The Petra Zone

If you listen to God Fixation, this album could very well have been released today.. it's ahead of its time.

Daniel wrote:If you listen to God Fixation, this album could very well have been released today.. it's ahead of its time.

GOD FIXATION is the most underrated album in Petra's catalog.

Unfortunately, I have to say God Fixation is overrated if anyone says it's underrated! I'm a big Petra fan, but I only really like a couple of songs on that one. When it came out, I was looking for something that rocked. I didn't know I'd have to wait until J&H.

Just compare St. Augustine's Pears (My favorite song from the album) with the rest of the songs... You will see... Definitely it was an album ahead of it's time.

J&H was good, but it was too late for that style. God Fixation if released today, I think it would do good. Many times the albums that were not liked have matured over time to ones ear. I didn't Like God Fixation when it came out in fact I was disappointed and shelved it. I see this album, as where I am at right now, the lyrics are inspiring.
This album I am not embarrassed to play in front of friends along with No Doubt.

I disagree.

I agree with Piedpiper. I personally think Wake up Call is their most timeless record. After that I was expecting that style to continue. I was not ready for the style of No Doubt and then God Fixation. When J&H came out I remember thinking "They're back!". I also belive J&H will be a timeless record for them. I remember back to how much I listened to the Beyond Belief record, and now when I listen to the songs they are quite dated. Still rockin and still good though. Same feeling after J&H as I had with Wake up Call. I was really hoping the J&H style would continue for at least 2 more records before they called it quits.

I think J&H should have come out after Wakeup Call that's where it fits for me.

There are days when for me Godfixation is a good album, I like the organic sound that it is, but for the majority of the time I just don't where I stand on it. I've always clumped No Doubt and this together with GF being the better of the 2.
My final assessment would be that its a bottom 5 album, with ND and WWT being on the bottom.

Timbo wrote:I agree with Piedpiper. I personally think Wake up Call is their most timeless record. After that I was expecting that style to continue. I was not ready for the style of No Doubt and then God Fixation. When J&H came out I remember thinking "They're back!". I also belive J&H will be a timeless record for them. I remember back to how much I listened to the Beyond Belief record, and now when I listen to the songs they are quite dated. Still rockin and still good though. Same feeling after J&H as I had with Wake up Call. I was really hoping the J&H style would continue for at least 2 more records before they called it quits.

Good way of putting this; I feel the same as you. WUC and JAH are both timeless. If you gave these 2 albums to 2 different people that has no knowledge of Petra and what year these were produced I know they would not be able to say what year. Both of these albums are in the top 5 IMO for Petra.

Top 5 Petra Albums:

5. On Fire!
4. More Power To Ya
3. Wake Up Call
2. Beyond Belief
1. JAH

1. This Means War!
2. Beyond Belief
3. On Fire
4. No Doubt
5. Wakeup Call
6. Unseen Power
7. God Fixation
8. Jekyll and Hyde
9. Not of this World
10. Back to the Street

That would be my order of most played during the last few years for myself.

The best thing about the God Fixation album for me is that John, Louie, Pete, Lonnie and Kevin signed the liner notes of my copy.

Jonathan wrote:The best thing about the God Fixation album for me is that John, Louie, Pete, Lonnie and Kevin signed the liner notes of my copy.

I got everyone except for Kevin. He headed straight for the bus after the concert.

separateunion wrote:

Jonathan wrote:The best thing about the God Fixation album for me is that John, Louie, Pete, Lonnie and Kevin signed the liner notes of my copy.

I got everyone except for Kevin. He headed straight for the bus after the concert.

I got the same problem. Kevin suddenly disappeared! And at the next concert Kevin's wasn't with them anymore... I solved the problem by buying an advance copy on eBay signed by all five.

But I think I do agree with Daniel. Even though I don't pull out GF a lot, it always surprises me. And I really think If I Had To Die For Someone should have been a major hit. But there was also a lack of support from Word. They weren't pushing GF as hard as PP2. For GF there was only one radio single (IIHTDFS + GF) while there were 3 for PP2.

No Doubt is a fine album, but they should've given the Nashville String Machine a less prominent role.

Yeah, when I got GF I was really upset by the sound change... but after dusting it off again.. its grown on me real quick.

So Kevin wasn't into the signing and greeting or was just a bad day?