Adoration: The Worship Album

1	He Reigns 4:55
2	You Are My King (Amazing Love) 4:31
3	Great Is Thy Faithfulness 3:17
4	Take My Hands (Praises) 4:22
5	Adoration 4:22
6	In Christ Alone 4:17
7	Lord (I Don't Know) Live 4:24
8	It Is You Live 6:18
9	Father, Blessed Father 3:59
10	Hallelujah 3:16

Barnes & Noble

Critics have often accused Newsboys of lacking originality, so the knives were no doubt being sharpened when word spread that these Christian rockers were about to release a worship album. While they were late to jump on the P&W bandwagon, Newsboys' Adoration is surprisingly solid. Beautifully produced, well performed, and void of most the usual banalities that often make worship a rather tired trend, Adoration sells itself with its excellent songwriting. The opening track, "He Reigns," may repeat the oft-heard worship litany of "glory, glory, halleluja, He reigns," but a lush backing choir and lyrics addressing Christ's global reach make a broader statement here. Most of the songs were written or co-written by lead singer Peter Furler and longtime producer Steve Taylor; indeed, the only cover here is of the now-classic "In Christ Alone," and the group's Euro-pop approach to this song is unique. Meanwhile, the live track "Lord I Don't Know" is a rocking, fiery piece that doesn't lose its reverence amid the fist-pumping guitars and energetic drums. Also worth noting is the excellent live track of "It Is You," a hit from the group's 2002 Thrive release. All in all, Newsboys certainly deliver with this one. Lisa Zhito

All Music Guide

Listening to the funky opener, "He Reigns," on the Newsboys' first praise & worship offering is like opening one gift on Christmas Eve, or the prelude to a kiss. What follows is pure splendor and joy that assaults the senses with a bevy of strong emotions. On Adoration, the Newsboys have delivered a rousing opus that delights with each passing moment. Cuts like "Great Is Your Faithfulness" and "Adoration" come across as sincerely genuine spins with real-world lyrics and a passion that landscapes rich musical textures. When Peter Furler comes off as sincere, his vocals fly to the next level and take the band with him. On "Great Is the Faithfulness," Furler's vocal bursts at midsong are eerily Bono-like. On "Adoration," which was penned by Steve Taylor, the tune's dreamlike keyboards and sonic dissonance give way to a most memorable vocal hook. Sprinkled throughout Adoration are some truly tasty moments. Background vocals, Taylor's shiny production, and the musical interludes are a few reasons to be impressed. What's amazing is that this praise & worship disc doesn't boast "filler" material. It doesn't rely on the "old" classics to boost its legitimacy. Practically every tune is penned by Furler, with collaborators like Taylor, Martin Smith, and Toby McKeehan aiding in the disc's authority. This is a truly inspiring performance that asserts the bandmembers as apt students in the art of praise & worship. ~ Steven Douglas Losey, All Music Guide