Get the new FREE JFH MP3 compilation -- Vol. 14!
Get the new FREE JFH MP3 compilation -- Vol. 14!

JFH Music Review




Avalon
Testify To Love: The Very Best of Avalon



Artist Info: Discography
Album length: 16 tracks: 70 minutes, 55 seconds
Street Date: March 25, 2003


Packed with some of the best, Testify to Love: The Very Best of Avalon is quite a gathering of greats from the quartet known as Avalon. From 1996 to 2001, you'll hit all the highlights in the recording history of one of Christian music's best pop groups.

"New Day", a new recording for this album, kicks things off in the right direction with a fun, upbeat pop-rock sound. This is a real highlight for the album, and I expect to see it climbing the charts as another number one radio hit. "The Greatest Story" and "Give It Up" follow, two tracks from their self-titled debut album reminding us of the first days of Avalon.

The brand new "Everything To Me" comes next, another major highlight for this greatest hits album. This is a soft-spoken track featuring the first real appearance from Melissa Greene, the newest Avalon member. "Everything To Me" is what Avalon is all about: worshipping Jesus, because He is everything - our life, our breath, our satisfaction. A greatest hits project wouldn't be complete if it didn't include probably the greatest hit from Avalon, "Testify To Love", from 1997's A Maze of Grace. Two more tracks from the album that really defined who Avalon was and is come next, "Adonai" and "Knockin' On Heaven's Door".

"Take You At Your Word" makes an easy transition from "Knockin'" to introduce the next era of Avalon's musical career. Hits from 1999's In A Different Light include "Can't Live A Day", "Always Have, Always Will", and "In Not Of", all radio favorites and all typical examples of the great writing talent behind the amazing group.

Before we can move on to hits from Oxygen, we have "Pray", another new recording. Gritty electric guitars lend a hand in this edgy track, which is good, but doesn't match quite the same caliber "New Day" and "Everything To Me" carry. "The Glory" follows, accompanied with other radio hits, "Wonder Why" and "I Don't Want To Go". A final "bonus" track is Joy's "Don't Save It All For Christmas Day", which is an odd ending for this record. It would have been better to leave this song off, and replace it with another hit such as "Reason Enough" or "Undeniably You".

It's definitely a new day for Avalon. After six albums, a barrage of number one radio singles, a whole collection of awards, and now a greatest hits album, the first chapter in the career of Avalon is coming to a close. And now a new chapter is just waiting to be written.

- Review date: 4/11/03, written by Shaun Stevenson



(JFH Sponsor Spot)

Get the new FREE JFH MP3 compilation -- Vol. 14!

 

CD

Buy This CD Online


. Artist Info: Discography
. Record Label: Sparrow Records
. Album length: 16 tracks, 70 minutes and 55 seconds
. Street Date: March 25, 2003
. Buy It: Amazon.com

  1. New Day (NEW)
  2. The Greatest Story
  3. Give It Up
  4. Everything To Me (NEW)
  5. Testify To Love
  6. Adonai
  7. Knockin' On Heaven's Door
  8. Take You At Your Word
  9. Can't Live A Day
  10. Always Have, Always Will
  11. In Not Of
  12. Pray (NEW)
  13. The Glory
  14. Wonder Why
  15. I Don't Want To Go
  16. Don't Save It All For Christmas
spacer Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics
Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics
Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics
Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics
Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics
Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics
Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics
Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics
Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics
Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics
Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics
Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics
Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics
Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics
Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics
Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics

 

 

go to main Album review page
go to Album review archive

 

 

                 
Get the new FREE JFH MP3 compilation -- Vol. 14!

Search JFH



This Wednesday, October 8, 2025
SINGLES
Amy Jay Back to What's Natural - Single (independent)

This Friday, October 10, 2025
ALBUMS
Citizens m us eum [Anotherland Records]
Ben Fuller Walk Through Fire: Songs From The Smoke [Provident]
Grace Graber Everything You Ever Wanted - EP [Wings]
Faith Worship Arts Fill This House (Deluxe) [DREAM]
Jesus Culture Send The Fire: Live From London [Capitol CMG]
The Kingdom Heirs Fortieth Anniversary [Sonlite]
Tasha Layton Life in Me [BEC]
Myles Maestro Dead End Road - EP [Syntax]
Make Sure Starry May Morning (independent)
Wintley Phipps A Symphonic Tribute to the Songs of Bill & Gloria Gaither [Gaither]
SNT. VINCENT Final Greetings [Syntax]
Razzie Digital Psalms - EP [Syntax]
Matthew West Come Home For Christmas [Provident/Story House]
Josh Wright LEAD (Deluxe) (independent)

SINGLES
Holly Brand One Thing He Wouldn't Do - Single [Integrity]
Chosen Road Daddy Was a Navy Man - Single [Thoroughbred]
Drakeford Writing on the Wall - Single (independent)
EJ Swavv & Jeff Knox Deja Vu - Single [Syntax]
gio. DANCE LIKE DAVID (feat. Swaizy) - Single [Capitol CMG]
Benjamin William Hastings At the heart of it (from Worship Together) - Single [Capitol CMG]
JSP No More (feat. Kevin Young) - Single (independent)
Kelo Memory Lane - Single [Syntax]
MATTHEWS Broken Forever - Single [Curb]
Patrick Mayberry + Katie Torwalt God Is Faithful - Single [Provident]
MAYIA Pass Me Not - Single [Syntax]
Kevi Morse Like You - Single [Syntax]
Jeannie Ortega Decipher - Single [Syntax]
Run51 Song Of My Soul - Single [DREAM]
Lee Vasi A Pesar De Todo - Single [Capitol CMG]
Zane Vickery Name (Live at Greenbriar) - Single (independent)
Vineyard Worship & Dreaming The Impossible Praise You For Eternity - Single [Vineyard]
Jovan Whyte Never Give Up (feat. Dweeno) - Single (independent)

Next Friday, October 17, 2025
ALBUMS
ANTHNY DIARY ENTRY 1 [Provident]
Blanca Full Bloom [Curb]
Chris Blue Every Day Is Christmas [Gaither]
Geoff Moore and The Distance Foundations (Re-Release) [Girder]
Geoff Moore and The Distance A Place To Stand (Re-Release) [Girder]
Nate Parrish Make Me A Mountain (independent)
Psallos The New and Better Way: Hymns of Hebrews (independent)
Anne Wilson Stars [Capitol CMG]

SINGLES
Zane Vickery All Things New - Single (independent)

DVD
Chris Blue Every Day Is Christmas DVD [Gaither]


For all release dates, click here!
 

Purchase Original Art Prints, Drawings, Stickers, Bookmarks and more from JFH's own John DiBiase!
Need proofreading and editing help? We've got you covered! Click here to learn more
Check out depositphotos for royalty free images