This week brings some big new releases, such as KJ-52, Thousand Foot Krutch,
and the Uprok Mixtape Vol. 2. But first, we have a review of a bit more
quiet, contemplative album, the latest release from folk artist Jill
Phillips. As Bert explains, this disc is full of great melodies and
passionate lyrics. We also invite you to check out some great new reviews on
the cMusicWeb.com site, from the Supertones' best disc to the indie release
of Sintaxtheterrific, plus an article on why music is so powerful.

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WRITING ON THE WALL - JILL PHILLIPS (2003)
by Bert Gangl

If trying circumstances are the soil from which the truest music springs,
then Jill Phillips' recording career certainly would certainly qualify as
fertile ground. The smart, radio-friendly textures of her self-titled Word
Records debut landed her a spot on the October 1999 cover of CCM Magazine as
one of Christian music's brightest new artists. But despite its Top 20
single ("Steel Bars") and generally positive reviews, the album’s sales were
disproportionately modest and Phillips exited the Word label shortly
afterwards. The indie follow-up, 2001's God and Money, did similarly meager
business despite netting a surprised Phillips Best Independent Artist honors
in the 2002 CCM Readers' poll. After signing with the
nationally-distributed Fervent Records label in March of this year,
Phillips' father passed away after the recording of her third album.

Amazingly, in light of the personal and career upheaval which surrounded its
production, the Writing on the Wall release shows Phillips bouncing back
with her most consistent and focused effort to date. "Wrecking Ball" and
"Leave It Up to You" are a commanding one-two opening salvo combining the
shimmering pop sense of the debut record with the earthy immediacy of the
indie effort. The likewise powerful "Sacred" is both meditative and grand.
And the sparse, stripped-down instrumental approach to tracks like
"Interlude" and "Wisdom" allows for some of the most intricate and sublime
guitar work to grace any of Phillips' releases thus far.

Phillips' lyrical observations continue to be spot-on as well. "The Way of
the Fire" ("I felt the undertow / Of all the things I asked for coming
true") makes superb use of the water analogy to compare the believer's walk
to a sometimes fierce and shifting stream. "Grace and Peace" is a similarly
perceptive piece emphasizing the heightened need for unity within the church
during uncertain times. And somber entries such as "Still Is My Soul" and
"Even Still" ("You took our dreams / And future plans / Crushed them all /
Like grains of sand") take on an added resonance in light of Phillips'
recent loss.

Listening to the indie release, one can almost hear Phillips relishing the
opportunity to conquer a grittier, more lyrically diverse form of music than
that found on the debut. With Writing, one gets the sense that, having
proven she could do so, Phillips now returns to the fold fully vindicated
and ready to take the infectious, tune-driven pop of the first record to the
proverbial next level. And, on that count, she most definitely succeeds.
Alternately introspective, celebratory and cathartic, Writing on the Wall
assumes the top slot in an already impressive catalog, proving once again
that Phillips' imposing vocal and lyrical talent makes for some of the
Christian community’s most unique and intelligent music.

Read more about Jill Phillips at her official site:
http://www.jillphillips.com/


OTHER NEW STUFF ON cMUSICWEB.COM

Review: Old - Starflyer 59
http://cMusicWeb.com/rock/starflyer59/old.shtml

Feature: tobyMac: Mainstream?
http://cMusicWeb.com/features/tobymac

Review: Jonah33 - Jonah33
http://cMusicWeb.com/rock/jonah33/jonah33.shtml

Review: The Best of 1990-2000 - U2
http://cMusicWeb.com/rock/u2/bestof1990-2000.shtml

Views: For Your Listening Pleasure
http://cMusicWeb.com/views/archivehollie/foryourlisteningpleasure.shtml

Review: Simple Moves - Sintaxtheterrific
http://cMusicWeb.com/hiphop/sintaxtheterrific/simplemoves.shtml

Review: Chase the Sun - The O.C. Supertones
http://cMusicWeb.com/supertones/chasethesun.shtml


AVAILABLE TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 30 (at cMusicWeb.com or your local music store)

PURCHASE THIS MUSIC AND MORE AT GRASSROOTSMUSIC.COM:
http://www.grassrootsmusic.com/?associateid=249

CASTING CROWNS - CASTING CROWNS
Casting Crowns is the first signee from Beach Street Records, a Reunion
imprint started by the frontman for country band Sawyer Brown. The disc is
squarely aimed at youth groups, with their pop-rock sound and the fact that
the frontman is a youth leader himself. An interesting side-note is that
this disc is co-produced by Steven Curtis Chapman.

CHRISTMAS GUEST - ANDY GRIFFITH
The first new Christmas release of the year, expect a collection of good ol'
favorites of the season sung by your favorite TV guy from years gone by.

FIELDS OF GRACE - BIG DADDY WEAVE
While Big Daddy Weave's first disc was a bit more acoustic, Fields of Grace
finds them adding a bit of electric guitar to their full rock sound.
However, I'm not sure exactly what distinguishes them from the rest of the
pop releases out there.

IT'S PRONOUNCED FIVE-TWO - KJ-52
Including the sequel to "Dear Slim" and a bunch more fun rap songs, KJ's
back to tell people more about himself and his savior Jesus Christ, in a fun
filled way. Also, look for the hidden track all about Mountain Dew on this
PICK OF THE WEEK!

UPROK MIXTAPE VOL. 2 - VARIOUS
We loved the first volume of this series because it was only $5, was mixed
well, and had all our favorite Uprok artists. DJ Allstar is back for the
mixing, and with 22 tracks of the Tunnel Rats, KJ-52, Mars Ill, Ill
Harmonics, and more, it's definitely a collection of beats to sample.

PHENOMENON - THOUSAND FOOT KRUTCH
After TFK's much-praised debut album, they are back on a big label with
excellent-sounding production that will keep you bouncing along with the
stereo. In fact, you've probably heard their lead single, "Bounce," on
Christian radio and know exactly what I mean.

REAL LIFE - SILERS BALD
Although I had not heard of them before, I am told they were a very
successful indie group. But now, through their friendship with Caedmon's
Call, they have their first disc on Essential, and their folk-pop sound may
be just what people have been looking for.

WORSHIP TOGETHER: THE HEART OF WORSHIP - VARIOUS
The third in a series of double-disc worship collections, this one has many
modern worship favorites performed by artists like Passion, Jason Upton, and
Phillips, Craig, and Dean.


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
AOL IM - dMusicWeb