NEWSBOYS
In the Hands of God
(Inpop)
***
Paul Colman is out. Jody Davis is back. Michael Tait is in, but not on this collection. It’s a dizzying carousel, this Newsboys go-round; but the ride refuses to slow. Why should it? After all, the Aussie pop/rock act has dominated for two-plus decades and remained as popular as ever. In the Hands of God, the band’s latest, continues to reveal why it’s so popular, which is good and bad.
For every great tune the boys have recorded, whether about breakfast cereal or “how they roll,” there are songs that uncover a band mailing it in. That’s sad because some songs here really need to be heard.
Often capable of so much more, most of the legendary band’s latest work consists of done-before lyrical turns and comfortable musical structures. Perhaps the latest line-up will change things. Time will tell.
