Go (Newsboys album)

Infobox Album |
Name = GO
Type = Studio album
Artist = Newsboys


Released = October 31, 2006
Recorded =
Genre = Christian rock Pop rock
Length = 39:54 (Standard Release)
54:18 (Limited Edition)
Label = Inpop Records
Producer = Tedd T. Peter Furler
Reviews = *Allmusic Rating|4.5|5 [http://allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:gcfpxq8dld0e~T1 link]
*Cross Rhythms rating-10|8 [http://www.crossrhythms.co.uk/products/Newsboys/Go/20538/ link]
*Jesus Freak Hideout Rating|4.5|5 [http://www.jesusfreakhideout.com/cdreviews/Go.asp link]
Last album = "" (2005)
This album = "GO" (2006)
Next album = "GO Remixed" (2007)

"Go" is the twelfth studio album by Christian pop rock band Newsboys, released on October 31, 2006. It is the band's last album with Phil Joel and is their first album with Paul Colman.

An EP, entitled "Go EP", was released on the iTunes Store as a preview of the album. It featured the songs "Wherever We Go," "Go (I Wanna Send You)," "I Am Free," and "Something Beautiful" from the album.

Track listing

#"Wherever We Go" – 3:27
#"Go (I Wanna Send You)" – 2:52
#"Something Beautiful" – 3:51
#"The Mission" – 3:40
#"Let It All Come Out" – 4:20
#"In Wonder" – 4:12
#"Your Love Is Better Than Life" – 3:39
#"I Am Free" – 3:36
#"Secret Kingdom" – 3:21
#"The Letter (One of a Kind)" – 3:22
#"Gonna Be Alright" – 3:33
#"I Am Free (Live)" – 7:05*
#"Something to Believe In" – 3:22*
#"City to City" – 3:54*

-*Included in the "Limited Edition" of the album, only available for purchase through the Newsboys' online store and through Christian retail outlets. It features three extra tracks, as well as a documentary featurette. [http://store.newsboys.com/Detail.bok?no=74]

Radio singles

A live version of "I Am Free" was released as a single to radio stations long before the release of the album (spring 2006), and peaked at #11 on Billboard's Hot Christian Songs chart, as well as #11 on the Hot Christian Adult Contemporary charts.

The second single, "Wherever We Go", was released to radio stations on August 18, 2006, and has peaked at #3 on the Hot Christian Songs chart and #15 on the Hot Christian Adult Contemporary charts.

"Something Beautiful" was released as the third promotional single for "GO" in early 2007, and has peaked at #4 on Billboard's Hot Christian Songs chart, and at #6 on the Hot Christian Adult Contemporary charts.

"In Wonder" was released between late summer and early fall of 2007 as the fourth single to radio to promote the album. As of November 2007, has peaked at #6 on Billboard's Hot Christian Songs chart, and #5 on the Hot Christian Adult Contemporary charts.

Even though "In Wonder" was chosen as the fourth single, a poll on the newsboys.com message boards (conducted shortly after the release of "Something Beautiful" as the third single) showed "Your Love Is Better Than Life" as the clear favourite among fans as a possible fourth single, with nearly 49% of the votes. "Secret Kingdom" followed, with 21%.

"In Wonder" is a new version of the song written in 2004 by New Zealand band Magnify. Rick Knott, lead singer of Magnify, is noted as one of the authors of the track on the Newsboys album. The lyrics on the new song are different from the original song; however, the backing track is nearly identical.

Critical response

Reviews were generally positive, especially in the Christian market, where the band was praised for getting back to its original rock roots. "Jesus Freak Hideout" gave the album 4.5 out of 5 stars and raved “Catchy, fun, worshipful, encouraging, and memorable, "GO" is liable to cause longtime fans to join me in saying, ‘Hallelujah, the Newsboys are back!’” CCM Magazine had similar praise to offer, remarking in their review that the band has "returned in what’s arguably its best creative offering since 1998’s Step Up to the Microphone. The group achieves the rare distinction of having a cross generational impact, maintaining its old school die-hards, while giving the younger crew something substantial to sink their teeth into."

"Go" is New Release Tuesday's Album of the Year (2006).

Commercial performance

Selling 23,246 units in its first week (their best sales week since "Adoration"'s release in 2003), "Go" debuted at #51 on the Billboard 200 charts, and at #4 on the Top Christian Albums chart. "Go" fell to #6 in its second week on the Christian chart and #9 in its third, but rose to #8 in its fourth week.

After 2 months of release, "Go" sold over 100,000 copies, selling an average of 15,000 copies per week.

Notes and References

Album cover art was created by Australian artistic creative Steven Dix http://www.stevendix.com located in Brisbane.