Artist: Shane & Shane

Album Name: Everything Is Different

Label: Inpop Records

Comments:  Shane & Shane got their start after Shane Everett and Shane Barnard met at the Central Baptist Church in College Station, Texas. The band then got signed to the Inpop Record label in 2001. Fast forward to now and the group has just released their 7th studio project, Everything Is Different.

Brought onboard for this project was famed producers Peter Kipley (MercyMe, Kutless, Phil Wickham) and Jason Hoard (Fee) along with audio engineer Steve Churchyard (The Eagles, INXS, Kelly Clarkson).

Wanting to give this album a 'live sound,' they decided to set up several microphones and record all of the song's basic instrumentation at the same time, much like a live performance. They also decided to do very little editing to help achieve that live vibe.

Everything Is Different was heavily inspired by Shane & Shane's roles as worship leaders at their home church in Dallas, Texas.  This release is filled with a corporate worship style of music with song lyrics that are inspired by scripture.

When he was asked about the music Shane Everett said, "Our hope is that people are blessed by our efforts and that the spirit of the Lord moves hearts to love Him more. If that happens, it is a miracle -- because when lives are changed by Jesus, everything is different."

Musically the sound found in the songs on Everything Is Different is mostly acoustic, with their lead vocals and vocal harmonies parts driving them.

The title track, "Everything is Different," get’s things moving with its up-tempo style, complete with booming drum beats. Lyrically the song deals with the fact that things that aren't possible without Jesus are possible with Him.

Those booming drum beats can also be found on track-2, "The Lord's Prayer," track-5, "I'm Alive," and track-7, "You Say, "I'm Rich." I'm not sure the reason why the drum parts are so punched up on these songs.  I'm glad they stopped when they did though because any louder and they would have drowned out the rest of the instrumentation that's found on them.

While all of the song's vocals were filled with a real passion, track-11, "Turn Down the Music," had a little bit of extra emotion found in them. The song's lyrics plead out to God to turn down all the unnecessary distractions of life and to turn up the volume in our hearts to be able to hear, along with an accompanying real desire to reach out in service to the hurting and suffering.

"My Hope Is Built," is the group’s contemporary take on the classic hymn, that's built around the parable found in Matthew, of building your house on solid rock.  With the message of the great and unending hope that comes from having your life built on the rock solid foundation of Jesus. This song is also the first single from, Everything Is Different, so you'll be hearing it on the radio.

Everything Is Different offers up the trademark vocal harmonizing that one comes to expect from a Shane & Shane release along with powerful Biblical based song lyrics that make this a release well worth listening to.

Style: Contemporary, Praise & Worship

Songs: 

1.    Everything Is Different  
2.    The Lord's Prayer  
3.     Worthy of Affection  
4.     Great Reward  
5.     I'm Alive  
6.     My Portion  
7.     You Say, "I'm Rich"  
8.     For the Good  
9.     Rain Down  
10.   This Is Who I Am  
11.   Turn Down the Music  
12.   My Hope Is Built

Favorite Songs:  Everything is Different, Turn Down the Music, My Hope Is Built

Website: http://www.shaneandshane.com

Overall:  8.4 out of 10