#11 Album of the year #3 song of the year "Great I Am"

DOXA is one of the newest sensations of the Christian Album Oriented Rock scene, which is an impressive feat since the band has existed since 1988 in the American Midwest, and is currently on sabbatical. Due to the exposure the band continues to get via the World Wide Web, new fans and radio stations around the globe are discovering and rediscovering the music of DOXA. Their music is best described as arena rock, drawing from influences such as Journey, Toto, REO, Europe and all of the best of 80's arena rock, along with Christian artist influences such as the Sweet Comfort Band. Join me as we review the re-release of the band's sophomore album, "Send Me," as well as that portion of the exciting eighteen-year history of this popular Christian-Rock band from the Midwestern United States that has enjoyed radio airplay in nine countries as well as #1 songs in listener areas worldwide. Due to popular demand, DOXA recently arranged to have another run of the 'Send Me' CD remastered and pressed. To do so, DOXA hired Alien Beans Studios (Ty Tabor of King's X) to remaster the album. The updated version of "Send Me" was remastered and released in late 2005. The original "Send Me" album followed the initial EP recording release of the band as a full-length album of original material, an album that defined their signature sound. The album also featured the unique tenor voice and composition of Shawn Anderson assuming a larger role in the group, while, during this phase of the band, the public ministry face and voice of the band was still projected by guitarist Gene Reynolds During the recording phase of "Send Me," the group's bassist Bernie Caulkins left the band. While the economics of early 90's Christian music forced the band to compensate for his departure by sequencing the bass parts for their live shows, the recording of the "Send Me" songs doesn't suffer from his absence, and the band's public ministry became more focused and defined through the consolidation of its members. For the next two years, DOXA toured the Midwestern United States, playing festivals, colleges, churches, parks, outreaches and opening for a nice list of signed recording artists of the period. Their ballad "Eternally" got some strong airplay and was even the #1 song in several markets including Little Rock, AR, Cleveland, OH, and Ontario, Canada, as well as their home town radio. The Midwestern states are far removed from the machinery of the record industry, but because this was the soil that DOXA was born to tread, the band never made a conscious decision to leave their local mission field to pursue a deal with the major record labels. This fact accounts for the recording quality of their discography, which was recorded in professional studios at the regional level, but without the high budgets and sonic sugar afforded by major labels. "Send Me" is no exception; well-written power pop music in the arena rock genre of the '80's, recorded well, but without the sonic depth and moneyed production of the big houses retained by major labels. "Send Me" represents both the beginning and end of a formulative phase of the band. It was the first full album with the first main lineup of the band, the album that defined the musical genre and direction of the band, and the album that connected the band with the region they subsequently toured from Green Bay, Wisconsin to St. Louis, Missouri. After two years of dedicated appearances in support of this album, 2/3 of the band moved on to other efforts in life, and keyboardist/vocalist Shawn Anderson remained to lead DOXA, with a fresh, new lineup of musicians, to continue ministry and evangelism across the region, with a new voice and heart leading the ministry effort. The ministry of DOXA shifted approaches somewhat between the "Send Me" and "Story of Our Lives" CD's, but was no less vital, and no less effective. This newly remastered version of the "Send Me" songs sound livelier, more polished, and is slightly kinder to your stereo than the original release. The few spots where singer Gene Reynolds' guitar and vocal were notably flat are excusable where, live, the band obviously connects with their audience, and in the studio, brings powerful song hooks, the soaring voice of Shawn Anderson, and sincere hearts behind their message. Memorable songs still shine like eternal stars, such as: Just a Prayer Away - arena rock that is as fun to listen to as it sounds like it is to play. This is music for summer, driving downtown, with all the windows down. Master's Plan - a definitive album-oriented power pop rock song, with a great song concept, although in later live shows, the replacement of the lead vocal with Shawn Anderson's voice was a distinct improvement. The hook of this song catches you forcefully, and leaves you hanging agape, like a bass near the frying pan. Warning: you will not be able to get this song out of your head. Hold On - a prayer in the power language of arena rock music. Great I Am - from an the age when MTV was still just getting off the ground, comes a song that begs a live performance music video. Quiet Times - a wonderful song that seems to have been overlooked by DOXA aficionados, perhaps having been overshadowed by the more widely known "Eternally." Eternally - the band's most popular, most widely known, and most often requested song of their history. The song is a reworked ballad from the band's earlier days as a bar circuit rock band, hammered on the anvil of life into a sword of emotive pleading for the listener to hear the call of a Savior. Fans of the band describe the song as one of the most beautiful Christian ballads they've ever heard, and I must agree. If you are a lover of '80's and '90's music, and haven't heard this album, this song alone is worth the purchase price. If you already have it, this newer, cleaner version, remastered and re-released is well worth the investment. Another welcome addition to any household, in addition to "Send Me," would also be the extra large DOXA coffee mug, available only on the band's merchandise site. I can personally attest to the need for having more than one of these precious, extremely useful and highly contested-for items in a single household. You will enjoy this newly remastered CD issue of "Send Me," and as you do, remember the smell of 8-cylinder motors, summer food, and the sounds of the car radio blasting with open windows. Timm Dalman, Director New Anthem Productions

The early 90’s was a time when Christian music was undergoing a change. It was the great church experiment, which adopted rock n’ roll music and molded it into something it could use for its own purpose. Christian rock, as it would be called, began to sound as rebellious and hardcore as anything you could find on the radio. It wasn’t soft or folk or anything resembling traditional. It was rock n’ roll! The only difference being in lyrical content with God, Jesus, healing and prayer as the issues instead of sex, drugs, violence, and money. Instead of Amy Grant, Phil Keaggy, and Sandi Patty leading the way as they did in the 1970’s & 1980’s, there was Whiteheart, the Newsboys, Petra, and DC Talk leading the way in the 1990’s. That same wave of inspiration which changed Christian rock as we know it today also included Doxa. In those years, Doxa was the most talked about Christian band in this region. I didn’t know them then, but heard their incredible sound on the radio in my future wife’s car when we were dating. That cassette tape (of course CD’s weren’t that popular yet) was “Send Me.” I said to her, “This can’t be Christian music! Listen to that electric guitar!” I knew nothing about Christian music then, but would learn more about it as time went on. Now, many years later, I got to know all three of the Doxa members through different people and I listened to the CD again. (Don’t get me wrong, I still play cassettes. I can’t through any music away!) I still remembered a lot of the catch phrases in the choruses. Catchy tunes like “The Master’s Plan” and “The Great I Am.” The first song “Hold On” is perfect as an opener and really let’s you know what to expect in the next 40 minutes. “Eternally” is beautifully recorded with a real nice 12 string guitar and perfect reverb. You can tell that a lot of love went into this CD. The mix of songs between two vocalists is getting to be a real lost art, but isn’t lost here. I like the trade-off of styles between Shawn and Gene. There’s a lot of influences that jump off the CD from the likes of Whiteheart and Journey. This is the kind of music that’s getting rarer in these days of musician-masking 4 chord grunge pop-rock, and that’s a real shame because the music industry needs more bands like Doxa - great musicianship, talent and heart. It’s certainly evident on “Send Me.” Jimmy Sparks (CDBABY member)

DOXA is the latest new sensation in the Christian AOR scene. Actually this band is not really a new band, because they were formed back in 1988 and have already put out 3 interesting CDs. The band hails from Milan, Illinois, USA and they sent me a promotional selection CD that features 10 songs of earlier recordings. 5 songs are taken from 'Send me' (released in 1992) and 5 tracks are taken from the band's 1996 release 'The story of our lives'. I almost couldn't believe what I heard, because almost all the included songs are pure 80s AOR/Pomp orientated and sound like a mix between FAITH NATION, LE ROUX, PREVIEW, SWEET COMFORT BAND and CRYSTAL. This DOXA is one of the best bands I discovered lately, so expect much more info (interview and reviews of all their albums) very soon on our site. I also can't believe that none of the AOR related sites has talked about DOXA, because these guys are up there with the big boys of the genre. Anyway, the CD starts 5 songs from the DOXA album 'Send me'. Opener "Hold on" is a fantastic 80s AOR/Pomp tune a la FAITH NATION. The calmer ballad "Eternally" follows and features some lovely BOSTON typed harmonies. The following 3 songs are super sensational and almost AOR CLASSICS! First there is "Master's plan". This song starts as an early 80s melodic poprocker with handclaps (a la RICK SPRINGFIELD), but then comes the chorus and we are in AOR HEAVEN. The chorus of "Master's plan" is pure Classic 80s AOR and sounds like a mix between BATTLECRY, LE ROUX, WHITE SISTER and HYBRID ICE. More of the great 80s AOR can be heard in the uptempo "Sing our praise", a great little tune a la ALLIES (their debut), late SWEET COMFORT BAND, BROTHER BROTHER, HYBRID ICE… Then comes the best DOXA song (on this compilation CD), namely "Great I am". This is a superb early 80s AOR/Radiorocker a la PREVIEW, late SCB, FAIR EXCHANGE, CRYSTAL… "Great I am" has a lovely Classy AOR chorus that will never get out of your head after you heard it the first time. After this wonderful AOR attack, the following two songs are a little less sensational. These songs as well as the remaining 3 tracks are all taken from the DOXA CD 'the story of our lives'. They are a little less pure 80s AOR based, because a lot of acoustic guitars are being used and sometimes there's a 90s edge, nevertheless, still some songs are quite superb. The melodic lead and harmonyvocals haven't changed a bit! "Dead-n-gone" is the only weak song on this CD. This song is a groovy melodic rocker (a la GUARDIAN). The next track "The story of our lives" is a nice close-harmony ballad in the NELSON style. The closing 3 songs are again very sensational. "Share it with you" is a superb classic 80s hookladen AOR tune with wonderful harmonies. This cheerful uptempo AOR/Radiorocker sounds very much like THE PROMISE. The terrific 80s Power AOR ballad "Necessary pain" follows and is right up there with FAITH NATION, HARLAN CAGE, SURVIVOR, JOURNEY AOR ballads. The song also has those wonderful piano-keys and melodic harmonies, so a dream for AOR fans. The final track "Lay it down" is an amazing superb classic 80s midtempo AOR song a la STONE SOUP, ARTICA, SHOOTING STAR, SURVIVOR, HARLAN CAGE. Yes, this DOXA is the new AOR sensation. A total must for fans of Classic 80s Christian AOR (FAITH NATION, first ALLIES, late SWEET COMFORT BAND), but also the regular AOR fans (HARLAN CAGE, PREVIEW, LE ROUX, CRYSTAL) will certainly enjoy this AOR masterpiece. I hope to review all 3 albums and do an interview with DOXA as soon as possible. In the meantime, check out their site at: http://www.doxamusic.net