In the Name of Love: Artists United for Africa
(Various Artists)
Project Info:Official website Album length: 13 tracks: 56 minutes, 32 seconds Street Date: January 27, 2004
With the DATA project gaining mass support in Christian music to support the fight against the AIDS
epidemic in Africa, it's no surprise such high profile artists have gathered together to put an album like this
together. Boasting names like Sixpence None the Richer, Jars Of Clay, Toby McKeehan (aka tobyMac), Nichole Nordeman,
Pillar, and others, this is a U2 tribute with a lineup like few tributes in CCM get.
In the Name of Love: Artists United for Africa, opens with Pillar's rendition of "Sunday
Bloody Sunday" in more of a toned-down approach from this hard rock act's usual style. Sanctus Real follows
them up with a dead-on "Beautiful Day" that - dare I say - improves upon the original. Little known act
Starfield offers an unimpressive version of "40," a song that was covered much more effectively
by dcTalk a couple of years ago. Sixpence, Jars, Nordeman, and Audio Adrenaline all offer wonderful
takes on some classic U2 songs, but its tobyMac's track that really was a surprise gem. While
Toby usually relies heavily on his hip-hop roots and has turned in some less impressive new spins
on songs like "O Come All Ye Faithful," McKeehan offers a refreshed update to the 1991 hit "Mysterious
Ways." McKeehan forsakes his normal raps and seeks to emulate U2's frontman Bono and succeeds. Delirious?,
always known for having a sound reminiscent of U2, do a worthy cover of "Pride (In The Name Of Love),"
although I must admit that Guardian did a much more impacting tribute to the song about Martin
Luther King on their 2000 live recording. Tait leaves a memorable mark on the passionate "One" while
putting a signature spin to the track, straying from typical covers that just try to duplicate the original
perfectly.
The only major disappointment on In The Name of Love happens to be a cover of one of my
favorite U2 songs. Sadly enough, Grits desecrates 'With Or Without You', filling it
with cliche gibberish & cluttering up what was originally a beautifully simplistic & haunting love song.
U2's original stuck with the listener long after the song had ended while this rendition is one
you'll just want to forget. Todd Agnew's voice works well for the bluesy "When Love Comes To Town," however
the song feels somewhat misplaced on the project. Finally, Chris Tomlin offers what is arguably his best recording
yet with a worthy rendition of the worshipful "Where The Streets Have No Name."
In The Name of Love is easily one of the best tribute albums of some of the best pop recordings in music to come along
in many years. If you're a fan of U2 or especially any of the many talented artists on this project,
you'll most certainly want to pick up In the Name of Love: Artists United for Africa. And I'm
impressed to see Sparrow Records is taking action by donating 50 cents of each record sold (hey,
that adds up fast) to World Vision. So don't burn or download this record guys. Help the artists
support the war against AIDS in Africa.
- Review date: 1/25/04, written by John DiBiase
Record Label:Sparrow Records Album length: 13 tracks, 56 minutes and 32 seconds
Street Date: January 27, 2004
Sunday Bloody Sunday by Pillar
Beautiful Day by Sanctus Real
40 by Starfield
Love Is Blindness by Sixpence
None the Richer
Gloria by Audio Adrenaline
Grace by Nichole Nordeman
All I Want Is You by Jars Of Clay
Mysterious Ways by tobyMac
Pride (In The Name Of Love) by Delirious?
One by Tait
With or Without You by Grits
When Love Comes To Town by Todd Agnew
Where The Streets Have No Name by Chris Tomlin Band
Record Label: 
