NEDINE Blom’s fun-filled CD, Supercool vir Jesus (Merchant), is a vibrant collection of funky gospel songs.

It ranges from lyrics written by Blom herself, Juanita du Plessis’ Ons Koning Kom and a couple of other songs written by well-known gospel artists. The music is uplifting and inspiring with a rhythmic, techno feel to it. The lyrics are merry and educational which would be an upbeat alternative for junior Bible study.

Imagine the fun children will have bouncing around to the beat of Popcorn!

LUIDKEELS Oorgegee (Merchant) is a compilation of well-known gospel songs and compositions of inspirational Bible verses.

Retief Burger gives these well-known songs a fresh interpretation without ruining the familiarity. It is good to hear these musicians perform with much enthusiasm and they prove the prudish mindset of gospel music wrong.

Burger sings to the sound of electric guitars, drums and a bass guitar; and this contribute to the hip and trendy charismatic performance. This CD is a great idea for churches and youth groups, since they added the guitar chords in the booklet.

IF one has to combine the music of Andrew Lloyd Weber, Josh Groban and Andrea Bocelli with a strong South African voice similar to the late Ge Korsten’s, Tobi Jooste would certainly be it.

His latest album, Amore (Storm Rekordz), is a collection of Jooste’s own romantic lyrics and classic songs by other artists, including Don McLean’s Vincent and David Kramer’s Spitskop.

His musical performance is very dramatic and falls into the matter-of-taste category.

ON a lighter note, Robbie Wessels’ new album, Afrika Sonsak (independently released), is nothing less than expected from Wessels.

Chirpy rhyming, funny sayings and rather strange point of views all add up to a nice-to-have CD.

This album includes hits like Player 23, Speedo’s en Crocs and Liewe Ouers.

Also on this album, are heartwarming songs that might even bring a tear to one’s eye. Especially Sein in die hemel which was written for a close friend Wessels lost in a car accident.

ANOTHER Afrikaans punk rock band seems to have made it to the local music scene: Teerpad.

Perhaps the genre is starting to get abused or maybe these guys are just trying too hard.

Their album, Kry Rigting (Electromode), sounds very familiar and one can not help thinking they are an amateur version of the controversial Fokofpolisiekar.

The songs all sound the same; screaming and yelling to hard-core instruments.

The lyrics (if one takes time to read them) are emotional and meaningful and let us hope – if they do bring out a next album – that they put these lyrics into better use.

FROM their recent documentary, Fokofpolisiekar brings you a soundtrack with the same name: Forgive Them For They Know Not What They Do (Rhythm Records).

This album is a compilation of a selection of songs from previous albums which include hits like Ek Skyn (heilig), Tevrede?, Hemel op die Platteland, Monoloog in Stereo and Brand Suid-Afrika.

It is a great Polisiekar album to add to your collection, but it is disappointing, however, that there is not one new song on the CD.

WITH their second album, Engele Wat Skree (David Gresham), Glaskas prove that they are indeed a talented bunch of musicians.

Being part of the Afrikaans rock band genre, they manage to break away from the emotional, problem-child, nobody-understands themes by addressing contemporary issues too.

Their music is fresh and rather uplifting.

This special edition includes a DVD with six of their music videos, with hits like Meneer and Romantikus.

And what makes it really great is that they added songs from both their albums on the DVD.