Customer Reviews

Rockin Revival

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

 

 

While I was at Bible college, I attended two concerts on consecutive nights. One was at a church, while the other was at a high school auditorium. One was worshipful by Terry Talbot. The other was Servant, complete with loud music, special effects, and great choreography. You're right: Servant was the band that played at the church.

The concert was before the release of "Rockin' Revival". The band said you could be the first on your block to have the album. Considering that my Bible college was pretty traditional, I wasn't sure at that time I wanted to be that kind of trendsetter. After a few years, though, Servant became my favorite band.

My favorite songs on the project were . . . no, let me tell you my least favorite songs on the project, because only two songs fall into that category. One was the first song on the project "Babylon", and the other was "Suburban Josephine". The former was a little too pacifist for me, and the latter hinted at a doctrinal position that I disagree with. I will say, though, that I prefer Christian musicians who feature bad doctrine than those who avoid doctrine.

The rest? Excellent. In particular, I relate to "Isolated". Unfortunately, I don't think I'm "Isolated" in relating to "Isolated." And the church hasn't changed much in the 25 years since the song came out.

One last thing I'll add. This is the first album that includes my all time favorite keyboardist in the band (Matt Spransky).

Let me admit the biases first: Servant was our band, by that, I mean part of our commune, managed and formed by my dad, and all the people in it close friends of mine. So I am going to be pretty supportive.

For many the music of Servant was too cutting and dangerous to listen to, for who wants to hear a call to repent, that you, the church, are not actually following Jesus Christ? Isn't contemporary Christian music supposed to just make Christians happy, and be a safe outlet to dance?

Servant was cutting edge- the first Christian band with an extensive light show, the first to use lasers, and the band that gave Petra their start. The lyrics speak to the foundational elements of our commune, HMS. The Jesus Movement never produced a tome like the Westminster Confession; for us, our theology was expressed in our music. Even today, when I contemplate an ethical action, I consult the Bible, and the music I grew up with.

Look Out Babylon is amazingly prescient for our times. "Wear the oil flows the most, is where the tension lies." To hear prophetic lyrics like "Soldiers in Afghanistan; sanctions in Iraq" from 1981 is just scary. It's a call against war, to see that Babylon, representative of the evil in humanity, is actually us in the West.

Isolated speaks to how a Sunday and Wednesday church, as Keith Green also spoke of, is not what Christ had in mind. Lonely Christians, isolated Christians, these are the antithesis of Christ's message- he calls us into community. Ad Man has got a fun ring to it, speaking of the mammon of advertising that calls us to a different god- there is no god but money.

The two finest songs on this album are perhaps the finest songs Servant ever produced. Suburban Josephine was sung by Sandie Brock and written in part by my mom. One day while they were in the van, she looked over, and said, "That looks like a suburban Josephine." And the lyrics just started tumbling out. A story of a woman sung to the old shooby-doo-wah 60's sound, she desired, ever since she could remember, to serve Jesus. But one day she fell in love with someone else, that she could touch and see. Now she has soap operas for breakfast, and a 21" colour television, and needs to get her hair done right because her husband comes home soon. She has traded in the dream Christ gave her for the American dream. But you can't serve two masters. And one day, while watching the Price is Right, she saw three friends fly by, up into the sky...

I'm Going to Live is a song that I think of again and again throughout my life. It's lessons were omnipresent in my thoughts the last time I was held up at knife point, and influencing my words. Bob Hardy tells the story of two guys who came up to him and demanded some cash, or they would kill him. He told them that they could have his money (what does that matter anyway?) but they couldn't have his life, for his life belongs to the Lord, and he was going to live forever. Then the song begins.

There's no way we can lose. Our life is not forfeit, for we are already dead. To live is Christ, to die is gain. In the end, the robbers get all the cash, and a whole lot more as well.

And at the end of every concert, the audience rises to it's feet, yelling out in unison the ballad "I'm Gonna Live Forever", over and over, till the beat became part of the blood of our veins.

Shallow Water
World of Sand + 2

While at Union University I was really into really rockin' music. Led Zep, Styx, Journey, Aerosmith, just to name a very few. I never thought of Christian music as something I could get into, after all George Beverly Shea who did all the Billy Graham concerts, the Goodmans Imperials and Hymnals (all glorified Christ) were all that I considered "Christian Music". Then one day a friend at Union Univ. told me about a different type of Christian Music. Rockin' Revival and Petra's Never Say Die were purchased at a local music store in Jackson TN. I was hooked. To this day Servant's Rockin' Revival has remained in my top 3 list of all time favorites. I had a break in and am once again purchasing this relevant timely CD. The vocals and the lyrics alone are heads and shoulders above most of the CCM found today. The music, though it may seem dated is most likely never going to ever get old. From the opening song to the closing song I never get tired of hearing it and find myself still quoting some of the lines in general conversationl. From the rockin Heidleburg Blues to the southern rock sound of I'm Gonna Live will help put the fire back into anyone's heart. The title track Rockin' Revival brings me to back to I should rejoice in Jesus Christ and live in the power of the Holy Spirit. Adman has been kept in my mind of what Jesus said, "lay up for yourself treasures in heaven" not on on earth. I mean this album touches probably everyones life in some fashion. Those who have never experienced this CD will not regret the purchase. Yes it is dated and not hippity hoppity, but it brings a strong message and one that is as relevant today, if not more so than when it was released. Good musicianship, strong vocals and Christain relationships with both Christ and man are at the heart of this cd.

ROCKIN' REVIVAL is Servant's most "complete" set of songs with no real missteps along the way. There is tremendous enthusiasm throughout the album in both the songwriting and playing and there isn't a dud in the bunch.

It's a solid 3-star recording. I gave their debut 4 stars because it was such a cohesive package and while this may be a better album overall, it was "more of the same" but very well done.

This and the previous "Shallow Water" album were my favorites. I am just now putting my albums onto CD's. WOW, I really forgot how much I loved this group. I was DJ at a Christian station in 1981 that wouldn't allow the rock music- but still got the records sent to the studio. So I got to preview most groups- fun. You will not be sorry for this purchase if you choose this. Hope the group still gets some of the revenue.