Check out the new concept album from Rusty Shipp!
Check out the new concept album from Rusty Shipp!

JFH Music Review


7eventh Time Down, Brand New Day
CLICK COVER TO ENLARGE

7eventh Time Down
Brand New Day



Artist Info: Discography
Genre(s): Pop / Pop Rock
Album length: 6 tracks: 32 minutes, 00 seconds
Street Date: March 1, 2019


READER RATING:   


It has long been claimed that variety is the spice of life. While this ancient proverb was probably written with the notion of new and exciting life experiences in mind, it arguably applies to the music-making arena as well. No need to tell this to the Mount Vernon, Kentucky, group 7eventh Time Down, whose latest album, Brand New Day, touches upon a multitude of differing styles over the course of its ten tracks.

Of course, given the fact that a good bit of current-day Christian pop tends to sound so similar, any such variety on the part of front man Mikey Howard and his fellow bluegrass-bred bandmates ultimately winds up being relative by default. To be sure, it isn't as if the group has kicked off their fourth record with a thrash metal cut, a country song, a Celtic jig, and a classical lute piece, only to finish things off with a half dozen compositions constructed solely from ambient nature sounds.

The potential awesomeness of such a lineup notwithstanding, what they have put together is a solid and engaging assortment of shimmering dance-pop ditties ("I Have Decided"), chant-driven anthems ("Make It Count"), driving power ballads ("Can You"), droning Indian-styled entries (the best-of-album "Basic") and turn-of-the-millennium styled pop numbers that would have made Justin, JC, Chris, Joey and Lance beam with pride back in the day. Even more impressively, they've managed to stitch these seemingly incongruous styles into a cohesive whole that is greater than the sum of its already stirring parts.

Kinks in the armor do crop up now and then. "The 99" is largely generic by-the-numbers fodder. The likewise undistinguished "Trust" offers little in the way of a truly fetching hook or melody line. That said, these minor, and thankfully infrequent, liabilities are more than made up for by assets such as the classic '60s soul flourishes of "Can You," the nimble pop-meets-country guitar textures of "Let Me Tell You," and, most especially, the mesmerizing banshee-like backing vocals that so ably propel the stellar title cut into must-hear territory.

In all fairness, Brand New Day doesn't completely overhaul the rules of contemporary songwriting or threaten to turn the music-making world on its ear. What it does do, however, is ensure that those who recognize and appreciate enthusiastic, skillfully crafted pop/rock will have plenty to chew on and enjoy. And here at a time when so little of what is heard over the airwaves seems to deviate from the now threadbare pop/worship template or leave much in the way of a lasting impression, that alone makes it an effort worthy of both admiration and investigation.

- Review date: 10/16/19, written by Bert Gangl of Jesusfreakhideout.com



(JFH Sponsor Spot)

Check out JFH's Lloyd in his first-ever childrens book!

 

. Record Label: BEC Recordings
. Album length: 6 tracks: 32 minutes, 00 seconds
. Street Date: March 1, 2019
. Buy It: iTunes
. Buy It: Amazon.com (CD)
. Buy It: Amazon Music (MP3)

  1. I Have Decided (2:59)
  2. Let Me Tell You (3:45)
  3. The 99 (3:21)
  4. Trust (3:17)
  5. Make It Count (3:19)
  6. Brand New Day (3:14)
  7. Can You (3:00)
  8. Help Me (3:10)
  9. Eyes on You (2:51)
  10. Basic (3:02)

 

 JFH Album Sample Player

 



Leave a Comment

 

 

go to main Album review page
go to Album review archive

 

 

                 
Check out JFH's Lloyd in his first-ever childrens book!

Search JFH



This Friday, June 27, 2025
ALBUMS
7eventh Time Down We Praise You [BEC]
The Browns 25th Anniversary: Better Days Ahead [StowTown]
Franni Cash Wild Child - EP [Capitol CMG]
Matt Crocker interlude [Anotherland]
Jimmy Fortune Songs of an American Dreamer [Gaither]
Roxanne Grace Road Trip - EP [DREAM]
JJ Hairston & Youthful Praise The Live Reunion: Washington, DC [James Town]
Kutless The Seventh Seal - EP [BEC]
Evvie McKinney It Ain't Over - EP (independent)
Rusty Shipp Capsized Empire (independent)
SEU Worship A Forgiving God [Provident]
The Shimmering Carnelians The Doorway (Version 2.0) (independent)
We Are Messengers A Thousand Times - EP [Curb]

SINGLES
Anchor & Braille Rattlesnake - Single [Equal Vision]
ANTHNY imposter syndrome - Single [Provident]
Blanca Right On Time - Single [Curb]
Landry Cantrell & Elenee sunshine & rainbows - Single [DREAM]
Eddie Clark Never Content - Single [Syntax]
Colony House Atomic - Single [Roon]
Megan Danielle Preachin' To The Choir - Single [Provident]
Drea LP & OnBeatMusic Don't Try Me (DTM) - Single [Syntax]
Joseph Habedank Running to Me - Single [Daywind]
Lonnie Hunter Flow (Like A River) - Single [Uncle G]
Kashh Kade HELP - Single [Syntax]
KB x KEANU Keanu's Song - Single [Provident]
Tasha Layton Singing In the Dark - Single [BEC]
Tasha Cobbs Leonard The Hand That Keeps Holding - Single [Motown Gospel]
Tim Lovelace Celebration of America Medley (feat. Charlie McCoy) - Single [StowTown]
Lecrae Tell No Lie (feat. Jackie Hill Perry) - Single [Reach]
LO Worship The Perfect Love of Jesus - Single [Integrity]
Patrick Mayberry Thank The Lord - Single [Provident]
Michael Monroe John The Baptist (feat. Chris Renzema) - Single [Provident]
Alexander Pappas A Great Awakening / Un Nuevo Despertar - Single [Integrity]
PEABOD Summer in Seattle - Single [RMG Amplify]
Rave Jesus Walk On The Water Remix (From The Chosen) - Single [Provident]
The Rocky Valentines Nat Song - Single [Velvet Blue]
Saints In Exile & Cutright My Dead End (ft. Jeannie Ortega, Luc DiMarzio, Jericko) - Single [Syntax]
Emilie Weiss Take Care (Studio Sessions) - Single [BEC]

DVD
Jimmy Fortune Songs Of An American Dreamer DVD [Gaither]

Next Friday, July 4, 2025
ALBUMS
Chad Cory America [DREAM]
Tenielle Neda The Way Of Love [Wings]

SINGLES
Christian Back Now - Single [DREAM]



For all release dates, click here!
 

Check out depositphotos for royalty free images