“Beautiful” is a declaration that Christ is more beautiful than all other things… more beautiful than everything I see, more beautiful than the beauty before dawn, and more beautiful than the craziest of love songs. “How Amazing Are You” is a song of praise to the awesomeness of God. As I said before, you would be pleasantly surprised by the overtone of this album and its commitment to deliver a project with songs of encouragement, adoration, and worship. You can sense that ReZound has a place in the core of their hearts for praise and worship, and it is reflected in “Abandoned To You.” 

These days it is more than common to have a 10 to 12 track album with the only good songs being those that are played on the radio. This is certainly not the case with Classic Crime’s, The Silver Cord. There are 15 hard hitting tracks that are an obvious improvement to their previous album, Albatross. While Albatross was an album I enjoyed very much, The Silver Cord shows a lot of growth lyrically and melodically. The songs leave room for individual interpretation, and while the themes of Christianity are more subtle, if you are genuinely listening to the lyrics, I think most will hear the Christian undertones.

The album starts with The End, an intriguing and inviting song that makes you excited about listening to the rest of the album. Some of the highlights along the way are The Way That You Are, an encouraging song about breaking free from past mistakes and pain; Medisin, which seems to portray the struggles of the current youth generation struggling with alcohol and emptiness; and Closer Than We Think, an absolutely beautiful song about Jesus, which the lyrics say “I still hold the belief that we are free, that we don’t need the rules to see that despite what we’ve done, we’re not alone. We’re closer than we think to home.”

From beginning to end, this album does not disappoint. For so many musicians, the sophomore album makes or breaks them. I think The Silver Cord has great potential to make The Classic Crime a much larger name in the music industry.

Tenth Avenue North did not just appear out of nowhere and sneak into the music scene undetected. They have broken into the music scene with lyrics that demand attention and bring you back to the reason that we are all here. The lyrics in songs such as “Hallelujah” aren’t just lyrics, they are the heart and soul of why Tenth Avenue North exists and that is to bring praise and glory to the Creator.

    The praise and worship music of this band speaks tremendously of their hearts for the ministry that they are in. We had the opportunity to speak with Tenth Avenue North and see them live in concert. They do not just perform their songs, they enter worship mode and it speaks loud and clear of who they are and whom they serve. “Love is Here” melts you as they sing and play about the love of a Savior that took Him to the cross with lyrics that beautifully depict the agony that Jesus physically went through for us, but how He did it in love, such as “Love is pouring from His hands, from His brow… streams of mercy flowing from His side.” To me that says yes it was blood and water flowing from His wounds but He saw it as love and mercy for His people. Tenth Avenue North beautifully puts into words and music what we as Christians know, need to know, and should follow.    

     Tenth Avenue North lives their music. Lead singer, Mike, announces from the stage that hey, we are not perfect, that they all have faults just like the rest of us, but that God is perfect and is love and that’s why we can live and have faith in His saving grace. Tenth Avenue North has a refreshing sound that leads you into worship. Mark Hall, lead singer of Casting Crowns and youth leader at a local Georgia church, speaks very highly of the guys in Tenth Avenue North and even uses their music at his church during Sunday and Wednesday worship.

    This is not a cd that you “should” go out and buy… This is a cd that you NEED to go out and buy! The music touches the heart and soul of why we are here and the heart and soul of a Creator that LOVES His children.