Third Day

I have an obsessive personality.  Rather than constantly trying new things, I tend to find a very few things I like and allow them to consume me.  This probably comes as no surprise to any of you, as you have experienced my obsessions with John Mayer and FRIENDS.  My first obsession however, was with the band Third Day.

When I was in middle school, a new christian radio station was started in Atlanta called 104.7 The Fish.  It was upon the inception of The Fish that I really began listening to CCM.  I remember one day in the car, hearing the live version of "Your Love Oh Lord" from the Offerings album being played and instantly knowing I had to buy the CD.

Offerings, though it did not grab me completely at first, slowly became my favorite CD.  It was around this time that I was fortunate enough to see the band perform at Atlantafest.  After that live performance, I was hooked.  I purchased all of their CDs and drove my friends crazy with their music.

I began to surf the message boards on their website and became a Gomer, or a Third Day superfan.  I was #259, Still Listening Gomer and I was proud.  I also became fascinated by the guitarists, Mark Lee and Brad Avery.  They had something cool about them, and I wanted to be like them.  I began looking at the message boards to see what gear they used.  I didn't even play guitar, but I had to know.

In 10th grade, I got my first guitar and immediately began learning all of their songs.  I even met them later that year and told Mark and Brad what inspirations they were to me.  I continued to love the band all throughout high school.

My freshman year at Belmont, Third Day released their Wherever You Are album.  In my opinion, that album was not up to par with the rest of their albums and Third Day fell out of fashion with me.

However, recently the band has caught my attention again.  I have been reading articles of them changing management, and Brad Avery leaving the band.  Then I read about their newest album, Revelation.  They had worked with a new producer in order to push themselves as a band.  The album dropped on Tuesday and I have to say that I'm impressed.  This is by far one of the biggest stretches for Third Day.  They have definitely managed to make an album with a very current sound as opposed to the 5-10 years behind that Christian music seems to fall.  I recommend it.

The album also features some interesting collaborations.  Chris Daughtry and Lacey of Flyleaf lend vocals to the album.  Neither of these people are my favorite vocalists, but combined with Mac Powell's voice, they sound fantastic.  Robert Randolph also plays steel guitar on the song, Otherside.

I will say that my favorite track on the album is Give Love.  This song is very different for the band.  It features Banjo, and actually has a very Guster like feel to it.  The tune is catchy and Mac's vocals are fantastic.

It is exciting to see a band that was so integral in my musical foundation still making good music.  Third Day and their music radically changed my life.  They inspired me to play guitar.  Had I not done that, who knows what I would be doing now.  Definitely give their album a listen, especially Give Love.

I'm participating in Third Day's blog about Third Day on the third day of the month thing for this month.  Go check out their blog for more details.