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




Smalltown Poets
Third Verse



Artist Info: Discography
Album length: 10 tracks
Street Date: September 26, 2000


If ever there was a group that stuck to what it knew, it would most certainly be pop/rock outfit Smalltown Poets. In 1997 they unveiled their debut, an impressive collection of pop/modern rock gems a la secular act Matchbox 20. A year later came Listen Closely, a little edgier but nevertheless a very similar sounding record. It would be two years (and significant band restructuring) later before Third Verse.

The strongest draw on this album is the vocals, period. Michael Johnston has flawless delivery especially on softer-sounding songs like "Any Other Love." Album opener "Every Reason" is arguably the heaviest song the band has ever performed, with a wailing guitar intro and heavier, modern-rock choruses. It and pop/rock gem "Firefly" have radio-friendly written all over them. "Clean" has smart lyrics woven into an ultra-catchy chorus. Unfortunately, that's where most of the genius stops. The rest of the record (with the exception of "The Lust, the Flesh, the Eyes and the Pride of Life") follows a predictable (and in the case of "Waterfall," absurd) pattern. It just sounds more desperate than deep. However, the entire record is saved by "That Line," arguably the best rock song Smalltown has ever done. With heavy, melodic guitars and poignant lyrics about walking with God, the song pages earlier, more enjoyable Smalltown Poets.

There's enough here to please pop/rock fans and even maybe to convert new ones. But Smalltown Poets can do better. They have done better. And my gut tells me they will.

JFH Reader Review: Review date: 8/24/04, written by Samuel James for Jesusfreakhideout.com.



(JFH Sponsor Spot)

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

 


. Artist Info: Discography
. Record Label: Forefront Records
. Album length: 10 tracks
. Street Date: September 26, 2000
. Buy It: Amazon.com

  1. Every Reason
  2. Any Other Love
  3. Firefly
  4. Clean Small
  5. The Pride of Life
  6. Waterfall
  7. Beautiful, Scandalous Night
  8. No Kinder Savior
  9. That Line
  10. 100 Billion Watts

 

 

go to main Album review page
go to Album review archive

 

 

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

Search JFH



This Friday, July 25, 2025
ALBUMS
Anchor & Braille New Mexico [Equal Vision]
B. Tee Told You [Syntax]
Bride Scarecrow Messiah CD Re-Release [Girder]
Empowered SALT - EP (independent)
Homesick Prodigals Different Good (independent)
KDNS After Eden [Syntax]
Olivia Lane Songs About Jesus (Deluxe Edition) [BEC]
Tasha Cobbs Leonard TASHA [Motown Gospel]
Kevi Morse Kingston We Winning [Syntax]
Pulpit Vomit Hospital Lens [Rottweiler]
Anthony & Tiffany Salerno Dance for Jesus - EP (independent)
Taylor & Co Worship Breakthrough - EP (independent)
Josh Wright LEAD (independent)

SINGLES
abenezer i was lost - Single [Gotee]
Joe L Barnes Good Shepherd (Studio Version) - Single [Provident]
Sho Baraka Still Got Faith (ft. L3xdivine) - Single [Syntax]
Gracie Binion Easy To Please - Single [BEC]
Katty Camargo Shine Upon Me - Single (independent)
The CCC Collective Thankful - Single (independent)
C4 Crotona Mr. Gritty - Single [Syntax]
CXMMXNS Trust and Obey (feat. CAIN) - Single [Provident]
EJ Swavv & Nickwit2Ks Growth - Single [Syntax]
Forrest Frank GOD'S GOT MY BACK - Single [River House / 10K]
Andrew Gonoude Closer To You - Single (independent)
Noah Paul Harrison Oh Lord My God (Live) - Single [Bethel]
J.Solo All I Have (ft. Kaboose & MotionPlus) - Single [Syntax]
Kings Kaleidoscope + Kings Kaleidoscope Hymns Amazing Grace - Single [BEC]
Tasha Layton Life In Me - Single [BEC]
Lecrae Bless You (feat. Torey D'Shaun) - Single [Reach]
TobyMac God Did It (feat. Jamie MacDonald) - Single [Capitol CMG]
Matt Maher Wait (Radio Version) - Single [Provident]
Hunter Plake Down to Earth - Single [BEC]
QEW JOYXFIX (ft. Stevie Rizo) - Single [Syntax]
Naomi Raine God Will Work It Out - Single [Tribl]
Rave Jesus Runnin' - Single [Provident]
Saints in Exile Bad Vibes - Single [Syntax]
Xander Sallows infinite - Single [DREAM]
Silent Reflection Left Me for Dead - Single [Syntax]
Michael W. Smith Your Love Is A Flood - Single [The Fuel]
John Stratton The Body and the Blood - Single [Pure Mosaic Services]
Regina Vandereijk You're the Light - Single (independent)
Joel Vaughn Feel It - Single [DREAM]
Zach Williams Killed A Man - Single [Provident]
Zauntee Jesus Down In Florida - Single [BEC]

VINYL
Bride Scarecrow Messiah Vinyl [Girder]

DVD
Jordan Smith The People's Hymnal DVD [Gaither]

This Saturday, July 26, 2025
SINGLES
Anthony & Tiffany Salerno What Would You Do? - Single (independent)

Next Friday, August 1, 2025
ALBUMS
Crash Rickshaw Big Sir - EP [Velvet Blue]
McKamey Legacy Holding to Truth [Horizon]
Ordained Thunder Roar [Girder]
V1 Worship Archives [DREAM Worship]

SINGLES
Dan Bremnes Human - Single [Curb]
Lauren Daigle Let It Be A Hallelujah - Single [Centricity]
Sleeping At Last Believe - Single (independent)

VINYL
Disciple Attack! (Limited Run Vinyl) Vinyl [Girder]



For all release dates, click here!
 

Join honey and save on online purchases!
Get all of JFH's indie compilation now totally free!
Check out depositphotos for royalty free images