Third Day

Item: Wire
Author: Burton Wray

Wire

(2004)

Reviewed by Burton Wray

Discogs Apple Music TIDAL Amazon Music Spotify YouTube Music

Label Essential RecordsThe Phantom Tollbooth2004

ccm hard rock southern rock

This may or may not be the Third Day that you remember. If you started listening to Third Day with the Offerings CD or later, then this is not the Third Day you have become accustomed to. If you started listening to the band any time before then, this Third Day you know has finally returned. Unlike either of the Offerings CDs or Come Together--which are more contemporary pop--this CD is full on rock.

When the first song begins, you know that the rockin' Third Day of old has returned. The electric guitars on that song are a definite sign that this CD is going to rock. The electric guitars continue in the second song as well, but the second song is closer to the sound of Come Together. The album slows down for the third title track, which deals with the perils of fame, interestingly enough, recurring in several other songs (notably "Rockstar" and "Billy Brown"). This ballad will almost definitely get major radio play.

The rest of the CD features a mix of rock songs and ballads. Those who have come to know Third Day via their Offerings CD or later will enjoy the ballads such as "You are Mine," "Innocent," and "San Angelo," and other fans will enjoy the rock songs, such as "Billy Brown," "Rockstar," and "'Til the Day I Die."

One of the best features of this CD is the lyrics which are all written by either Mac Powell or Mark Lee. These two remind listeners that they belong in the top class of writers in CCM. Some of the best lyrics come in songs like "Blind", where the band sings, "My heart could I not trust / Cause it lies to me too much..." and "You are Mine": "Sometimes I wonder why / you even love me and why you ever chose to call me child / Then I remember / It's by your sacrifice / I can say that I am yours and you are mine . . . ." Other songs with memorable lyrics include "Innocent" and "Rockstar."

The CD concludes on a high note with the anthem, "I Will Hold My Head High," which will no doubt be used by youth groups for years.

Top to bottom, this CD is one of the best of the year and one of the best rock CDs in recent memory. No doubt the ballads on this CD will get radio play, but the other songs deserve airplay as well. This CD will appeal to a cross-section of CCM listeners (rock and pop fans) that usually don't listen to the same CDs. This CD is one that should and will end up in many people's collection.

4 tocks