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JFH Indie Review

JFH Indie Music Spotlight Review



The Nova Ray
Venison Beach

Album length: 7 tracks
Street Date: May 6, 2008


In the grand tradition of Five Iron Frenzy, the Supertones, and any other defunct Christian ska act you can think of, comes The Nova Ray. Comprised of seven Belmont University students, these unsigned rookies are making a splash in the Nashville, Tennessee scene, and for good reason: Their debut EP Venison Beach is a sentimental blast-from-the-past, with enough relevance to keep everyone entertained. This one is hard not to dig on.

Of course, fans of the aforementioned ska legends could cry foul upon hearing The Nova Ray’s brand of ska/rock. However, while the similarities are hard to miss and the comparisons are inevitable, Venison Beach has enough youth and energy to keep most ultra-fans quiet. And while The Nova Ray is very obviously influenced by the late greats of Christian ska, it is almost as though they are helping usher in a new generation of the style altogether.

It’s a fun listen from start to finish, but it is also a remarkably mature debut effort. Musically, these guys are clean and quick, and the production quality is top notch. Lyrically, the songs never really stray from the surface, but they are all well-written and never come off as corny or cliché.

Venison Beach is here just in time for the summer. Turn it up with the windows rolled down. It sounds good upon first listen, and it grows on you even more with time. Keep an eye on these guys in the coming months and years. The Nova Ray is a ska band to get excited about.

- Review date: 5/25/08, written by Josh Taylor of Jesusfreakhideout.com



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. Record Label: None
. Album length: 7 tracks
. Street Date: May 6, 2008
. Buy It: iTunes Music Store

  1. Fading Into Grey
  2. The Show
  3. Little Man
  4. Stay
  5. The Flood
  6. S.I.D.
  7. Don't Worry, Be Happy

 

 

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This Wednesday, October 22, 2025
SINGLES
Phil Wickham Fear Has No Power - Single [Fair Trade]

This Friday, October 24, 2025
ALBUMS
John Allan untitled EP [Centricity]
Dan Bremnes The Villain - EP [Curb]
Clear Convictions Endure [Resuscitation]
God Behind Bars Music Live From Angola Prison Vol. 1 [Provident]
Fepeste This World Ain't Mine to Change [Velvet Blue]
gio. FINE BY ME [Capitol CMG]
Brandon Lake Amazon Music Songline [Provident]
Latter Day Exploits Within Consumed (Expanded Edition) [Charon Collective]
Tyson Motsenbocker Modern Worries [Tooth & Nail]
Smalltown Poets St. Augustine (independent)
Zahriya Zachary Rediscovery [Bethel]

SINGLES
29:11 Worship, Zion Rempel You Never Fail (feat. Emily Guy) - Single [DREAM]
Joe L Barnes Grief, Joy, Gratitude - Single [Provident]
Chad Cory, Zacardi Cortez My First Love (Remix) - Single [DREAM]
Leanna Crawford Beginning Of Your Grace - Single [Provident]
darthy Juniper Tree - Single [WieRok]
Emerson Day Midnight Hour - Single [Fair Trade]
Good Weather Forecast lows2highs - Single [DREAM]
Grace + Max Rich - Single [WieRok]
Jamie Macdonald You Can't Take My Song - Single [Capitol CMG]
Mercy Tribe Music The King is in the Room (feat. Ayiesha Woods) - Single (independent)
Mountains in the Sea You Never Fail (feat. Emily Guy) - Single [DREAM]
Seph Schlueter Already On The Way (feat. Benjamin William Hastings) - Single [Provident]
Tomb Slayer The Christmas Lamb (feat. Khristian Dentley & Sarah Whittemore) - Single [Tomb Slayer]
The Undertaking! All Smiles - Single (independent)

VINYL
Clear Convictions Endure [Resuscitation]

Next Friday, October 31, 2025
ALBUMS
Hope Deferred Darkness Remains [The Charon Collective]
Testimony of Apocalypse Agony in the Garden [Roxx Records]

SINGLES
Dreamers My Heart His Home - Single [DREAM]
Roxanne Grace Try Again - Single [DREAM]
Lock & Chi Do To Me - Single (independent)
John Long Simple Pursuit - Single (independent)
Warren Zeiders How Great Thou Art - Single [Warner]


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