Listen to the new album from Charming to the Last!
Listen to the new album from Charming to the Last!

JFH Indie Review

JFH Indie Music Spotlight Review

ApologetiX

ApologetiX
Keep The Change

Album length: 19 tracks
Street Date: September 16, 2001
Buy It: Amazon

If you haven't heard ApologetiX yet, you need to. ApologetiX, "that Christian parody band," is the Weird Al Yankovic of Christian music. They keep the music of popular secular songs and rewrite the lyrics to convey Christian messages. While their earlier albums were somewhat lacking in the production quality department, their last two albums have been especially excellent. Keep the Change is a perfect demonstration of how far this band has come. The music is in many cases almost indiscernible from the originals, and the lyrics continue to be full of substance while staying humorous. This album also shows the versatility of singer/songwriter J. Jackson's voice. He can rock, he can rap, he can go high, he can go low, all while sounding like the original singer – truly gifted.

While there is hardly a poorly-done song on the album, some aren't quite as good as others. For example, I thought "Christmasnite" ("Kryptonite" – Three Doors Down) didn't quite do the original justice. That's not to say it's not good, it just doesn't quite sound like "Kryptonite." Same goes for "Mama Told Me (What's to Come)" ("Mama Told Me (Not to Come)" – Three Dog Night). But these are the exceptions to the rule.

"Bethlehemian Rhapsody" ("Bohemian Rhapsody" – Queen) sounds great and has awesome lyrics. Actually, ApologetiX did this song on one of their first albums, but decided to redo it now that they're so much more experienced (lyrically and sonically). The result is well worth it. "Stay in the Light" ("Stayin' Alive" – Bee Gees) doesn't quite capture the sound of the original, but is still a great song. "The Real Sin Savior" ("The Real Slim Shady" – Eminem) is probably the most impressive song on the album. It really shows J. Jackson's incredible singing skill as he is able to rap like Eminem in addition to rock like everyone else (and twang, and doo-wop, etc.). The rap beats and synthesizing, the redeemed lyrics, and the performance – they're all awesome. "Babylona" ("My Sharona" – the Knack) is a fun remake of an already funky-sounding song. "Daniel" ("Daniel" – Elton John) shows Jackson's ability to do slower, more melodic songs. The vocals in "All the Stalls Stink" ("All the Small Things" – Blink 182) are [thankfully] not quite as high as in the original, but the lyrics are hilarious (it's about Noah's Ark). "Manger" ("Angel" – Shaggy) ranks with "The Real Sin Savior" as one of the best songs on the album. It's a funny and great-sounding remake.

The album concludes with four hard-rocking songs (by Led Zeppelin, Limp Bizkit, AC/DC, and Papa Roach), all very skillfully played and written. Keep the Change is, in my opinion, ApologetiX's best album to date. With a great-sounding selection of songs (almost all of them recreated with impressive accuracy) and meaningful, yet funny, lyrics, this is the album to buy if you want to get acquainted with ApologetiX. I highly recommend it.

- Review date: 4/5/03, written by Brian Frantz



(JFH Sponsor Spot)

Purchase Original Art Prints, Drawings, Buttons, Stickers, Bookmarks and more from JFH's own John DiBiase! Save for the holidays with code JFH20 at checkout!

 

. Record Label: None
. Album length: 19 tracks
. Street Date: September 16, 2001
. Buy It: AmazonMP3

  1. Story of a Squirrel ("Absolutely (Story of a Girl)" by Nine Days)
  2. Monkey Scheme ("Monkees Theme" by the Monkees)
  3. Christmasnite ("Kryptonite" by Three Doors Down)
  4. Bethlehemian Rhapsody ("Bohemian Rhapsody" by Queen)
  5. Stay in the Light ("Stayin' Alive " by the Bee Gees)
  6. Old Time Romans Road ("Old Time Rock and Roll" by Bob Seger)
  7. The Real Sin Savior ("The Real Slim Shady" by Eminem)
  8. Babylona ("My Sharona" by the Knack)
  9. Daniel ("Daniel" by Elton John)
  10. All the Stalls Stink ("All the Small Things" by Blink 182)
  11. Cheap Birds ("Free Bird" by Lynyrd Skynyrd)
  12. Mama Told Me What's to Come ("Mama Told Me Not to Come" by Three Dog Night)
  13. Manger ("Angel" by Shaggy)
  14. Be Bold Jeremiah ("Jet Airliner" by the Steve Miller Band)
  15. The Ballad of Jesus and Yahweh ("The Ballad of John and Yoko" by the Beatles)
  16. Rock and Roots ("Rock and Roll" by Led Zeppelin)
  17. Simp Liztik ("Nookie" by Limp Bizkit)
  18. You Booked Me All Along ("You Shook Me All Night Long" by AC/DC)
  19. Life Restored ("Last Resort" by Papa Roach)

 

 

 

go to main Indie review page
go to Indie Review Index

 

                 
Purchase Original Art Prints, Drawings, Buttons, Stickers, Bookmarks and more from JFH's own John DiBiase! Save for the holidays with code JFH20 at checkout!

Search JFH




This Monday, October 21, 2024
SINGLES
Digital Vampire To Die Elsewhere - Single [Charon Collective]

This Friday, October 25, 2024
ALBUMS
Sam Bowman Legend of Max - EP [DREAM]
The Isaacs Praise & Worship: More Than A Hollow Hallelujah [Gaither]
Josh Lovelace SHELTERS [Stonycroft]
Mac Powell I Love Jesus [Capitol CMG]
Taking the Head of Goliath Futility of the Flesh - EP [Rottweiler]
Tigerwine Toil & Spin [Tooth & Nail]
Various Artists DREAM Christmas Vol. 6 [DREAM]
Various Artists DREAM Christmas Vol. 7 [DREAM]

SINGLES
Brandon Lake, Phil Wickham Love Of God (Live) - Single [Provident]
Faith Worship Arts, Mainstream Worship Hark (Hear the Angels Sing) feat. Mainstream Worship, John Dreher, Sydney James - Single [DREAM]
Lady Redneck Walk in Faith - Single (independent)
Mainstream Worship Outside Your Love - Single (feat. Yanco) [DREAM]
Jeannie Ortega Devil You CAN'T - Single [Syntax]
Rusty Shipp Neck Breaker - Single (independent)
Sidewalk Prophets Looking Up (feat. Megan Danielle) - Single [Curb]
EJ Swavv Fake Love & Fake Love (Live in Studio) - Single [Syntax]
Uche Agu, Revival Today Worship I Will Make Room (feat. Ron Kenoly) - Single [DREAM]
Vineyard Worship & Dreaming The Impossible Whatever's In Your Heart - Single [Vineyard Worship UK]
Zane Walls Free - Single [DREAM]

DVD
The Isaacs Praise & Worship: More Than A Hollow Hallelujah DVD [Gaither]

Next Thursday, October 31, 2024
ALBUMS
Neon Horse Habit of Creature - EP [Velvet Blue Music]

Next Friday, November 1, 2024
ALBUMS
AWZY Sinners and Saints - EP [DREAM]
The Kingdom Heirs No Better Time [Sonlite]
Skillet Revolution [Atlantic]
Jim "Soni" Sonefeld Light of Joy - EP [Vere]
John Van Deusen Anthem Sprinter [Tooth & Nail]
Phil Wickham Hallelujah! It's Christmas! [Fair Trade]

SINGLES
Dreamers The Reason - Multi-Single [DREAM]
Michael Monroe Pour It Out - Single [Provident]

VINYL
Skillet Revolution Vinyl [Atlantic]



For all release dates, click here!
 



Check out the new album from Taylor Holland Armstrong!



Listen to the new Album From Millennial Reign!

Check out depositphotos for royalty free images