THIS ALBUM CONTAIN(10-TRACKS)
1-MAKE ME AN INSTRUMENT
2-NOTHING YOU DON'T KNOW
3-BROTHER SUN,SISTER MOON
4-FAITH,HOPE,LOVE
5-HELP,THOU MY UNBELIEF
6-MY HEART ALRADY KNOWS
7-BOUNCING OFF THE CEILING
8-GOD GRANT ME TEARS
9-SHOUT
10-WE'LL BE TOGETHER
It never ceases to amaze me how critical people can be about anything that gives praise and thanks to God, but there are those (who exactly I'm referring to shall remain nameless) who have somehow found a way to knock "Prayers of a Ragamuffin," this group's second release, making the unfair assertion that The Ragamuffins will never be able to live up to the legacy of their late friend Rich Mullins. The Ragamuffins themselves will be the first to tell you that they have no intention of trying to fill Rich's shoes, since he rarely wore shoes and the plain simple fact of the matter is that they are as much in awe of Rich as the rest of us and they seek only to carry on his work, not overshadow it. At any rate, on to the music. If "The Jesus Record" wasn't enough to convince you of The Ragamuffins' talent, this album should be proof positive that this group has arrived as a major player on the Christian music scene. Although Rich Mullins' influence is still very evident (the last song on the track, "We'll Always Be Together" by Jimmy Abegg, was written in Rich's memory), this album was almost entirely written by the band's members, and is a very heartfelt and humble look at the importance of persevering in prayer even when it doesn't seem like our prayers are being answered. The album begins with Rick Elias' "Make Me An Instrument," which borrows heavily from the prayers of St. Francis and St. Patrick. It sets the tone for the rest of the album and reminds us that prayer isn't about helping us get what we want, but to help us fulfill God's will here on earth. "Brother Sun Sister Moon," written by lead guitarist Jimmy Abegg, takes its title from the 70s movie of the same name on the life of St. Francis of Assisi, whose influence is prevalent in everything done by Rich Mullins and those who carry on his legacy and work. And Mark Robertson's "Nothing You Don't Know" is a reminder that our prayers are addressed to a God who knows everything we say and do, so there's no sense in holding back when we pray. Other memorable songs off the album include "Faith Hope Love," an upbeat look at the three cardinal virtues; "Shout," the only song on the album written by drummer Aaron Smith, which is another upbeat ballad that suggests that we need to shout "until we get it right"; and "God Grant Me Tears," which reminds us that it is through our brokenness that we find strength in our relationship with God. Of course I don't want you to just take my word for it; this is an album you have to listen to for yourselves. This group rocks, Happy listening, and God bless!.
RICK ELIAS AND CONFESSIONS OF A RAGAMMUFFIN-2000
THIS COMPILATION CONTAIN(15-TRACKS)
1-CONFESSIONS OF LOVE
2-STREETS OF ROMA
3-MILES AND MILES
4-BEFORE THE FALL
5-SOMEDAY
6-THE WORD IS LOVE
7-WITHOUT ONE WORD
8-STORIES
9-I WOULDN'T NEED YOU LIKE I DO
10-DON'T RAIN ON ME
11-MY VERY OWN HERO
12-WHEN YOU LOSE SOMEONE YOU LOVE
13-STEPS
14-ONLY YOUR LOVE
15-LEAVE ONE LIGHT ON
RICK ELIAS-BLINK-1997
THIS ALBUM CONTAIN(10-TRACKS)
1-BLINK
2-LOVE WILL SEE THE ROSE
3-PRODIGAL SON
4-HOLE IN MY HEART
5-PILIGRIMS
6-GOD INK.STREETS OF ROME(REPRISE)
7-PRAYERS OF THE SAINTS
8-IF YOU BELIEVED
9-THE MORE THINGS CHANGE
.Rick Elias's early '90s album "Confessions" was a great Christian album in a pretty bland bunch, back then. After his second 'Ten Stories' he disappeared before reappearing as a Ragamuffin with Rich Mullins and then more recently as a writer for Tom Hanks' moving That Thing You Do and producer of Split Level's 'glo.bal'. "Blink" is a kind of work in progress, released privately as tour product but, oh how good it is. In the first few songs, especially "Blink" and "I Need A Hole". Elias sounds like Karl Wallinger and I guess if his Tom Hanks contributions were early '60s Beatles then this is post Sgt Pepper. The tenderness of "If You Believed" is so delicate, the yearning of "Prayer Of The Saints" aches, the rock in "God Inc" is resistant and "Man Of Reputation" is as good a portrait of Jesus that any harmonica driven song ever was. If this is just a gap filler I can't wait for the real thing.
RICK ELIAS-TEN STORIES-1991
THIS ALBUM CONTAIN(10-TRACKS)
1-I WOULDN'T NEED YOU(LIKE I DO)
2-JOHN DOE
3-DON'T RAIN ON ME
4-MY VERY OWN HERO
5-WHEN YOU LOSE SOMEONE YOU LOVE
6-STEPS
7-WONDERING WHY
8-PRAY FOR THE DAY
9-ONLY YOUR LOVE
10-LEAVE ONE LIGHT ON
.After an acclaimed debut, the poor old artist then has to do it all again...but better. I've shouted the praises of 'Rick elias And The Confessions', one of the most devastating albums to ever smack its way through the protective walls of America's safe Christian music industry. Here was a voice which spoke with much of the authority of a Springsteen into the world of feelings and vision, ecstasy and pain, faith and fear that we believers call the Christian life. Here was a man with a voice gnarled and battered enough to sound believable when he sang about the twisted tracks of life without Christ and passionate and declamatory enough to sound believable when he sang of the joy of finding a pearl of great price. On Ten Stories', Rick uses the same musical framework as before, pokey rhythm and blues stylings where acoustic strums can suddenly slam into raw barroom rock, loud enough to make your speakers' woofer move. Lyrically, his words often read like entries from a personal spiritual journal, but never for a second descend to the stream of conscious artiness so beloved by some singer songwriters but which is anathema to this reviewer. Not that it's all observations on Rick's personal walk with God; "John Doe" has the man growling out a commentary on the chain of abuse while the "I Wouldn't Need You (Like I Do)"contrasts the God of hope with a hopeless world. As I write, the song is at number one on America's 'Christian rock' chart. The lyric states: "This man stares unblinking at the centre/Of the crossroads and barely withstands/That devil's curse/I am the man and more I'm afraid that/I've uttered such words and so much worse/And they tell us down
here/We should save ourselves/But that isn't very good news/Because if we could have/We would have wouldn't need you/Like we do/I wouldn't need you like I do." RICK ELIAS-RICK ELIAS AND THE CONFESSIONS-1990
THIS ALBUM CONTAIN(10-TRACKS)
1-CONFESSION OF LOVE
2-STREETS OF ROME
3-MILE AND MILES
4-BEFORE THE FALL
5-SOMEDAY
6-THE WORD IS LOVE
7-RIOT(COMING'ON)
8-WITHOUT ONE WORD
9-STONED
10-STRIPPED
Confessions Of a ragamuffin man(Christian AOR Rock.)
For my money, the best debut atom of the year! A singer/ songwriter who possesses a voice which sounds like his vocal chords have been pickled in brine, a sense of the dynamic which makes him whoop and holler one second and slur and drawl in Lou Reed style surrealism the next. The opener is a full tit rocker with a Stones-style chorus while the lyrics are starkly confessional though eschewing the obvious (I particularly like "I crawled into your arms with a guilty smile"). By track two the acoustic folk rock sound which is Rick's true forte establishes itself. The Confessions are a sensational band, blending mandolins and bluesy harmonies with power chords and charged drumming. And if this isn't enough the lyrics bite deep. "I walked the road for many miles a burden on my back/ Past every trench man and every curve, rode every twisted track". Songs from the heart that exude new found joy poured into a world weary life. Don't let this album pass you by. I like all of Rick's stuff, but of all of them this one is probably still my favorite. An eclectic sound with overtones of alternative, folk, rock, and other elements... well-written songs... and thoughtful and personal lyrics. If you prefer superficial Christian music this is not the cd for you. Rick has never been afraid to challenge the status quo, and that's one of the things I love about him. If you don't think so, check these lyrics out... Don't want no statues / No movie stars Don't need more saints in luxury cars I don't want nobody pointing at me Asking for my money / Say they set me free,anyway here is a little more help,here is the official-link for rick elias( http://www.rickelias.com/ )you may go to the official website of rick elias,I Want you let You Know By The Way That Do Have my own website and I Do make part of a comunity called(http://www.holymetalrob.com/)
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