Don't you love bands that issue a best of after 2 albums? Well this is AAs sixth album, and they could have issued a double CD based on what they have done with their first 5 albums. And if it weren't for Worldwide, I'd say Hit Parade is their best album. This is a great rock album, but what I am saying is that Worldwide is even better.. maybe. Their power, creativity and well crafted music is stunning for its excellent quality. Their music is a throw back to the great rock music of the 70s and 80s. At times they have sharp powerful guitar, strong vocals and harmonies, heavy base and pounding drums. Then when they slow it down there is a beauty to word, music and message. And amazingly, as great as the music is on Hit Parade, you have to check out Worldwide.This Best of takes 1 song from their self titled album. AAs Audio Adrenalin was of a different style and only the mediocre DC10 made the cut to be on Hit Parade. I won't have put anything from this album on the Best of so I guess they had to do one. I would rather have seen any of 12 songs chosen from Bloom or Zombie instead. I guess you could buy the other two and check me out on that.
From Don't Censor Me they include the fast paced Were a Band, the easy listening Rest Easy and the fun for kids to sing Big House. These are the only songs from that album I might have selected myself.
Their third album Bloom from 1996 is an awesome album and any of 10 out the 13 songs could have been put on a Best of. They only selected 4. Bloom has so many good songs that even though you might buy Hit Parade I think you'll love Bloom. That way you'd get 7 more songs that I rate from a 3 to a 5.
From the album Some Kind of Zombie 10 of 10 songs made my best of, but they only had room for three, all rockers, all good, Chevette, Some Kind of Zombie and Blitz. Buy Zombie anyway because there are 7 more songs that are all good!
Then we get to the album Underdog, their fifth. 5 of the 12 songs made the cut to Hit Parade. Only 6 songs from this album made my cut, but it included the 5 they selected. The sixth one that did not make it was Its Over, which is a 4 star song written for the end of a concert. When I saw they they finished up Light a Fire from Worldwide and simulated the smashing of their guitar Who style. Anyone the The Who? Who?
AA also gives us 2 new songs on Hit Parade and I like them both a lot. The rocker Will Not Fade and then they slow it down for One Like You. Both are 4 stars.
If any one that tells you that Christians can not rock, let them listen to Hit Parade. Then play them Zombie and Worldwide and they might react as I did. AA is now my favorite band. To bad VH1 excluded them from their 100 best rock bands. I am 50 something and as far as I'm concerned they have more great music than anyone except the Beatles. Hyperbole? I think they have made more and better than even the Stones, Led Zeppelin or Styx. This band could have been huge in the secular world, but chose not to.
It will be interesting to see how they top what they have already accomplished. If they never do, who cares? Look what they have given us so far. But to quote their own song, "I'm not the king, I just sing". Yes they do. Jedimack.
