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Review: Revelation – Third Day

It is relatively uncommon for me to come across an album so incredibly moving and sincere as Third Day’s Revelation. This album popped into my life at the precise time I needed it and moved me in a way I can’t even begin to describe.

Since my return to Christian music over the last month I have been playing catch up with some of my favorite artists and discovering new sides to old favorites. Last Sunday I gave the iPod a nice shake and let it pick my playlist for the day. Third Day repeatedly came up… and all I owned of theirs was the 1999 album Time and a few singles. Monday night I was coming off of a pretty good day but still felt a little empty. For fun, I was only shuffle for my entire iTunes library, again. Third Day popped up again and again. Realizing I really missed the influence that Time had on my earlier life, I let myself explore the iTunes music store (very bad idea).

I come across the Third Day page and see the cover from above. So I went to the album page and started to read the reviews. Generally, I only let reviews influence my purchase very little, but every one was fantastic. I previewed every song (a luxury I have come to be spoiled by) and decided that this album was worth the $10.99.

Once I started playing the album I was having an intense surge of conviction. Revelation’s title song moved me far beyond anything I had encountered in quite a long time with a powerful chorus:

Give me a revelation,
Show me what to do
Cause I’ve been trying to find my way,
I haven’t got a clue
Tell me should I stay here,
Or do I need to move
Give me a revelation
I’ve got nothing without You
I’ve got nothing without You

That chorus, alone, encompasses the very essence of where I have been sitting the past month in my personal life.

This album, both sadly and thankfully, lacks the wailing Wurlitzer that is found in many tracks from the Time album. I suppose that in a span of nine years, that style is going to change. But I think it is welcome. The country inspired sound of Time is what endeared it to my heart for so many years. Revelation, feels more like a praise inspired album without being full of the praise band standards. Nearly every song is a cry for personal fulfillment and guidance in the face of an impending identity crisis, while the rest are about acknowledging who we are and trying to do the best we can with it.

Coming from the viewpoint I have, this is a great album for a new Christian to get started on or for a returning Christian, much like Time was for me several years ago. Revelation is a wonderful springboard into the world of Christian music from a well established, and evolving, band. I can certainly give this album a solid 5/5.