Description
Petra Praise 2: We Need Jesus is the second praise album – and the sixteenth studio album overall – by the American rock band Petra, released on Word Records in February 1997. Also manufactured and distributed by Epic Records, a division of Sony Music. The album was recorded by Joe Baldridge and Dino Elefante at The Sound Kitchen in Franklin, Tennessee; and was produced by John and Dino Elefante for Pakaderm Productions, with Bob Hartman enlisted as executive producer. Mixed by Steve Marcantonio at The Sound Kitchen. Featuring vocals by John Elefante of Kansas fame and Lou Gramm of Foreigner fame.
Say what you want about the little band from Ft. Wayne, Ind. that wouldn’t go away, but musical slouches the Petra men most definitely are not. With the release of a second volume of praise and worship songs, ‘Petra Praise 2′, the band – which now includes keyboardist Kevin Brando, guitarist Pete Orta and bassist Lonnie Chapin who have stepped in to replace Jim Cooper, David Lichens and Ronnie Cates, respectively – triumphantly celebrates its silver anniversary of endless concert tours and recording studio stops along the way. This time the five-piece does so with more than enough melodic muscle and – yes, jaded alterna-slackers – pretty cool sounds to get by in fine fashion.
Don’t expect wailing guitar feedback or murderous, industrial rhythms a la Nine Inch Nails just yet – Petra’s still a pop-rock outfit. And rock they do, which is a great (and much-needed) element for classic worship songs.
Highlights include fresh spins on well-known praise and worship faves such as «Lord, I Lift Your Name on High» and «I Waited for the Lord on High». The latter especially – with Bob Hartman’s staccato, hard-rock rhythm, wah-wah guitar and John Schlitt’s trademark, flawless vocals – is a winner.
«Ancient of Days» is your basic pop fare, but it’s one of the more inspiring songs here, thanks to the chorus’ powerful harmonies. With these songs alone, Petra meets its stated goal of making worship music more relevant, listenable and enjoyable for teens.
Other winners include «Song of Moses, Rev. 15:3-4», which sports mandolin flourishes, a very cool fretless bass, and a vibrato-drenched guitar – all in a moody minor key. This is perhaps the best example of Petra at its most evocative. Although the song isn’t a heavy-metal screamer, it’s representative of the kind of stuff Petra ought to try more often if musical relevance continues to be a priority.
One of the album’s few Petra-penned tunes, «Be of Good Cheer», is an interesting twist on standard Bob Hartman rock: it’s also a danceable, hands-on-your-hips, rooster shuffle, complete with bluesy, almost crazy harmonies. One might even envision the Black Crowes covering this tune. (Well… almost.) «The Holiest Name» – another tune by Hartman, who stopped touring with Petra in 1995 to concentrate on songwriting and studio work – packs a wallop with a memorable anchor riff, as well as some guitar jangle, flawless harmonies and refreshing Hammond organ part.
But save for the few unPetra-esque tunes that see action on this release, Petra’s one fault is that the band still doesn’t venture too close to the musical danger zone. While that’s not such a bad thing, it’d be fun to see more of Petra’s rough, less-predictable side on future releases – after all, the band proves this animal is lying in wait underneath the shimmering veneer.
One notable downer is the title track, on which Schlitt, producer John Elefante (a former Kansas vocalist), and Foreigner’s Lou Gramm (who became a Christian a few years ago) trade lead vocals. While getting Gramm in this song was the ultimate coup, you can barely hear his superb voice through the crush of a gospel choir. Petra would have been better off giving Gramm, Elefante and Schlitt the vocal chores alone – and more of them.
But nonetheless, with skillfully executed tunes that include masterful musicianship and flawless, often inspiring vocals, ‘Petra Praise 2’ is definitely a satisfying effort from a band that hasn’t grown too old or too insulated to rock with the best of them. [Dave Urbanski, CCM, March 1997]
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CD tracklist:
01. Song Of Moses Rev. 15:3-4 – 4:17
02. Lord I Lift Your Name On High – 3:02
03. Be Of Good Cheer – 3:55
04. Show Your Power – 4:10
05. I Love You Lord – 3:53
06. The Holiest Name – 3:34
07. Let Our Voices Rise Like Incence – 2:29
08. Ancient Of Days – 3:52
09. I Waited For The Lord – 2:47
10. Lovely Lord – 4:25
11. Medley: Only By Grace/To Him Who Sits On The Throne/You Are Holy – 5:58
12. We Need Jesus – 4:14
Note: Simultaneously released on cassette and CD by Word Records.
The April 1997 issue of CCM Magazine featured a cover story on Petra.
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