New & Used Hits: The Best of ApologetiX Vol. 1 & 2, Apologetix (Parodudes Music) www.apologetix.com
After eight studio projects and 678 (at the time of this writing) live shows, the guys in Apologetix have finally released a greatest hits collection. This isn’t your typical hits collection, as the 2 CD’s worth of material includes 7 brand-new parodies, 7 “live” versions of classics, 4 previously released “fan club only” tracks, and 22 re-mastered favorites from the guys’ extensive catalog (reaching as far back as 1994).
Disc One (New) starts with seven new parodies, leading off with “Are You Gonna Be Ike’s Girl?” (“Are You Gonna Be My Girl?”, Jet) about Isaac & Rebekah (Genesis 24) and “JC’s Mom” (“Stacy’s Mom”, Fountains of Wayne) which draws from Jesus’ early days (Luke 2 and John 2). In “The Voice of Sodom” (“Boys of Summer”, Don Henley) Lot reflects on the aftermath of Sodom & Gomorrah. “It’s Tough (Song About Nehemiah)” (“This Love”, Maroon 5) follows, along with my favorite of the new tracks, a cover of Guns ‘n’ Roses “Welcome To The Jungle.” Welcome to the Judges”, as the guys simply describe it, is a crash course on that book between Joshua and Ruth. I LOVE this track, and Karl (as usual) nails the guitar licks not for note. The final two new tracks are “Back Intact” (“Back In Black”, AC/DC) and “Good News Bookie” (“Boot Scootin’ Boogie”, Brooks and Dunn). Pulled from “fan club only” releases are the Christmas tunes “Hotel Can’t Afford Ya” (in a 2004 remix form), “Micah No. 5”, “December 5 or 6 B.C.” and my favorite “Santa Claus” (“Panama”, Van Halen). The first disc closes with hits such as “Meshach” (from Adam Up), “Corinthians”, “Lifestyles of the Rich & Nameless” and a stirring live version of “Smooth Grandmama” (from Grace Period).
Disc Two (Used) contains most of the hits pulled from their back catalog, along with the remaining live tracks (“I Love Apostle Paul”, Learn Some Deuteronomy”, “Walk His Way”, “Love & Kisses” and the closing “Jacob’s Name Is Israel”). You’ll enjoy listening to re-mastered classics such as “One Way” and “Jail Got Rocked” (Biblical Graffiti), “Choirboy” (Spoofernatural), “Narrow Way To Heaven” (Jesus Christ Morningstar), “Bad Dude Risin” (1994’s Radical History Tour) and “People” (1997’s Ticked).
With a whopping 40 tracks spanning 10 years of music “history”, New & Used is a “must-have” CD set for fans. This collection of tunes also serves as a good starting point for those unfamiliar with the band and their musical parodies. Listeners’ young and old alike will be sure to find something to sooth their musical tastes on this one. Enjoy!
Rick Campbell is host of The CMCorner (The Christian Music Corner) at www.thecmcorner.com.
BUY THIS CD!
