Customer Reviews

Another Time Another Place: Timeless Christian Classics

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Well, it's once again time to review a new album from Avalon. And as with each review i write on here for their albums, this is my FAVORITE album they have released. Now, i know i say that everytime they release a new one, but they seriously get better on each album. Now for many people listening to this album they will be comparing it to the original versions of the songs, since the album is a tribute album to the classics of Contemporary Christian Music. For me, i'm not comparing because i can honestly say i've never heard any of these songs before. I was not raised listening to CCM, rather i was raised listening to Southern Gospel. So for me, this album really is like a brand new album. First off is the song selection. I'm sure with the amount of CCM hits, Avalon could have recorded any number of songs, but I believe they have chosen the creame of the crop! These songs are just amazing. The lyrics in the songs just hit you right in the heart. The problem i find in a lot of CCM music today is that the songs sound as if they are lacking something, or as if the writers said "Hey, i think i'll write a song today" and just threw it together. These songs have such powerful lyrics that really are timeless, as the album's title suggests, and really show an era of songwriting that just isn't around anymore. You really don't hear songwriting like this a lot now days. Secondly, the vocals. MAN OH MAN!!!! With every album Avalon outdoes themselves with their vocals. This to me is the best album not only lyrically, but vocally that they have ever recorded. Now, as i said earlier i was raised on Southern Gospel music which is BUILT on strong 4 part harmony or 3 part harmony if it's a trio, so for me i love for a group to do really awesome harmony and this is the best harmony i've ever heard Avalon do. This album showcases all the various parts better than any of their previous ones. I'm also extremely happy that Jody's vocals were left on this and it was in affect a farewell album for him. For those that don't know, Jody was forced to make the decision step down after developing a heart condition. I have to say he was always my favorite vocalist in Avalon and will be greatly missed. That being said, i will NOT be like others i've seen on here and whine about the fact that somebody has left the group and it's not gonna be the same Avalon and BLAH BLAH BLAH!!!! God is in control, as the first track states, and he has a plan for Jody, as well as Avalon. I've watched a video of Jeremi, who has taken Jody's place, and he is very very good. He has a very strong, powerful voice that fits well with the powerhouse vocals of Janna, Melissa, and Greg. Lastly, the musical arrangements on the album are great! I love that the album has a mixture of mostly pop/rock (leaning heavy on the ROCK side...YAY!!!!), and some very R&B tinged tracks. It's such a modern sound and it's great. Shaun Shankel deserves a HUGE shout- out for the amazing job he has done arranging and producing this album. All of that being said this album is a must have of any Avalon fan, as well any Contemporary Christian Music fan. And for anybody who is not a fan of either Avalon or CCM music, give it a listen anyway. The vocals and music are great and you just can't help but enjoy it!!! Hopefully this review will help you come to the brilliant decision to buy this album. I can promise, you will not be disappointed. Avalon, it was worth the wait, and you guys are the most talented people in Contemporary Christian Music!!!!...God Bless...YOU GUYS ROCK!!!!!!!

After the truly awful 'Stand' and 'The Creed', I didn't have too high hopes for this recent release from Avalon. Thankfully the tendency to over sing songs and the heavy handed, rock orientated production that marred these previous two releases has been toned down a little - albeit not enough.

Although I miss the sparkle of albums such as their 2001 'Oxygen' release, there are some reasonable songs here that are worthy of a mention. These include the title track, 'Place In The World' and ' Thy Word'.

A reworking of one of their biggest hits 'Testify To Love' does seem a little pointless and hints that this talented foursome may be running out of fresh ideas.

I love this disc...I knew most of the songs from the originals, but I love the way Avalon has redone them! Just like their Hymns album...I love their style. I highly recommend it

This album was not much more than noise. The singing is a little too strong at times and the background sounds like rock music, which to me is not pleasing to listen to. I actually liked a few of the songs from the Creed and from Stand, but I didn't really care for any of the songs from this album because they were so over produced.

Avalon is one of my favorite contemporary Christian groups. Avalon has a very distinct and recognizable sound to all of their cd's and this one is no exception. It has some old songs mixed in with some new one's also and will be a great addition to your collection of Christian music.

Oh, Avalon, what happened?

I have purchased every Avalon album since the debut album - save for "Maze of Grace," which wasn't available in my country, and owning a copy now seems superfluous - and loved most of them, above all "Oxygen," my favorite Contemporary Christian album of all time. I would've defended Avalon to the teeth, including this release, were it not for the sheer fact that this album bored me to tears.

As timeless Christian classics go, I've only heard of three songs on "Another Time, Another Place," so I listen to the rest of it tabula rasa. I was truly looking forward to "Place in This World," the song that opened my eyes to Christianity. To my surprise, Greg, Janna, Jody, and Melissa swap verses and choruses, which jars the melodic flow, IMHO (male sings verse, female sings chorus? Why not just sing straight into it, or make PITW a full male-sung song?) I was expecting blow-me-away harmonies and instrumentation, and didn't get it, which was a let-down.

As another Amazon reviewer notes, the electronic beats on "El Shaddai" are indeed disconcerting and distracting. For me, the greatest disservice was done to "Testify To Love." Michael Passons has set a bar so high up that one honestly cannot expect Greg Long to match. Jody tries gamely to fill in the gap, but the exquisite vocal harmonies that characterized the classic TtL are not present here (a solo female voice on "for as along as I shall live, I'll testify, testify, all my life I'll testify..."? That section screams for sing-along harmonies! The TtL version on "Testify to Love" greatest hits compilation featuring the Katinas was a million miles better!). The end result is a half-baked concoction that does not match the exuberance, joy, and power of the original. It breaks my heart that Avalon cannot meet the standards it has set for itself with this revival of their own hit.

(As an aside, I respectfully disagree with one reviewer on "Stand." I think "Stand" stands to be one of Avalon's more noteworthy albums precisely because it signified their intention to try something new. If "Another Time, Another Place" is supposed to be a return-to-form of sorts, I'd much rather prefer the rockier Avalon. What is "new" with this album? Another set of revivals? As if "Faith" didn't already do that.)

Thankfully, there are a few shining gems on this album, most courtesy of ever-brilliant Jody McBrayer. His beautiful voice shines brightest on "El Shaddai" (which makes it all the more annoying that the phony electronica beats water down the simple gorgeousness of this song!). Melissa and Janna rip the roof off on "God is In Control." "People Need the Lord," "Solid As the Rock," and "Friend of a Wounded Heart" are also worth mentioning due to the exquisite vocal work present here.

As another aside, Shaun Shankel, album producer, did a spectacular job on Mandisa's "True Beauty." This album, not so much. We know he is capable of magic, and I think he can still pull it off, if Sparrow gets him for Avalon's next project.

I am used to the high standards that Avalon has set for itself. "Love Won't Leave You" was Avalon's last Top 20 CCM hit; since then, it's been tough pickings on any CCM chart. I wouldn't say CCM radio, AC or Inspo, has outgrown the group; I would say that the material has been largely substandard. This album is so sub-standard that the record label would not even give me PHOTOS with my CD booklet! I buy an Avalon album and I don't get a single photo of the group?? COME ON!

Get these guys back in the studio, hook them up with some current songwriters whose sound matches the sound the group really wants to achieve - you want rock, go to Mac Powell, Lincoln Brewster or Jeremy Camp, you want updated Europop, talk to Peter Furler, or go experiment with Southern gospel like you did with "I'll Fly Away" and come up with something amazing with David Mullen at the helm, or make a live worship album, since it seems to be the last territory of CCM the group hasn't delved into yet - and make an album that will make people sit up and take notice.

I don't expect to get good reviews with this review. It's the first negative review I've ever written, and it pains me immensely to write it. I only hope that the passion with which I love Avalon will lead other fans to forgive me for what I wrote, and know that I join them in eagerly awaiting the next studio album, which I pray will be THE album that will make me proud to be an Avalonian.

If you want a CD that will take you right into the heart of worship, this is it. Every single song on the album is filled with the heart of worship. They've got a great sound and great lyrics. Whenever I'm having a bad day I put this cd on and I can just feel the Peace of God washing over me and all of a sudden all my "troubles" seem so small in minuscule. I would definitely recommend this cd to anyone that wants to be ushered into His presence.

Any misconceptions or apprehensions I had about Avalon's renditions of some of my beloved Christians classics were quickly dismissed as soon as the first song played on this CD. Avalon lend their great harmony and talent to make these songs sound refreshing and beautiful, yet still faithful to the original composition. There are no disappointments on this album; it was even fun to hear on of their own classic song "Testify to Love" redone.

My favorites: God is in Control, Solid as A Rock, and Another Time-Another Place.

I haven't pursued to check out the "bonus" portion on the CD yet on my computer, so I cannot comment on that part. Other than that, Avalon did a beautiful job with this album.

As usual Avalon hits its mark. The harmonies are tight and each song showcases some aspect of their collective talents. Either I was reacquainted with songs from the past (Place in this World, For the Sake of the Call) or I was introduced to songs that I missed the first time they were hits (Addictive Love, The Basics of Life). The messages of these songs are outstanding and delivered with heartfelt emotion. The classic song that should have been added due to its impact early on in the "Jesus movement" was Easter Song. That song is tailor-made for their voices!

This is a 4 out of 5 stars for the bonus content. I know some people like the whole "enhanced cd" marketing, but I don't like having to put myself on a database just to access the hidden treasures. I wish they could have just put "Praise the Lord" on the album instead of making you jump through hoops to get to it. I am still getting spam from yungsemaj.com as a result of trying to access that song and it has been months.

Another Time, Another Place by Avalon is a good way to revisit some of the greatest Christian songs of all time. "We Will Stand," "Friend of a Wounded Heart," "El Shaddai" and others can easily be regarded as some of the most memorable and enduring compositions ever performed by Christian artists. Here they are interpreted for a new generation by one of Christian music's premier vocal groups.

Those familiar with the songs may be surprised at how revved-up they sound. Some have a rock edge like "For the Sake of the Call," which actually sounds better than the original. Modern production and arrangements have revitalized the songs so that they are not as sleepy as the originals might sound to today's generation.

None of this should be taken to mean that the songs are significantly different. The excellent "People Get Ready" has the same strong gospel vibe. "We Will Stand," another highlight, features guest vocals by Russ Taff and a choir. "People Need the Lord" is as beautiful as ever. "Place in This World" is still moving after all these years. It's also great to have a new version of "Friend of a Wounded Heart," a Wayne Watson song that is probably underrated.

Most arrangements work well. Two possible exceptions are "Thy Word" and "El Shaddai," which are more experimental in the hopes of making these familiar songs sound fresh. Some may find the prominent programmed percussion on "El Shaddai" bothersome. "Thy Word" is better with a loop that is more subdued.

Sadly, due to a heart condition and a recent vocal ailment, this will be the last recording to feature Jody McBrayer, one of the original founders of the group. Jeremi Richardson has taken his place. Janna Long, the last original member of the group, said that the group has no plans to disband, "We will continue to move forward in our ministry as long as God opens doors for us to do so."

The last track is an update of the group's signature song, "Testify to Love." It's a fitting conclusion, and it may be the best track on the recording.

They still have strong voices, excellent harmonizing, intricate arrangements and a modern pop sound. When you combine that with the group's strong ministry focus, there's a lot more testifying that they can do.