Watching Over You
After 12 years, 8 albums, 4 Dove awards, 3 Grammy nominations,  and 3 gold records, the members of the hit group Newsboys are beginning  to branch out in new directions. The first member to take an  adventurous leap is bassist-singer Phil Joel with his debut recordingWatching Over You.Newsboysfrontman Peter Furler is both producer  of this project and partner in the new record label Inpop, which signed  Joel as their second act.Watching Over Youis a heartfelt  rocker, showcasing Joel's impressively developed vocal and songwriting  talents. Guitar driven, honest, and reflective, this CD's pop-rock  sounds won't blow out the windows, but if played in a car, it may cause  the driver to accelerate beyond the speed limit. Though he belts out  these songs with rock & roll finesse, there remains a sensitivity  that expresses Joel's Christ-centered convictions. He is not being  presumptuous in beginning a solo career; in fact, one wonders why he  didn't do it sooner. (And for those of you who are fearfully wondering,  Phil isnotleaving the Newsboys.)--Israel Button