Born Again (Deluxe Edition)

iTunes Review

Faced with the loss of much-loved founding member Peter Furler, Newsboys signed up DC Talk’s Michael Tait to take his place as front man. Born Again, the first full-length project by the group since the switch, is both a statement of artistic renewal and a reaffirmation of unshakable Christian faith. Tait’s aggressive yet polished vocal style blends well with his new bandmates’ sensibilities, adding some fresh urban touches without blunting the Newsboys’ trademark melodic bounce or rock crunch. The band aims for a wide scope lyrically, offering hope to Haitian earthquake victims in “Build Us Back” and taking an intimate look at one young woman’s spiritual awakening in “On Your Knees.” The playfully buoyant spirit that’s been Newsboys’ trademark for two decades comes through in “When the Boys Light Up.” Tait talks about his own sense of mission in the propulsive chant-along track “One Shot.” Tunes like the electronica-tinged “Impossible” and the groove-driven “Way Beyond Myself” cry out for airplay. A revamped version of DC Talk’s classic “Jesus Freak” ups the album’s energy quotient still further.