatjesusmusic.homestead.com/


AVAILABLE TODAY (at cMusicWeb.com or your local store)

CHRISTMAS EXTRAORDINAIRE - MANNHEIM STEAMROLLER
Mannheim Steamroller has put out tons of Christmas albums, and it
just keeps happening! This brand new one brings more holiday cheer
to your house.

COLLECTIVE - STAVESACRE
As Stavesacre leaves Tooth and Nail, this greatest hits collection is
dished out, with some of the old ones re-recorded acoustically and a
couple new songs.

COME TOGETHER - THIRD DAY
The critics are calling this one the best yet from Third Day, and it
definitely seems like it. Mixing the full-throttle rock from their
Time CD and the modern worship from Offerings, this disc is a PICK OF
THE WEEK not worth missing.

IN A PERFECT WORLD - .ROD LAVER
A hard rock/rap band that has been on the indie circuit for
years, .rod laver has now been picked up by BEC.

MOMENTUM - TOBYMAC
From rap-core to quality hip-hop on the pop station, tobyMac covers
it all. And, although toby did a good job making the disc, it
doesn't seem to stand above the releases by Kevin Max and Tait. And
a straight-up hip-hop disc like DJ Maj's Full Plates is more quality.

TUNNEL VISION - TUNNEL RATS
Although Code Red is as real as the streets, so is the Tunnel Rats.
Another indie hip-hop group that has been picked up by Uprok Records,
this is sure to be more quality beats.


THE LATEST NEWS HEADLINES
• Child of the Promise Tour Cancelled
• Dan Hasteltine Receives First Ever Briner Award
• The Waiting Return With "Wonderfully Made"
• Parrish Resigns From About.com
• Relient K Controversy
• And much more!

View all the latest stories on cMusicWeb.com:
http://cMusicWeb.com/


We're still trying to get the new cMusicWeb.com up as soon as
possible, so stay tuned! Thanks for reading this week's cMusicMail,
and we'll be back next week with even more great content. If you
have any comments or questions, please reply to this e-mail or send
them to webmaster@... We'd love to hear from you!

Dan Ficker
http://cMusicWeb.com/
a different approach to music
ICQ - 43224317 AOL IM - dMusicWeb