Testify (P.O.D. album)

Bassist Traa Daniels stated "This album defines who we are musically as a foursome more than any other album that we've ever done." He added, "What we tried to do on this album. . . was to take people on a journey musically. . . I think we have a lot of different elements." Sonny Sandoval also noted, "We have one of the heaviest songs we ever wrote and one of the softest songs we ever wrote."Moss, Corey [https://web.archive.org/web/20070528064157/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1521598/20060125/pod.jhtml P.O.D. Find New Hope With Interfaith Matisyahu Marriage] MTV.com (January 25, 2006). Retrieved on 4-15-09.

{{Music ratings

|MC = (55/100){{cite web|url=http://www.metacritic.com/music/testify|title=Testify Reviews, Ratings, Credits, and More at Metacritic|website=Metacritic|access-date=June 23, 2012}}

|rev1 = AllMusic

|rev1score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite web|url={{AllMusic|class=album|id=r812110|pure_url=yes}}|title=Testify - P.O.D.|last=Collar|first=Matt|website=Allmusic}}

|rev2 = CBN

|rev2score = {{Rating|4.5|5}}{{cite web|url=http://www.cbn.com/cbnmusic/reviews/archive.aspx#P|title=Album Reviews Archive|publisher=CBN}}

|rev3 = Christianity Today

|rev3score = {{Rating|3.5|5}}{{cite magazine|url=http://www.thefish.com/music/reviews/11619653/Testify/|title=Testify, Christian Music Reviews|magazine=Christianity Today|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060128060658/http://www.christianitytoday.com/music/reviews/2006/testify.html|archive-date=January 28, 2006|url-status=live}}

|rev4 = Cross Rhythms

|rev4score = {{Rating|8|10}}{{cite web|url=http://www.crossrhythms.co.uk/products/POD/Testify/14743/|title=P.O.D. - Testify|publisher=Cross Rhythms}}

|rev5 = Entertainment Weekly

|rev5score = C+{{cite magazine|url=http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,1153412,00.html|title=Testify Review|last=Hermes|first=Will|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|date=January 30, 2006|access-date=March 17, 2012|archive-date=April 27, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090427134528/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,1153412,00.html|url-status=dead}}

|rev6 = IGN

|rev6score = (6.8/10){{cite web|url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2006/01/24/pod-testify|title=P.O.D - Testify|author=Spence D.|website=IGN|date=January 24, 2006|access-date=January 19, 2013}}

|rev7 = Jesus Freak Hideout

|rev7score = {{Rating|3.5|5}}{{cite web|url=http://www.jesusfreakhideout.com/cdreviews/Testify.asp|title=P.O.D., "Testify" Review|publisher=Jesus Freak Hideout}}

|rev8 = musicOMH

|rev8score = (favorable){{cite web|url=http://www.musicomh.com/reviews/albums/p-o-d-testify|title=P.O.D. - Testify|last=Bansal|first=Vik|publisher=musicOMH|date=January 23, 2006|access-date=June 23, 2012}}

|rev9 = Rolling Stone

|rev9score = {{Rating|2|5}}{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/reviews/album/_/id/9140238/rid/9176410/|title=Testify : Review|last=Hoard|first=Christian|magazine=Rolling Stone|date=January 23, 2006|access-date=March 17, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060207021543/http://www.rollingstone.com/reviews/album/_/id/9140238/rid/9176410/|archive-date=February 7, 2006|url-status=dead}}

|rev10 = Spin

|rev10score = (6/10){{cite magazine|url=https://www.spin.com/2006/01/pod-testify-atlantic/|title=P.O.D., 'Testify' (Atlantic)|last=Catucci|first=Nick|magazine=Spin|date=January 31, 2006|access-date=August 18, 2012}}

}}

Upon release, Testify was met with mixed reception from major music publications. On an aggregate score out of 100, Metacritic gave it 55 based on 11 reviews.

Jason Bracelin of Blender gave the album two stars out of five and proclaimed, "On their fifth disc, these 'jah soldiers' run low on ammo" and elaborated that "on the ska-tinged 'Strength of My Life,' they sound like the world’s most polite rude boys, while 'Goodbye for Now' is the kind of listless modern rock that could be bottled and sold as a sleep aid."{{cite web|url=http://www.blender.com/guide/reviews.aspx?id%3D3697 |access-date=September 2, 2007 |title=Testify: P.O.D. |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930185953/http://www.blender.com/guide/reviews.aspx?id=3697 |archive-date=September 30, 2007 }} Rolling Stone{{'}}s Christian Hoard similarly noted "Testify is not as pompous or overblown as you might think; it just feels tired. . . The most notable aspect of Testify, in fact, is how little P.O.D., or their guitars, have to say."

AllMusic's Matt Collar, however, gave the album 4/5 rating and considered guitarist Jason Truby's work a "truly inspired and technically brilliant performance." He also commended Sandoval's enthusiastic vocals regarded the album as representing "a band reborn".

{{Track listing

| all_writing = P.O.D., except where noted

| title1 = Roots in Stereo

| note1 = featuring Matisyahu

| length1 = 4:42

| title2 = Lights Out

| length2 = 2:47

| title3 = If You Could See Me Now

| length3 = 3:07

| title4 = Goodbye for Now

| note4 =

| length4 = 4:34

| title5 = Sounds Like War

| length5 = 3:53

| title6 = On the Grind

| note6 = featuring Sick Jacken and Boo-Yaa T.R.I.B.E.{{cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=lpTEdL1q7XwC&q=%22on+the+grind%22+%22boo-yaa+tribe%22&pg=PT87|title=SPIN|first=SPIN Media|last=LLC|date=January 15, 2017|publisher=SPIN Media LLC|access-date=January 15, 2017|via=Google Books}}

| length6 = 4:25

| title7 = This Time

| length7 = 4:41

| title8 = Mistakes & Glories

| length8 = 3:38

| title9 = Let You Down

| length9 = 4:15

| title10 = Teachers

| length10 = 4:21

| title11 = Strength of My Life

| note11 = featuring Matisyahu

| length11 = 3:37

| title12 = Say Hello

| length12 = 2:32

| title13 = Mark My Words

| note13 = featuring Sick Jacken

| length13 = 3:43

| total_length = 50:19

}}

{{Track listing

|headline = Bonus tracks

|title14 = Not Your Kind

|note14 = Japan bonus track

|length14 = 2:37

|title15 = Your Eyes

|note15 = Walmart exclusive bonus track

|length15 = 4:23

}}

{{Track listing

|headline = Unreleased track

|title1 = Here We Go

|note1 = Previously unreleased but was put on Greatest Hits: The Atlantic Years

|length1 = 3:28

}}

Beyond Testify is also a limited edition second disc that features exclusive web content, commentaries for all the songs, and the following bonus tracks:

{{track listing

|headline = Beyond Testify

| title1 = Generation

| length1 = 4:25

| title2 = Bridge to Burn

| note2 = previously unreleased B-side from the Payable on Death sessions

| length2 = 4:26

| title3 = Will You

| note3 = Chris Vrenna Remix

| length3 = 3:54

| title4 = Every Time I Die

| note4 = demo

| length4 = 3:31

| title5 = New Wave

| note5 = "Let You Down" demo

| length5 = 3:39

}}

P.O.D.

• Sonny Sandoval – lead vocals
• Jason Truby – guitar, backing vocals on "Mistakes and Glories"
• Traa Daniels – bass guitar
• Wuv Bernardo – drums

Additional personnel

• Jordan Orava – synthesizer
• Glen Ballard – programming, keyboards, production
• Matisyahu – guest vocals on "Roots on Stereo" and "Strength of My Life"
• Katy Perry – background vocals on "Goodbye for Now"

Jonathan Davis was scheduled to perform backup vocals on the song "Mistakes and Glories" but could not be due to scheduling conflicts. Jason Truby recorded the sections left for Davis in his place.

{{reflist}}

• {{Metacritic album|title=Testify}}

{{P.O.D.}}

{{Authority control}}

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Category:P.O.D. albums

Category:2006 albums

Category:Atlantic Records albums

Category:Albums produced by Glen Ballard