Kim Gentes

Refreshing, enthralling, and God-ward! That is the rapturous sounds of "Draw Near To Me", the independently released devotional music project from Scott Brenner. The CD is sub-titled "Intimate, devotional worship for your quiet time". This is the perfect by-line description of this project.

The lyrical content of the project is prayerful (I Want To Be Holy), scripture themes (Changed by The Mere Reflection), and sometimes direct scripture quotes (O God You Are My God). Simplicity is woven into these lyrics, giving the church gifts of excellent songs for devotion.

The purity and integrity of Scott's love for Christ comes through in his voice and music, as though you are sitting in a room with him and everyone is lifting up Jesus. Melodic and rich, the CD takes a trek of invitation (Longing for the Day) to prayer (O God You Are My God/ Psalm 63) to intimacy (In Silence I Wait) and finally thankfulness (Thank You Lord).

This CD is notably soft music, laying the heart and soul of Scott's prayer's before God with care and kindness. It isn't rushed, and it isn't loud- it is intimate, and it is soft. This CD certainly reminds me of his earlier work on the Vineyard project "Before You Now" (second half of that project). Yet, this project is even more pensive, more intimate.

The thing that made me fall in love with this CD was the music and the arrangements. And perhaps not in the way you might think! The power of this project was the simplicity and care that was taken in giving it lots of strength with a few instruments. Using the guitar, keyboards, a cello and oboe, this project stays uncluttered- and it SHINES! Those of us used to listening to praise and worship music are used to the ever-present bass guitar- but not here! This CD is the first indie project I have heard that absolutely does away with the bass guitar and thrives because of it. I know this might sound strange, but the breadth of instrumentation with just the oboe, cello, guitar and piano give a wonderful diversity in relative simplicity. The occasional visit of electric guitar and some drums and percussion (all without a bass guitar present) make a few songs accented perfectly for some variety to the ear.

You will be turned toward the Lord immediately as "Longing for the Day" begins this project off, and we share an invitation to Christ for His return. Each song leads effortlessly into the next on this whole project. The fourth song (and title track), "Draw Near To Me", is a wonderful invocation song calling out in the theme of the Davidic devotional prayers for the Lord to have our daily lives from the early morning to the "never-ending". The tenth track, "We Cry Glory", is my favorite song of this CD. It's pacing, vocals and instrumentation become so rich (yet well spaced) it reminds me of the intensity of purity and precision of devotion that I first heard from a John Michael Talbot album- different musical framing, but deeply and similarily focused. The CD ends on a unified praise and thanksgiving that brings up such a heart of gratitude, you will find yourself singing "Jesus I Love The Way You Are".

This CD get's my "Editor's Choice" award from Worshipmusic.com.

A great project!

Product Link Draw Near To Me - Scott Brenner

Review by Kim Gentes.

Welcome Mark Miller! The exclamation is for a reason. This guy has a wonderful CD! We hope that everyone will get a chance to listen to Mark's newest CD called "Threshing Floor". The style is retro acoustic to rock. If you like Darrel Evans, this CD will be a total blessing to you. These songs are edgy on some, and blissful clear through. Mark's not just a newbie either, he has had songs published already that have appeared on Vineyard's Touching the Father's Heart series. This indie CD by Mark is a powerful musical and worshipful trek into the heart of our generation's cry for unrelenting honesty.

Mark's CD is not linkable easily to a sales site any longer, but I have managed to find some old links for audio samples (sorry only 96kbps).

Product link: If you are interested in getting a copy of this CD, write Mark directly at  mmiller@grace2you.org 

Review by Kim Gentes

[Free Song Download "Trading My Sorrows" from Darrell Evans- see at the bottom of the review.]

Over the years, I have heard literally thousands of worship CDs. I have evaluated a few hundred projects personally, and ended up writing over 100 professional reviews. Of all the albums I have heard, I don't know of a better studio recording on a worship project than this incredible album by Darrell Evans.  It is now about 15 years since Darrell shocked the world with Freedom in what amounts to the standard in a studio worship recording. Listening to this project now, I am still overwhelmed by a sense of God's presence, still hurled into worship authentic praise, and still taking to my knees and crying right along with the sincerity and reality of the music and lyrics in the songs on this album.

I place this project even above some of the other iconic recordings such as Shout to The Lord (Hillsongs), Lift Him Up (Ron Kenoly), Hungry (Brian Doerksen), Sonicflood (Sonicflood), Intimacy (Matt Redman), Arriving (Chris Tomlin), Passion: Better Is One Day (Passion), Worship (Michael W. Smith) and others.  I recognize that some of these albums mentioned are "live" productions, but they nonetheless left an indelible mark on worship in the church worldwide.  And yet, I believe Freedom stands alone as the landmark studio recording. Why? For five reasons:

• An amazing collection of original songs. Freedom has such a diversity of top notch songs, it is hard to believe they all came together on one project. From CCLI top song "Trading My Sorrows", to radio pop "So Good To Me" and pounding "Freedom", to blissful "Your Love Is Extravagant" and unashamed "I Am In Love With You", these songs are a trek of total abandon- but in such a package of raw lyrical passion and perfectly matched melodies and music, it's a text book for any aspiring worship writer. You won't find a writer/artist who is more at home with his work than Darrell is on this album. It feels natural because it is. Wow.
• Unbelievable musicianship, production and artistry. It is hard to talk about the musical prowess of this album without highlighting three main points- Darrell Evan's unstoppable passionate vocals, Lincoln Brewster's unmatched electric guitar treatments, and Paul Mills' masterful production. This album breathes in a way that only a perfect synchronicity of contributors could produce. The ebb and flow of this project is a testament to everyone letting the best of their skills surface at just the right time. Just one (of many) pristine moments on this CD is the song "I Am In Love With You", which highlights what may be the best guitar solo on any worship recording ever- absolutely brilliant. There is so much to talk about in this area, it would mean walking through each song. Instead of doing that, I encourage you to simply listen to the entire album and experience the immersion of this amazing musical journey.
• A truly complete "project" in scope, theme, and concept. Lost in the digital world of the 2010 and beyond era, is the concept of a complete "album". Darrell Evans' Freedom, conversely, is the epitome of the album concept- a perfect coalescence of songs, themes, tempos, intensity, ebb, flow and lyrics. Everything feels naturally like it fits, makes difference, and contributes to the overall work of this project.  Musicians, artists and songwriters today should listen to Freedom and consider the amazing diversity of content, that still amazingly feels like a perfect cohesive unit. Nothing wasted, but everything was risked- and it hit the jackpot.
• Brilliant variety and balance of praise, worship, prayer and declaration. The themes of church music liturgy seem to have a ebb and flow to them over the last 40 years. Paradoxical concepts like transcendence and immanence have not typically survived being placed on a single project. Yet, this album has a breadth that is uncommon though not frankenstein in nature.  God is found to be powerful and glorified in the lyrics (So Good To Me, Freedom), and yet he is still near and comforting (I Am In Love With You, You Are My Portion).
• Passion. Rip everything else away from this album and you would still find Darrell Evans standing in a room alone, belting out his voice, percussively strumming his guitar and singing his prayers to God. One thing you will hear ringing loud and clear on this project is the unstoppable passion Darrell puts into every word, every strum. There is not a single ounce of fear, hesitation or worry in any word, strum, beat or lyric here. Everything is so raw (I do not mean poor music, but rather uncorked honesty), it can even be a little affronting to the uninitiated. Suddenly, you realized you are in the middle of a worship time that is serious, personal, passionate. Something you would normal come to expect more of a live recording, but it is captured here in pristine form.

If you are one of the few people who haven't bought this entire album, I can't tell you with any more clarity than this- buy it. Buy it now. You will not regret it. More than a decade and a half after its release, and it still blows away almost every worship recording you hear. This is not a trip down nostalgia lane, it is a reckoning with reality- we haven't moved the needle as high as this in worship recording, and it may be a long time before we do. Serious friends, listen to it. And be blown away.

This project not only wins my "Editor's Choice Award", but is my pick for the Best Studio Worship Recording- ever! Ya, really.

Amazon Link: Freedom - Darrell Evans

Additionally, our friends at Integrity Music have also granted us permission to give you access to the audio and chord chart for the great song "Trading My Sorrows" as a free download for a limited time directly here, so you will find it below.

Review by Kim Gentes

Free Song Download "Trading My Sorrows" from Darrell Evans album "Freedom"