Now playing:

"Song"
Artist
Album

« Back to All Reviews

Thrive

Newsboys | March 6th, 2002

The Newsboys are old.  Let's just get that out of the way.  Since 1985, before many of us were born, the Australian rockers have carved out a career as Christian rockers.  Their songs have focused on living the Christian life in unsure circumstances, which especially rings true given today's rapid shifts in politics, technology, and culture, plus the band's near-constant lineup changes.  Now, their 2002 album, Thrive, presents the question:  are the Newsboys still relevant, vital songwriters after all these years, after all these changes?  Are they in tune with us, the 9/11 generation?

The answer, unsurprisingly, is yes.  Who else in the Christian music industry has adapted and reinvented themselves as often and as well as the Newsboys?  From the first drum fill on opener “Giving It Over,” Thrive is an exhilarating, dynamic pop album entrenched in stylish rock riffs and memorable melodies.  The traditional rock quartet—drums, bass, guitar, vocals—is elevated to richer aural textures by synthesizers which subtly weave themselves in and out of songs.  On special display is frontman Peter Furler's clear tenor voice, which holds every song under its confident control.  At times intimately encouraging, pensively musing, or triumphantly shouting, Furler's effortless crooning makes one wonder how he could spend twelve years as a mere drummer to John James.  

Yet the true joy of Thrive is revealed in Furler's deft songwriting.  Throwing together clever plays on words, evocative images, and earnest prayers, the lyrics transcends Christian music's pigeonholed role of cheap message songs and profit-driven “worship.”  Furler is not content to sing used praise platitudes, a la David Crowder, but he also avoids mere stories of sin, a la Pedro the Lion.  For example, on the track “Thrive,” Furler laments man's fallen condition, reporting, Folks spend their days / Digging 'round for diamonds and gold / 'Til they just get old.  The chorus turns into a pleading prayer:  Lord, hold me close so I can thrive / When you touch me / That's when I know I'm alive.

The verb “thrive” is a perfect summation of the album's theme, describing the difference between autonomous life and redeemed life.  “Live in Stereo,” a rollicking rock anthem highlighted by a children's choir and whistles, presents the image that life without Christ is like life with one eye.  The reggae-tinged “Million Pieces” encourages listeners to accept the relief and beauteous joy of letting burdens loose, while the whimsical “Cornelius” highlights a historical example of a man thriving in an atypical vocation for a Christian.  

The album also responds to threats to a thriving lifestyle.  “Fad of the Land” is a stylish rock song chronicling the West's obsession with technology and entertainment, which miraculously sounds cool without inadvertently making its subject matter sound alluring.  “Lord I Don't Know” perfectly articulates a Biblical response to uncertainty and adversity, which, a year after the 9/11 attacks, is an incredible reminder of God's sovereignty even in times of violent upheaval.

Thrive's only misstep is the mediocre worship offering, “It is You.”  With witty, thought-provoking lyrics all throughout the rest of the disc, It is You we adore / It is You praises are for, sounds sloppy and out of character for Furler.  While the song's high production values sometimes make it listenable, its monotony and interchangeability with other deities really taints what is otherwise a perfect album.

Yet, it is a minor quibble. For a nearly 20-year-old band, the Newsboys continue to be some of the most engaging, inventive artists in Christian music today, and Thrive proves that beyond a doubt.

Reviewed by Ezra Dulis on November 30th, 2007

Music Testing

We rely on you, the listener, to tell us what you like so we can deliver the best music possible. Our identified core artists are those that are consistently ranked highly by a survey performed each year. If a particular song tests well, it is played with more frequency. If a song tests poorly, it is removed. Your feedback as a listener is crucial to us.

At Resound, music testing is essential to our philosophy of operation. It's your station, so you should pick the music. Every month, you will have an opportunity to participate in our in-studio music test and receive a free candy bar for your help. If you are interested in being a part of our online music testing group which will launch later this semester, email our Music Director and let us know!