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JFH Music Review


The Ws
Fourth From The Last



Artist Info: Discography
Album length: 12 tracks: 46 minutes, 24 seconds
Street Date: 1998


 
FourthFromTheLast
READER RATING:  FourthFromTheLast
/ 5.0 (0 votes)

Mirroring secular counterparts, it became popular in the mid and late 90's for Christian ska and swing bands to infiltrate the contemporary-Christian-music market. The W's made quite a splash with their debut, Fourth from the Last, even winning a 1999 Dove Award for best modern rock/alternative album. While there's an irony about retro-swingers like The W's winning a "modern rock" award, you can't deny that these six young men from Corvallis, Oregon, spin up a spirited and punchy set of horn-driven swing-ska. Singer-guitarist Andrew Schar introduces us to a safe, but colorful array of slackers, skaters, and surfers that populate his world. Bassist Todd Gruener and drummer Brian Morris lay a solid rhythm track throughout and provide a foundation for the jumpin' jive from Valentine Hellman (tenor sax, clarinet), Bret Barker (trumpet), and James Carter (alto sax).

JFH Reader Review: Review date: 6/5/07, written by Steven Lewis for Jesusfreakhideout.com



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JFH Staff's Additional 2 Cents


Of course the Christian market always has to mirror the mainstream trends, but The W's were a treat for Christian teens looking for an alternative to secular, non-family-friendly acts like The Cherry Poppin' Daddies. Fourth from the Last is rough around the edges but offers a nice balance between the spiritual ("Open Minded," hit "The Devil Is Bad," "Moses") and the down-right silly ("Frank," "Pup," "King of Polyester"). Not a record that'll go down in history as one of the most memorable albums of the 90's, but it's a fun project nevertheless. - 1/10/08, John DiBiase

 

Record Label: Sara Bellum
Album length: 12 tracks: 46 minutes, 24 seconds
Street Date: 1998
Buy It: Amazon

  1. Open MindedLYRICS
  2. The Devil Is BadLYRICS
  3. FrankLYRICS
  4. J.P.LYRICS
  5. MosesLYRICS
  6. PupLYRICS
  7. King of PolyesterLYRICS
  8. Jason ELYRICS
  9. Alarm ClockLYRICS
  10. Flower TattooLYRICS
  11. DexterLYRICS
  12. HuiLYRICS

 

 



 

 

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