"Thief 2006" by Third Day from Chronology Volume One (1996-2000)

"Who is this man?!" sings Mac Powell with his soothing voice that suits the softer rock Third Day produces. "Thief 2006" speaks of Christ's Crucifixion from the perspective of one of the thieves hung with him—the one who repents.

The thief's statement of "What have I done? I don't remember," right after calling himself a thief and murderer, could apply to humans' short memories of wrongs in general. (Interesting how we remember negatives others do to us so well, while conveniently forgetting the ones we do to others.)

Within the song, the motif keeps returning of the thief's time to die is coming. That it's sooner than he ever would've wanted is assumed. The instruments meld precisely within the song, with a complexity usually not found in CCM (Contemporary Christian Music).

Clean language, strong message, and strong lyrics—all add up in "Thief 2006" to make a very calming song that's not quite my preferred style, but I can nonetheless appreciate. Even if soft rock isn't your favorite genre, you might like giving this song a listen. As of this writing, both the song and the lyrics appear on Third Day's MySpace.

---

Lyrics: 5/5
Music: 5/5
Vocal(s): 5/5
Overall: 10/10

"Famous Last Words" by Jars Of Clay from If I Left The Zoo

"You say you heard every word, but I watched you turn away," Dan Haseltine sings in this aptly-named song from If I Left The Zoo, "Famous Last Words." Strongly symbolic, as is usual from Jars Of Clay, I think they're speaking of the common "Famous Last Words" people often use to put off response to the Gospel: "I'm not ready yet—I won't be gone a minute."

I happen to like Dan Haseltine's voice, which I think is a tenor, though I'm pretty sure it's not superb. Several guitars interweave in this pop song, with a bit of piano, for example, and some other instrument on the song credit listing that I have absolutely no idea what it is but looks Eastern European from the spelling (a wurlitzer). Oh, and a minute timer goes off once, emphasising the song's message that you never know when your time's going to be up.

One point of the lyrics, that "wasted are the days you said you were only waiting," ends up getting a bit repetitive. I know that's common in choruses, but some people find it particularly annoying when songs repeat. I just generally do if a song repeats something over 6 times. (A noteable exception would be Within Temptation's "What Have You Done," but those repetitions are distinctly intentional for the song's meaning.) I find "Famous Last Words" bordering the repetitive line.

"Famous Last Words" is nonetheless one of my favorite songs from If I Left The Zoo, and among my top favorite songs by Jars Of Clay in general. It's not their best by any means, but it's still on the better end.

---

Lyrics: 4/5
Music: 4/5
Vocal(s): 4/5
Overall: 8/10

"Legacy" by Nichole Nordeman from Woven and Spun

"It wouldn't matter much," Nichole Nordeman admits of worldly accomplishments, even of being added to "all the 'who's who's' and so-and-so's who used to be the best at such-and such." Sure, we may long for it, but what ultimately matters is a legacy of pointing to Christ.

Nordeman once again shows her skillful flair for songwriting with "Legacy" on Woven and Spun. Dripping with the conflict of a Christian's life, she's brutally honest to what we tend to care for and what we should care for—and she doesn't exempt herself from that group.

Her soothing alto sings strongly as she includes herself in the questions she's asking her listeners. More accurately, it's in asking herself that she brings her listeners to ask themselves, what do they put their trust in?

Nichole Nordeman has distinctly improved her piano-based pop since such hits as "Wide Eyed" on, for example, her first album. That's not to say the style's changed; it hasn't. It's still not great music; she unfortunately lets her skill at piano get drowned out. As usual.

Piano and violins still provide a lovely background to the soft rock more geared for young adults than teens, though mature teens will likely enjoy it. I did, and still do.

---

Lyrics: 5/5
Music: 4/5
Vocal(s): 5/5
Overall: 8/10