Apparently in the world of 'music with a message', the message is so important that it must completely eclipse the media presenting it. Too bad they didn't just release a spoken word CD & skip the music entirely. POD's sound on Testify vacillates between sounding like pop dross, gangsta rap chaff, lite generic ballad-y stubble, radio friendly (insert alternative Biblical term for fodder here) etc.When they aren't trying to sound like everybody else on the planet in the chosen genre they execute their 'music' in; that is, when they sound like POD, I was surprised that I actually liked it (both songs!)
I dunno a thing about these guys, I'm not interested (or ambitious) enough to look up any actual facts about them on the internet, so here is my lazy shortcut to reviewing, a new JoFo feature, called 'I'll just ask my kids what they think!' Apparently I'm not alone in dismissing this CD as something eminently forgettable. My resident expert tells me that this CD isn't as strong as their other one, boasting 2 good songs out of 13, with a lot more slow songs & rap. This wise kid pointed out that the lyrics in their song they wrote after they ripped themself off, (I can't remember which one it was, there are so many uh... borrowed stuff on here) Anyway, it repeatedly asks "when will we sing a new song?" leading the thoughtful lad to ponder aloud the dismal situation that develops when even the band members realize they are singing everybody else's stuff.
Oh well, I guess the book's always better than the movie, I guess that holds true for music, as well.
Since they have a good message, I'll generously give them one whole star.
