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CURRENTLY IN MUSIC
A third time for Third Day

Derek Van Nes

Time
Third Day. Essential Records, 1999. Produced by Monroe Jones.

How to make a fabulous Christian rock album:

Blend together one part from each of the following for your rhythm section: The Allman Brothers, Pearl Jam, The Black Crowes. Stir in the following vocalists: Eddie Veder (Pearl Jam), Bob Seger, a hint of John Fogerty (Creedance Clearwater Revival), Glen Kaiser and Ed Roland (Collective Soul). Spice liberally with the guitar styles of Tom Petty, Neil Young, Blue Rodeo, as well as some driving Delta blues guitar. Add soulful, energetic southern gospel backup singers to taste. Finally, marinade in a spiritual mix of parables, proverbs and gospel truth. The final product, called Time by Third Day, will satisfy many.

Third Day (Mac Powell, Brad Avery, Tai Anderson, David Carr and Mark Lee) has really out-done itself with its third album. The band’s self-titled debut was a phenomenal success judging by the number of sales. This new album is just as good, if not better than the first.

Time sees the band from Atlanta, Ga., returning to the straight forward rock music that defined their independent release in 1995 (re-released in 1996 with Reunion). Their second album, Conspiracy No. 5 (released in 1997), earned a Grammy nomination for best rock gospel album. Powell described the lyrics on Conspiracy as “deeper, yet. . . a little bit more vague.”

Lead singer Powell’s refreshing vocals are as gritty and energetic as ever. The songwriting is straight-forward, biblically solid: no wishy-washy abstractions here. In fact, the lyrics are often Scripture set to music, an enviable talent in itself. There are no superstars on this album, but the group produces a solid, heart-felt rock album with some of the best rhythm work I have ever heard.

Time should appeal to anyone who enjoys the secular bands listed above. It is a stand-alone album which I would not hesitate to give to my musically discerning non-Christian friends. It is also a cross-generational album that should appeal to most people between the ages of 10 and 40.

Released Aug. 24, Time can be heard on the radio. “I’ve Always Loved You” reached number 8 on the adult contemporary top 10 in the US and is expected to be the band’s 10th number-one single on the contemporary charts.

Being a frugal university student, I usually don’t buy albums at their full price. But Time is one album I wouldn’t hesitate to lay out a greater amount of cash for.

Derek Van Nes, who is in his second year of civil engineering at the University of Saskatchewan, wonders why God didn’t make understanding calculus a spiritual gift. He and his wife Michelle live in Saskatoon.

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Last modified December 6, 1999.

© 1999 Mennonite Brethren Herald.
Published by the Canadian Conference of MB Churches.
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