January 14, 2002 - Third Day, Come Together

weekly fodder for the flock...

Join our e-mail list!

Just type your e-mail address below and press submit.

Third Day, Come Together

2001, Essential Records
Reviewed by Lakesha Stokes
January 14, 2002

Sadly, there are a number of bands in Christian music that are not in it for the mission or the calling. There are a few groups that feel that they must “settle” until something “better” allows them to leave the Christian scene and “progress” to secular audiences. Some groups have lyrics with double meanings that help this crossover, and often they will perform on the club scene. Third Day is a talented band that one immediately recognizes as a group that could have made it in the secular field. I guess in a way it makes this group more inspirational and genuine.

I admire the title track’s intent to convey an idea of unity. In the shadow of September 11^th one can appreciate this concept that previously could have been a bit threatening. This is tricky when you consider unity among all denominations, but our own doctrine understands that this is the preeminent way that we can move dead and dying souls into consistent true repentance. It is true that we need to love one another, and this album addresses some practical ways that a Christian can achieve this goal.

Of course, Come Together also fits the current period of Third Day's career. The band's overall effect has come together at the same time, with the ensemble making headway into the Christian music field. The band's intense work and desire helped earn acknowledgment at the 2001 Dove Awards in which they won five awards, becoming the first band in two decades to win both Artist of the Year and Group of the Year.

This respect came slowly, starting a decade ago. Band members Mac Powell and Mark Lee first started working together in 1991 after meeting in high school. By the beginning of 1993, David Carr and Thai Anderson joined them, and in 1995, Brad Avery joined Lee as the band's guitarists.

“ ‘Come Together,’ the title track, is the essence of what being a band is about,” Anderson says. “It's the five of us, plus the huge support team of 50-plus people. We go out and do our own things. We go to our own houses; we have our own families; we have five different personalities and five different denominational backgrounds and perspectives on life. But when we come together as a band, it's something special.”

This group builds around Powell's effortless baritone voice with:

· 40 Days, the second track on this album, is recognizable to many Christians. It has a strong vocal line that merges together with the guitar and percussion. Each of these in turn floats apart independently and fuses together again intermittently. Powell states that 40 days or years in the Bible is often used to reveal a time of trial or struggle, such as Jesus' 40 day fast in the desert, the earth being rained on for 40 days and nights, or the Hebrews in the desert for 40 years. All of those times were obviously difficult. It is something that I believe we can all relate to¾in tough times we often question God about the reason for our struggle. Yet we can be confident that He is so faithful and that there is always a reason for what we are going through. We may not see it now, but God always works together for the good of those who love Him.

· “Still Listening” is a discernment of God's voice and ways. This foot stomping song with a country flair is described by Powell this way. "Elijah wanted to hear from God. He stood on Mt. Sinai and a mighty wind swept by. But God was not in the wind. Afterwards, an earthquake came and then a fire, but God was not in those either. Not until after these mighty things passed did Elijah hear God in a whisper. Sometimes we look so hard for God in obvious places and end up finding Him in the least expected places in the least expected ways."

· Taken from Psalm 47 “Sing Praises,” a mixed meter song with a Latin feel, calls us to gather and gladly worship our God in song. We worship God because He is God and He is worthy. One can stop with this thought, but as Christians we also sing praises because of God's ultimate sacrifice that saved our souls.

Come Together has many styles but one message¾unity. It's the coming together of all the different identities that we've had, Lee says, all summed up in this one project.

If you're a fan of Third Day, do yourself a favor and treat yourself to this album.

ninetyandnine.com

---------

Lakesha Stokes is an elementary music teacher in the Hazelwood School District. She earned a Church Music degree from Gateway College of Evangelism and a Bachelor of Arts in Church Music/Music Education from Missouri Baptist College. She is presently in her second year and final semester working on her Master of Arts in Vocal Pedagogy at Webster University.

Works Cited:

Hendrickson, Lucas. “Band of Brothers: The pathway of a stellar year leads Third day to family and fans.” Contemporary Christian Magazine. November 2001.

Link http://www.thirdday.com/