Michael Sweet: Reborn Again (2021), Girder Music

Top selling, 2005 Stryper comeback title, is Reborn, as originally conceived…

94% Spicy

Synopsis:

“The story of ‘Reborn Again’

After the 2003 Stryper Celebration Tour, I came home and immediately started working on a new solo album. I recorded 10 songs/demos at my home studio and then booked time at Blue Jay and Mixed Emotions to record the album. Once it was complete, I started shopping to a number of labels. I was about to sign a deal when I wound up performing with Stryper in FL in 2004 and I played the music for the guys while we were there. They loved what they heard and we ultimately decided to reform and head back into the studio to make it a Stryper album and to officially reunite. The arrangements of the original songs did not change at all. It was re-recorded and released on 8/16/2005 and titled ‘Reborn’ under the Stryper name.

After years of requests and a lot of thought, I decided to release the original versions/tracks and add some things that I felt were always missing: guitar solos, high vocal notes, more rhythm guitars, synth parts and an alternate version of ‘Passion’. The original drums and bass are clean and punchy and Derek & Lou did an outstanding job laying down the foundation. I’ve always wanted everyone to hear what these guys did and how well they did it!

So, here we are! Kenny Lewis and I decided to make those changes and reproduce the original version for all of you to hear. I couldn’t be more pleased.

It was always a dream of mine to be able to offer this version to all of you and I really believe that you’re gonna love it! I’m so excited to finally be able to bring you ‘Reborn Again’!

Love & Respect,

Michael”

Label: Girder Music

Streamer: Apple Music, Spotify, Pandora

Release Date: April 2021

Format: Album

Genre: Christian rock, hard rock

Runtime: 39:47

Track List: Open Your Eyes, Reborn, When Did I See You Cry, Make You Mine, Passion, Live Again, If I Die, Wait For You, Rain, 10,000 Years, Passion (alternate mix)

Producers Michael Sweet & Kenny Lewis

Artist: Michael Sweet

Review: I am back with another JouleView, this time from Stryper frontman, Michael Sweet. This album is a bit like Back To The Future in that… Reborn (2005) was released first with Stryper… however, Reborn Again (2021) is the original Solo mix from 2004ish, with the original artists performance and some added enhancements / embellishments.

As Michael Sweet stated, in his own words, in the reprinted summary above, Reborn Again is the original Solo cut (with some extras) of the 2005 Stryper comeback album Reborn.

A bit of a “disclaimer” and some history before I go into my brief review. I have been a fan of Stryper’s since before I first caught them live in 1985. In a wonderful turn of events, the band that opened for Stryper that evening was MASS. I later went on to manage MASS in 2000ish and released a single that was produced by none other than… Michael Sweet, using the track to launch their comeback, landing MASS a new recording contract and the rest is history.

However, the story doesn’t end there…as I also managed the bands Mars Hill and Action, who just so happened to have also been executive produced / produced by Michael Sweet and Kenny Lewis of Mixed Emotions Studio, famous for producing and mixing multiple Stryper and Micheal Sweet Solo releases, over the years.

I have seen Stryper many, many times since 1985, met Michael several times as well, but do not have a personal relationship where I would pick up the phone to call him to say that I’m about to write this review… I just @mention him in an occasional Tweet or send a shout-out, over Facebook, etc…

Like most music lovers, even though I created AppFlicks to celebrate streaming video games, film, television and music, I actually purchased the physical, autographed vinyl version of the Reborn Again album (that is waiting for me in America) and a fellow music lover, provided me with the digital tracks, so that I could offer this review. For those who went physical, here’s the running order…

Track Listing:

Side A

Open Your Eyes
Reborn
When Did I See You Cry
Make You Mine
Passion

Side B

Live Again
If I Die
Wait For You
Rain
10,000 Years
Passion (alternate mix)

Most will ask / want to know… What’s different between the Stryper vs. Solo version beyond the title? Great question! The most obvious is the removal of the Stryper song “I.G.W.T.” (by M. Sweet, Robert Sweet), replaced with an alternative mix of “Passion” which is similar to a version Michael has performed at solo / acoustic gigs.

While I was disappointed when Stryper parted ways in 1992, I enjoyed all of Michael’s solo releases, with 1998’s Truth Demo and 2000’s Truth being the most memorable for it’s more hard rocking prominence than prior efforts. When Reborn came out in 2005, I was so pumped for the release of a new “Stryper” album and this album did not disappoint as it built upon the strength of Truth, containing the same powerful sound of the past with many modern metal / hard rock overtones. While unknown by most fans at that time, Reborn was really supposed to be Michael’s follow-up to Truth instead being moslyt re-recorded, to become a new Stryper album. I was aware of this as my friend and bassist from the band Fortune, Lou Spagnola (who also played with MASS for a time), played on Reborn / Reborn Again.

Being a “fan” and wanting to make sure I wasn’t missing out on anything, I asked Lou, just how different his original recording sessions sounded vs from the Stryper release and he shared that it was quite similar. While satisfied, I suggested to Michael, across social, that he should consider releasing a “Reborn (Again)” or “Reborn… Again!” version one day, containing the original Reborn recordings and any bonus material. In 2021, I received my wish.

Unfortunately, there are no new tracks and the song composition is mostly unchanged. However, the recording is slightly different in sound, mostly due to the performance of the different artists (background vocals, guitar, bass, drums), Michael adding-in his signature vocal notes at the end of a few choruses, several guitar fills/solos and Kenny Lewis’ mix.

Have you listened to Michael Sweet: Reborn Again before? How does it compare with Stryper’s Reborn? What did you think about this album, its production, the band’s performance, mix, the song writing, track selection and overall sound?

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I look forward to your JoulePepper rating of Michael Sweet: Reborn Again and I would love to read your comments in the JouleView section, below. While I rank Reborn (2005) as one of Stryper’s best albums, I was disappointed by Reborn Again (2021) – only because it is just too similar to its predecessor, as I was hoping for something new or different. Maybe an unreleased bonus track, demo or outtake would have filled that need?

Based on the above, I give Reborn Again 4 JoulePeppers – it’s Hot! That said, if you are new to Stryper and Michael Sweet Solo material, you should pick it up, download or stream as you are very likely to give the album 5 JoulePeppers – saying that it’s totally Spicy!

ronvining

Welcome, from AppFlicks Chief AuteurX! I created AppFlicks out of my love for all-things entertainment, stints as a music manager, producer and as an advisor to film & game studios, telcos, lux brands, retail, hospitality & theme parks. Thank you for taking part in our streaming community! NOTE: Activity from my account, may also be initiated by AppFlicks Admin.