Beautiful You by Jonny Diaz

Reviewed by Caleb Newell

 

"Jonny has put together an intelligent album whose lyrics are of great depth."

Jonny Diaz went to college on a baseball scholarship, but God had other plans. Jonny soon picked up his guitar and the buzz went out nationwide. Jonny is the fourth of four brothers to go to college on a baseball scholarship, so you can only image how big a decision it was to go the music route. Matt Diaz, Jonny’s brother, currently plays for the Atlanta Braves as a left fielder. Jonny released his debut album in 2003, and has since produced four albums, the latest being “More Beautiful You”.

The title track, "More Beautiful You", starts out the album and explores how most women have low self image. This song states that beauty is what on the outside but what/ who is on the inside. This verse says it the best, “So turn around you’re not too far/ To back away be who you are/ To change your path go another way/ it’s not too late you can be saved/ If you feel depressed with past regrets/ The shameful nights hop to forget/ Can disappear they can all be wash away/ By the one who’s strong can right you wrongs/ Can rid your fear dry all you tears/ And change the way you look at this big world/ He will take you dark distorted view/ And with his like he will show you truth/ and again you’ll see through the eyes of a little girl.”

“Love like You Loved” is a catchy tune, and a personal prayer to be more like the Messiah and less like ourselves. “Waiting Room” shows the condition of the human heart toward prays answered the way we don’t want them. Jonny probably wrote this from his personal decision to become a singer instead of a baseball player. “See the Wind” is my favorite song on the album. It describes how through this life and its hectic uniform, it tends to drown out God’s every day miracles---for now we can’t see him but one day we will see the un-seeable.

Jonny has put together an intelligent album whose lyrics are of great depth, all songs having been written or co-written by Jonny. This collection of tracks from Jonny Diaz is a must have. As Theresa Ross said, “Jonny’s sound is ‘now’”.

 

Greatest Hits by Avalon

Reviewed by Jennifer Bogart

 

"...a highly pleasing album that provides not only an enjoyable listening experience, but one that leads its audience into an interactive state of worship."

Over the past thirteen years Avalon has become a mainstay in CCM. Their blend of pop, dance, and R&B inflected songs that invariably bring the honor to God are both infective and musically solid. Newcomers to the group can’t go in wrong in starting with The Greatest Hits, a generous sampling of sixteen of their most well known offerings.

Hard-core Avalon fans already in possession of the groups previous hit-filled compendium Testify to Love: The Very Best of Avalon will find a large amount of overlap between the two discs. As a newcomer to the group myself, each song is fresh and previously unheard, but long time fans will find only five tracks difference from the previous collection. In fact, the tracks that were recorded specifically for The Very Best of Avalon such as “New Day,” and “Everything to Me” have been taken from that disc directly into this one.

Still, dedicated fans may be able to justify the purchase. A new song, “Still My God,” proves to be a real tearjerker, highlighting God’s unchanging nature through our trials and challenges. The last four tracks on the disc: “All,” “You Were There,” “Orphans of God,” and “In Christ Alone” have been swapped in from previous albums.

“Orphans of God” is a particularly moving inclusion from Stand – a symphonic, tender song of reassurance that celebrates God’s unending grace. “All” is a somewhat more two-dimensional tune, exhibiting a bounty, R&B influence. “You Were There” is an introspective, mellow song with a surprisingly forceful chorus.

“In Christ Alone” draws from the vein that is ever popular amongst CCM artists – covering traditional hymns with their own distinctive arrangements. A beautiful rendition, Avalon’s take on the hymn features heart-plucking harmonies, big, bold vocalizations, and poignant guitar accompaniment in the simpler sections that bursts into an array of strong percussion back up during the chorus.

The classics that were previously included in the last greatest hits collection are clearly appearing again for a reason. “Testify to Love” is an addictive headliner that pops into my head throughout the day and demands to be sung. “Knockin’ On Heavens Door” proves itself as a perennial favourite on account of it’s chorus that depicts the insistent, never-ending prayers of a believer confident in her position as a child of God.

Personally, I could have passed on “Give It Up” from the oldies but goodies section of the disc – somewhere between the heavy reliance on synthesizers and the embellishing “na na na’s” I tune out. Likewise the dance-style rhythms of “Wonder Why” generally leave me cold. “New Day” rounds out the trio of tunes that I wouldn’t have missed if they’d been left out of the compilation.

There are some true Avalon classics included that make the album. “Take You At Your Word” is an insanely catchy, upbeat song that catches me every time and finds me belting out the chorus at full volume. “Can’t Live a Day” makes me cry more often than not as I’m reminded of my complete dependence on Jesus, “The Glory” is a story song that recalls Jesus’ life and sacrifice, and “Adonai” is a slow song with understated accompaniment that nonetheless a heart-rending cry to the creator.

I’ll admit that at first listen, the music struck me as somewhat fluffy, but after repeated listening many of these songs have become woven into my life. I’ve come to appreciate their theologically sound, yet still entertaining perspective (not always present in CCM), the variety of represented moods, and the clear vocal abilities of the group’s performers.

Avalon: The Greatest Hits is indeed a highly pleasing album that provides not only an enjoyable listening experience, but one that leads its audience into an interactive state of worship. I’d be hard pressed to number the times the songs I initially viewed as simple have led me to tears of repentance and rejoicing. This resulting emotional response and turning towards God in a listener should be the highest praise an album can receive.