|
1. Prelude
2. Still Has A Hold
3. Least of These
4. If You Wanted Me
5. Our Great God Featuring Rebecca St. James
6. Lovers In Our Heads
7. Peace On Earth
8. Funny
2. Still Has A Hold
3. Least of These
4. If You Wanted Me
5. Our Great God Featuring Rebecca St. James
6. Lovers In Our Heads
7. Peace On Earth
8. Funny
Better Questions
[Release Date: July 18, 2007] (INO Records)
Track Listing:
Track Listing:
9. Don't Say A Word
10. War Inside
11. Martyr's Song
12. On A Corner In Memphis
13. Family
14. Preachers and Thieves
15. Can I Be With You
10. War Inside
11. Martyr's Song
12. On A Corner In Memphis
13. Family
14. Preachers and Thieves
15. Can I Be With You
 | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  |
3.8 out of 4
2.7 out of 3
2.0 out of 2
0.7 out of 1
9.2 out of 10
Message
Music
Production
Creativity
Overall Score
| 92% A- |
One thing you can always count on from Todd Agnew, is a bold and powerful message.
With his new album, 'Better Questions', Agnew doesn't disappoint. I guess one thing
you can say that is dramatically different from 'Reflection of Something' to 'Better
Questions' is the wide-variety of music found therein. A little too much variety. While
it's okay to have an album full of rock music, or pop, or country or rap, mixing between
them so much to where you really can't categorize the album musically, was the only
thing I didn't like about the album. But that's not what's most important, while the car
carrying the message may have been many different colors, the message surely wasn't
drowned out. While many artists try to hard to conform and win mainstream audiences,
I think Todd sticks to what he knows best. The truth.
Out of all the artists I have met over the years, there is none that comes across so bold in
his faith, yet humble then Todd Agnew. His laid-back no-holds barred personality can
best be described as... well as I said before, bold. With songs written in the past as
blatant as "My Jesus", 'Better Questions' offers a view on today's Christianity that most
will overlook.
The concept delves into the questions that we have, but do not necessarily ask.
The second track, after the intro, "Still Has A Hold", has a positive and uplifting message
with saying that we need not to try and hold onto God's hand, but rather let Him hold
onto our hand. I especially like the verse toward the end when Todd writes, "I'm holding
hands with Heaven while I'm making eyes at hell". There's where the bold message I
was telling you about is. Now onto track three, and right into the rock. Now this is one
of those blatant messages I was telling you about. The lyrics may appear inappropriate
at first, but after you realize what Todd's message is here. This is where the Bible talks
about those as the 'least of these'. We're to reach out especially to help those that would
fall into this category. Christ died for everyone, for everyone's sins, and that included
the "Least Of These".
"If You Wanted Me", in my opinion, is a song with questions Todd has for Christ
Himself. As hard as these questions may be to ask, many think these very things. That's
what I love most about Todd, is his attention to the less asked questions, those that we
want to ask God, but are afraid to. One question I have thought of once or twice, is
found in the last chorus. "If you wanted me to be like You / Why'd you make me like
me?" Wow, this is definitely something I had thought of, but wasn't sure how to ask the
Lord. The very word Christian means to be 'Christ-like' While everyone falls short of
the glory of God (Romans 3:23), it's nice to remember that we need only to strive to be
like Christ. After all, we're sinners, and we'll never be exactly like Him, just ourselves.
"Our Great God", a duet Todd did on the album with Rebecca St. James, is likely to be
one of those songs that become a popular worship song. The song was originally
written by Mac Powell and Fernando Ortega for the 'City On A HIll: Sing Alleluia'. This
version of the song is just as powerfully sung as the previous.
There are some humorous songs on the album as well. Take a look at the song "Funny".
It comes across as humorous, but raises the serious question, why can flowers, the sun
and a donkey listen to God, but we can't? It's the sinful nature in us that tries to keep us
from doing what the Lord wants us to do. But remember there are consequences for not
listening. The whale swallowed up Jonah for not listening. The Lord prevented Balaam
from going where he wanted, but allow the Donkey to make him look like a fool to get
his attention. Now, the story of Balaam's donkey is funny. Funny how the Lord would
use a donkey to get a message to someone.
The album finishes up with Todd doing a cover of Rich Mullins' "Can I Be With You".
Such a great song, with a great message. I was thinking the other day about the
contributions and everlasting impact Rich and his music has had on people and lives,
even though he's been Home for nearly ten years. He left a legacy behind that others
could follow and be inspired by.
Closing Thoughts:
The entire album contains messages of hope, of humility and of truth. If you have a
chance to take a listen, then take the time, because 'Better Questions' does just that. It
raises some questions (and answers some) that we as believers may not have given
much thought to. I pray that all though the album is very diverse musically, it's message
is something to marvel at. I believe it's Todd's hope that the Lord uses it to ministers to
someone off the beaten path that may need answers to those tough questions we face in
life.
With his new album, 'Better Questions', Agnew doesn't disappoint. I guess one thing
you can say that is dramatically different from 'Reflection of Something' to 'Better
Questions' is the wide-variety of music found therein. A little too much variety. While
it's okay to have an album full of rock music, or pop, or country or rap, mixing between
them so much to where you really can't categorize the album musically, was the only
thing I didn't like about the album. But that's not what's most important, while the car
carrying the message may have been many different colors, the message surely wasn't
drowned out. While many artists try to hard to conform and win mainstream audiences,
I think Todd sticks to what he knows best. The truth.
Out of all the artists I have met over the years, there is none that comes across so bold in
his faith, yet humble then Todd Agnew. His laid-back no-holds barred personality can
best be described as... well as I said before, bold. With songs written in the past as
blatant as "My Jesus", 'Better Questions' offers a view on today's Christianity that most
will overlook.
The concept delves into the questions that we have, but do not necessarily ask.
The second track, after the intro, "Still Has A Hold", has a positive and uplifting message
with saying that we need not to try and hold onto God's hand, but rather let Him hold
onto our hand. I especially like the verse toward the end when Todd writes, "I'm holding
hands with Heaven while I'm making eyes at hell". There's where the bold message I
was telling you about is. Now onto track three, and right into the rock. Now this is one
of those blatant messages I was telling you about. The lyrics may appear inappropriate
at first, but after you realize what Todd's message is here. This is where the Bible talks
about those as the 'least of these'. We're to reach out especially to help those that would
fall into this category. Christ died for everyone, for everyone's sins, and that included
the "Least Of These".
"If You Wanted Me", in my opinion, is a song with questions Todd has for Christ
Himself. As hard as these questions may be to ask, many think these very things. That's
what I love most about Todd, is his attention to the less asked questions, those that we
want to ask God, but are afraid to. One question I have thought of once or twice, is
found in the last chorus. "If you wanted me to be like You / Why'd you make me like
me?" Wow, this is definitely something I had thought of, but wasn't sure how to ask the
Lord. The very word Christian means to be 'Christ-like' While everyone falls short of
the glory of God (Romans 3:23), it's nice to remember that we need only to strive to be
like Christ. After all, we're sinners, and we'll never be exactly like Him, just ourselves.
"Our Great God", a duet Todd did on the album with Rebecca St. James, is likely to be
one of those songs that become a popular worship song. The song was originally
written by Mac Powell and Fernando Ortega for the 'City On A HIll: Sing Alleluia'. This
version of the song is just as powerfully sung as the previous.
There are some humorous songs on the album as well. Take a look at the song "Funny".
It comes across as humorous, but raises the serious question, why can flowers, the sun
and a donkey listen to God, but we can't? It's the sinful nature in us that tries to keep us
from doing what the Lord wants us to do. But remember there are consequences for not
listening. The whale swallowed up Jonah for not listening. The Lord prevented Balaam
from going where he wanted, but allow the Donkey to make him look like a fool to get
his attention. Now, the story of Balaam's donkey is funny. Funny how the Lord would
use a donkey to get a message to someone.
The album finishes up with Todd doing a cover of Rich Mullins' "Can I Be With You".
Such a great song, with a great message. I was thinking the other day about the
contributions and everlasting impact Rich and his music has had on people and lives,
even though he's been Home for nearly ten years. He left a legacy behind that others
could follow and be inspired by.
Closing Thoughts:
The entire album contains messages of hope, of humility and of truth. If you have a
chance to take a listen, then take the time, because 'Better Questions' does just that. It
raises some questions (and answers some) that we as believers may not have given
much thought to. I pray that all though the album is very diverse musically, it's message
is something to marvel at. I believe it's Todd's hope that the Lord uses it to ministers to
someone off the beaten path that may need answers to those tough questions we face in
life.
Review Written By: Jay Heilman [jay.heilman@christianmusicreview.org] Date Written: July 11, 2007
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| [Album Review] |
| Todd Agnew |