Renovating->Diverse City (CD - 2005)

Personnel: tobyMac; Deldra Stricklin (vocals); Matt Bronleewe, Tedd T. (guitar, programming); Tim Roseneau, David May (guitar); Solomon Olds (sitar); Brent Milligan (cello); Damon Riley (drums, programming); Javier SolĂ­s (percussion); Brian Gocher, Max Hsu, Dave Wyatt (programming); M.C. Swirl (background vocals); Christopher Stevens (vocals, guitar, piano, Mellotron, keyboards, programming, background vocals); Nirva Dorsaint, Gabriel Patillo (vocals); Cary Barlowe, Justin York (guitar); Jeff Savage (horns, keyboards, drums, turntables); DJ Maj, Michael Linney, Paul Wright , Toby McKeehan, Truett, Jamie Moore, Tricia Brook.

Audio Mixers: Jeff Savage; Steve Lotz.

Audio Remixers: Christopher Stevens; Jeff Savage; Brian Gocher; Max Hsu; Dave Wyatt; Truett McKeehan; Doubledutch; Matt Bronleewe; Tedd T.; Brent Milligan.

Unknown Contributor Role: Aegis Boyer.

Fans responded well to the remix of his first solo effort, Momentum, so in the wake of Tobymac's Dove Award-winning sophomore album, Welcome to Diverse City, the former Toby McKeehan undoubtedly thought, "Why not?" Renovating->Diverse City is a lean but buoyant collection that never overstays its welcome, despite appearing just a little over a year after the original. Some of these remixes aren't tweaked very severely. Neither the "Shortwave Radio" version of "Burn for You" nor "Getaway Car" sound much different beyond their amplified rhythms. (A more drastically reimagined "Burn for You" is available as a bonus track.) However, Christopher Stevens and Brent Milligan transform the anthemic guitar pop of "Gone" into a contemplative, gentle reverie with layered harmonies and a string section. "Slam" gets a makeover, too. The original was pretty overwrought, a too-obvious take on Saliva's secular world X-Games hit "Click Click Boom." But on Renovating->Diverse City it's not nearly as eager, drifting closer to Linkin Park with its plaintive piano loops and letting the raps in the middle breathe a little. Like Re: Mix Momentum, Renovating->Diverse City is almost exclusively for the Tobymac faithful. Despite the remixing and abbreviated track list, it's too close to the original to stand on its own. But for the devoted it's a reinforcement of that album's messages, and does offer a fresh look at a few of the songs. ~ Johnny Loftus

DC Talk alum TobyMac's WELCOME TO DIVERSE CITY release gets the requisite remix album treatment with RENOVATING DIVERSE CITY. TM's clever pastiche of hip-hop, rock, old-school funk and dance is even more infectious with some jacked-up tempos, additional instrumentation, and the ever-present vibe of soulful positivity that is TobyMac's trademark. minimize