Newsboys – Go

CD REVIEW

After a couple of worship albums, Australia’s contribution to the world of contemporary Christian music returns to its rock roots.

Go is tapping liberally into the ’80s revival, flavouring the Newsboys’ rocking ways with the kind of English pop — Frankie Goes To Hollywood, Erasure, Duran Duran — that conquered the world 20-odd years ago, adding a dash of U2, and sprinkling it with a touch of electronica.

Welcome though the idea of Jesus commanding the disciples to evangelise through the medium of techno is (on the title track), the recipe works only mildly well. At times, Go is good fun, but after a while the album feels too lightweight and derivative.

Likewise, the lyrics are mostly undemanding. Though not lacking in wit at all, they have a way of stating the obvious (perhaps that sometimes is necessary when communicaing the Gospel message). The Newsboys sing of God’s glory, but haven’t departed much from worship mode.

Where some Christian rock groups (such as Jars Of Clay) examine the nature and meaning of their faith, the Newsboys are mostly just having a party with God on their side. Which may not be a bad thing at all.

Listen to: The Letter; Secret Kingdom; In Wonder; Wherever We Go; Let It All Come Out.