This 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 evangelical urges that made them stadium-packing youth group darlings also apparently departed with James and Taylor. The sound is darker, the message shallower. There are a few attempts at cleverness, "Entertaining angels by the light of my TV screen; 24/7 heavenly hosts watch over me," but they never really get off the ground, much less achieve the heights of witticism of earlier albums. Worst of all, the fun has evaporated. "Step Up to the Microphone" brings fascist vibes to its "One Way, One Life, .........." chorus. There is an unfortunate reliance on one drum machine rhythm throughout the project that draws attention to itself through its monotony.
The loss of the lead singer and an influential producer could have forced the Newsboys to disband. They are soldiering on, but it may take several more albums to find a new voice that suits them as well as the old one. Given their past success, perhaps the busloads of youth will still turn out for their tours long enough to finance this self-discovery, but the process will be tough on everyone.
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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…7ball #19Reviewed by Chris WellAlthough 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…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 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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