THIS ALBUM CONTAIN(10-TRACKS)
1-WINGS
2-THE NATURE OF LOVE
3-FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS
4-SHELTER IN THE RAIN
5-BETWEEN YOU AND ME
6-REAL THING
7-RIDE OF LIFE
8-AS LONH AS MY HEARTKNOWS IT'S YOU
9-WHAT DO YOU KNOW
10-LOVE FINDS YOU
4HIM -THE BASICS OF LIFE /1992
THIS ALBUM CONTAIN(12-TRACKS)
1-THE BASICS OF LIFE
2-WHEN IT COMES TO LIVING
3-FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH
4-THIS TIME
5-THROUGH HIS EYES
6-BUILT ON AMAZING GRACE
7-FREEDOM
8-LIVING IN THE LION'S MOUTH
9-WHEN IT'S TIME TO GO
10-HEAD OVER HEELS
11-WRECKING BALL
12-THE VOICE OF GOD
4HIM - FACE THE NATION / 1991
THIS ALBUM CONTAIN(12-TRACKS)
1-HE NEVER CHANGES
2-PUZZLES
3-WHY
4-WHEN THE WALLS COME DOWN
5-CHISEL MEETS THE STONE
6-FACE THE NATION
7-OVER THE HORIZON
8-A MAN YOU WOULD WRITE ABOUT
9-WHEN I GET HOM
10-EVERY REASON TO BELIEVE
11-TAKE ME TO THE PLACE
12-WHEN I GET HOME(Reprise)
4HIM - 4HIM / 1990
THIS ALBUM CONTAIN(9-TRACKS)
1-COULDN'T WE STAND
2-STAY FOREVER
3-WHEN I NEED YOU MOST
4-DO RIGHT
5-HE WILL BE THERE FOR YOU
6-WHERE THERE IS FAITH
7-LIVING WATER,BREAD OF LIFE
8-LIFE GOES ON
9-WHEN I AM GONE
BIOGRAPHY:
Mark Harris
Marty Magehee
Andy Chrisman
Kirk Sullivan
(4Him)Three times voted Gospel Group of the Year, the quartet known as 4Him formed in 1990 as a spin-off from the choral group Truth. Fronted by Kirk Sullivan, the vocal group released its self-titled debut album in 1990 for the Benson label. Four albums followed in the next four years (Face the Nation, The Basics of Life, 4Him Christmas, The Ride), after which 4Him toured during 1995 and followed up with 1996's The Message. Two years later 4Him delivered Obvious, and 2000 saw the arrival of A Place Of Worship. The group has also released several videos, including the live document The Ride Comes Alive.
http://www.4him.net/bio.html.
REVIEW FOR THE ALBUMS:(4HIM)
From what I understand, 4Him had a very short time to record this album since they were all still singing for Truth when the formed their group. Wow! I wonder what would have happened had they took their time. Even 10 years later, this is still one of the best contemporary Christian music has to offer. Where there is Faith is a top 10 all time song (Maybe Even One OF Their Best Ever). Get one of these for yourself and give one (or a dozen) as gifts.and it is one of my favorites. Every song is good and meaningful - my favorites are ." Living Water " , " Bread of Life " . This songs blesses me every time I hear it, and it will you as well. "Couldn't We Stand," And "When I Am Gone," And Of Course, "Where There Is Faith." I highly recommend this to anyone. It will not be the last 4Him album you buy.They also received a Dove award for the best new group after the release of this album. You just cannot sit still and "veg out" on these albums, especially this one. The lyrics are just amazing and life changing. Plus this is one group that definitely lives what they believe. Go see them in concert and see for yourself - these guys are amazing!.
REVIEW FOR THE ALBUM(The Basics of Life)
This album catapults a premier inspirational quartet into the contemporary Christian pop market. Hailed as a milestone in the group's career, it garnered them several honors including a Dove Award for Best New Artist of 1992. The "obvious-about-their-faith" approach that permeates 4Him's repertoire is intact here against a strong inspirational pop backdrop. They also tip their musical hat to 70's pop/rock icons with their "wall of sound" vocals. Featured are the title track (one of their most notable); another hit with a heavenly perspective, "Through His Eyes"; and "When It Comes To Livin'," a reminder of the important things in life.Stacks of awards or not, this is musically pretty average. What you get here is 4 good (not great but competent) male singers that do lots of harmony to middle of the road AC pop and light rock. Occasionally they're given a really good lyric to work with (they don't write most of their own stuff) but most of it is oft-trod "Jesus loves you..He's the only way to live" stuff that has been heard zillions of times.
HIGHLIGHTS:
There are 3 tunes on here which break free of the pack. The title tune is a pretty good manifesto calling for an increased moral and spiritual renewal in America (without the extremes of say, Carman's "America Again"). ("We need to get back to the basics of life/A heart that is pure and a love that is blind/A faith that is fervently grounded in Christ/The hope that endures for all times..") "Through His Eyes" is a call for racial unity and the return to God of every man and woman on Earth. ("He desires to see the good/in each and every man/That He has purposed from the start..") "when it's Time to Go" speaks of the time that a child "leaves the nest" of home ("Say goodbye,cry some tears/but don't worry") and neatly dovetails it into Jesus' departure from the home of Mary and Joseph to dying for our salvation and in the end awaiting a reunion with them in Heaven. ("When I hit the City/I'll build you a house right down the street from Mine...") It's surefire singalong fare and a darn good lyric. .
LOWS:
"Head Over Heels" is yet another 'Jesus is my boyfriend/girlfriend' lyric that gives Christian contemporary music a bad name in the music world at large. "Fountain of Youth" strains too hard in its concept: a world seeking immortality through the mythical Ponce de Leon search would be better served by seeking Jesus and obtaining eternal life (if not eternal youth). The metaphor is just too specious.
BOTTOM LINE:
It's under a buck used and only the title track appears on either of their 2 hits collections (BEST ONES and CHAPTER ONE...A DECADE) so this is worth getting for the 3 best tunes. Don't expect to be blown away overall, though. (For some unclear reason, CCM Magazine rated this #66 on their 100 Greatest Christian Albums of All Time.) "The Basics of Life" - A simple, light rock song that reminds us that we need to get back to the basics of what it is to be a Christian. This song still receives regular airplay on Christian radio. 4 Him is at their best when they harmonize, and this song definitely demonstrates their ability to do just that."When It Comes to Livin'" - A combination of ballad & soft rock that talks about living your life not for the world but for building up your faith. "Fountain of Youth" - The fountain of youth and its legendary immortality may have escaped Ponce de Leon, but Christians have their own fountain of youth in Jesus Christ. "This Time" - A Ballad, this song is one of the weakest musically on the album.But Still Good! , 4 Him is weakest when single Solo Ballads, and this song shows that weakness. "Through His Eyes" -Is My favo And If we could only see through Jesus' Eyes, We might have a better understanding of His love for us. Another Solo Ballad, this song does not contain the same weakness as "This Time." And "Built on Amazing Grace" - Yet Another Ballad. Although lacking musically, this song contains A Great Message about God's amazing grace in our lives. "Freedom" - Finally the album Gets Back to what 4 Him does best: soft rock and harmonies. We often think of freedom the same way the world does: freedom from tyranny, from school, from a bad situation, etc. But true freedom is found in Christ. "Livin' in the Lion's Mouth" - Another song about God's amazing grace and wanting to be on the front lines for God so that others can see His grace in me. "When It's Time to Go" - A great song about a child coming-of-age and leaving mom and dad. "Head Over Heels" - An excellent song about how God does not give up on us, even though we give up on Him. "Wrecking Ball" - One day God is going to tear down the walls society has built up trying to block us from Him. "The Voice of God" - Another Ballad that again demonstrates the group's weakness in these songs. However, it is one the strongest songs lyrically on the album. Although this is not one of 4 Him's best albums,As For Me It IS! And it is still a 5-star album and deservedly so. A must have for any 4 Him fan.Contemporary Christian Music at it's best! Check out these four guys who are totally sold out for Christ! Super tight 4-part harmonies. Inspired songs. I don't need to say more, let the music speak to you. (Also, make sure you get their Christmas Album - If you have trouble understanding what the holiday is suppossed to be about, then these boys will help you understand the original event!!)
REVIEW FOR THE ALBUM(Face the Nation)
I remember the first time I bought one of those amazing "CD players". They'd been around for a few years, but being just a teenager with no job I had to wait a while to be able to afford one. When I finally bought a CD playing boom box, I bought three CDs to go with it. 4Him's Face the Nation was one of them. I fell in love with high-quality CD audio for the first time with this CD (and two others). Oh how fascinated I was by putting on my headphones and flipping around to different tracks and listening to the most subtle nuances than could never come through before with a cassette player. With the CD player, I became an audiophile overnight. But it's funny how first impressions of a whole new thing can be tinted with the lenses of context. My musical world revolved around this album for weeks, until I could afford more CDs, and I never complained or got too sick of it. I'm feeling a little nostalgic right about now, because I found this CD in a stack of old classics that I needed to rip to WMA for restored enjoyment. Even as I write this, I'm listening to the WMA-ripped tracks, completing one of my personal favorites, "Puzzles". I haven't heard this album in years, and it still sounds as good (if 90's-ish) as it ever did. As an album, this is one of 4Him's better ones. "He Never Changes" is a pleasant song about how God's immutability. Its nuances are memorable, having some synth pads and nylon string guitar expressions and Gentle Vocals, yet keeping an upbeat if gentle speed as a first track. "Puzzles" is a declarative prayer that people acknowledge their need for God. It has stronger synth and background distortion guitars, but is a very good song, one of my favorites. "Why?" is a thoughtful slow song about how the mysteries of life's frustrations will not quench the faith of a committed believer. "When the Walls Come Down" starts out with somewhat of a synth cliche, and its chorus is repetitive. ("Where ya gonna be when the walls come down? Tell me, where ya gonna be?" Repeat over and over again.) It is a track worth forgetting. The following track, "Chisel Meets the Stone", is the second best track on the album, both musically and lyrically. It's another prayer of personal devotion to God, and in retrospect I think it kept me going in my final years of high school in the right direction. Musically, it is a simple song, not one to appeal to most youth (nor "Youth" Of The 90s), but it appealed to me, with its "Chime" And "Flute" Synth Background, its double-snare beat, its ukelele during the bridge, and its Vocal harmonies. "Face the Nation", the title track, is somewhat of a chore to listen to, and its lyrics seem to have an almost political feel. The Synth Work seemed a little sloppy, and I think I can hear a mistake in the lead Synth Nine. "Over the Horizon", a celebration of anticipated Heaven, is musically an obvious tribute to Lounge Jazz, having only Three instruments Backing Up The Vocalists: an upright Bass, A Piano, and A Soft-Playing Trap Drumset. The chorus sung by the vocalists is fun and beautifully sung, making this song a true rare classic. "A Man You Would Write About", a song describing how God's favor and significance as one who serves Him is an ideal to strive for, is the best song on the album and one of the best songs ever written and played on the radio in that year. I even bought the accompaniment track and sang it at church. "When I Get Home" is apparently a response to the tragedy of a lost loved one, describing anticipation for seeing the loved one again upon arriving in Heaven. In my opinion, it's musically too simple to be notable. "Every Reason to Believe" is difficult to listen to; its boring electronic snare drum is way too loud, robbing from the melody and nuances of the simple musical production. I'm sure it could have been a great song, "Sing praise to the God of creation...", but I usually skip it. "Take Me to the Place" is a call for first love of God, and its musical direction is appropriate and gentle, but the bridge comes off at first like a secular love song, "I gotta have you close to me." Once understood, though, it proves itself to be a good song about one's Relationship with God. I hear the first few seconds of the first track and I almost get goosebumps as it reminds me yet again of that first day when I pulled out that CD from the jewel case and put it into my new CD player and closed my eyes and breathed it in. This is a very good CD if you like 4Him's style, and I'd recommend it.. These are songs that, if you really listen to, you will not soon forget. " A Man You Would Write About" is considered by many to be not only the best song on this CD, but even possibly 4Him's greatest song. It is one of my favorites, and once you hear it you are sure to understand why. I also love "Why?" "Chisel Meets the Stone" and all the others of course."Man You Would Write About" is just about the best Christian song that's come about in a long time. Here are some of the lyrics: "I want to be a man that you would write about a thousand years from now, that you would read about. Your servant of choice in whom You found favor, a man who heard Your voice." That just about says it all, I think. The rest of the album is just as great - check it out!(http://www.holymetalrob.com)
No comments :
Post a Comment