This week we have a special feature, and we hope to have more of
these in the future. This is CDs Worth a Second Listen, a look at
albums which you shouldn't throw away after the first listen through.

CDs WORTH A SECOND LISTEN (vol. 1)
by Rick Foux
If you're like me, the first thing you do when you buy a new CD
(after reading through the insert) is shove it into your car stereo
and scan through about the first thirty seconds of each track. If
something catches your interest, it remains playing; if not, you
continue to the next track until you find something worth listening
to. If the CD has still failed to capture your interest after this
process, then it usually winds up serving some other useful purpose,
such as a paperweight, plate, frisbee, or a coaster. True, the music
is Christian, but unless it can captivate you and grab your attention
it will fail to minister to you specifically. So how do you find
something you like? Well, just as God gives us all a second chance
(and third and fourth and so on...) the same should be true with our
music. Some CDs contain a message that may have not been meant to be
picked up after hearing them just once, and some of the best messages
are buried deep within the lyrics. The point is that there are just
some CDs out there that deserve a second listen instead of ending up
holding somebody's drink glass. These are just a few of my selections:

JARS OF CLAY - IF I LEFT THE ZOO
This album has been widely disputed over because "it's not the
original Jars' style." I counter with the fact that this is what
makes it so interesting. Don't think of it as Jars of Clay changing,
but more of as "branching out." The band is trying out a few things,
and this album is proof of their accomplishments in this direction so
far.

PLUSONE - THE PROMISE
Ok, forget the entire boy band image. If that isn't your thing then
simply skip the first track and listen to the rest of the CD. Plus
One's sound is similar to that of the Katinas and has some great
worshipful lyrics. The harmonies are incredible.

VARIOUS ARTISTS - ROARING LAMBS
This CD created a lot of hype before it was first released but didn't
seem to live up to it all. Or does it? New songs by PFR and
delirious? make the album worthwhile enough already, and Burlap to
Cashmere, Sixpence None The Richer, and the weirdness of Steve Taylor
add a nice touch. It may be different, but certainly not boring.

SOLOMON'S WISH - A WISE MAN'S TRAGEDY
Most people have never even heard of these guys, and after putting
the "scanning test" to work, wish they never had. On the flip side,
Solomon's Wish is actually a great upcoming acoustic group, with a
Phillips, Craig and Dean / Caedmon's Call type-style. Further
listening to songs like "Stop Sign" and "Learning to Fly" reveals
that these guys have great insight and a heart to praise God through
their music.

SKILLET - INVINCIBLE
Even though they've evolved from the hard rock stage into the
electronica style they're known for today, I'd say it's a change for
the better. Many listeners can't stomach the replacement of thrashing
guitars with synthesizers, but Skillet's attitude hasn't changed a
bit. Listen more closely and find out for yourself.

NICHOLE NORDEMAN - THIS MYSTERY
After hearing "This Mystery" on the radio, I had pre-conceived that
the new album wasn't up to my standards because I thought it just
wasn't good enough to be Nichole Nordeman. Was I ever wrong. This
Mystery surpasses Wide Eyed both lyrically and musically, and it's
worth listening to the whole CD to find out why.

JOY ELECTRIC - UNELECTRIC
While Skillet has changed to a more synth sound, Joy Electric has
done exactly the opposite. Is the change permanent? We don't know for
sure, but it's enjoyable while it lasts. Without their electricity,
Joy Electric resembles the sound of PFR a bit, but mostly everything
is new and original.

PETRA - GOD FIXATION
Just ignore the release of Double Take and any influence it may have
had on your opinion of Petra. God Fixation may have been more
contemporary than previous Petra albums, but it was highly
underacclaimed for its good points.

SMALLTOWN POETS (self-titled)
Back in 1995, this CD was one of the most overlooked alternative rock
albums on the market, yet it was an outstanding effort. The Poets
have moved on since then, releasing Listen Closely in 1997, but it
didn't have near the impact of the original.

CRYSTAL LEWIS - FEARLESS
A few years ago, "People Get Ready, Jesus is Coming" gave Crystal
Lewis an identity in contemporary Christian music. Not took long
after, "Not the Same" won the award for "Most Annoying, Overplayed
Song On the Radio." Thankfully, Fearless is a different story.
There's not a big change in style, which is a good thing for fans,
but there's a big enough change to where her voice doesn't attract
cattle from all over the country. In all seriousness, Crystal Lewis's
new album shows she's not afraid to take her witnessing through music
to new heights.

There isn't enough room to fit the rest of them here, but simply put,
these are CDs that should be given one more chance at a permanent
spot in your CD player. They may not keep you interested the first
time around, but after listening to them for the second time you just
might find that your tastes are changing. Give them a try, and if you
still aren't satisfied, then go ahead and play a rousing game of
fetch with your dog. Chances are, though, you'll be surprised.


THE LATEST NEWS HEADLINES
• Chris Rice smells colors?
• Jars to release "White Elephant" rarities
• And much more!

View the latest stories in full:
http://cMusicWeb.com/


AVAILABLE YESTERDAY (on cMusicWeb.com and at your local store)

AURORA (self-titled)
I don't know what this group has to do with light, but then again, I
don't know why anyone would want to listen to a rip-off girl group
anyways.

THE BEST OF PLUMB - PLUMB
After only two albums, this disc is released as a parting gift from
Essential Records. However, this disc is the greatest done right, as
it mixes older songs with newer songs, unlike All Star United's Smash
Hits album. Plus, it includes a couple extra remixes at the end.

CITY ON A HILL: SONGS OF WORSHIP AND PRAISE - VARIOUS ARTISTS
With all the labels hurrying to put together worship projects,
Essential gets it right. Artists work with artists on this one, and
that's how you get Third Day with Gene Eugene, Sixpence None the
Richer with Jars of Clay, and SONICFLOOd with Peter Furler, as well
as more from Caedmon's Call and FFH. This album brings some of the
best artists to worship, and is the PICK OF THE WEEK.

NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH - BOB CARLISLE
Bob steps back from his "Butterfly Kisses" style to a more bluesy,
earlier style in his latest.


AVAILABLE TO PRE-ORDER (on Christian MusicWeb)

ROCK: http://cMusicWeb.com/rock
Emotion is Dead - The Juliana Theory [8/29]

ALTERNATIVE: http://cMusicWeb.com/alternative
Stadium Jam - Various [9/05]
Third Verse - Smalltown Poets [9/26]
Learning to Breathe - Switchfoot [9/26]

POP: http://cMusicWeb.com/pop
Genuine - Stacie Orrico [8/29]
Crystal Clear - Jaci Velasquez [9/05]
Where I Wanna Be - V*Enna [9/26]

WORSHIP: http://cMusicWeb.com/worship
Sing Over Me Again - Danny Chambers [8/29]
SONICPRAISe - SONICFLOOd [9/26]

Click on the album titles on the genre page to order them and recieve
them on the release date.


CHRISTIAN HIT RADIO CHARTS FOR THIS WEEK
> A not-so-nice welcome to the Newsgirls
> and a quick goodbye to Michael W. Smith!
1. Don't Look at Me - Stacie Orrico
2. God is Watching Over You - Phil Joel
3. Good Life - Audio Adrenaline
4. Into You - Jennifer Knapp
5. Dive - dc Talk
6. Your Love, O Lord - Third Day
7. Live For You - Rachel Lampa
8. Tomorrow - Out of Eden
9. Good Stuff - Newsboys
10. I Still Have the Dream - Micheal W. Smith

SOURCE: CCM Update (http://www.ccmupdate.com/)


cMUSICWEB UPDATES
• Updated the Releases and Picks and the Looking Ahead sections
• Feature - Creation 2000:
http://cMusicWeb.com/features/creation2000
• New Review - I Could Sing of Your Love Forever:
http://cMusicWeb.com/worship/icouldsingofyourloveforever


That's all for this week! Next week we'll be introducing a contest,
as well as more reviews for you to read. As always, your comments
keep this site going, so please drop us an e-mail. See ya next week!

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