| Miss Angie | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1977 |
| Genres | Contemporary Christian music |
| Labels | Transform Music Group Myrrh Records |
| Associated acts | Johnny Q. Public Flick |
| Website | http://www.missangie.net/ |
Miss Angie is a Christian music artist who produced two albums on Myrrh Records, the final one in 1999. Her music was based in aggressive hard rock and pop sound[1] with a feel that was described as "retro-eclectic,"[2] and vocals likened to those of Cyndi Lauper.[1] Her portrayed image, one of the strong female rock star, was unusual in Christian music,[3][4] but was offset by overtly Christian lyrics.
She signed with the Transform Music Group and will be releasing a new album, Time & Space, on July 26, 2011.[5]
The name Miss Angie was a compromise; at the time of recording her first album she knew that she was getting married, and so chose a name that was neutral with regard to that event.[4] Her given name was Angie Turner, sister of Shawn Turner, who played guitar in Johnny Q. Public. The family had a background in Christian music ministry, and the siblings had grown up traveling with their father's Christian rock bands in a situation she later described as being "sort of like the The Partridge Family."[6] She married Oran Thornton, also from Johnny Q. Public, in 1998. Oran went on to join the band Flick. They are no longer married.
In October 2009, she re-appeared with a new website, http://www.missangie.net/ , and some new songs. The website claims she will be putting out an album in late 2010 or early 2011.[7]
On June 14, 2011, Miss Angie released a single off her tentative release with Transform Music Group called Kick Drum.
Miss Angie began her solo career doing praise and worship sets after Johnny Q. Public concerts.[4] She started writing songs at the age of 16,[8] and while on tour Oran Thornton encouraged her make a career out of music.[6] These efforts eventually lead to a demo produced with David Zaffiro[4] and a contract with Myrrh Records.
Her lyrics were influenced by artists whom she describes as being "out-front praising Jesus and plainly talking about the Word."[4] She names the influence of as Keith Green, Crystal Lewis, and Second Chapter of Acts. Her debut contains a cover of the latter's "Which Way the Wind Blows".[9]
100 Million Eyeballs, released in 1997, takes its name from a creature described in the prophetic books of Revelation and Isaiah.[10][11] Its lyrics have a simple though thought-provoking structure, aimed at the junior-high market.[1] Several reviewers found that its songs tend to pose questions to the listener, but end up coming off as praise music.[11][12] Musically, the album centered around "big guitars, heavy beats," and a "warm yet still girlish, voice."[13]
Overall, Miss Angie portrayed the image of a "polished, yet glaring 'teenie-bopper',"[14] a sentiment that others reflected as well. More than one critic expressed the thought that the portrayal of the strong female lead rocker was unusual in Christian music,[4] and this probably enhanced the albums appeal. The dichotomy between the sweet and the aggressive images are what made the album worth listening to.[3]
On Triumphantine the band's sound changed considerably, dropping the emphasis on guitar in favor of keyboard synthesizers.[15] One reviewer described the sound as Fleming and John meets His Name Is Alive.[16] Another likened it to pre-comeback Blondie or Plumb,[17] and a third to The Doors.[18] The overall effect was that the album contained a greater variety of sounds than the debut.[2] One major complaint was the short length of the album[18] as well as the individual tracks, which one commented didn't allow the songs to fully develop musically.[16]