Jesusfreakhideout.com celebrates 30 Years online in 2026... Get Your Music - and everything else - on Amazon! All purchases made on Amazon through this link earn a commission for Jesusfreakhideout.com!
Jesusfreakhideout.com celebrates 30 Years online in 2026... Get Your Music - and everything else - on Amazon! All purchases made on Amazon through this link earn a commission for Jesusfreakhideout.com!

Newsboys
Not Ashamed



Artist Info: Discography
Album length: 10 tracks: 42 Minutes, 12 Seconds
Street Date: 1992


 
  
NotAshamed
READER RATING:  NotAshamed
/ 5.0 (0 votes)

This is the album where the Newsboys really started to hit their stride. With their fourth album, the Newsboys went from an average pop/rock group to one that would produce great hits such as "Shine," "Breakfast," and "Take Me to your Leader," within a few short years.

The difference? Enter Steve Taylor. Acting as a songwriter/producer, Steve Taylor's unique and fun lyrical style combined with Peter Furler's rapidly improving songwriting skills to transform the Newsboys' sound into the catchy/fun-loving style they have now become famous for. Granted, this album is only the stepping stone towards future masterpieces, and it's certainly not perfect, but already several gems on the album showcase the Newsboys now-signature sound.

Strong cuts include the title track and "Strong Love" - two catchy and upbeat songs that showcase Steve Taylor's lyrics talents: "And some go for broke/like headless chicken folk - inspiring jokes about 'poultry-in-motion'." Lyrically, the themes range from boldness in faith ("I'm Not Ashamed") to reconciliation ("We Come Together") and God's unconditional love ("Love Comes True").

While this album is very 90's pop-oriented, there are some strong rockers in the mix ("I Cannot Get You Out of my System" and the DeGarmo & Key cover "Boycott Hell"). Other highlights include the keyboard-driven "Love Comes True" and "Lost the Sky Again" - where listeners are treated to a few guest raps by Steve Taylor.

Overall, this album is very keyboard-oriented, since Jody Davis did not join the group until their next album Going Public. As a result, the album has a slightly-annoying early 90's feel and sounds pretty dated by today's standards. There are also a couple of missteps on the album - the modernized hymn song "Where You Belong/Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus" is kind of a snoozer, while Steve Taylor's raps don't really fit the Newsboys' sound too well (think Michael W. Smith's "Love Crusade").

Other than that, this album is not a bad starting point for the Newsboys as we know them, but you could tell that the best was still yet to come. The Taylor/Furler collaboration is definitely a winning formula that would bring the Newsboys countless hits throughout the next decade. This album is definitely worth checking out for those fans who want to see just how it all really started.

- Review date: 12/24/04, written by Sherwin Frias



(JFH Sponsor Spot)

Get a FREE month of VidAngel on us when you sign up!

 

Record Label: StarSong
Album length: 10 tracks: 42 minutes, 12 seconds
Street Date: 1992
Buy It: Amazon.com

  1. I Cannot Get You Out Of My SystemLYRICS
  2. I'm Not AshamedLYRICS
  3. Where You Belong/Turn Your EyesLYRICS
  4. Upon This RockLYRICS
  5. Strong LoveLYRICS
  6. Dear ShameLYRICS
  7. Boycott HellLYRICS
  8. We Come TogetherLYRICS
  9. Love Comes TrueLYRICS
  10. Lost The Sky AgainLYRICS

 

 

 

 

go to main Album review page
go to Album review archive

 

 

                 
Get a FREE month of VidAngel on us when you sign up!

Search JFH



This Sunday, June 7
ALBUMS
Drown the Planet The Blessed /// The Cursed - EP (independent)
Brett Leyde like a fool - EP (independent)

SINGLES
Seth Davey Dance in the Dark - Single (independent)
The Riverside Forester, Faller - Single (independent)

This Friday, June 12
ALBUMS
Brave Days Crisis - EP [Common Thread Records]
Elan Brio Blind Faith [Polished Arrow]
Eighteen Mile Peace Be Still [Mountain Home]
Flesh Incinerant Alkaloid Grace - EP (independent)
Ben Fuller Black Sheep Tour: Songs from the Road [Provident/Sony]
Hopeful. The Art of Letting Go (independent)
Vince Gill A Mother's Prayer - EP [MCA]
J.Solo Lost Son [Syntax]
Tori Kelly God Must Really Love Me [Epic]
KNGDM REVIVAL Parables [Dream]
Patrick Mayberry Anybody Else - EP [Provident/Sony]
Pep and Perk It's Cool To Be A Kid [Smidi]
So Much Hope, Buried. Wither | Grow (independent)
We The Kingdom Everything I Thought Was Pleasure [Capitol CMG]

SINGLES
Brothrly Forever - Single (independent)
Canyon Hills Worship All Consuming Light - Single [Harmony]
CCV Music Come Have Your Way - Single [Harmony]
Steven Curtis Chapman America the Beautiful (feat. Chris Janson) - Single [SCSEE / The Fuel]
The Choir Room Love Never Fails (feat. Fred Hammond) - Single [Centricity]
EJ Swavv Aura - Single [Syntax]
Fallstar Death Drive - Single [Rat Family Records]
Charles Wesley Godwin Hey There Son - Single [Big Loud]
GRIFFITH I Still Believe - Single (independent)
Tiffany Hudson Fire In My Bones - Single [Elevation]
JusRzd, Duprae, QEW My God Got It - Single [Syntax]
KDNS & Briana Maia Blame Game - Single [Syntax]
Mountains in the Sea Your Will Be Done - Single [Dream]
No Vain Glory IN G_D WE TRUST - Single [Syntax]
Ginny Owens Greater Is The Cross (feat. Josh Bissell & The Church Will Sing) - Single [ChickPower]
PEABOD 100 - Single (independent)
Dante' Pride x Miles Minnick Act Up - Single [TAMLA]
Procyse Showing Up - Single [Polished Arrow]
Q-Flo High Praise - Single [Syntax]
The Rogers Family He Keeps Right On Blessing Me - Single [Horizon]
Michael Sarver Count It All Joy - Single [WieRise]
Scapegoat The Same Abyss (Revived) - Single [Charon Collective]
SEU Worship Wild Rushing Wind - Single [Provident/Sony]
Sleeping At Last Source - Single (independent)
Carly Ann Taylor Heavenly Father - Single [Curb]
TobyMac Campfire (That Very Love) [feat. Third Day] - Single [Capitol CMG]

Next Sunday, June 19
ALBUMS
GVTH DVDDY GVDV [Velvet Blue Music]

SINGLES
AAH (All About Him) That's My God - Single (independent)
Josh Grove Hope - Single (independent)
Kaboose Like That - Single [Polished Arrow]
KNGDM REVIVAL Psalm 91 - Single [Dream]
Living Again Cynical and Jaded - Single (independent)
Tenielle Neda Who Do They Say I Am? - Single (independent)


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