The Road Less Traveled
By Deborah Evans Price, Senior Music Editor, GospelMusicChannel.com
There comes a time in the life of every successful band when they can either comfortably continue to employ a formula they know works well or they can plunge into risky new territory and take their creative chances. With one listen to Revelation, it is obvious GRAMMY-winning rockers Third Day have chosen the road less traveled.
That path took them out of their comfort zone and into an L.A. studio with producer Howard Benson, well-known for his work with Daughtry, Flyleaf, Hoobastank and P.O.D., among others. The result is a new chapter in Third Day’s musical saga, a collection of songs that rock harder musically, yet whisper more softly into our souls.
Lead vocalist Mac Powell says they chose Benson because of their appreciation for his previous work and their desire to try something different. “We really wanted to shake things up. We needed something fresh,” he says. “Going with a different producer and working different places than we’d ever worked before did get us out of our comfort zone. They weren’t easy decisions – to not record in Atlanta and to record with somebody different – but in hindsight, I’m so glad that we did. I think it brought about a whole new process for us.”
The new album features such hard-charging rockers as “Who I Am” alongside tender ballads like “Let Me Love You.” There are also appearances by some very special guests. Longtime Third Day fan Chris Daughtry lends his voice to “Slow Down.” Flyleaf vocalist Lacey Mosely’s hauntingly beautiful voice appears on “Run to You” and “Born Again.” Pedal steel guitar virtuoso Robert Randolph lends his signature sound to “Otherside.” Randolph will be touring with Third Day, Switchfoot and Jars of Clay on the highly anticipated Music Builds Tour, which kicks off August 21 in Detroit.
Revelation is the next step on a journey that has already earned the Georgia-based rockers two GRAMMYs, 23 Dove Awards, one platinum CD, a platinum DVD, six gold records and numerous other accolades. Third Day has sold more than six million albums and scored 25 No. 1 singles. The band’s most recent chart topper is “Call My Name,” the first single to be released from Revelation.
“As a drummer [Revelation] challenged me because it’s very easy for me to want to make my parts complex, but the drum part on it is so basic, it just works really well. Plus I just think there’s an energy in the way Mac sings,” drummer David Carr says of lead vocalist Mac Powell. “People are blown away with his vocal performance and the passion behind the lyric.”
The quality of Powell’s voice is what drew Benson to the project. Third Day began writing and recording songs in Charlottesville, Va., home base of Red Light Management, which the band signed with last year. Then they traveled to LA to work with Benson on his turf. Benson is Jewish, but despite the differences in beliefs, enjoys working with Christian artists. “I personally like Christian artists because I really think they believe in something,” says Benson. “A lot of times what you’re trying to do is find something that the artists believe in and with a Christian artist, you know what that thing is. That takes that part of it away and I don’t have to worry about that. I know what I have to do and I need to make sure the songs all respect that part of their world. We discuss a lot of religious things in a creative way and a lot of that comes out in the record because of the way I challenge them and they challenge me.”
Having gone with a mainstream producer on Revelation and signing with new management, some people are wondering if Third Day is trying to cross over. Though their record company has no plans to promote the band to mainstream radio, Powell admits it would feel good to be embraced by a wider audience. “I would love to have more people hear our music,” he says. “We’re very content with the success that we’ve had and how great God has blessed us to be able to do this and make a living for a number of years, but at the same time, you always want more people to be able to have the chance to hear your music and respond to it. We’re comfortable with whatever happens.”
Adds Anderson: “We are a Christian rock band and that’s not something that we have to apologize for or make excuses for. We are who we are and we are more confident in the music we make and more confident in the message that we bring. I think what shows up in the music is confidence, not cockiness, but confidence. This is who we are and we’re not afraid of it.”
From a lyrical standpoint, Revelation is an example of Third Day in a more vulnerable position regarding their faith than ever before. “I’ve come to realize when you get older in your faith, you don’t necessarily have [fewer] questions,” admits Powell. “I used to get mad at myself when I’d have questions about my faith, but I’ve learned through the years that God has answered so many of those and sometimes it’s not right away. Sometimes it’s years before you get the answer, but he’s proven himself. Now when I have questions, I get excited about it, not angry at myself, but excited because I know that God’s going to show me something new. The older you get and you have more questions, you feel actually pretty good about that because you know the answer is going to be there one day.”
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About the Writer
Deborah Evans Price has covered Christian/Gospel music for Billboard magazine since 1994. She also contributes regularly to Country Weekly, CMA Close Up, Devo’Zine, Christian Single, HomeLife, BMI Music World, and other publications.
A Nashville resident since 1983, Deborah has held editorial posts at Radio & Records, Country News, American Songwriter and Billboard. Amy Grant, Trace Adkins, Brad Paisley, Charlie Daniels, 3 Doors Down, Third Day, Don Henley, Bon Jovi, Chris Rice, Sandra Bullock, Mercy Me, Alan Jackson, Smokey Robinson, Carrie Underwood and Steven Curtis Chapman are among her many interviews. Additionally, she's a sought-after music industry analyst who has been interviewed on CNN, MSNBC, TNN, The Today Show, and ABC PrimeTime Live, among other outlets.
Deborah is a member of the Gospel Music Association's board of directors and a graduate of Leadership Music. She resides south of Nashville with her husband, Gary, and 18-year-old son Trey.
