Given that keyboardist Jeff Frankenstein used to be a DJ it isn't surprising that the concept of Newsboys remixes would become reality sooner or later. A strikingly good limited print remix ep released right before their breakout Step up to the Microphone was evidence that this group's songs could hold up under a serious cyber redux. Their new release Newsboys Remixed marks a full-length return to that risky territory. Of course, the fact that this is a band with hordes of fans who stay in love with them no matter what gives this release a lot of grace and room to explore. Oddly enough, at first listen, it feels like the Newsboys' legion of fans may have had a potentially stifling effect on this little adventure.
Unlike their more experimental first remix ep, which exploded with club-ready big beats, ala then popular, the Prodigy, Remixed, depending on one's taste, doesn't push the envelope much. It seems that this was an attempt to do something slightly different without the risk of Christian radio feather ruffling. The only problem is that a band of this magnitude within this market should be able to push a little without worrying about backlash (in a perfect world...).
All the Newsboys' requisite joy, insight, and lyrical cleverness is kept intact but some tracks like "Joy" and "Fad of the Land" come off simply like extended jams of the originals. On the other hand, tracks like "It Is You" soar powerfully with a lush, very Moby-like soundscape. "Million Pieces" gets a nice treatment, cut up, mixed, and reconstituted beautifully while "Beautiful Sound" takes on a lite but funky 80's synth pop sheen. Highlights include a beautifully deconstructed "Entertaining Angels" and the fully remixed, club-friendly "Love Liberty Disco."
All in all, Newsboys Remixed is a set of fan-friendly, slightly off-road mini-excursions that keep the Boys nudging forward without pushing too hard.
Other coverage for this album
The Phantom Tollbooth 2003Reviewed by Jessica HeikoopFrom the title of this disc, it's not hard to guess this is indeed an album of some of the Newsboys' greatest hits, remixed. Though the band has already given fans a taste of remixes in the past (the Entertaining Angels Maxi-Single, previous remixes of "A Beautiful Sound," "Love Liberty Disco," as well as the "Mega Mix" found on Shine: The Hits, etc.), this CD is the first that contains only…The Phantom Tollbooth 2002Reviewed by Brian A. SmithDisclaimer: Let it be noted here that I am not a fan of remixes. If in fact "P. Diddy" or "Puff Daddy" or whatever Sean Combs is calling himself these days did invent the remix, I say we should penalize him accordingly. That said, Newsboys have a lot of material here to work with. There isn't anything new on this disc, but it comes across as a "greatest hits" type of album, with dance tracks,…The Phantom Tollbooth 2002Reviewed by John WehrleThe Newsboys are back with their all new release: Newsboys Remixed. This CD is a blend of classic Newsboys tunes, and newer songs from their latest release, Thrive. It's no wonder that the band is called the "new" sboys. Whether it's traveling around playing in a dome, creating the first festival on wheels, or rotating a drum set, these guys are always out to try something new. The Newsboys have…Similar sounding releases
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