Check out the new concept album from Rusty Shipp!
Check out the new concept album from Rusty Shipp!

JFH Music Review


Avalon, O2 Avalon Remixed
CLICK COVER TO ENLARGE

Avalon
O2 Avalon Remixed



Artist Info: Discography
Album length: 12 tracks: 60 minutes, 59 seconds
Street Date: March 26, 2002


I will admit that I had never paid much attention to Avalon. My only experience with the Nashville-based group had been their breakout hit "Testify to Love" and their rendition of the popular worship song "In Christ Alone." I had assumed they were just another cookie-cutter pop/worship group the likes of which tend to over-saturate the Christian market and inhibit its creativity. So, imagine my surprise when I came across this absolute gem of an album.

O2 Avalon Remixed is, in a word, revolutionary. From the first beats of "My Oxygen," this album hits the ground running and only looks back long enough to say "Hey! I told you good dance music can happen in the Christian market." What is more, this album was released in 2002, yet its electronic beats are still very much up to standard almost ten years later.

Although fun, with its constant funky dance beats throughout, a certain perspective must be adapted when listening to O2. The album does not necessarily convey its message through its interspersed lyrical fragments as much as it delivers the messages using the emotions in the music. For example, in "The Best Thing," the music is slow and sonic in times of contemplation, but kicks off into a fast dance beat in moments of amazement and celebration of the love of Christ.

Each track is great, but some come as close to perfect as I have heard in the Christian market. "My Oxygen" kicks off O2 by making sure we all know that this is a dance album. "Can't Live a Day" is simply beautiful as Avalon rendered the help of dance music star DJ Tiesto. "Undeniably You" could be mistaken for a radio dance-pop song, except for its truly exceptional musical quality. Finally, "Wonder Why (Roswell Mix)" is an electronica fan's heaven.

It is quite hard to find anything negative to say about this project. Perhaps the two tracks that just do not meet the standard of the album are "Testify to Love" and the album's closer, another version of "A Maze of Graze." Neither is bad; they simply do not have the persistent drive the rest of the songs have. Regardless, this record blows all of the other remix albums in the Christian market out of the water, and it is well worth listening to. They set the bar quite high for future Christian dance records. I only wish Avalon had continued this sound in their future albums.

JFH Reader Review: Review date: 12/18/011, written by Matt Estes for Jesusfreakhideout.com



(JFH Sponsor Spot)

Check out JFH's Lloyd in his first-ever childrens book!

 


. Record Label: Sparrow Records
. Album length: 12 tracks: 60 minutes, 59 seconds
. Street Date: March 26, 2002
. Buy It: Amazon Music (MP3)
. Buy It: Amazon.com

  1. My Oxygen (Red Decibel Mix) (6:54)
  2. Testify To Love (New Birth Mix) (Feat. ZOEgirl) (7:13)
  3. Wonder Why (Larring Mix) (5:29)
  4. The Best Thing (Euro Stack Mix) (5:34)
  5. In Not Of (Soul 2AM Mix) (3:42)
  6. Can't Live A Day (DJ Tiesto Mix) (7:33)
  7. A Maze Of Grace (Ghost Mix) (Feat. The Katinas) (5:04)
  8. Speed Of Light (Mint Royale Mix) (4:04)
  9. Undeniably You (Jeff Savage Mix) (4:40)
  10. Make It Last Forever (Millinneyum Mix) (Feat. Out Of Eden) (2:57)
  11. Wonder Why (Roswell Mix) (4:06)
  12. A Maze Of Grace (The J. Edgar Hoover Mix) (3:43)

 

Leave a Comment


 

 

go to main Album review page
go to Album review archive

 

 

                 
Check out JFH's Lloyd in his first-ever childrens book!

Search JFH



This Friday, June 27, 2025
ALBUMS
7eventh Time Down We Praise You [BEC]
The Browns 25th Anniversary: Better Days Ahead [StowTown]
Franni Cash Wild Child - EP [Capitol CMG]
Matt Crocker interlude [Anotherland]
Jimmy Fortune Songs of an American Dreamer [Gaither]
Roxanne Grace Road Trip - EP [DREAM]
JJ Hairston & Youthful Praise The Live Reunion: Washington, DC [James Town]
Kutless The Seventh Seal - EP [BEC]
Evvie McKinney It Ain't Over - EP (independent)
Rusty Shipp Capsized Empire (independent)
SEU Worship A Forgiving God [Provident]
The Shimmering Carnelians The Doorway (Version 2.0) (independent)
We Are Messengers A Thousand Times - EP [Curb]

SINGLES
Anchor & Braille Rattlesnake - Single [Equal Vision]
ANTHNY imposter syndrome - Single [Provident]
Blanca Right On Time - Single [Curb]
Landry Cantrell & Elenee sunshine & rainbows - Single [DREAM]
Eddie Clark Never Content - Single [Syntax]
Colony House Atomic - Single [Roon]
Megan Danielle Preachin' To The Choir - Single [Provident]
Drea LP & OnBeatMusic Don't Try Me (DTM) - Single [Syntax]
ELI GABLE Glory Bound - Single [Capitol CMG]
Joseph Habedank Running to Me - Single [Daywind]
Lonnie Hunter Flow (Like A River) - Single [Uncle G]
Kashh Kade HELP - Single [Syntax]
KB x KEANU Keanu's Song - Single [Provident]
Tasha Layton Singing In the Dark - Single [BEC]
Tasha Cobbs Leonard The Hand That Keeps Holding - Single [Motown Gospel]
Claire Leslie Thank God I'm Not Alone (from Claire's Phone) - Single [Capitol CMG]
Tim Lovelace Celebration of America Medley (feat. Charlie McCoy) - Single [StowTown]
Lecrae Tell No Lie (feat. Jackie Hill Perry) - Single [Reach]
LO Worship The Perfect Love of Jesus - Single [Integrity]
Patrick Mayberry Thank The Lord - Single [Provident]
Michael Monroe John The Baptist (feat. Chris Renzema) - Single [Provident]
Alexander Pappas A Great Awakening / Un Nuevo Despertar - Single [Integrity]
PEABOD Summer in Seattle - Single [RMG Amplify]
Rave Jesus Walk On The Water Remix (From The Chosen) - Single [Provident]
The Rocky Valentines Nat Song - Single [Velvet Blue]
Tommy Royale, gio. Like Dat - Single [Capitol CMG]
Saints In Exile & Cutright My Dead End (ft. Jeannie Ortega, Luc DiMarzio, Jericko) - Single [Syntax]
Emilie Weiss Take Care (Studio Sessions) - Single [BEC]

DVD
Jimmy Fortune Songs Of An American Dreamer DVD [Gaither]

Next Friday, July 4, 2025
ALBUMS
Chad Cory America [DREAM]
Tenielle Neda The Way Of Love [Wings]

SINGLES
Christian Back Now - Single [DREAM]



For all release dates, click here!
 

Check out depositphotos for royalty free images