Kim Gentes

It's been just over 2 years since Chris Tomlin released the Grammy Winning "And If Our God Is For Us..." album.  And here we are with another new project from Chris Tomlin- "Burning Lights". Beginning as a spectacular album, "Burning Lights" has several sparkling new songs, but also has a few "average" tracks as well.

The first 5 songs are not only great songwriting anthems, but are presented in musical vibrancy that tops any work Tomlin has done in the past. The arrangements, style and rhythms found here are smart and successful experiments in broader worlds into which Tomlin has been relatively cautious.

The songs "Awake My Soul" (anthem rock with hip-hop lyric overlays), "Lay Me Down" (rock touched with a bit of Lumineers/Mumford and Sons) and "God's Great Dance Floor" (pop-dance worship that actually doesn't sound cheesy) are almost ecstatic in their energy and vibrancy- all while staying on task of being songs the church will want to sing in the style of modern liturgy. My nod for best song on this album, both lyrically and as a church anthem, is "Whom Shall I Fear (God of Angel Armies)". This song has all the excitement of the other top tracks on the album with its dynamics and guitar hooks, but it also possesses the most singable melodies and lyrics on the project, all wrapped into a glorious rock worship anthem.

After the song "White Flag", the songs empty out to simple worship ballad arrangements.  Kari Jobe duets with Tomlin on the hymn "Crown Him", and this works not only as a listening experience but as a worshipful arrangement of this classic hymn- with a new custom Tomlin chorus, of course. The next several songs continue to strip back the instruments in ebb/flow arrangements throughout. Some may conclude that these last five songs are the slower ballads that are left more barren to allow churches to adopt them as is. But I would contend that these melodies and music are simply not as compelling on the last five songs as the first six songs on this project. The lack of arranging on the final songs simply excentuates those properties.

Be that as it may, this album has many excellent songs. You will find several to be of interest to contemporary churches who already like Chris Tomlin songs and style. Musically and creatively, "Burning Lights" is Tomlin's best album to date, eclipsing even his debut "Arriving" in creativity. Again, do not miss "Whom Shall I Fear (God of Angel Armies)"- it is the best contribution on this project!

For churches using WorshipTeam.com, the songs, chord charts, lyrics and audio are already available and pre-loaded for you in the WorshipTeam.com system song database. If you are not part of WorshipTeam.com and want to listen to audio samples or purchase the album directly yourself, see the Amazon link below.

Amazon Link: http://amzn.to/14jCcIE

Review by Kim Gentes