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17 of 18 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
tobyMac [Tonight], February 9, 2010
Starting with dcTalk, and then going solo when the group disbanded in 2000, TobyMac still clings to such notions as hard work, persistence, patience and the power of music, which he insists is still what keeps him going. Tonight is easily the most anticipated new album of the new decade, and is truly amazing and a great way to start off the year. If you are a long-time Christian music fan, you'll hear that classic blend of rock, hip-hop and worship that made Jesus Freak one of the all-time greatest albums in the history of Christian music. Toby grabbed me immediately with opening track "Tonight," featuring John Cooper from Skillet, which is a techno-style rock song that rivals "Say The Words" by dcTalk, both in intensity and catchiness. Toby's vocals have never sounded better and he and John blend seamlessly as they both sing their hearts out on this fantastic opening song expressing our urgency for God. One theme that runs loud and clear throughout the album is the idea that we all need God, and we need him now, this morning, this afternoon, tonight. "Right here, right now / Under the stars / I promise You my heart / 'Cause it starts tonight," Toby sings on the chorus of the title track.
If you are looking for a hip-hop song in the style of "Made To Love," look no further than second song "Get Back Up." The melody and music is so catchy, I was bouncing in my seat as I listened to the song. "Funky Jesus Music" is next and I can't remember any album since Portable Sounds that has three opening tracks as strong and upbeat as the first three songs on Tonight. If the start of the album wasn't incredible enough, next comes Toby's GRAMMY-nominated song "City On Our Knees." "If you gotta start somewhere why not here? If you gotta start sometime why not now?" he asks on "City on Our Knees," which is a great song to cool down and worship before the next two songs get you moving again.
"ShowStopper" might actually live up to its pretty impressive title as it has even more grooves than "Boomin'," which was previously my favorite "party song" by Toby. The bridge "so rock me, drop me, but you will never stop me" sums up the energy level of this great song. "Changed Forever" has a confessional message and features some great guest vocals from Nirva Ready. "`Hold On' is very personal," Toby says. "Many lines are there to encourage my wife, but I know those lines could encourage anybody in a relationship. As for `Start Somewhere,' any time you're in love with somebody, you're going to bang heads from time to time. I don't know how many times I've been lying in bed, sweating it out and thinking, How am I going to make this right? But then you reach that moment of apology and forgiveness. And then there's "Wonderin'," in which Toby reminisces about the past with Kevin Max and Michael Tait in dcTalk I'm wonderin' 'bout the way I spend my days / Wonderin' if it's even worth the chase / Wonderin' if they're stealin' me from You." There's even a healthy dose of reggae on the album closer "Break Open the Sky," where Toby flexes his Jamaican family ties while Israel Houghton provides guest vocals. Other visiting vocalists include Relient K's Matthew Thiessen on "Wonderin'."
This is one of those albums that requires you to move your body along with the unbelievable hooks to truly "feel" the passion of these songs. Tonight should probably come with a warning label for people who get motion sickness. If these songs don't make you move, you may not have a pulse. Right now, this is the top Christian album of the year and the best overall album by tobyMac in my opinion. Tonight will certainly be holding a place in my top 10 albums of 2010.
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11 of 14 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
It's ok, February 10, 2010
Well, I pre-ordered toby's newest "tonight" months ago and my expectations were high (and rightfully so, he usually delivers) but this one let me down. I noticed another reviewer commenting that these smell like b-sides; I concur. Toby usually raises his game from cd to cd and changes his style to keep it fresh but these songs just sound like a continuation of "Portable sounds", only not quite as good.
I had really looked forward to hearing what toby and Matt Theissen of Relient K would come up with in their collaboration, but their song "Wonderin" was really the largest swing and miss for me. Others that didn't quite connect with me were "Get back up" which is too similar to "I'm for you", and "Captured" which reminded me of "Burn for you". "Funky Jesus music" is the "Diverse city" of this album and "Showstopper" is just like "The slam", "Boomin", "Yours", and "Extreme days".
All is not lost though, the title track "Tonight" with John Cooper from Skillet is a major highlight, more of a driving techno rock feel. "City on our knees" is still a great song even though radio plays it to death. "Break open the sky" is Tobymac's nod to traditional reggae although Israel Houghton's appearance is forgettable. The horns in "Start Somewhere" are nice and tasty, and "Hey devil" is different enough from previous rock songs that Toby has done to keep it interesting.
As a long time fan of all the former Dc talk boys I really wanted to love this one, but I didn't see enough growth and risk to warrant more than a 3 star cd.
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Tonight-MP3 download/CD, February 10, 2010
Okay music fans! If you love music this is a great CD to have. If you have had a rough year & looking for God to speak to you & restore you & minister to you, this CD is a MUST!
Toby has been doing his thing for more than 20 years & I must say TMac I do not know how you do it but you have out done yourself again. You are not only writing good music, but tapping into God's heart & raising up an amazing future talent (go TruDog- I look forward to hearing more of you in the up & coming years).
Whatever you may be going through, God will use this music to minister to your soul!
Enjoy!
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is tobyMac's 4th studio release. Browse tobyMac's Discography 
