Main Review
I used to cringe a little whenever “Lose My Soul” came on the radio. It was like the song that wouldn’t die.
Every week I used to listen to CCM Radio Magazine, and every week it was somewhere in the top 5.
(Funny I didn’t get tired of “Give Me Your Eyes”; it topped the list for, what was it, 14 weeks in a row?) Up to
this point, the only tracks I’d heard out of Tobymac didn’t make much of an impression on me. Needless
to say, Tonight was not I was expecting. In these 13 compelling tracks, you’ll find honesty, faith, passion
and humor.
One neat thing about this album is there are plenty of duets. In fact, it begins with one; the rock-infused
"Tonight" featuring John Cooper of Skillet, whose voice doesn't GRRRR so much. You got to wonder how
they picked the song order on this album, because this one's about surrender. And that's where you've
got to start. Nice. Matthew Thiessen is a great addition to "Wonderin'". I already liked his guest vocals on
John Reuben's "Nuisance" and enjoyed this song of musing about what's next in God's plan. A little
acoustic guitar fix is a good thing. You’ll also find a touching testimony in “Changed Forever” (with Nirva
Ready) of a life changed because of God’s love.
"City On Our Knees", the released-well-in-advance single, is an ethereal "(wor)'ship-hop" (you heard it
here first![?]) song that pictures everyone coming together as the body of Christ. If the next single isn't
"Get Back Up", I'll be surprised. A music video-ready, radio-friendly song that reassures the lost and
afraid that you can always come back again. With the last lines “This is love callin,’ love callin,’ /Out to the
broken this is love callin’” I picture someone picking up a ringing phone. “Hold On” is a pop-hop in the
same vein, except it’s addressed specifically to a girl.
The unusual title “Hey Devil” may cause some of you to do a double-take; the song is actually Toby telling
Satan to get lost and quit tempting him. Little unconventional to say it quite that way, but it gets the point
across. A lot of electric guitar on this one. If you’re expecting “LoudNClear” to be a whole song, it’s
actually a short track starring one of his kids(?). I couldn’t help smiling.
** Check out Laura's Special Edition Rap-Vue here! **
Closing Thoughts
A winsome combination of faith, hope, love, and fun, Tonight will leave you with a smile on your lips and a
beat that won’t let go long after you press the stop button. (And that’s without putting the album on
repeat!!)
Review Written By: Laura Chamber [laura.chambers@christianmusicreview.org] on 1/18/2010
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