This is the big one... the release of the long-awaited Third Day album Wire.
Word on the street is that it's a return to their rock 'n' roll roots and we
are stoked about it, so you will just have to wait until we review it. In
the meantime, we have a review of a good worship disc we recently picked up.
I have been hearing about the moving worship of Rita Springer and have to
say that she does a great job in worship although not as good as my favorite
female worshipper, Jami Smith.

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RISE UP - RITA SPRINGER
by Hollie Stewart

You might think that Rita Springer, a worship leader who ministers
specifically to women, would have a sweet, calm, floating voice, something
like Leigh Nash. Or maybe you would remember that her conference, Fragrant
Oil, occurs worldwide throughout the year, and that it takes a tough woman
to construct such a project. I can't imagine a delicate flower of a woman
leading this task. Rita Springer is tough, there's no question about that.
She sings with a chick-rock, Janis Joplin feel, reminding the listener more
of a boot-camp commander than a blond-haired pretty girl. Her vocals
reflect her passionate—no, frantic—chase of God. Rita Springer is not your
typical song leader. She's more concerned with digging her feet into the
dirt, digging beyond music fluff to touch the bare bones of true worship.

Entering into God's presence is simple with Springer's newest recording,
Rise Up, which was recorded live from 5-days of ministry in New Mexico.
It's simple to reach God because the album showcases her honesty with Him.
Springer is not concerned with capturing the perfect audio recording. She'd
rather scream, "I want the joy of the Lord in my life" and pound the piano
keys ("I Want the Joy"). She'd rather plead with God, "More of You and less
of me" in "Lily of the Valley." She takes the hymn "In Christ Alone" and
gives it life with raw vocals. Don't think this is a choppy B-grade
recording, however. Springer's band cooks with rock-jazz intensity in songs
like "Rise Up." I'm not exaggerating when I say this is one of the best
worship bands I have ever heard. Rise Up puts other worship albums to
shame. And the fact that she produced the CD demonstrates her gifted
musical ear.

Songs like "Deep Calls to Deep," "Come All Ye Who Are Weary," and "You Give
Me Life" contain delicious piano ballads, and Springer's vocals lighten to
match the delicate instrumentation. Yet she retains the passion. She
cries, "Deep calls to deep in the roar of Your waterfall / Let Your deep
speak to my deep in Your roar of Your waterfalls" ("Deep Calls to Deep").
In most of these tracks, she breaks into times of ministry when she sings
spontaneous praise to God and exhorts the women in attendance. "Put your
hope in this glorious King," she sings in "Deep Calls to Deep." In "You
Give Me Life" she sings, "If I'm going to say 'send me', I want to mean it /
Teach me how to worship You / Don't let these just be words." The raw
intimacy of such lines attracts something deep inside of me. With choruses
that ring "You are my hero" in both simplicity and grandeur, I can't help
but shake my head in amazement. In "You Still Have My Heart," we hear a
lover's exchange: "Oh, I sigh, at Your wonders / Oh, I labor for breath at
Your creation / Your majesty has my attention / Your sovereignty has my
devotion / and You still have my heart." This song wraps the recording to
completion in a delicate embrace.

Rise Up is a soundtrack for true intimacy with Christ. Rita Springer is a
music minister, not just a woman making music. This anointing of God
saturates her songs and vocals in a way I seldom see in praise and worship.
I wish all worship leaders could experience this recording—experience the
rough, the raw, the simple and imperfect and glorious all wrapped into one
CD. If we could all learn to be this honest with God, we would watch our
times of worship shift for the better. We would come even closer to His
heart.

Find out more about Rita Springer at her official site:
http://www.ritaspringer.com/


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Interview: Big Dismal
http://cMusicWeb.com/hardrock/bigdismal/interview.shtml

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http://cMusicWeb.com/modernrock/pivitplex/undermuseumqualityglass.shtml


AVAILABLE TUESDAY, MAY 4 (at cMusicWeb.com or your local music store)

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

FLICKER ROCKS HARDER - VARIOUS
Yeah, sure, we knew Flicker Records rocks. Just to make sure you know,
though, they have a bunch of tracks from artists like Pillar, Everyday
Sunday, Staple, Kids In The Way, plus new artist Subseven (see below) on
this disc.

MONKEY BUSINESS - ILL HARMONICS
On a new label, Infuse Records, the Ill Harmonics are back for their third
album. We have not checked it out yet but look for more silliness and maybe
even some taking shots at politicians if the cover of the disc is any
indication.

SUBSEVEN EP - SUBSEVEN
Although we are not fans of the introductory EP which repeats all the songs
on their full-length debut, this seven-track disc has a few good ones for
fans of the harder, Tooth & Nail style bands. Let's just hope it's not that
silly pre-release hype.

SUMMER OF DARKNESS - DEMON HUNTER
Demon Hunter has done well gaining a hardcore following to their self-titled
Solid State debut. Their second disc is sure to please although it could be
hard to match the hit that was "Infected".

WIRE - THIRD DAY
Sadly, we do not have this one yet but we hear they finally took our advice
and got back to makin' rock music. All we have to say is that we hope it is
true and we are looking forward to it.

WONDERLIGHT - TREVOR MORGAN
Some of the biggest names in Christian music, the people who created the
careers of Michael W. Smith and Amy Grant, have united to create a new label
and Trevor Morgan is their first signee. Don't worry, he is not as old as
MWS or Amy but he delivers a pop/rock sound that should be popular at radio.


THE LATEST NEWS HEADLINES
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View all the latest stories on cMusicWeb.com:
http://cMusicWeb.com/


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