Unashamedly Christian; I Love it!
blbooks | 10/06/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I saw Josh Bates' PERFECT DAY cd at the store being promoted as "new from the producer of Casting Crowns" and since Casting Crowns has recently won great acclaim...I must admit the tactic worked since Bates' CD is now at home in my player. (True I previewed the album first listening to 30 seconds of each song on iTunes... so it wasn't completely blind faith.)
The music is a blend of rock/pop with some acoustic tendencies on the slower songs. A nice blend of fast and slow.
Perfect Day, the title track, is a nice rock song. It starts slow, but builds up to a faster-paced chorus. But whether fast or slow, it never loses its message. "The perfect day will come I know/When I will dance around the throne/With the angels I will give Him praise/I will finally get to meet/The One who made my joy complete/ The perfect One on the perfect day/I am waiting for the perfect day." The lyrics draw inspiration from 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18. 5 stars
Less, the second song, draws inspiration from Romans 5:8 and Romans 8:35-39. It quickly became one of my favorite songs on the album, and a definite "theme song" of mine. "I'm less than I thought I was/Convinced that I don't measure up/And I pretend I'm standing tall/'Til I hear my Father say/Even when I'm feeling small/He loves me, really loves me/And I know He knows best/Even on the days when I feel less." A definite 5 stars.
King of Glory, the third offering, is a great song as well. The message is just as strong as the previous songs. Each song on the album truly seems to be doctrinally on-target...praise-filled, love-filled, inspirational songs. 5 stars.
Shine, the fourth song, is still great. The message drawn from Matthew 5:16 tells Christians that they should be 'shining' to draw others to the Light of the world. Good song both musically and lyrically. 5 stars.
Never Give Up On Me is a slower song with encouraging lyrics which are what we all need to hear some days..."You never give up on me/No, You never give up on me/Though I'm weak, You are strong/You told me I still belong/No, You never, never give up on me." 4.5 stars
There Is None Like You brings the album back to its faster-pace, relatively speaking of course. A great song. Musically and lyrically satisfying. 4.5 stars.
Walking Through The Fire is a great song. With the message that "I am His child/ Even when I am afraid" and a great resounding chorus of "It's a matter of faith, hope, and love/A matter of trusting our Father above/When the flame is rising higher/Gonna keep on walking through the fire/through the fire" it is by far one of my personal favorites on the album. 5 stars
You Say Come, the eighth song, is inspired by Matthew 11:28-30, Jesus' invitation for the weary and heavy-laden. Great song. 5 stars.
Alive, a good song, 4.5 stars. Probably one of the fastest songs on the album.
Prodigal, a great song, drawn from Luke 15. 5 stars.
Josh Bates' album PERFECT DAY is an unashamedly Christian album, abundant in truth, hope, encouragement, and praise. A great relief when so many so-called 'Christian' groups release albums with wishy-washy songs which may or may not have a Christian message. I believe that you shouldn't have to search to find hidden layers of 'Christian' meanings in songs. The message should be LOUD and CLEAR.
Josh Bates' album is great. And I am excited to find yet another Christian artist who writes or co-writes many of his own songs."
Perfect Day is AWESOME!
LaTosha Johnson | Ohio | 10/13/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"The cd Perfect Day is awesome! The songs are GREAT and they definitely are filled with truth. My favorite songs on the cd are Perfect Day, King of Glory, and Never Give up on me. But all the songs are great. Josh has an amazing voice and definitely God gifted talents!"
Great Debut.
James A. Nichols | Midwest City, OK | 12/02/2007
(3 out of 5 stars)
"Josh Bates has come out with a great debut CD released on Beech Street Records(home of Casting Crowns) Has some great songwriting and is a rock/pop album with some acoustic songs. All songs are very God centered and can easily be sung in a contemporary praise and worship setting. I look for great thing for Bates in the future."