Artist Info:Discography Album length: 13 tracks: 51 minutes, 27 seconds Street Date: May 4, 2004
Southern rock is what Atlanta-based quintet phenomenon Third Day has become known for. Their
catchy self-titled debut thrust them into the spotlight and their edgier follow-up Conspiracy No. 5 established
the act as a force to be reckoned with. Their third effort, the wonderful but much more tame Time, took the band
in another direction, departing from the edgy flavor they'd whet fans appetites with. What followed were two modern
pop/rock worship albums, a couple live DVD's, and the more contemporary radio-friendly and experimental project Come Together.
2004 sees the release of the band's fifth all-studio recording, resurrecting the band's edgy side while continuing
to develop their sound further in ways still very familiar to the Third Day fanbase.
What's different about Wire from previous efforts, is Third Day offers a more raw musical backdrop to Mac
Powell's flawless vocals while giving it a polish that supplies more power to the mix rather than holding
it back. With each record, Third Day has continued to build onto the foundation they've laid musically and
Wire is that sturdy next layer in the structure. Lyrically, Wire is a more accessible endeavor.
While the two Offerings albums were overflowing with modern worship that broke out of the established
and contained genre of worship, Wire isn't nearly as forward. Touching on relevant themes and handling
them in a subtle yet effective fashion will appear to a few as selling out, but in reality is a gesture that
aids in keeping Third Day from boxing themselves in. But while the spirituality isn't as bold and forefront as
on previous efforts, their faith still shines through on Wire. Regardless, the presence
of such powerful Third Day worship classics like "My Hope Is You," "Give," and "Show Me Your Glory" is unmistakably
missed.
Third Day's last studio effort, Come Together, saw further musical experimentation featuring
Gospel choirs, electronic beats, and an overall less-southern direction than what the band normally goes for.
While this worked for the most part, the album missed the classic Third Day sound loud and clear. But from the
opening acoustic guitar of "'Til The Day I Die" on Wire,
an opening delightfully reminiscent of Conspiracy's "Peace," the listener is greeted with an updated classic Third Day sound.
But even the more modern rock gloss to the ballad title track, clearly a highlight on the album,
isn't a typical composition for them. The captivating melodies of the chorus are further strengthened by a string arrangement
and David Carr's commanding drum presence. While polished and solid in their production, there still remains a sensitivity to the delectable
songwriting on Wire. The versatility of the album spans widely thematically and musically from the forceful
sounds of "Rockstar," a song highlighting the struggles of wanting to be something significant in the world, to the triumphant
rock ballad "Innocent" that celebrates redemption through Christ. The songwriting on Wire is, in many ways,
more complex than previous albums but doesn't compromise its relativity.
Wire is a diehard Third Day fan's dream, as well as a wonderful rock album. Third Day returns to its roots
and takes it a step further with maturity and confidence. Wire is easily one of the best albums to release
this year and well worth a listen for fans and non alike.
- Review date: 5/4/04, written by John DiBiase
Artist Info:Discography Record Label:Essential Records Album length: 13 tracks, 51 minutes and 27 seconds
Street Date: May 4, 2004
Artist Info: 
