Newsboys continues balancing rock and pop, with only a little bit of "samesongitis" (where some of the songs sound just like other songs on the same CD). The first single, "It Is You," is an awesome slow worship song, and "Lord (I Don't Know)" is another powerful slow one, even if it can kinda blend into "Thrive." But Newsboys rocks too, and they get loud with "Givin It Over," "Live In Stereo," and "John Woo." Although it's not so much "rocky" as it is fast and loud.

    There are a couple problems with Thrive, but they're not terrible. They started showing a few signs of a lack of creativity and originality that plagued their next two albums, but at least here they were all still new songs. "Rescue" starts off with the exact same guitar pattern as Shine the hits's "Praises," just in a different key. ChristianityToday.com's review (see below) noted some lyrical "recycling" off older songs (although the reviewer is incorrect in his musical comparisons)

    Overall, it's a good CD. I like almost all the songs, and it's hard to pick out my favorites. It's another solid effort by one of Christian music's biggest names.

Music Variety: 9 of 10
Musical Talent: 8 of 10
Lyrical Value: 9 of 10
Worth Buying: 10 of 10
Overall Rating: A- (90%)

CCM Magazine (May 2002)
Reviewer:Anthony Barr-Jeffery
The Good News: A lovely contradiction, Thrive is flashy, raw, deceptively-smart pop rock that moves listeners to dance, listen carefully and thoughtfully unpack deeper truths about commitment and faith.
Grade: A-

Guideposts 4 Teens (June/July 2002)
The Good News: From the pop-influenced worship tune "It Is You" to the U2-influenced title track to the throbbing dance beat of Rescue, every cut is perfect upbeat rock and roll with an alternative twist. Did you expect anything less?
Rating: 4 of 4

ChristianityToday.com
The Bad News: There are signs that the Newsboys are beginning to recycle themselves. In a few instances, they use the exact same phrases from past hits. For example, "Giving It Over" includes the line "Back to the first love I ever knew," just like their hit song "Joy." You'll swear you were listening to the band's hit "Reality" when you listen to "Rescue."...Perhaps the most obvious example is "Live in Stereo," which has a similar whistling part to their hit "Breakfast,"...Play the first 20 seconds of each back to back and they're almost interchangeable.
The Good News: They're one of those rare bands that falls somewhere in the middle [of rock and pop] and attracts a wider audience for it...Peter's melodies shine like always, especially on the extremely catchy "Million Pieces" (about laying all our burdens before the Lord and the sense of freedom that follows), the title track (a prayer for God's direct presence in our lives), and the first hit single, "It Is You," a deceptively simple worship song that features some wonderfully flowing lyrics and excellent production... Particularly impressive is the gritty classic-rock sound of "Giving it Over," which sounds like something the Rolling Stones...would have recorded back in the late '60s or early '70s. There's also "John Woo," which may be the band's most progressive and experimental song to date, blending modern rock with techno, industrial, and an unusual-yet-catchy melody.

JesusFreakHideout.com
The Bad News: "Cornelius" is a catchy tune but I found the chorus, where they shout out the name Cornelius, to be a little repetitive and detract from the overall song ... "Rescue" is a puzzler for me. The opening guitar is exactly the same opening riff that their song "Praises" uses on their 2000 greatest hits record Shine. The rest of the song is different than "Praises" (thankfully), but it makes me wonder why they chose to copy their own song
The Good News: you realize it's still the same guys you love with their amps cranked up just a little higher, and eyes gazing just a little more heavenward ... With Thrive, the Newsboys have created an edgier selection of songs than normal, but still hold the same fun-loving compositions and feel that listeners have come to know. The lyrics are often easy to relate to or easy to escape with. With time and wear, the Newsboys sure haven't lost it, in fact, they just keep impressing.
Rating: 4 of 5

CMcentral.com
The Bad News: At just 10 tracks long and a shade over 37 minutes in length, Newsboys fans are bound to feel cheated by so short an album after so long a wait for something new
The Good News: For their ninth studio album, the Newsboys seem to have taken everything that worked about their sound in the past, throughout their various incarnations, tossed it all into a blender, and then set to music all of the sweet, frothy stuff that came to the top
Rating: 91%

KZZQ.com
The Good News: their most mature record to date. The sound is full and diverse. The production (with Steve Taylor present once again) is finally able to capture all the rock shenanigans of the Newsboys live. And lyrically, they have found a way to present points, provide a grin, and not be cheesy.
Rating: 4 of 5

EmmanuelChurch.net
The Bad News: I found some of the lyrics to be pretty cheesy (not theologically incorrect, just poorly thought out).
Rating: 3 of 5

ChristianBeats.org
The Good News:The music is upbeat and catchy, saturated with that unique pop-rock Newsboys style. But the lyrics are far deeper than any of their other albums. They are more spiritual, more heartfelt, more honest. The band seems more real than ever, exploring new and better things