Get the new FREE JFH MP3 compilation -- Vol. 13!
Get the new FREE JFH MP3 compilation -- Vol. 13!

JFH Music Review




Raze
That's The Way EP



Artist Info: Discography
Album length: 8 tracks: 37 minutes, 6 seconds
Street Date: January, 1998


Fans of dance/pop will thrill at the mention of a group solely devoted to drum loops, synthesized sounds, and fast beats. I know I did when I found the power pop quartet Raze for the first time. In January 1998, they released That's The Way EP on Forefront Records and instantly found a welcome embrace from the Christian music scene.

Starting things off with a sound you'll find throughout the short album, That's The Way introduces us to the beginning of some fun, upbeat dance tracks. The song explores "the way it's meant to be" when you have Christ in your heart: He's always there, and He will never leave. This is definitely one of the highlights of this album, even splashing in a touch of rap in the bridge.

Following up the title track is "In The Name", a track which also ended up on the group's full-length album, Power. A tid bit more organic-sounding than the first track with actual drums, it's definitely get-on-your-feet-and-move material. "Always and Forever (BFF)", also finding it's way onto Power, is perhaps Raze's most well-known song, slowing down the tone a hair with a more approachable pop sound. The track runs along the themes of friendship, and could even almost be a power pop version of Michael W. Smith's "Friends".

"Shine" takes the old Sunday School song, "This Little Light of Mine" to a whole new level, with a sound that's almost a touch like "Brighter Day" on the Power album. "Shine" really shouts out what Raze is all about: "I'm gonna let it shine / I'm gonna let it shine / I'm gonna let it shine / I've got to keep on moving." The only real downside to the track is member Ja'Marc's spoken bridge that comes across a little cheesy.

"I Need Your Love" is the only song I have a little trouble with. Parts are too repetitive, the two-line chorus sung over and over again. The rapped verses could have been executed much better than they are here, and the whole track just gets annoying after a while.

Remixes are another point I have trouble with. Aside from a few really great ones done in the Christian music industry (such as dcTalk's remix of "Say The Words (Today)"), they usually fall flat of the original. Raze rounds off their debut with three remixes, "Always & Forever (BFF) (Groovacious Mix)", "I Need Your Love (Analog Love Mix), and "That's The Way (Raze Craze Mix)", each falling short of the originals, except for the remix of "I Need Your Love", which I find much better.

All in all, Raze has given fans of dance/pop sounds a worthy debut, and aside from a few points, the That's The Way EP comes out pretty good. After all, isn't that the way it's meant to be?

- Review date: 8/27/03, written by Shaun Stevenson



(JFH Sponsor Spot)

Get the new FREE JFH MP3 compilation -- Vol. 13!


. Record Label: Forefront Records
. Album length: 8 tracks, 37 minutes and 6 seconds
. Street Date: January, 1998
. Buy It: Amazon.com

  1. That's The Way
  2. In the Name
  3. Always & Forever (BFF)
  4. Shine
  5. I Need Your Love
  6. Always & Forever (BFF) (Groovacious Mix)
  7. I Need Your Love (Analog Love Mix)
  8. That's The Way (Raze Craze Mix)
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

 

 

go to main Album review page
go to Album review archive

 


(JFH Sponsor Spot)

 

 

                 
Get the new FREE JFH MP3 compilation -- Vol. 13!

Search JFH




This Friday, November 8, 2024
ALBUMS
Gabby Barrett Carols and Candlelight [Warner Music Nashville]
CXMMXNS CXMMXNS Chapter 1 - EP [Essential Worship]
New Hope Oahu There Is One - EP [DREAM]
Neal Morse & The Resonance No Hill For A Climber [InsideOut]
TAKE Time Bomb [Resuscitation Records]
Lauren Talley A Lauren Talley Christmas [Horizon]

SINGLES
Cory Asbury I Hope You Dance - Single [BEC]
Jordan Kauflin, Laura Story Approach, My Soul - Single [Getty]
Sam Bowman & GLADDEN Misfit Toys - Single [DREAM]
Wavorly Enemies - Single (independent)

VINYL
Michael W. Smith Every Christmas Vinyl [Rocketown]
Stryper To Hell with the Amps Vinyl [Frontiers]
TAKE Time Bomb Vinyl [Resuscitation Records]

DVD
Stryper To Hell with the Amps Blu-Ray [Frontiers]

Next Friday, November 15, 2024
ALBUMS
Dolly Parton & Family Smoky Mountain DNA – Family, Faith & Fables [Owepar Entertainment]
The Lore Family Faith Over Fear [Horizon]
Fernando Ortega For All the Saints - EP (independent)
Earnest Pugh Worth is the Lamb
We Are Messengers Rejoice! (A Celtic Christmas) - EP [Curb]
Paul Wright III Reverie [United Alliance]

SINGLES
Big Dismal Here In My Heart - Single (independent)
Hannah Kerr It Came Upon A Midnight Clear - Single [Curb]
Olivia Lane Silent Night - Single [BEC]
Tasha Layton Wake Up It's Christmas - Single [BEC]
Jamie MacDonald A Million Chances - Single [Capitol CMG]
Ronnie Martin On Christmas Morning - Single [Velvet Blue]
Hunter Plake Daylight - Single [BEC]
Jordan St. Cyr Christ is Here - Single [BEC]

VINYL
Sixpence None the Richer Divine Discontent Vinyl [Word]



For all release dates, click here!
 



Check out the new album from Taylor Holland Armstrong!



Listen to the new Single from Second Adam and the New Creations!

Check out depositphotos for royalty free images