Customer Reviews

Fight the Tide

5 star:		(28)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Fight the Tide is Sanctus Real's sophomore release following their much-admired 2002 release, Say it Loud. After winning two Dove awards and being voted best new artist in 2003 by CCM readers, Sanctus Real has made quite the arrival into Christian rock music. Fight the Tide exceeds Say it Loud and shows the listener that Sanctus Real has matured-Fight the Tide is more intentional and more diverse. The variety of the songs both musically and lyrically is exceptional. Apart from "Say Goodbye" which resembles a ballad, the songs are upbeat and move at a dynamic pace. Some have a more acoustic sound than others but each song offers brilliant vocals, guitar, and drums. The songs are catchy but not at all cliché. "Things like You" and "Deeds" explain common themes in original ways that start you thinking. "Change Me" and "Closer" are highly introspective. "Message" and "Where Will They Go" inspire us to be bold. "Everything About You" and "The Show" convey an awe for God that leaves us breathless and impressed. I hardly ever like a cd the first time I listen to it, but Fight the Tide got me right away. And the more I listen to it, the more I enjoy it. If you are into great rock music with quality lyrics, Fight the Tide is for you. Go to SanctusReal.com to preview all of the songs and find out more about Sanctus Real.

Man, this album rocks!!! I didn't like this album at first, but about the third time I listened to it, I started liking the first songs. Now, I've heard it a bunch of times, and I love every part of it!!! No weak spots!

Everything About You: 10/10 - If not my fav on the cd, this worship-type rock song is very close. You can really get into it--awesome!
The Fight Song: 9/10 - A great song about stopping a fight with a friend and finally making peace by apologizing and forgiving.
Alone: 8.5/10 - This great, rocky, "comfort" song is about love and loneliness.
Things Like You: 9.5/10 - A little less rocky, this song is my favorite lyrically. It talks about leaving greed and envy behind and learning to value heavenly possessions instead.
Closer: 8/10 - Another great track about drawing closer to God.
Change Me: 8.5/10 - Lyrics: "Would You change me from who I've been lately? 'Cause I know I'm nothing without You" Powerful and beautiful.
The Show: 8/10 - God steals the show through Sanctus Real!
Message: 8.5/10 - Awesome again!!! About spreading the Gospel.
Where Will They Go: 8/10 - Ok. This is the only song whose words I don't really understand. I know it's about God's love...I'll figure it out some day. Still a great song musically!
Deeds: 9/10 - A fun, upbeat song on the album--yet still contains valuable lyrics!
You Can't Hide: 8/10 - About how God will never leave you--He'll be around, even "when you've reached your all-time low"!
Say Goodbye: 7.5/10 - Not bad, yet the closest Sanctus Real got to having a weak spot. Your typical slow goodbye track. "It's so hard to say goodbye!"
Everything About You (Remix): 9.5/10 - Not quite as rocky as the original...but with a soft, prettier guitar tune. A strong finish to this incredible album!!!!

Get it!! I don't care how, (Amazon has a good price) just get it!

I first became acquainted with Toledo-based Sanctus Real upon hearing a cut from their debut disc, Say It Loud. The title cut from that album had a fun, hook-laden 80s sound to it that I really enjoyed. Unfortunately, the rest of the disc, though solid, is a bit rough around the edges - especially for a band that's been together for as long as Sanctus has been.

Happily, I find that the high points of Say It Loud are far surpassed by their newest release, Fight the Tide, while the weak point - particularly in the album's production values - are nearly eliminated. This is a flat-out terrific rock album, featuring some ridiculously catchy guitar riffs (particularly on The Fight Song), thoughtful songwriting, and an overall musical tightness that makes listening a true pleasure.

Sanctus Real has acheived something with this disc. They've managed to be utterly clear about their faith in Christ and ultimate reliance on God's grace - while never falling prey to the groan-inducing tendencies that sometimes plague other bands like Audio Adrenaline. The lyrics are solidly Christ-centered, but never insulting to the listener's intelligence. Combine this rarest of gifts with a terrific 80s-influenced power rock sound, and you've got a definite winner.

Highlights for me include:

Everything About You - This track is getting a ton of radio play, and it's doing so for good reason. Very solid opening.

The Fight Song - I'm addicted to the drive of this song - guitars, drums, etc. This is a rock song.

Things Like You - An assault on materialism. Lyrically and melodically entrancing.

Change Me - The cry of every Believer's heart. A very moving piece.

Closer - Not my favorite song on the disc, but good, nonetheless. Has a definite Weezer feel to it.

The Show - Maybe the catchiest song on the album.

Where Will They Go? - An outstanding song. For anyone who's ever been convicted about a missed opportunity to share the Gospel - this is your song.

Ever since I found out about Relient K's Two Lefts Don't Make A Right...But Three Do no other album has ever compared. Until I bought Fight the Tide yesterday. The first listen wasn't that great but it never is for any album I buy. I hated Relient K at first listen! The second time through though... it was on my portable CD player at 11:00 at night. And I was moved. Sanctus Real, like Relient K, has done everything right on this album. Lyrically, it is packed with solid Christian content. Excellent stuff. And musically, it ROCKS! This isn't pop-punk and it isn't hard rock, this is rock n' roll! This album has a really nice guitar sound you must hear. Oh, and their vocalist... Matt Hammitt... whoa, is he ever good! He can not only let it rip loose (see the song "Alone") he has a great falsetto ("Say Goodbye").... definitely one of my favorite vocalists ever! The entire album is done really well, Hammitt's voice is NOT over produced, and the effects are awesome. Like Two Lefts... I can't really pick a favorite off this album. Everything rocks and their are no weak spots. At all! I can tell you, however, that I really like the songs "Closer" and "Where Will They Go". But I also like "Say Goodbye" and most certainly "Everything About You." And also..... okay, "The Fight Song" just plain rocks! I like everything. Everything is a ten out of ten. Fight the Tide has done something no album has ever done since Two Lefts... it has become my favorite album. So get out there and buy it!!! You won't want to miss this one!

I'm not a very religious person, but when somebody recommended this CD to me, and after I listened to the full songs from their official website, I immediately went out and bought it. I'm still not too religious, but it doesn't stop me from loving this band and their songs because Sanctus Real is different from other Christian bands. This passage from their website bio about has the gist of it: "Some songs, like 'Message' and 'Deeds,' make direct biblical and religious references. Others aren't quite so obvious, and the band members disciplined themselves to avoid turning familiar spiritual metaphors into clichés. Instead, they came up with original ways of expressing their ideas."
In other words, sure, the songs send important messages to Christians, but the beautiful lyrics that speak of love and making up after a fight can be related to our relationships with other people, not just with God. The songs are great and I listen to them all the time; I'll never get sick of Sanctus. :) And I'm excited to be receiving "Say It Loud", their first CD, as well!

Sanctus Real spikes their rock with singalong..not really gritty but at times too rocky to really call them power pop. It's hard to know exactly who to compare them to in terms of sound. They're a Christian band but usually avoid becoming too preachy lyrically and that's allowed them a minor degree of mainstream exposure in clubs that more typically book mainstream rock/punk/alt rock acts. This particular CD won Gospel's Dove Award for "Best Modern Rock Album" in 2005.

HIGHLIGHTS:
"Everything about You" is a charging power popper that became a Christian radio hit. "The Fight Song" sports a lyric that could be interpreted as about general arguments ("I don't really wanna fight over something/that's really nothing/it doesn't matter") or about petty doctrinal squabbles that create disunity within Christ's Church. "Things Like You" takes aim at focusing our lives around the things made instead of the God who made them. ("And I think it's time to find a better way to live my life/Than loving all those things that keep me wrapped so tight") with an insta-singalong hook in "Everyone wants everyone else's everything...". "The Show" uses a rock concert as a metaphor for spiritual longing as lyricists Matt Hammitt and Chris Rohman wish they could have been present for the Day of Pentecost when "You (God's Holy Spirit) stole the show". "Deeds" reminds us we need balance in a Christian walk: we can't be so "heavenly minded" that we're no earthly good while also recognizing good deeds alone don't earn salvation ("If you don't have deeds you have nothing at all/If you don't have faith your deeds will fall".)

LOWS:
"Message" is a backlash against the Supreme Court's opposition to the Ten Commandments display in Alabama courts but it strays into slight paranoia about restriction of Christian expression. ("It might not be too long/before they say they've made our faith against the law") "Say Goodbye" is a fairly generic "letting go" song that's been said before in better ways.

BOTTOM LINE:
Musically, they're nothing terribly original but they're competent if not creative. Lyrically, there's the inkling that they at least desire to avoid cliche and that's something they should continue to nurture. There are far too many shopworn phrases in CCM today. Good enough that I'll seek out some of their other discs.

Two years ago i bought sanctus real's "say it loud". I liked their sound, and their vocals were pretty good. Fight the Tide has improved upon their style in all categories exept how catchy their tunes are. This is about a 4 to 4.5 album. I was hoping for better guitar riffs, but they make up for it in the quality of their vocals.
Peace.

Do you ever just need something that, after climbing into the car or coming home and throwing your bag on your bed, you can just pop in and forget about all your cares from the day and just be immersed in high-energy, yet thought-provoking music?
The work they put into developing good lyrics is unquestionable and I absolutely the story behind "Stole the Show", what an awesome piece! The two intro songs are enough to keep your blood flowing throughout and with the whole album this band packs an amazing punch that's not to be missed! If you give this as a gift, it will never be forgotten or overlooked!!

I've had this cd for about a year now, and after all this time these songs and this band never cease to amaze me. Overall, it's an incredible album, with a little bit of something for everyone. You've got your rock, you've got accoustic, and even a touch of reggae thrown in with the song "The Show". Everything, from the songwriting to the recording has matured with this album. I have to say "Lights down, take a bow, you know you stole the show" with this one. Check it out!

I love this cd! It's by far one of my favorite cds! Between this cd and the first one "Say It Loud" Sanctus Real has become one of my absolute favorite bands! If you like christian rock... or just plain rock music for that matter you have GOT to buy this cd!