Finally! That new Jars of Clay CD that everybody was talking about is here!
Plus, we've got the lowdown on the rest of the releases this week. There's
also a full review of Joy Electric's latest CD!

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LEGACY VOL. 1: THE WHITE SONGBOOK - JOY ELECTRIC
by Rick Foux

Rarely does an artist release an entire album in which all songs function as
one entity, one body, if you will, designed to relay a story to its
listeners. In doing so, the songwriter transposes himself as an author, and
in turn his musical creation becomes a work of fiction. In Joy Electric's
latest, The White Songbook, frontman Ronnie Martin pens what could be an
excellent, well-hidden work of literature, the band's most breakthrough
album to date, or both.

The "story" actually begins in the CD liner booklet, which has even been
divided into chapters and sub-chapters, with the song lyrics serving as the
words to the "book." It's easy to flip through and read in a couple of
minutes, but the true essence of the story is captured on the CD, meaning if
you want to discover the hidden message of the songbook you'll have to read
between the lines and listen for yourself.

CHAPTER 1: The White Songbook
Upon opening the songbook, the most noticeable difference you'll hear is the
resurrected Joy Electric. Unlike the sugary, pleasant synth-pop on their
past records, The White Songbook is much darker and even haunting at times.
One reason for this is that the entire album was recording using 100%
analogue synthesizers: no keyboard or drum machines this time around.
Although mostly an instrumental piece, Ronnie himself speaks a few words
towards the end of the title track and discusses how at times fans often try
to mask the band's Christianity (we've spoken clear / but become hoarse /
through Morse code and phonographs). "Shepherds of the Northern Pasture"
grows even more chilling, weaving the tale of the night of Christ's birth
with a jumpy synth background and resonant vocals by the band's three
members. The next sub chapter, "And Without Help We Perish" has the makings
of an epic, beginning with distant UFO type noises and crescendoing into
Ronnie's sleepy voice. The song's message should be obvious enough from its
title. "The Boy Who Never Forgot" and "Unicornucopia" both breathe
relaxation as they are more soothing to the ears. The first chapter closes
with a reminder of the peace of allowing God to live inside of your heart.

CHAPTER 2: Hunter Green and Other Histories
Just as the reader drifts off into a dream-like Utopia, the story picks up
again, and action prevails during the entire second chapter's three tracks.
"A New Pirate Traditional" rocks the electronic world as the hardest Joy
Electric song ever recorded and possibly even the most questionable. In this
track alone, the band speaks outright to God, feeling a sense of abandonment
and digging for answers to the same rough questions: "Why do bad things
happen to good people? If you're so good then why do you allow bad to
happen? Why do the wicked prosper?" "We Are Rock" pulses with the same high
energy synth-rock, but with a higher sense of confidence in their abilities
as a Christian band. Finally, Chapter 2 concludes with a total rebirth of
jE's mission in "The Good Will Not Be Cloned (Or Why Should the Christians
Get All The Bad Music)." Serving almost as an anthem, they vow to take a
stand in the industry for their beliefs (Us poor starve on the crumbs you
leave / A DECADE OF BEING FORGOTTEN / NO MORE, NO MORE).

CHAPTER 3: As Children We Are Growing Younger
In what could only be described as surreal, the next chapter opens with
another brief instrumental track which sounds like an assortment of
synthesized birds chirping. Only two tracks long, Chapter 3 is probably the
most reminiscent of any prior Joy Electric tunes. In a word, they're
sugarcoated. "Sing Once For Me" and "The Heritage Bough" alight images of
youthful settings; children playing in fields until dusk, running through
shaded forests, and discovering the joy of being alive. Together, both songs
are reminders of how everyday we as Christians take a step closer to our
"Homecoming" and eternal life, and urge us to live every day as if it were
our last.

CHAPTER 4: A Frog In The Pond
As the songbook winds down to a close, the final track and conclusion "The
Songbook Tells All" makes it plainly clear what the moral of the story has
been the entire time (can you not read music? / plain Greek alphabet?) yet
seems to add to the mystery even further (underneath straw all of the ants
engulfing you / where are the secrets, huh?). Evidently Ronnie Martin is
content on letting us figure out the rest of the story for ourselves, which
shouldn't be too difficult for anyone who knows Jesus Christ as their Lord
and Savior.

EPILOGUE:
Though bizarre and confusing to even the most mature of listeners, The White
Songbook is an outstanding journey through the stages of existence and
doubly is Joy Electric's best work to date. While listeners who are scared
of synthesizers should stay far, far away, anyone who appreciates a
wonderfully crafted work of art, or just a good storytelling, should check
out The White Songbook. It's no alternative to reading, but chances are
you'll discover a story that you won't hear anywhere else.

Find out more about Joy Electric on cMusicWeb.com:
http://cMusicWeb.com/alternative/joyelectric


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OTHER NEW STUFF ON cMUSICWEB.COM
New Review: Thrive - Newsboys
http://cMusicWeb.com/alternative/newsboys/reviews.shtml

New Review: 7even Year Itch - Collective Soul
http://cMuiscWeb.com/rock/collectivesoul/reviews.shtml

Movie Review: The Count of Monte Cristo
http://cMusicWeb.com/features/countofmontecristo


ARE WE OFF OUR ROCKER?
We'd love to talk with you about it! And, here's the cool and new way to do
it:

http://cMusicWeb.com/discussion

Yes, our discussion board is finally up, and it's up to you to get it going.
We need people to come in and talk with us about the music, the crazy views
we have over here, what you think about the above Joy Electric review, or
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if you like)!

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AVAILABLE TUESDAY, FEB. 26 (at cMusicWeb.com or at your local store)

CREATION WORSHIPS - VARIOUS
Last summer at both Creation festivals, Vertical Music brought a powerful
main stage worship time with artists such as Lincoln Brewster, Paul
Balonche, and Rita Springer. From reports, it was very powerful live, so
the recording is probably a worship experience too.

THE ELEVENTH HOUR - JARS OF CLAY
After listening to just the first couple songs, I can say that this is the
one Jars of Clay album to get! Combining their best assets from each
previous disc and throwing them all together late-night in the studio brings
The Eleventh Hour. No doubt, this is the PICK OF THE WEEK. Find a review
on cMusicWeb.com in the next week or two!

JASON INGRAM (self-titled)
Successful new label INO brings the solo debut of Jason Ingram. After a
couple years of making no music since being with his Jason Ingram band, he's
back with a more worshipfully-focused album.

KALEIDOSCOPE - RACHAEL LAMPA
Rachael Lampa part two. 'Nuff said.


THE LATEST NEWS HEADLINES
. Delirious? Kicks Off North American Tour
. Biggest Worship Event in History to Hit Washington
. New Glisten Song Available
. Kirk Franklin Attacks the Charts
. And more!

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


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