Reviewed by Tony Cummings

It's now become something of a CCM tradition that in less than a year of release of each solo album, a remix project follows. Remixing TobyMac must be an easier task than, for instance, Amy Grant and Crystal Lewis. For since the launch of his solo career in 2001 Mr McKeehan's chosen musical direction with its crafty fusion of pop, hip-hop, rock and R&B has always had a strong rhythmic groove. 2013's 'Eye On It' like its three predecessors has gone Platinum and, as one reviewer emthused, "There aren't many albums these days that get this old man up and dancing. 'Eye On It' does that." So how do these recastings by some of Christendom's most skilled mixmasters compare with the originals? On the whole, reasonably well. I missed that spikey guitar intro to the original "Me Without You" but the Capital Kings Remix gives it a keys and kick groove and halfway through starts taking all manner of electronic liberties which is decidedly radical while "Eye On It" has a choppier groove put in place by Family Force 5's Soul Glow Activatur and would get any dancefloor throng moving. You'll remember that "Unstoppable" has a great vocal hook from one-time Group 1 Crew diva Blanca but here, due to the Activatur, comes out rather jumbled despite Blanca's compulsive "that's what we are" repeated in digital delay. The Thunderbird Remix of "Thankful For You" doesn't do much to improve or indeed alter the original and rather surprisingly the great closer on 'Eye On It', the infectious cod-reggae "Favorite Song" isn't given a mixmaster re-imagining at all. But that omission is offset by "Steal My Show" which for me was always too soppy pop in its original version but thanks to Jack Shocklee sheds its cheesy string synths and adds a gentle groove to vastly improves the song.

The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms. Any expressed views were accurate at the time of publishing but may or may not reflect the views of the individuals concerned at a later date.

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