#5. Zealand
untitled
Release Date: Fall 2015
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I've always been a fan of Phil Joel. From his Newsboys days, to his solo album, to his recent work with Peter Furler. The prospect of a straight worship record is honestly a little disappointing, but the appeal of Phil Joel himself makes it a worthy of a little excitement. I'm really interested to see what the New Zealand singer and bassist has up his sleeve for his newest musical venture.
- Michael Weaver
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Phil Joel was a huge part of the Newsboy's (classic lineup) sound for a decade or more, and his return (though he's never really left) to the CCM world with his new band (cheekily named after his homeland of New Zealand) is one to look forward to.
- Alex "Tincan" Caldwell
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Throughout his time with the Newsboys, Phil Joel always carried a powerful and motivating stage presence. After breaking off to spend more time on his solo projects, he demonstrated a deep lyrical prowess with continually reflective, insightful and worshipful messages. Aside from his albums specifically aimed at kids, it has been nearly seven years since he's released an original project, and this foray as "Zealand" seems poised to competently challenge the already massive worship industry.
- David Craft
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I loved Phil's influence on the golden years of Newsboys, and have enjoyed much of his solo work. It's not really a surprise that Phil's focus is worship with Zealand (but the bizzare branding "Zealand Worship" kind of is), and the sound of the band's recently released debut EP gives me hope for what lies ahead.
- John DiBiase
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It says something about the legendary status of the Newsboys that we're immediately interested in their former members' projects. Phil Joel was a mainstay of the band's approach, so we're happy to hear any new material from him. That being said, I think it's best to go into Zealand's record with as few expectations as possible.
- Roger Gelwicks
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Visit our Zealand page for more information about them...
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