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When we announced to you early last year that that Michael Tait would take over the lead vocals of the Newsboys, the band and their fans began to relish the positives and possibilities of this brand new start. Jody Davis explained it this way then…
Tait is great for us because he’s a real team player and brings a lot of enthusiasm to the mix of personalities.
Even though Davis, along with Jeff Frankenstein and Duncan Phillips, have played together since newsboys first broke through with THE 1992 “Not Ashamed” project, Michael immediately, and easily, became part of the unique and tight newsboys unit. Jeff talks about the last year…
We’re all getting a new lease on life from this. The core of the band—myself, Jody, and Duncan—is reunited, and Mike is an amazing singer. It’s providential.
Michael couldn’t agree more. When newsboys called he was actually working with the legendary Clive Davis on a solo project in Los Angeles. Yet after a few great concerts together he knew the invitation to join the band was just what he needed.
Now, the foursome is embarking on a sure-to-be momentous year with “Born Again” which was produced by The Write Brothers and Mark Heimermann (dcTalk, TobyMac, Michael W. Smith). Thanks to a pre-sale campaign on their current co-headlining “Winter Jam” tour, fans have been getting their ears on “Born Again” for only $7 until the June release date. The campaign has been a successful since the tour kicked off the beginning of January. John Kelly, CEO, at Inpop Records talks about this new project…
All of us at inpop records are thrilled for the upcoming release of the brand new newsboys music. It’s also been exciting to hear the buzz from the fans at Winter Jam purchasing the 5-song EP. We are proud to be their record label and are truly looking forward to a great year from this stellar band.
The songs on “Born Again” were penned by newsboys, The Write Brothers, and Steve Taylor, including a new track by Mark Stuart from Audio Adrenaline. Each song showcases what is noticeably different about the newsboys today, story-led tunes with melodies coupled with more distinguishable piano and guitar performances.
Already a live highlight at their concerts, “Born Again” is where newsboys truly become a band renewed, and they collectively view the song as representative of everything the band has gone through this past year. Michael shares what the last year has been like for him personally…
We’ve all believed in lies at some point. I had some prodigal years in the past, but I hope the song encourages others to make the same decision I did: I’m giving Him the best of everything that’s left of the life inside this man / I’ve been born again.
Here’s Duncan and Michael from the Newsboys talking about Winter Jam 2010 and the track in the background is their new song “Born Again.”
“Born Again” EP Track Listing:
1. Born Again
2. On your Knees
3. When The Boy’s Light Up
4. I’ll Be (first single)
5. One Shot
Have you picked up an advanced copy of the new “Born Again” EP? Let us read your review of it in the comment box below.
Ever since Michael Tait joined Newsboys, there has been much anticipation to hear what the new Newsboys would sound like. That time has come with the Born Again EP which has 5 songs off the upcoming full release of the same title. The EP kicks off with the title track which is boldly named pronouncing not only the status of a Christ follower’s life, but the rebirth of Newsboys themselves. Born Again is a classic pop/rock anthem featuring the unmistakable driving guitar of Jody Davis that dominates the song and never lets up. Tait’s vocals boldly proclaim ‘This is what it is/This is who I am/This is where I finally take my stand/I didn’t want to fall/but I don’t have to crawl/I met the one with two scarred hands/Givin’ Him the best of/Everything that’s left of/The life inside this man.’ “One Shot” is stylistically similar to “Born Again,” and is also forefronted by a raw guitar sound but backs off in the verses and the bridge where keys and synths take over. Davis’ voice harmonize well with Tait and it’s nice to finally hear Jody’s backing vocals prominently for the first time since Love Liberty Disco. Lyrically “One Shot” reminds us that everyone just has ‘one shot/to prove what they’re all about.’ Both “Born Again” and “One Shot” are songs that are clearly Newsboys with their full sound and in-your-face lyrics that beg to be sung along to.
“On Your Knees” and “I’ll Be” are more mid-tempo pop/rock ballads. “On Your Knees” reminds me of classic Newsboys ballads such as “Million Pieces,” “Believe,” or “Beautiful Sound.” While musically it is slightly generic in the verses, Michael Tait’s vocal work carries the song to an amazing bridge where the song really shines and more distinctive sounds come out. “I’ll Be” is a song sung from God to the listener with strong encouragement of ‘You will find me at the point of your breaking/behind all the noise/when your world is darkest I can still see/’cause when there’s nothing left/I’ll be.’ Musically “I’ll Be” is beautiful with prominent string work that is reminiscent of Jeff Frankenstein’s string arrangements on Love Liberty Disco and multiple Newsboys remixes, amazing vocals from Tait, and perfectly placed backing vocals, that unfortunately are Tait’s and not Jody Davis’. Both of these songs feel like they would fit onto an album of Michael Tait’s short-lived band “Tait,” but at the same time are not at all out of place on a Newsboys record.
The weakest song from the Born Again EP is certainly “When the Boys Light Up.” Musically the song is an interesting mix of hip-hop and pop/rock and it somehow works pretty well. It would fit right in on a TobyMac album and it is hard not to want sing along with and bob your head with the beat. The issue with “”Light Up” is in the lyrics. The second verse directly references Tait’s entry into the band and how the ‘boys are back for the second act.’ I have never been a big fan of artists that write songs that are about their own success as “Light Up” does. The song is clear that their success if from God and that the band is only the ‘conduit,’ but it still takes little creativity to write songs like this and listeners do not relate to having the success of a major recording artist. This problem is magnified that Newsboys last two albums have featured songs with similar messages in “Wherever We Go,” and “The Way We Roll.” Also, while some of the lyrics of the song are pretty clever (I suspect Steve Taylor had a hand in them) others fall flat such as ‘up and down like a yo-yo, mama.”
Overall the Born Again EP is an excellent collection of music. The music and production is top notch and offers a good mix of harder in-your-face songs as well as more encouraging pop songs and even some hip-hop thrown in. Lyrically the EP is not quite as strong as it is musically as it at times lacks some creativity, but overall the lyrics are still quite good with both strong proclamations of what it means to be Christians as well as thoughtful and inspiring encouragements. If the rest of Born Again is as good as the songs on the EP, it should be an album that is hard not to select on your digital media player.