Customer Reviews

Double Take

5 star:		(17)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(12)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(24)

 

 

Well, at first listen, I really did NOT like this release. It is a reworking of 10 of the old favorites, and two new songs. They feel very peppy and CCM'ish. I like the additions of some of the string sections, though.

One big thing is the title. Double Take. Take a second listen to this. The CD gets better. I'm on my 4th listen now and it keeps growing on me. It is NOT traditional Petra. Very different, but VERY well done. True fans will enjoy it, but give it a few listens to.

I did love God Fixation when I first heard it, and I thought that the only thing wrong with it was that John Schlitt didnt seem to be on full power so I was thinking what would the next album would be like vocals wise- I neednt have worried! This album is pure amazing! I love this album so much I would say it is one of my favourites of all time. I love whoever thought of the idea of redoing some of Petra's best loved songs and re inventing them acoustically! The result is a blowaway in terms of production, as the awesome wah wah guitar of Pete and the incredibly raw acoustic performance by former Whiteheart Member Brian Wooten! John and Dino are still two of the best producers around. Songs that stick out to on this album are "Dance", "The Longing" and "Praying Man" and the new version of "Just Reach Out" is a masterpiece. Pete's song "Breathe In" is also a masterpiece and this song high lights the talent of this young guy! John is in his full swing again on this album! His soaring vocal performances are great on every single song! Anyone who likes acoustic rock should not even consider not buying this scorcher of an album. In your face old songs that are greatly chosen! GREAT GREAT GREAT

WHAT A PLEASANT SURPRISE THE NEW PETRA CD IS! WITH THE EXPLOSION OF NEW ARTISTS WITHIN THE CONTEMPORY CHRISTIAN MUSIC REALM, PETRA IT SEEMS TO HAVE LOST ITS PLACE. THIS IS UNFORTUNATE, BECAUSE THEIR LAST FEW RELEASES HAVE BEEN EXTRAORDINARY. (NO DOUBT, PETRA PRAISE 2, AND GOD FIXATION.) PETRA HAS ALWAYS MIRRORED WHAT WAS GOING ON IN THE SECULAR ARENA, BUT WAS NOT QUITE THERE MUSICALLY. THE LAST FEW CDS SHOWED A BAND WHO THAT HAS NOT ONLY MATURED, BUT IMPROVED WITH AGE. THEIR CDS HAVE ALWAYS SEEMED TO ME TO BE FORMULA IN NATURE. ANTHEMS FOR CHRISTIANS, BY CHRISTIANS. OVER THE YEARS THEY HAVE IMPROVED TO THE POINT WHERE YOU CAN SHARE THIS GREAT CHRISTIAN MUSIC WITH NON-CHRISTIAN FRIENDS WITHOUT EMBARRASSMENT. AS THE LEVEL OF PRODUCTION AS GREATLY INCREASED. THE MUSIC ITSELF HAS BEEN INCREASINGLY LESS "SUGARY." THIS LEADS US TO "DOUBLE TAKE." I BELIEVE IT TO BE AN EXCELLENT CROSS SECTION OF THE GREAT BODY OF WORK THAT PETRA HAS DONE OVER THE PAST 20 PLUS YEARS. WHERE MUCH OF THEIR EARLIER WORK IS A BIT DATED, THESE FRESH TAKES ON THEIR MUSIC IS A GREAT SHOT IN THE ARM. I WAS PLEASANTLY SURPRISED TO FIND THAT THIS CD WAS NOT JUST ANOTHER GREATEST HITS, OR LIVE RECORDING RELEASED FOR WHAT WOULD SEEM TO BE MONEY MAKING OR MARKETING PURPOSES. THERE APPEARS TO BE METHOD BEHIND THIS CURRENT MADNESS. METHOD OR NOT, THIS IS A GREAT STROLL DOWN MEMORY LANE FOR THE LONG TIME FAN. IT IS ALSO A GREAT INTRODUCTION TO THE FIRST TIME LISTENERS, WHO MIGHT NOT OTHERWISE APPRECIATE THE POWERFUL IMPACT THESE SONGS HAD ON CHRISTIAN MUSIC. THIS CD HAD ME WONDERING...COULD A BAND LIKE THIS FIND ITS WAY INTO THE ROCK AND ROLL HALL OF FAME? BASED ON LONGEVITY, CREATIVITY AND COMMITMENT, THEY CERTAINLY SHOULD. IF AND WHEN THEY DO, YOU WILL HEAR ALOUD CHEAR COMING FROM HEAVEN, AND FROM ME!

First off, I've been a Petra fan since "More Power to Ya" was brand new. Second, I like all the phases of Petra, even though the revolving door personel problem needs to be addressed. After reading all 32 of the previous reviews I was shocked to see all the terrible reviews the album got, especially the reviews that personally attacked John Schlitt. This album was supposed to be different, was I the only one who understood that "Double Take" meant a second look? The concept of restructering classic songs in an acoustic style was different to say the least. On some songs, most notably "Beyond Belief" it really works. On others, "He Came ..." the idea doesn't work so well. I think the songs that fall short do so due to lyric structure and better songs could have been selected. If you are a true Petra fan this album will make a nice addition, if however you are a more casual fan, pick one of the "Rock Block" type greatest hits albums, of which there are far too many. Blame that on Star Song records and their attempt to milk their Petra catalog dry. I agree with some of the negative respondants in that the last really good album was "Wake Up Call", but there have been good songs on EVERY album. I've really loved following this band for the last 18 years, I'm 29 now, and got to see them live for the FIRST, yes first time, two months ago. I wondered how I would accept Pete, Lonnie and Trent playing what I considered to be Bob, Ronnie and John Lawry songs. I was blown away by the line-ups energy, especially Pete and Lonnie. These guys are as good as ever. This concert was held at Carowind's amusement park and after Petra left the stage I went to ride some rides and literally bumped into John Schlitt while his son was riding one of the rides. I told him how much energy the band had and he said that the new studio album was going to be a "rocker". Keep the faith Petra fans, the legacy begun by Bob Hartman is in good hands. One 'parting thought', to say that John Schlitt is the anti-christ is so asinine it is hardly worth mentioning, but after meeting him in person he is one of the most honest and personable people you would ever hope to meet. And besides how many guys pushing 50 can still belt out a rocker and a ballad like this guy?

When I saw all the negative reviews of this album I just had to say that I personally LOVE the new Petra album! It is different, which is good. Why would you re-do all your old songs the exact same way that you did them originally? Naturally, some people will not like the softened sound. I loved Petra when they were rocky. But I also love this album! The arrangements are brilliant! This Means War is really dramatic. Although I'm not a country fan, I like the very different take on Praying Man.

After God Fixation's lack of success (both radio and sales), something needed to change. Thus the huge change in sound comes in the form of Double Take. This album will take people to get used to at first. But don't pass it by quickly. It is an excellent album with excellent music! I highly recommend it!

Petra in many ways pioneered the modern gospel music scene, and was one of the forerunners of the praise/rock style that later exploded onto the contemporary music scene in the late 1990s. After poor reviews and sales from 1998's "God Fixation," Petra's current lineup decided to remake some of its biggest songs from the 1980s and early 1990s. To some this is the most misguided project Petra has ever undertaken, while others think it a masterful job of remaking the classics.

I find the album has a bit of truth from both camps.

Starting with their 1996 "No Doubt" tour, Petra inserted a half hour segment into their live show where the band would do a stripped down acoustic set of 5 or 6 "classic" Petra songs. The sound was simple, yet straighforward and the band was besieged by fans on whether they would release an album of these arrangements.

While there will undoubtly be angry fans complaining about the lack of "Rock" on the album, the project was hyped as an acoustic "unplugged" album, not a traditional Petra effort.

On the otherside, I'm somewhat disappointed that this is NOT a true unplugged set, but rather an album centered around frontman John Schlitt's powerful vocals and full orchestra.

I enjoy when artists stretch themselves, and Petra hit and misses on several of the songs. "Judas Kiss" and "Coloring Song" have horrible production and the string arrangements ad nothing to the songs.

However, the two selections, "He Came, He Saw" and "This Means War" are fantastic display of acoustic rock centered around the power of Schlitt's vocals and Louie Weaver's pounding drumming. Furthermore, both "Creed" and "Beyond Belief" allow the orchestra to compliment the band and not turn them into elevator music as on "Just Reach Out" (in which the original acoustic tune on "Wake Up Call" remains a masterpiece)

Another thumbs up remake was "Beat the System", in which the cheesey keyboards and whistles of the original are rearranged for a straightforward acoustic song. Unfornately, the two new songs "The Longing" and "Breathe In" fail to inspire, though the later's vocal arrangements are a new and appreciated touch.

John Schlitt and Co. should be applauded for charting new waters, and remind fans that the charismatic front man, with the band since 1986, blows away his predecessor Greg X. Voltz in both stage presence and energy (to the Voltz worshipers, the guy hasn't exactly excelled as a solo artist, while Schlitt's powerful singing and concert energy is the big reason Petra devloped the following they did in the late 1980s)

Overall, the album captures Petra on a artistic venture that has its highs in which the band recaptures some of its old glory and lows that makes it seem like the album's producer's should have put there foot down and force the band to go back to the drawing board.

It's amazing to see the reviews of so called "fans" of Petra really destroy this album or even humiliate the guys in Petra. Personally when I bought this album I really thought it was horrible BUT after listening to it a few times I really think this is great stuff. Why come out with a greatest hits when you can REWORK the old tunes into something different? No, it's not a rocker but you've got the old albums to listen to for that. Try something different. Petra isn't out of gas, they've refueled and are on their way back to the top. The songs to look out for are "Dance" "Beyond Belief" "Judas Kiss" and "Breath In" featuring Pete Orta on lead vocals. John Schlitt is still one of the best lead singers in the world today. Buy this album and enjoy the ride that only Petra can take you on. GOD BLESS PETRA!

I'm a long-time Petra fan. I first gave my heart to the Lord during an altar call at a Petra concert, so some of the "old" songs have special meaning to me. When I heard they'd re-done some of the classics with a new sound, I was VERY skeptical. WOW. I was pleasantly STUNNED. I have to disagree with reviewer "Tim" on "This Means War." Yes, I remember the pounding original version, but the new one is so haunting and ominous in a way, that the lyrics seem to really have even more impact. If you've read any of the "Left Behind" books, this version of "...War" will make the hair on the back of your neck stand up. Many of these songs are now 20 years old or so. The artists have lived that many more years, and they have changed like we all do. This was a chance to go back and re-work some things they'd done in the past. Wouldn't we all like to do that on certain things? And, with maturity, wouldn't our efforts be better for it? PETRA still ROCKS.

This was a nice change, kind of like Metallica's symphony and metal album. These are all classic Petra songs that every fan of Petra will recognize, however they have been reworked. The sound works, The label wanted them to do a mellower album than what they have done in the past, but this is the last one, so hopefully they will be able to hook up with a more supportive label. If you were expecting a Rocker this is not the album for you. I love the Rockin' Petra, but I really enjoy this one, with the exception of This means War. That was meant to be played at full volume with screaming guitar etc. Give this one a chance. I have been listening to it since I picked it up and have yet to tire of it!

I love this album. My first exposure to Petra was at the "This Means War" concert in Dallas about 13 years ago. All the songs are redone, with two new singles. At first I didn't like "The Coloring Song" off of this album, but it's growing on me by leaps and bounds. What really sold me was the new version of "Beat The System". After having listened to one of the two new singles on this album, I must say that "Breathe In" is an incredible new song, catchy and intelligent, and I hope to hear more of that in the future. It takes a few times listening to the songs to really begin to enjoy the music. The music has many layers, without sounding obnoxious, and is a a result of well thought out producing, mastering and musicianship. Who knows? Maybe their recovery from "God Fixation" is just around the corner.