Get Your Music on Amazon!
Get Your Music - and everything else - on Amazon! All purchases made on Amazon through this link earn a commission for Jesusfreakhideout.com!

JFH Music Review




Jonah 33
The Strangest Day



Artist Info: Discography
Album length: 10 tracks: 41 minutes, 31 seconds
Street Date: December 26, 2005


In 2003, Jonah 33 tossed their hat into the crowded Christian hard rock scene with their self-titled release on Ardent Records. With a post-grunge sound, influenced by secular acts Pearl Jam and Nirvana, the band hit hard with a sound different than their genre-mates. The lyrics were powerful, strong, and Christ-centered. They had a solid debut on their hands and the makings of a bright future. Now we find ourselves in 2005 and all indications had seemingly pointed to them making that bright future the present with their sophomore release The Strangest Day.

The first thing that was evident when listening through the album was the fact that the production quality seemed to have been lost. The depth and power that was conveyed through the chunky guitar riffs of their debut sound like they should be there, but just aren't. You're left waiting and expecting those big moments only to find that they don't come. It's particularly noticeable on songs like "This Is It (You Instead of Me)" and "Desensitized" that come off sounding unpolished and unfinished. As well, the song "Solution" has an up-beat pop-rock sound. While it's good for what it is, it just seems out of character for the band and the album.

However, that's not to say the album doesn't have any redeeming qualities. The title track, "The Strangest Day," brings a blend of rock with piano and strings. It brings in the depth and full sound that is lost in the production. The song "Search Me Know Me" is an honest and passionate worship ballad. "Need to Let Go" deals with letting go of those who have passed away and moving on with your life through the love of Christ. "Burning Clean," probably my favorite song here, is a solid rock song about casting away the actions and sin of your past life to refine yourself to Christ-likeness. Singer Vince Lichlyter's vocals are solid throughout. He does a good job of maintaining his vocal range of being able to pull of the soft-melodic numbers, but still being able to make frequent and effective use of the "I just ate gravel for breakfast" rock vocals that have become a feature of the band and the genre.

While unfortunately being one of the songs noticeably bitten by the production bug, "Father's Song" presents a fundamental message that this writer is convinced isn't heard enough in this day and age. The message is spelled out in the lyrics, "Point the finger at education and curse the silver screen / The Prison system regurgitates and we wonder what this means / and boys will be boys, but not without a man called Dad /something's wrong / the boy moves on to try to live a life that he's never had / to try to live a life that he'll never have / Excuse but has anyone seen everyone's Dad cause a boy is the only thing that God can use to make a man." A call to action for fathers is something that isn't heard nearly enough in music these days, so it's nice to hear a statement like this in a band's music.

Overall, The Strangest Day seems to be a step back from their previous release rather than a step into that promising future. However, the potential isn't lost. There's still enough here to warrant a listen. If you're already a Jonah 33 junkie you're probably going to buy this anyway, but you'll still find enough of a resemblance to their debut to help you to adjust to the other differences. If you're just getting into the band, then you might not want to make this your first go around.

- Review date: 12/23/05, written by Matt Johnson



(JFH Sponsor Spot)

Try Pop Culture Coffee!

 

CD

Buy This CD Online


. Record Label: Ardent / SRE Recordings
. Album length: 10 tracks, 41 minutes and 31 seconds
. Street Date: December 26, 2005
. Buy It: Amazon.com

  1. This Is It (You Instead Of Me)
  2. Tell Me
  3. The Strangest Day
  4. Solution
  5. Desensitized
  6. Search Me Know Me
  7. Burning Clean
  8. Father's Song
  9. Mystery
  10. Need To Let Go
spacerspacerspacerspacerspacerspacerspacer 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

 

 

                 
Try Pop Culture Coffee!

Search JFH



This Tuesday, June 3, 2025
SINGLES
Sixpence None The Richer The Needle and the Damage Done - Single [Flatiron]

This Friday, June 6, 2025
ALBUMS
CCV Hollow (Deluxe) (independent)
Ben Fuller Walk Through Fire [Provident]
Hopeful. The Wild One - EP (independent)
Christy Nockels King Who Never Sleeps; Anthems for Rest [The Fuel]

SINGLES
7eventh Time Down My Will - Single [BEC]
Bill B. & Cyrus Sonata Kevlar - Single [Syntax]
Elan Brio I'm Satisfied (ft. Henry Israel) - Single (independent)
Aaron Cole NOBODY BUT GOD - Single [Provident]
Equippers Worship Living in Freedom (Live) - Single [DREAM]
Good Weather Forecast Pray - Single [DREAM]
Ic3rd & EJ Swavv Woke Up (ft. CJ Emulous & George.Rose) - Single [Syntax]
King David tha Vessel Consistant - Single (independent)
Brandon Lake Daddy's DNA [Provident]
Myles Maestro Flood (ft. Ace Savage & Shruumi) - Single [Syntax]
Mell Omii Wave - Single [Syntax]
Kevi Morse Mr. Pilot - Single [Syntax]
River Valley Worship Time For Revival - Single [BEC]
Roy Tosh Everything's Gonna Be Alright (feat. PEABOD) - Single [RMG Amplify]
Solachi Voz All I Need - Single [Syntax]
Emilie Weiss Genesis (Studio Sessions) - Single [BEC]
Ayiesha Woods I Have Hope - Single [Backsider]

VINYL
Ironwrath Master Storyteller Vinyl [Girder]

Next Friday, June 13, 2025
ALBUMS
Coqui Death to Your Ego [DREAM]
King's Hammer To Speak In Tongues - EP [Rottweiler]
Brandon Lake King Of Hearts [Provident]
Joel Vaughn Feel It - EP [DREAM]
War of Ages Eternal (15th Anniversary Edition) [Facedown]

SINGLES
CalledOut Music Worthy of It All - Single [Integrity]
Equippers Worship Garment of Praise - Single [DREAM]
Mainstream Worship Near - Single [DREAM Worship]



For all release dates, click here!
 

Check out depositphotos for royalty free images