Reviews of The Phantom Tollbooth


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Hot Picks

Beki Hemingway and Jonathan Rundman - Tennesota

BIll Mallonee - Dear Life

Over the Rhine - Changes Come LIVE

Runners Up
Jeff Elbel & Ping - The Eleventh Hour Songbook
Mourning September - A Man Can Change His Stars

After the Chase (last updated 8/8/2004)

While somewhat too light for my usual tastes, After the Chase is a well done project.

Andrewesley - Strength (last updated 8/14/2004)

Andrewesley will receive strong consideration for my best new artist pick this year.

Asia - Silent Nation (last updated 9/6/2004)

A trademark sound that manages not to sound dated.

Dave Bainbridge - Veil of Gossamer (last updated 8/22/2004)

I am a huge fan of the band Iona, they are one of my all time favorite groups, but this blows anything that they have done in the past right out of the water.

Jeremiah Bowser - Don’t Go Away (last updated 8/22/2004)

A surprisingly fresh-sounding worship CD

Brindley Brothers - Playing with the Light (last updated 8/8/2004)

The earthy, yearning music of the Brindley Brothers easily gets stuck in the head of anyone who listens to it. T

Doug Burr - The Sickle and the Sheaves (last updated 8/12/2004)

An alt-country debut that falls just a bit short.

California Guitar Trio - Whitewater (last updated 8/30/2004)

Songs here are more like instrumental soundtracks, designed to portray a scene, rather than just jams for their own sake.

Kate Campbell - Sing Me Out (last updated 8/30/2004)

Have you ever heard of Kate Campbell? You know, the southern preacher’s daughter who writes and sings acoustic, singer-songwriter stuff?

Celestial Static - Circles (EP) (last updated 8/12/2004)

Celestial Static offers hope for those looking for a young band not infused with the current nu metal/hardcore/hip hop trends

Charmer - The Perfect Cafe (last updated 8/30/2004)

Listening to the music of the Louisiana acoustic folk group Charmer is not unlike a gentle summer breeze or a call from an old friend

Cool Hand Luke - The Fires of Life (last updated 9/6/2004)

Cool Hand Luke possesses the potential to touch hearts and minds.

Copeland - Know Nothing Stays the Same (last updated 8/22/2004)

Alright, consider my appetite whet for the moment, but I am ready for more.

Cowboy Junkies - One Soul Now (last updated 8/8/2004)

The Cowboy Junkies have had a difficult career to be sure.

Cymbolic - Between Walls (last updated 8/8/2004)

Definitely a sleeper for the most underappreciated album of 2004.

Dio - Master of the Moon (last updated 9/6/2004)

Redundancy seems to be the theme here.

Duvall - Volume & Density (last updated 8/8/2004)

Some major potential here.

Everlife - s/t (last updated 9/6/2004)

This is a project that deserves a listen.

Five Fifty - Get Clean (last updated 8/12/2004)

To me, stoner rock is an often overlooked genre.

Fletcher - Friends Don’t Speak (last updated 8/30/2004)

An album that owes its origins to the sound of modern rock radio.

Michael Gleason - Every Road (last updated 9/12/2004)

If your search through pop-rock top 40 lite has left you looking for something a tad more mature and beefy, check out Every Road.

Jason Harwell - Alive in the Fall (last updated 8/8/2004)

There’s a gem inside this jewel case.

Beki Hemingway and Jonathan Rundman - Tennesota (last updated 8/26/2004)

Bittersweet and countrified great “road food” for the ears.

Will Hoge - The America EP (last updated 8/12/2004)

Hoge’s political views aside, this EP shows, once again, Hoge’s ability to combine modern rock with a blues edge.

Laurell Hubick - Into Your Love (last updated 8/14/2004)

It is refreshing to see a young woman achieve some success by breaking out of the pre-packaged Idol mode

The Insyderz - Soundtrack to a Revolution (last updated 8/22/2004)

Ska is dead! Long live ska! But . . . is Christian ska an anachronism?

Iron and Wine - Our Endless Numbered Days (last updated 8/22/2004)

What Sam Mead has done with the new Iron and Wine album is very impressive.

Jeff Elbel & Ping - The Eleventh Hour Songbook (last updated 8/8/2004)

A good way to tide fans over who are eagerly awaiting Meet Your Maker, the long-promised Ping project.

The Jelly Jam - The Jelly Jam 2 (last updated 8/29/2004)

This is the best album I have heard in months.

Joey's Loss - Unwelcome Travelers and Other Brave Men (last updated 9/7/2004)

With heavy guitars and lyrics reminiscent of Dear Ephesus, Joey's Loss tells stories of God's greatness within one project well worth the listening experience.

Kansas - Sail On: 30th Anniversary Box Set (last updated 9/6/2004)

Much superior to any of the previous Kansas compilations.

Kat Jones - La Rosa, La Calavera (last updated 8/8/2004)

The only complaint I could possibly conjure up about this album is that I wish there were more songs

Kieran Kane & Kevin Welch - You Can’t Save (last updated 8/30/2004)

Enjoy the sunshine and what could be described as the shadowy depths of this marvelous album...

KJ-52 & TC (Todd Collins) - Soul Purpose (last updated 8/30/2004)

KJ-52 makes a return appearance to your CD player along with beatpal TC (producer Todd Collins) on Soul Purpose.

Rachael Lampa - s/t (last updated 9/6/2004)

While improving in some areas, this CD doesn't allow Ms. Lampa's voice to shine like it can.

Julie Lee - Stillhouse Road (last updated 9/12/2004)

A debut to most and a stunning revelation to many...

Lovedrug - Pretend You're Alive (last updated 8/8/2004)

I stumbled upon Lovedrug at Cornerstone last year and knew from the beginning that they were something special.

BIll Mallonee - Dear Life (last updated 8/14/2004)

After all, "isn't life the truest art?"

The Manchurian Candidate soundtrack (2004) (last updated 8/14/2004)

The candidate comes marching in.

Mission Giant - Brotherhood of the Plug (last updated 8/22/2004)

Old school synth pop expressed without apology or reservation.

Mortal Treason - A Call to the Martyrs(last updated 8/8/2004)

The death metal influenced stylings of the death metal-esque metalcore band, Mortal Treason.

Neal Morse - Testimony Live DVD (last updated 8/8/2004)

he CD of the year for 2003 is the concert DVD of the year for 2004.

Mourning September - A Man Can Change His Stars (last updated 8/8/2004)

Emo rock fans put on your Converse high-tops and head on over to the local music emporium.

Nameless Number Head Man - Your Voice Repeating (last updated 8/8/2004)

Kansas City's Nameless Number Head Man is quickly garnering a following and finding critical acclaim. And quite understandably. This is a band who is attempting to do something new and unique.

Olympic Hopefuls - The Fuses Refuse to Burn (last updated 8/22/2004)

Stuffing melodies full of powerful guitars, bouncy rhythms, and fun instrumentation, Olympic Hopefuls show flashes of brilliance but stumble at times.

The Out-Circuit - Bury Your Scripts Boys (last updated 9/6/2004)

From the ashes of Frodus comes a release that falls just short.

Over the Rhine - Changes Come LIVE (last updated 8/8/2004)

Changes Come is the real deal. Not only is it the best live album that I have heard, it very well may be Over the Rhine's best album.

Paradoxx - Atomika (last updated 8/22/2004)

Catchy beats, insightful lyrics and guitars a-plenty these Aussies have created a beauty.

Sandi Patty - Hymns of Faith…Songs of Inspiration(last updated 9/6/2004)

Overall, though, it is clear that Patty’s talents are still viable, and that she will continue to make audiences happy as they grow older with her.

The Poolboys - Moving to Summerville (last updated 8/14/2004)

Breezy, luminous melodies from Lawrence, Kansas' most pop-savvy sons.

Chris Rice - Short term Memories (last updated 8/14/2004)

The middle of the road is a safe place to be indeed.

Alli Rogers - Always Eden (last updated 8/12/2004)

The only thing that is working against this CD is its brevity

Jonathan Rundman - Public Library (last updated 8/14/2004)

Rundman’s most radio friendly project to date.

Staple - Staple (last updated 8/12/2004)

Hardcore rock, well put together.

Starfield - Starfield (last updated 8/8/2004)

With lyrics that are fair at best and many songs that sound alike, most will quickly grow bored with Starfield's major label debut project.

Subseven - The EP (last updated 8/29/2004)

Aggressive emotional music, for the modern rock flavor.

Trinity - The Valley of Dry Bones (last updated 8/12/2004)

A throwback band, owing a lot of their sound to progressive '70’s rock.

Underoath - They're Only Chasing Safety (last updated 8/28/2004)

Underoath does it again! For starters, they've changed genres.

University - Make Believe (Side B) (last updated 8/25/2004)

Chicago is a growing home to a number of talented bands.

Various - Everything Counts (last updated 9/6/2004)

Definitely good for guiding people into worship.

Various - The Exodus (last updated 9/12/2004)

If you are searching for something a little different and a less polished in the worship genre, check out The Exodus.

Various - Gloria (last updated 9/6/2004)

A mix of standards, recent compositions, and original songs.

Various - Moonlight Cathedral (last updated 8/22/2004)

Even in the dark, The Light still shines

Velvet Revolver - Contraband (last updated 9/6/2004)

Some damn fine rock’n’roll with heart and soul.

Watermark - The Purest Place (last updated 9/7/2004)

A polished, almost too clean album that will resonate with CCM radio listeners more than anyone else.

Raymond Scott Woolson - Legendarium (last updated 8/25/2004)

Sometimes a melody can convey what a page of words cannot.

Our Writers' Picks of 2003
Our Writers' Picks of 2002
Our Writers' Picks of 2001
Our Writers' Picks of 2000
Our Writers' Picks of 1999

The Phantom Tollbooth accepts CDs which we will consider for review. We do not review demos. Send to: The Phantom Tollbooth, PO Box 11934, Chicago, IL 60611. Including a brief bio or press sheet is helpful; we generally do not need press photos. We will consider everything that comes our way, but we can't guarantee anything beyond that.