So 2005 has finally arrived. Do you remember those days just five years ago
when people thought the world would end when computers couldn't handle the
year 2000? Yeah, so we didn't all die. So let's reminisce a bit farther
back. 2000 brought Third Day to the forefront of Christian pop/worship, but
we still remember way back when they rocked. Here for an "old timey" review
is Hollie with Third Day's debut. Make sure to also check out the finale of
our Most Spun 2004 recap with special guests from Relient K, The Normals,
FEED Magazine, and Cross Rhythms.

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THIRD DAY - THIRD DAY (1996)
by Hollie Stewart

A mere year separates this band from a decade of stardom. No matter how many
times they may sing "I wanna be a rockstar / but I ain't got what it takes"
on the album Wire, this band has entered the rock-star section of the
Christian rock canon. Yet I don't focus on the modern-day success. When I
think of these boys from Georgia, I think of this self-titled debut
distributed through a now-defunct Gray Dot Records. I think of this
bare-rock release where no song lasts longer than four and a half minutes. I
think of a low-key concert in a local theme park, where lead singer Mac
Powell helped sell his own merchandise and hung around until 1 am talking
with a small group of fans. And I think of the album's basic Christian
themes: a need for and acceptance of Christ's love, and the command to live
it out on earth.

This is the rough debut that revealed "Love Song," "Thief," and "Consuming
Fire," classics the band still play in concert. I suppose if one has never
heard this album, they would prefer the live renditions more so than the
studio productions, but I'm still drawn to the soft, melodic rock and
Powell's young voice. There's purity to these versions, perhaps because they
precede the notoriety. You can hear where David Carr needs to improve on
drums, Tai Anderson on bass, and Mark Lee and Brad Avery on guitars, but
this is before the countless hours of touring. This is before Conspiracy No.
5, an album that kicked the notches of production and produced a sound the
band has abandoned ever since. This is before Offerings, the worship CD that
launched them into the world of the Dove awards. Instead, these five men
create songs of praise, where Powell sings things like "You saved me / Thank
You Jesus" in his soft southern intonation ("Forever"). That isn't enough?
Then how about, "You can feel a new revival / Ask Jesus in your heart / And
you'll feel so free" ("Holy Spirit"). You could always turn to the downright
country "Livin' For Jesus," where the chorus reads, "Done made up my mind /
That I'm livin' for Jesus." Better yet, listen to Rich Mullins' talents on
the hammered dulcimer in "Praise Song," a tune that reads more like a hymn
than the last track of a rock record. Perhaps the most unappreciated song,
"Blackbird," contains the strengths of this band: gritty southern rock, a
vocal melody that makes it Third Day property, and lyrical imagery that
still makes me smile: "Blackbird, why you wearing that frown / Don't you
know Jesus loves you and me / And the preacher on T.V. you're putting down?"

The five faces that stare at me on the back jacket cover couldn't have
imagined where their faces and music would appear. If you have any opinion
of this band—positive or negative—this album is a necessary text for the
study of Third Day's roots. Take it from me; Third Day was the first band
this former 16-year-old girl followed with a die-hard-fan passion. You know
what that means? I saw something in these guys way before the Gospel Music
Association ever did.

Read more about Third Day at cMusicWeb.com:
http://cMusicWeb.com/modernrock/thirdday


THE MOST SPUN OF 2004
The cMusicWeb.com staff and some guests told us what five albums they
listened to the most in 2004. Here we tabulate the results so you don't have
to:

Most Listened To Soundtrack: The Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind
Most Indie Artist: The Dig Project

OK, that didn't work. We're listening to such diverse stuff that three
people listening to the same album makes it the top one! But, for sure,
you'll find stuff we don't have here on cMusicWeb.com, including British
bands and some guy I've never heard of named Sufjan Stevens.

So see what we're all listening to (and check back later this week for the
last installment):
http://cMusicWeb.com/features/mostspun2004


MORE NEW STUFF ON cMUSICWEB.COM

Review: Illuminate - Daniel's Window
http://cMusicWeb.com/worship/danielswindow/illuminate.shtml


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