Get the new FREE JFH MP3 compilation -- Vol. 14!
Get the new FREE JFH MP3 compilation -- Vol. 14!

JFH Music Review



Todd Agnew
Better Questions



Artist Info: Discography
Album length: 17 tracks: 69 minutes, 32 seconds
Street Date: July 17, 2007


From the moment This Fragile Breath" was released as his first single, Todd Agnew was viewed as a major player in the adult contemporary and worship field. He was recognized as such even more when "Grace Like Rain" hit the airwaves. Then he came back on his second album and took over radio with "My Jesus." With his third album here, Better Questions, can Todd live up to the previous two?

In case you're wondering what "Better Questions" means exactly, just listen to the first line in the opener, "Prelude," "I have better questions than I have answers." Although the intro is a bit intriguing, things get off to a rough start with the first song, "Still Has A Hold." Agnew tries way too hard to sound southern gospel, with very cliche southern gospel lyrics about being lost in the valley. At this point, I'm wondering if I'm really all that excited about listening to the rest of the album. Then "Least of These" jumps right in with a rocky guitar intro, and almost makes up for it, but I'm not sure if the album has redeemed itself yet.

On "Peace on Earth," Todd changes it up a little by giving the song a reggae flavor. It's not something he should try very often, but proves to be a good choice of music for the message, considering that a lot of older reggae songs had messages of peace and love as well. There is a poor flow to the lyrics in "Don't Say A Word," bearing a noticable pattern but it remains somewhat difficult to grasp. And when you listen to Todd's voice in "Family," you find that his vocals are very strong with certain styles of music, but don't fit very well with others. Musically, the song resembles that of Robert Randolph and the Family Band.

The first half of Better Questions is disappointing, with the only exceptions being "Our Great God," a worship song that utilizes the vocal talents of Rebecca St. James, and "If You Wanted Me." The latter of the two is very similar to his song "My Jesus," but the lyrics are based around Todd's self-doubt, "I'll admit I'm glad I'm not King David, ruling over everything I see, 'cause I think I've fallen for more than Bathsheba, Your creation's a temptation for me. If You wanted me to love You only, why'd You make the moonlight sparkle in her eyes?" That question struck a chord in my own heart, as I'm sure it will with a lot of other guys that listen to it as well.

Most of the songs from the second half fair better, like "War Inside" for example, which has a guitar track reminiscent of Midnight Oil's "Beds Are Burning." However, "War Inside" is a song about the war of flesh vs spirit, "There's a war inside of me between who I want to be and who I am." "Martyr's Song" is sung from God's perspective, singing to His children that have finally made it back home (with a children's choir in the chorus for added effect). And Todd decided to add a bonus track called "One Day," which touches on the life and death of Jesus, as well as the fact that He is coming back for His people one day.

Todd's honesty about the struggles of the Christian faith, as well as his love for Jesus, are very apparent throughout the enirety of Better Questions. And as long as he is making music, this will always hold true. As far as living up to his previous two albums, well, I think that's up to you to decide for yourself. Do you think it does? I think that's a better question.

- Review date: 7/14/07, written by Scott Fryberger



(JFH Sponsor Spot)

Get the new FREE JFH MP3 compilation -- Vol. 14!

 


. Record Label: INO Records
. Album length: 17 tracks: 69 minutes, 32 seconds
. Street Date: July 17, 2007
. Buy It: Amazon.com

  1. Prelude
  2. Still Has A Hold
  3. Least Of These
  4. If You Wanted Me
  5. Our Great God
  6. Lovers In Our Heads
  7. Peace On Earth
  8. Funny
  9. Don't Say A Word
  10. War Inside
  11. Matyr's Song
  12. Family
  13. On A Corner Of Memphis
  14. Preachers & Thieves
  15. Be With You
spacer Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics
Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics
Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics
Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics
Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics
Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics
Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics
Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics
Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics
Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics
Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics
Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics
Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics
Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics
Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics

 

 

go to main Album review page
go to Album review archive

 

 

                 
Get the new FREE JFH MP3 compilation -- Vol. 14!

Search JFH



This Friday, October 17, 2025
ALBUMS
ANTHNY DIARY ENTRY 1 [Provident]
Blanca Full Bloom [Curb]
Chris Blue Every Day Is Christmas [Gaither]
Geoff Moore and The Distance Foundations (Re-Release) [Girder]
Geoff Moore and The Distance A Place To Stand (Re-Release) [Girder]
Nate Parrish Make Me A Mountain (independent)
Psallos The New and Better Way: Hymns of Hebrews (independent)
Anne Wilson Stars [Capitol CMG]

SINGLES
F'rael God's Wheel (ft. TRYBISHOP) - Single [Syntax]
LEON Undefeated - Single [El Rescate Music]
No Vain Glory UNLEADED - Single [Syntax]
REFVGE, Cyfë II & WAY? U P W A R D S ft. Bianca Silver & Josh LeCroy - Single [Syntax]
Rhymes In Harmony & MAYIA My Sister - Single [Syntax]
Anton Scholl Born To Love You - Single [Near Kingdom]
Nathan Sheridan Don't Lose Hope - Single [WieRok]
SNT. VINCENT Feast of the Saints - Single [Syntax]
Vic Lucas, Essence Natay & Ashleey Barnes Let it Rain - Single [Syntax]
Zane Vickery All Things New - Single (independent)

DVD
Chris Blue Every Day Is Christmas DVD [Gaither]

Next Friday, October 24, 2025
ALBUMS
John Allan untitled EP [Centricity]
Dan Bremnes The Villain - EP [Curb]
Clear Convictions Endure [Resuscitation]
Fepeste This World Ain't Mine to Change [Velvet Blue]
gio. FINE BY ME [Capitol CMG]
Tyson Motsenbocker Modern Worries [Tooth & Nail]
Smalltown Poets St. Augustine (independent)
Zahriya Zachary Rediscovery [Bethel]

SINGLES
29:11 Worship, Zion Rempel You Never Fail (feat. Emily Guy) - Single [DREAM]
Chad Cory, Zacardi Cortez My First Love (Remix) - Single [DREAM]
darthy Juniper Tree - Single [WieRok]
Emerson Day Midnight Hour - Single [Fair Trade]
Good Weather Forecast lows2highs - Single [DREAM]
Grace + Max Rich - Single [WieRok]
Mercy Tribe Music The King is in the Room (feat. Ayiesha Woods) - Single (independent)
Mountains in the Sea You Never Fail (feat. Emily Guy) - Single [DREAM]
Tomb Slayer The Christmas Lamb (feat. Khristian Dentley & Sarah Whittemore) - Single [Tomb Slayer]
The Undertaking! All Smiles - Single (independent)

VINYL
Clear Convictions Endure [Resuscitation]


For all release dates, click here!
 

Purchase Original Art Prints, Drawings, Stickers, Bookmarks and more from JFH's own John DiBiase!
Need proofreading and editing help? We've got you covered! Click here to learn more
Check out depositphotos for royalty free images