Friday 8 May 2009

ALTAR BOYS - DISCOGRAPHY / BIOGRAPHY AND REVIEWS
















THIS COMPILATION CONTAIN(20-TRACKS)
1-YOU'RE LOST
2-ALTAR BOYS GO SKATING
3-ALTAR BOYS GO SKATING(Acoustic Version)
4-COME ALONG AND SEE
5-SO I STAND ALONE?
6-FALLEN WORLD

7-GUT LEVEL MUSIC
8-I CAN HEAR
9-IT'S ME
10-LIFE IN THE STREETS
11-LISTEN TO YOUR HEART BREAKDOWN
12-NOW YOUR MINE
13-STAND & FALL
14-TAKE IN THE SON
15-THROW YOUR TORCHES DOWN
16-WELL OK
17-WHEN YOU'RE A REBEL
18-WHERE'S IT GONNA LEAD YOU?
19-WORLD BURNING
20-YOU ARE LOVED
ALTAR BOYS - TH COLLECTION / 1991















THIS COLLECTION CONTAIN(15-TRACKS)
1-YOU ARE LOVED(Remix)
2-HEARTS LOST IN NOWHERE
3-AGAINST THE GRAIN
4-BROKEN
5-I QUESTION IT(Extended Remix)
6-THERE IS A LOVE
7-FOREVER MERCY(Extended Remix)
8-WOLRD BURNING(Remix)
9-LIFE BEGINS AT THE CROSS
10-THE MEANING OF LIFE
11-RIDE THIS TRAIN
12-GUT LEVEL MUSIC(G.L.M.)
13-I'AM ONLY HUMAN
14-DO I STAND ALONE
15-FOOTSTEPS OF LOVE
ALTAR BOYS - FOREVER MERCY / 1989
















THIS ALBUM CONTAIN(10-TRACKS)
1-FOREVER MERCY
2-LISTEN UP
3-FAITH
4-THE MEANING OF LIFE
5-RIDE THIS TRAIN
6-WORLD BURNING
7-HERE ENDS THE NIGHT
8-LOVE ETERNAL
9-MORE THAN WORDS
10-SILENT NIGHT
ALTAR BOYS - AGAINST THE GRAIN / 1987















THIS ALBUM CONTAIN(10-TRACKS)
1-FALLEN WORLD
2-KIDS ARE ON THE RUN
3-HEARTS LOST IN NOWHERE
4-BROKEN
5-WHERE'S THE NEW WORLD?
6-AGAINST THE GRAIN
7-HUMAN SOUND
8-TAKE CONTROL
9-SHOUT LOUDER!
10-COUNT ON LOVE
CREDITS:
Mike Stand -
Jeff Crandall -
Steve Pannier -
Mark Robertson -
Ric Alba -.
ALTAR BOYS - GUT LEVEL MUSIC /1986















THIS ALBUM CONTAIN(10-TRACKS)
1- YOU ARE LOVED
2-G.L.M.(GUT LEVEL MUSIC)
3-I AM NOT TALKING ABOUT RELIGION
4-I QUESTION IT
5-YOU FOUND ME
6-UNCONDITIONAL LOVE
7-THERE IS A LOVE
8-CALLING TO YOU
9-FINAL HOUR
10-LIFE BEGINS AT THE CROSS
CREDITS:
Mike Stand -
Jeff Crandall -
Steve Pannier -
Mark Robertson -
Ric Alba -.
ALTAR BOYS - WHEN YOU'RE A REBEL / 1985
















THIS ALBUM CONTAIN(11-TRACKS)
1-DIFFERENCE IN ME
2-MORE OF YOU
3-CALLING OUT TO BELIEVERS!
4-WHEN I'AM WITH GOD
5-I AM INTO GOD(Reprise)
6-WHEN YOU'RE A REBEL
7-JESUS IS NUMBER ONE
8-IF YOU LET HIM IN
9-WHEN I SEE YOU
10-HE KNOWS YOU BETTER
11-DOES GOD'S HEART CRY?
ALTAR BOYS - ALTAR BOYS / 1984/2002















THIS ALBUM CONTAIN(11-TRACKS)
1-ALRIGHT!
2-I AM INTO GOD
3-HAVE A CLUE
4-WHERE'S IT GONNA LEAD YOU
5-YOU FOUND ME
6-TAKE IN THE SON
7-WELL.O.K
8-GOOD LIFE
9-OH ,OH NANCY
10-WE LOVE JESUS
11-IT'S UP TO YOU
12-GO FOR YOU(Bonus Track)
13-MARY ANN(Bonus Track)
14-YOU'RE LOST(Bonus Track)
15-ANYTIME AT ALL(Bonus Track)
CREDITS:
Rick Alba – Bass, Keyboards
Steve Pannier – Guitar
Jeff Crandall – Drums, Vocals
Mike Stand – Guitar, Lead Vocal














BIOGRAPHY/ & /REVIEW FOR THE ALBUMS:
The Altar Boys were a seminal Punk Rock Trio from California who from their formation in 1982 until their last album in 1989 (they briefly reformed in 2000) were pioneers in wedding Evangelistic lyrics to careering Punk Rhythms. Producer Terry Taylor summed up the Altar Boys in one word: passionate. From "You Are Loved" through to the "Life Begins At The Cross" there is no let up. These guys have got a message and we are going to hear it. "I'm Not Talking About Religion" reminds us that following Jesus is about a relationship and "I Question It" makes it clear that lifestyle matters. This is, as the song says, "Gut Level Music" and demands a response of "Unconditional Love" (and yes, that is the Donna Summer song and yes, it rocks). The Boys have a lot to say - most of it well worth hearing - but the format of the short, loud rock song does not always fit with the verbose lyrics. Imagine if you like The Clash belting out something by Springsteen and you might see the problem. Having said that, the Boys have a message and they know how to rock. Jeff Crandall gives his Drums a pounding, Ric Alba holds things together on Bass and Mike Stand delivers the passion with Vocals And Guitar. Play loud!.( Against The Grain ) is the Californian band's fourth album released in 1987. Although they were sometimes labelled as Christian punks the Altar Boys, despite their ripped jeans and Doc Martens, did not really belong in that pigeonhole. Lead Vocalist Mike Stand could sound raucous at times but this was more a rough and ready passion than a studied attitude. If you insist on a musical comparison I would bracket them with The Alarm as purveyors or anthemic, full-blown rock and roll but with a much more up-front message. Indeed lyrically the Altar Boys are not far removed from the Jesus Music of the previous decade. You can read them for yourself at www.altarboys.com Mike Stand's Voice and Guitar cut through with the powerhouse rhythm section of Ric Alba on bass and Jeff Crandall on drums was pretty tight. All Three Sang as well and with CCM Pioneer Terry Scott Taylor producing they cooked up something special. Of the 10 tracks three made it onto Their 1991 'Collection' On Alarma, namely "Heart Lost In Nowhere", "Against The Grain" And "Broken". This reviewer would not argue with that selection and he would like to state his opinion that "Broken" is One of The All-Time CCM Rock Classics.

REVIEW FOR THE ALBUM(Altar Boys)
This album signalled the ushering in of a new era in Christian music. The Holy-Spirit-driven energy of this then-new band drove their musical style in a way that had the sound of the best new-wave/rock bands of the day but infused it with a direct message -- namely, that Jesus can be every bit as relevant, real, and powerful today in your life as He was for Jesus' followers 2000 years ago. Like any non-commercial band's first major album, it evinces the youthful expression and exhuberance of its members, and portends of great things to come as their musical talents are further honed thru subsequent years. Fortunately, the Altar Boys stuck to their music long enough to be incredibly stellar both musically and in ministry -- aa awesome legacy that any young or not-so-young Christian can look up to. While the musical style doesn't match 2005 (the year of this review), it was a better era in Christian music, style aside. Few if any Christian bands in the last 20 years have had the level of directness in presenting the truth and power of Christianity, and also the powerful "connection" with the audience/fan/listener that the Altar Boys have. No obtuse references to a "higher power" here. It's straight medicine -- open up & get yourself a full dose!(mid 80's powerpop/punk that's focused on Jesus. Well, pretty much the only place you're going to find that combination is in the Altar Boys. This album is before they got heavy into that Replacements sound. It's more punk but it's still great stuff and honors God)The bonus songs were engineered by Uncle Dave Hackbarth in a little side room (converted into a make shift studio) at Evangelical Free Church in Fullerton in early 1983. This was ore first “official” demo and featured Jeff, Steve, myself and the first bass player. My overtly early Beatles influence is rather blatant on “Mary Ann” and “Anytime at All”. Both songs were recorded for the first record but discarded for obvious reasons. “You’re Lost” and “Go for You” are more in line with the Altar Boys’ sound and served as bit of a template both in attitude and theme to later songs. Hope you enjoy these tracks as we enjoyed recording them many years ago. http://christianrockzone.listen2myradio.com/.

REVIEW FOR THE ALBUM(Gut Level Music)
the Altar Boys were the christian alternative for bands like Nine Inch Nails and Suicidal Tendancies. Their chord structure and beat truely represent the "Grunge - Punk" OF The Eighties (when you could actually tell what the singer was saying)All in all, if you like punk - this is an Excellent example of the sound punk should have stayed with. I've heard and played many different styles, but I have never heard the clean sound of the Altar Boys' (for lack of a better phrase) 'Gut Level Music' and message replicated anywhere since then.The Altar Boys are a truly original and talented Christian band. Classifying themselves as punk, they are far from the simple 3 chord, music school dropouts of regular world punk. The message on these albums is uplifting plain and simple. The Altar Boys are not afraid to proclaim the name of Jesus Christ. Of all the albums the Altar Boys released I like these 2 the best. The music is hard and driving and the messages are plain, simple, and truthful. Lyrically this is some of my favorite rock music.I first heard these guys in a mens clothing store over the store music system in the mid-80's, "Final Hour" was the track playing. It grabbed me deep inside- they really conveyed the agony of His final hours before the cross. I was raised up in a christian home and church, and had wandered far and wide, and this music helped bring me back Home where I belonged. I definitely had a "Heart Lost in Nowhere", and they reminded me that "Life Begins at the Cross". Its punk appeal is still fashionable today, they don't cram their beliefs down your throat, but the message is still loud and clear. One of the best concerts I've ever attended was when they played at the Trenton War Memorial (go figure!) Cheez I miss 'em! Definitely buy this disc!(http://www.holymetalrob.com)

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