Phil Joel

Bring It On

Inpop Records

B-

Phil Joel gives a new-age twist to the ever-empowering Christian rock movement on his album Bring It On.

Much like previous artists within the Christian genre, at first listen you may not be able to pinpoint Phil Joel?s Christian origins. Many times the blatant regard for Christianity spins artists into controversy and sometimes pigeon-holds them within that specific genre. By not making it overwhelmingly obvious many artists of today have surpassed this stereotype and produced great selling albums.

Phil Joel has the potential to capitalize on this album. Songs that may hinder him are songs such as ?The Man You Want to Be? in which the lyrics make it explicitly obvious who he is talking about. ?Jesus, make me the man You want me to be.?

Don?t misinterpret what I am saying here, as I am a Christian, but it has been my observation that Christian music doesn?t have the fan power to make it to the top of the charts, especially blatantly obvious forms of it. Phil Joel may have that power, however.Many times this isn?t the intent of the artists, as their only intent is to get someone to listen to their message. Christian groups are up and rising, and more people are beginning to pay attention to the movement. Joel may be the final push that ends a movement and begins a threshold and proves that Christian rock has stay-power.