Although youth groups nationwide have regularly mistaken Newsboys for an "alternative" band--must be the accents--the band has usually been sneered at by true modern rock fans for their reliance on flash and smoke; their best moments were chalked up to the influence of mentor and producer Steve Taylor. With the bold and refreshing Step Up to the Microphone, Peter Furler and the band seem to have grabbed hold of their artistic destinies. Furler, in fact, steps out from under the shadow of producer Taylor and former lead singer John James (hence the album title's double meaning). Highlights include the loping jangle and deliciously non-ska blurting of horns on "Step Up to the Microphone"; the dramatic tension of the poppish "Entertaining Angels"; the rich, full sound and bittersweet guitars of "Believe"; and the dark, angular "WooHoo."
Other coverage for this album
HM Magazine #73Reviewed by Brian Vincent McGovernYeah, they may be the darlings of youth pastors everywhere, but unlike many such bands in the industry, that doesn't mean the music is sub par. This record has a bite that just a few of the band's previous records have had, while maintaining the band's penchant for quality songwriting. Steve Taylor did not produce this project, but rather, vocalist/songwriter/former drummer Peter Furler did, and…ReAL Magazine 1998Reviewed by Marcia B.With the release of Step Up to the Microphone, Newsboys have moved from one end of the production spectrum to the other. After being ridiculed time and again by those in the music biz for using too many tracks on albums and in concerts, Take Me to Your Leader listed a disclaimer in the credits that stated, "For those who are interested, this album contains no sequencing or loops." When first…The Phantom Tollbooth 1998Reviewed by Linda T. StonehockerThis is not your youth group leader's Newsboys. The loss of their lead singer John James was guaranteed to change their sound as he was the one constant in their progression from bubble gum pop dance to the delicious romps of later projects. Compounding the loss was the decision to self-produce which meant foregoing Steve Taylor's considerable contributions to their last three acclaimed albums.…The Phantom Tollbooth 1998Reviewed by James StewartStep Up to the Microphone is indeed an apt title here, as founder/member and frontman John James has now left the Newsboys for the familiar pastures of his homeland Australia and a career as a speaker/writer. His place has been filled by the other founder-member, Peter Furler, who has left his drum kit behind to come out front. This is a hotly anticipated album, the follow-up to the huge-selling…Similar sounding releases
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