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What I Have To Give, Let It Be Enough
Artists: After The Sirens
10 Tracks
Running Time: 35 minutes
The band, After The Sirens, has one of the more colorful CD jackets I’ve seen in a long time, with song titles to match (reference: “Oh, For Eyes of Glass” or “The Lights At Nero’s Party”). However, even with CD jackets and song titles, there must be music to match and here After The Sirens falters. The band has a good sound and arrangements, but the lyrics are esoteric at times or drastic at others. I reference here “Sieves and Seizures” with the lines, “but I would only smolder because I would not burn for anyone” as an example. I’m wondering if this band should put out an instrumental-only CD for their next one. They have a great sound.  (Copyright 2006 Marie Asner)

Prelude
Artist: Terron Brooks
If Inspirational Pop is a genre for feel good music, then this album fits the bill.  Terron Brooks has a theatrical voice that is uplifting, which conveys through his songs. (Trina Tyler)

Crimson Skies
Artist: Cloudscape
Label: Nightmare Records
Cloudscape is an up-and-coming Swedish melodic metal band in the vein of Dream Theater with occasional nods to Tiles, Blind Guardian and Yes.  The instruments and composition are top-notch but still accessible.  The vocals  are a cross between Ben Huggins (Galactic Cowboys) and David Lee Roth (Van Halen) but without the latter's annoying squawks.  Crimson Skies is highly recommended, especially the epic "Shadowland," which is one of the best  songs of 2006. (Dan Singleton)

Write My Song 
Artist: Marcus Cole
A soulful singer with a sultry voice delivering an amazing message describes this artist and his debut album. (Trina Tyler)

Failure To Excel 
Artist: Failure To Excel 
7 tracks
Running Time: 35 minutes
If you are going to print the lyrics of your songs on the CD program, please make them readable. This one has a black background with gray lettering on it. What you can make out are hands on the front cover and hearts on the back. Failure to Excel has good instrumentation and vocals, but the lyrics are depressing and show such angst that I was reaching for strong black coffee.  “…and now I’m torn in two, these thoughts rising up, constricting my view…” are an example. One gets the feeling that once past this hurdle, Failure to Excel will do just that, excel.  (Copyright 2006 Marie Asner)

7 Days
Artist:  Deitrick Haddon
Deitrick Haddon wrote and produced many of the songs, which feature a touch of hip-hop beats to some songs and soulful lyrics to others.  This is gospel easy listening music and gets credit for originality. (Trina Tyler)

The Book of David: Vol. 1 The Transition 
Artist: Dave Hollister
David Hollister's gospel of the transitioning of his life is lengthy and uninteresting in "The Preface," the chronicle of his life.  However, there is a reprieve in "The Settlement," the revelation of his life, where the Lord is the true focus of the music.  If you can get through the first half, the second half is worth listening to. (Trina Tyler)

Sunlight of the Spirit
Artist: Images of Eden
Label: Nightmare Records
The first thing that strikes you about Images of Eden is the impressive tone and the versatile use of keyboards.  Heavy guitars are well-layered on top of ambient keyboards and the solos usually seem southern rock-influenced. Vocalist Gordon Tittsworth has a slightly nasally '80s hard rock sound. Imagine if Adam Sandler were a good singer or if Axle Rose weren't quite so annoying and you'll have some idea of it.  The album has good variety but is not particularly memorable.  (Dan Singleton)

From Arlington Heights, With Love
Artists: Like Summer2006) 37101-15194
11 Tracks
Running Length: 55 minutes
Like Summer has good instrumentation, great vocals and unique endings to their songs. Stand-outs are “Black Coffee in the Afternoon,” “Running Down Des Moines,” “Slow Down,” “Right Ones” and “Moving On.” On these songs, the band has lyrics that can be understood and that catch your attention, plus rhythmic arrangements. The rest of the selections don’t achieve this goal and as a result, such as in “Lovers’ Conversation on Belonging” or “Forgetfulness” the listener is left in limbo and waiting for the next piece of music. For certainly, here is a band with promise and strong enough for a second CD. (Copyright 2006 Marie Asner)

Together Again
Artist: Robert Lowe and Generations
Together Againis everything a great gospel album is suppose to be: spiritual, uplifting and rejoicing.  Listening to every song makes you feel like you are in church praising His name. (Trina Tyler)

My Christmas Song for You
Artist: Mark Brine & friends
Label: Indie
An interesting new Christmas release of featuring a mix of Brine originals along with guest performances by Will Travis, Geoff Bartley, David Nevue, Keeve Brine, Greg Szczeszek, Linda Joseph, Doug Atkin, Larry Whinnery, Tom Pomposello. The music mostly has an Americana feel to it.  If you tired of the same old songs and ready new tunes, this is the album for you. (Shari Lloyd)

Bring Us Peace
Artist: Ginny Owens
Label: Independent
Ginny Owens has recorded an unusual Christmas album as a fundraiser for two organizations, Lincoln Village Ministry, and her foundation The Fingerprint Initiative ( www.fingerprintinitiative.org). The song list is a 50/50 blend of standards one expects on such projects ("Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas," "Ave Maria"), and less-expected offerings including three original numbers and David Wilcox's "Miracle." Much of  Bring Us Peace was recorded live in-studio in order "to capture the intimacy and honesty of the music," but unfortunately on many numbers that method simply reveals the limitations of Owens' voice and arranging ability. But there are a few surprises—who knew she was capable of writing and singing R&B or blues? Ginny Owens fans will enjoy this disc while supporting two of her favorite causes. (Linda LaFianza)

The All New End
Artist: Shaan Sharma
4 Tracks
Running Time: 17 minutes
Shaan Sharma’s CD only has four selections on it, “20 Years,” “Dear Whoever,” “The Ground” and “Untold,” but it certainly has power. What I liked here---and usually don’t---is breaking a phrase, but Sharma does it in “Dear Whoever” and it makes the piece. He has a good voice and the instrumentalists are fine. I only wish there had been more selections on this CD. (Copyright 2006 Marie Asner)

O Seven The Year's Best Christian Rock
Artist: Various
Flicker/Essential Records
This CD is like flipping the radio on and listening to the top forty Christian hits for a few minutes. Some of it could be considered pretty good. Some of it is not so great. Some of the bands (Jars of Clay, Until June) came up with come good new stuff. Others (Day of Fire) seem like rehashes of previous material. The collection is a bit odd in that some of it is stuff that has been out for a year or more while some of it was unreleased at the time. (Justin Wright)

The Mass of Pope John Paul II the Great
Artist: Jay Weigel, composer
Label: MCG Jazz
An interesting compilation of classical music.  The mass of the late pope is mostly traditional while incorporating baroque, African, Asian, choral and  early 20th century American elements.  This variety is appropriate for a mass celebrating a man who spoke more than a dozen languages and was a global spiritual leader, but it also restricts the flow of the music if one  tries to listen to it as a classical CD.  (Dan Singleton)

Introducing DeWayne Woods & When Singers Meet
Artist: DeWayne Woods
As a gospel newcomer, DeWayne Woods should look forward to standing with the gospel greats.  Artists spend years trying to develop an exceptional album and he has achieved this his first time out.  The songs are spiritually embracing with messages that enlighten your heart.  (Trina Tyler)