Petra

Item: Double Take
Author: Kevin D. Hendricks

Double Take

(2000)

Reviewed by Kevin D. Hendricks

Discogs Apple Music TIDAL Amazon Music Spotify YouTube Music

Label Word RecordsReAL Magazine2000

acoustic rock ccm pop rock

I dabbled in mainstream music in elementary school, enjoying the playground favorites of Bon Jovi and the Beastie Boys. I still have the vinyls at home. As I entered middle school I stopped listening to music altogether. I didn't start again for a few years, and when I did I turned to Christian music and Petra at the suggestion of a camp counselor. My re-introduction to music began with Petra, and for a number of years they were my favorite.

But at the dawn of a new century, the rock of Christian music is starting to crack. Petra's last album (what was it called?) God Fixation, went almost completely unnoticed--and for good reason. This time around they've decided to reevaluate things and try a different approach. Double Take is a re-recording of ten of their biggest hits. Messing with a successful formula can always be dangerous, and Petra is wandering in a mine field.

The songs aren't simply re-recorded, the music was partially re-written with new harmonies and melodies. All of the songs are in a slower, more acoustic vein, with a lot of excess instrumentation. Apparently Petra doesn't mean rock anymore.

Having grown up with Petra, a number of the songs are painful to listen to. 'Beyond Belief' is stripped of the power and intensity that made it one of Petra's best songs. Strings dominate the background of the song and it just doesn't work. 'The Coloring Song' has new minor harmonies. 'This Means War' starts off with an almost medieval sound. It works until the chorus, which demands a driving, rising anthem. You won't find anything close. The slow version of 'Creed' works a lot better. 'Just Reach Out' works pretty well, too, but the song never needed to be remade in the first place--which is the story of the album.

The album does offer two new songs, 'Breathe In' by guitarist Pete Orta and 'The Longing' by Joel Hanson (formerly of PFR) and Tony Wood. Longtime Petra writer Bob Hartman doesn't make any writing contributions (although he originally wrote 70% of the re-recorded songs), but is still working with the band, serving again as Executive Producer. 'The Longing' isn't that impressive, but 'Breathe In' is a little more worthwhile with its percussion base and tempo that sets it apart from the rest of the album.

Having grown up with Petra, this album just hurts. Perhaps it would sound better to someone who hasn't heard the originals. But the originals were hits themselves, they didn't need to be remade. If it ain't broke don't fix it. Petra's style, however, does need a change, and I applaud their willingness to try something new. But if you're going to try something new, try it with everything you've got. Don't test the waters by clinging to past success.