Kim Gentes

"Not Be Moved" is the latest recording from Vineyard Worship and is released via their quarterly series (called Club Vineyard) with some grace-filled fresh songs. The twelve songs that fill this project are congregationally minded offerings that could fit in a varied range of churches, partly due to their generally singable vocal ranges and partly due to the diverse range of styles in which these songs are arranged.

The lyrical and theme content of this album reflects a long-standing tradition of the main-stay of worship music- glorious adoration and the Christian basics of faith, hope and love. Several songs focus directly on glorifying God for his worthiness- Name Above All Names, Face To Face, Greatly Praised, Satisfied, Blessed Be The Name of The Lord, He's Our King. Several other songs expound the virtues of God's rescuing, faithfulness and provision towards His children- My Savior My Rescue, Love Lifted Me, Not Be Moved, The World Can't Take It Away, and Everything Is In Your Hands.

Aside from these thematic groupings, notable in this collection is a focus on declarative language in most songs (in both theme groupings previously mentioned) and the absence of the language of prayer and request.  Two songs with prayer language are "Make Us One" and the personal "Face to Face". This is not a huge shift or difference that might be noticed on this album alone, but becomes clear as one looks at decades of songs from the Vineyard churches. Popular songs from the 80's (such as Change My Heart O God, More Love More Power, Psalm 121), 90's (highlighted by Come And Fill Me Up, Draw Me Close, Breathe) and 00's (Hungry, Surrender, Be The Centre) of Vineyard catalog often prominently featured a musical playlist of plaintiff prayers and supplicant surrenders. Today's Vineyard songs resound more with the language of assurance and faith declaration than the language of prayer, though the lyrical sense of joy and thanks continue to smile across many of the songs of this album.

The album kicks off with an understated floor tom pounding in solid rock song "My Savior My Rescue". The song is a declaration of placing trust in God's love, His works and the belief that he will rescue us from the desperation inherent in our human needs. A thoughtful song of remembrance and assurance, that exudes praise and lifts the worshiper into a place of trust in God. Track two, "Love Lifted Me", is a country styled tune that rambles steel guitar through its bubbling effervescence of love-laced lyrics. This exultant song provides a joy-filled refresh to the age-old phrase "love lifted me" that is worth churches taking a look at, with a tasty gospel hook (that ends too soon, in my opinion) appended to the final refrain of this special song.

"Name Above All Names" is beautiful track setting a guitar-infused musical bed for a wonderful presentation of Philippians 2:6-11, where Christ's submission by emptying Himself of his divine-qualities becomes the place in which he humbles Himself to obedience and gains the experience of true humanity, even death on a cross. The song is perfected by the passionate and grace-filled vocal tones of worship leader Hannah Daugherty, who highlights two of my favorite tracks on this project. The title track, "Not Be Moved" follows this. A glorious, piano-based (complete with oscillating organ pads) gospel song, it presents the center of this project's theme- a clear, powerful and faith-filled declaration of God's immovable and unchanging nature as the foundation for our reliance on His benevolence.

Track five is the poignant song about the prayerful desire for the worshiper to have their eyes opened to see God's glory and to be in the presence of the One. Again, Daugherty captures the song with her fluent interpretations that create the atmosphere of deep worship. At eight and a half minutes (the longest track on the album), this song effortlessly brings the worshiper into the same place of prayerful hunger as the lyrics expound. Several songs continue  the stylistic rock/roots, country and rock/country stylings of this album's primary motif- "Greatly Praised", "The World Can't Take it Away", "Make Us One", "He's Our King" and "Everything Is In Your Hands".

"Blessed Be The Name of the Lord" is another reload of an archived Kevin Prosch song from the mid-90's (similarly, the song "They That Wait On The Lord" was revived on the "My Foundation" album from Vineyard last year), though this tune update drones on and fails to either capture the energy of the original version or provide an alternative infused with an interesting arrangement.

"Satisfied" is one of my favorite tracks on this project, partly because it stands out stylistically from the guitar-centered, country/rock styling of the rest of the album. But more than just style, this song is a humble admission of our needs resting solely in the person of God.  It states:

All of my longings are satisfied

All of my longings are satisfied in You

This kind of admission is enrapturing and epitomizes the heart-ache of all of us- to be with Christ and have Him be, simply, enough.

If you are looking for songs to consider for your local church, I recommend "My Savior My Rescue", "Love Lifted Me", "Name Above All Names", and "Satisfied"- each of these songs have something significant to contribute to any worship repeteroire. Be sure to listen through the entire album and glean some good new songs for your local church worship.

For churches using WorshipTeam.com, all of the songs, chord charts, lyrics and audio from this album 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/17kyVYB

Review by Kim Gentes

Review of "A Taste of Heaven" (EP)

View a brief profile of Andy Park.

Andy Park

If you have been involved in worship ministry or just enjoying the music of worship that has been written and used in churches in the last 20 years, you've probably used a song written by veteran worship songwriter, Andy Park. While he has been a major voice and trainer in the Vineyard movement, he is internationally known for popular songs such as In The Secret (I Want to Know You), Precious Child, My Delight, Only You, The River Is Here, Blessed Be The Name, We Will Ride, Yahweh, Yet I Will Praise, and Wonder Working God. Andy has been writing worship songs that have become the soundtrack of the modern church around the world.

When one gets the idea that someone has had long term "success" in worship songwriting this could conjur up ideas of mountain top retreats, cluttered writing rooms, VIP studio access, co-writing with gifted compatriots and a life of creative seclusion. While that may be someone's dream, that is not the reality of Andy Park. Of all the high profile worship writers I have met and gotten to know personally, Andy is one of the most diligent servants to the Body of Christ I have ever met. Yes, he has written over 120 songs that have been scattered across the globe, but he did that while planting churches, pastoring, raising a large family, traveling around the globe, helping train churches in worship, writing books, mentoring dozens of others and following God. Andy is the real deal- a local church pastor/worship leader who understands the struggles and frustrations of everything from small church plants to mega-church campuses.

Why does all this matter? Because Andy writes these songs from the trenches. He isn't musing over something ethereal that he doesn't have to live through. In the real work of the kingdom of God and community of family, the kinds of songs that we write must survive the "reality" test of being true enough not only to believe, but to use on a regular basis in local churches at home and around the world. I am thankful for mentors and leaders like Andy Park, who have continued to lead and write from the trenches of local church work, while remaining an encouragement to the greater body of Christ.

For more info on Andy Park, his music and ministry, go to www.andypark.ca .

When I started listening to this short EP I was working frantically on another work project. But as the songs "A Taste of Heaven" and "Perfect Peace" began to rise up from my office sound system, I began to listen. It was beautiful.

The first track, "A Taste of Heaven", is presented in both a standard and extended version (track 2) on this project. This song is about God's grace and favor on His people, and how that favor is a foretaste of the glory of heaven come to earth today. This song is really about God's presence being the unmerited favor of blessing for us, as he states in the second verse:

Standing under the shower of your unmerited favor
Your blessings upon us
You have given so freely your affectionate mercy
Your blessings upon us

This is not an indulgent declaration, but a thankful praise to God for his incredible love towards us, and this theme continues throughout the song. It is uplifting and engaging, pointing the worshiper towards the great Giver as we wait patiently on His presence to guide us.

Producer Kelly Carpenter has done a very nice job of keeping the music well suited to Andy's style, guitar playing and voice. The arrangements here are easily recognizable as Andy Park songs from the first bar. And the "extended versions" of the English and Spanish translations of "A Taste of Heaven" have a nice vamp into electronic/looped soundscapes that give Andy space to mix both English and Spanish in the ad lib sections. With a chorus echoing in the background perhaps this is a prophetic vision of all peoples, all languages worshiping God. Very worshipful.

As the next song, "Perfect Peace", began playing, my wife came upstairs to my office and asked about it. She said, "that song is for you." She was right.

Park has always used scripture foundations in his songs, such as this one that elegantly weaves Psalm 62:5, Isaiah 26:3 and Matthew 11:28-30, reminding us:

Perfect peace, he will give you perfect peace

As you think about his goodness and his kindness...

...Come and rest, come and let your soul find rest

For the burden that he gives you is light

The song is played with an acoustic guitar framed arrangement, keyboards, and programmed instrumentation. It's simple and lilting arrangement is perfectly suited for its message of peace by trusting in God. I found myself surrendering, singing along and reciting the lyrics as prayers throughout the day.

"Perfect Peace" is one of 3 different songs on this short EP, but the collection contains both "A Taste of Heaven" and "Perfect Peace" in Spanish versions as well, "Un Sabor De Los Cielos" and "Perfecta Paz" respectively. In fact, Park has wrote "Un Sabor De Los Cielos" in Spanish originally and translated it for the English version. It was beautiful to experience a worship EP that contained English and Spanish versions of the songs. In light of this, I asked Andy Park more about his music and ministry, and his work on this recent project.

View our brief interview with Andy Park.

The final song on this EP is a Spanish version of the classic Vineyard worship song "Precious Child", entitled "Precioso Hijo". This powerful song is about God's love for us as His children. It is about how we should see ourselves as being chosen for his family- bound, not by our performance, but by God's faithfulness. This is a familiar theme for Andy Park, as many of his songs explore God's love and characteristics, our identity in Christ and our community identity as the church (global and local).

If you are a local church worship leader looking for some excellent worship songs on the topics mentioned in this review, I encourage you to consider listening to the samples online at Amazon (or if you have WorshipTeam.com, you can preview the songs there). Especially if you are looking for Spanish worship songs, I encourage you to check out these 3 Spanish songs on this EP.

For churches using WorshipTeam.com, all of the songs, chord charts, lyrics and audio from this album 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.

Blessings
Kim Gentes

It is no hyperbole to say that Jesus Culture and Kim Walker-Smith have become a powerful new voice in the sound of worship to the new generation and the "modern" church's musical liturgy. So, when I heard that Kim was going to be releasing a solo album, I was interested. Even though I often have the opportunity to get "free" product to evaluate popular worship resources/CDs, I almost always end up buying my own copies of things, because like many of you, I want to know if I feel like the money I spent was worth it. I am delighted to say that Kim's new album, "Still Believe", comes in very strong. It's not only worth the money, its worth your attention.

Having heard the previous Jesus Culture albums, I knew that her passionate vocals were her signature. My assumption was that it would be those impassioned vocals that would take over a solo album as well. I was right. And wrong. Yes, her vocals, with all their presence and passion rip through these songs with both peace and power- fitting them with the proper aspect as the song demanded.  But also, no, in that Kim moves from just being a great voice to being a promising songwriter. On "Still Believe", Kim steps in with a surprising ability to write and present songs that are fresh, inviting and actually thoughtful.

The album kicks off with "Alive", a note pounding declaration that resounds with

"We will make Him known, Jesus is alive. He's alive!
We will shout it out, Jesus is alive! He's alive!"

The first track, written by Gabe Kossol and Jeremy Edwardson, comes across very strong, intentional and engaging. This is a great launch pad for the album. Praising God and declaring the resurrection truth is focused and yet celebratory. I love it!

The next song is written by Chris McClarney (author of "Your Love Never Fails") and others. "Waste It All" has quickly become one of my favorite "surrender" songs. Lyrically, it is a musical interpretation of Matthew 26:6-13 (woman pouring perfume on Jesus) in the first person. Every time the chorus rings out I find myself surrendering once again.

Track three continues the very hopeful, God-ward and personal language of all the songs in this album. "The King is Here" is new song written by Kim and Christa Black, this one exclaiming that God is here among us, He is present and we can rely on His being present and rejoice in that same reality. As much a song of faith as praise, this song takes our attention clearly from the far off God who watches us to the very present King who is in our midst. Again, focused, clear and powerfully delivered. Love it!

"Yield My Heart" settles back into a gentle brushes/cadence and Kim Walker-Smith opens up in first person language confessing, "I yield my heart to You."  Again, coupling surrender and declaration, this song feels like a simple prayer, straight out of the ethos and language of the Davidic Psalms. And this is what endears you to this album- her intense focus on Christ, clearly at the expense of exposing her own vulnerability as she unrelentingly sings out these songs.

Tracks 5 and 6 are a live version of the Tim Hughes (et al) song "Spirit Break Out" and a spontaneous tag that extends out through an entire track. To be sure, almost every song on this album has a tag and impromptu segment that takes each song to a personal and "uncorked" expression from this worship leader to God, with all of us carried along in the tow of real worship. This song is a very well written re-examination of the Lord's Prayer (Matthew 6) that links that prayer to the release of the Holy Spirit across mankind and history. A beautiful prayer and offering. Walker-Smith doesn't leave the song to the text given by the songwriters. She expands on it with her own passion, ad libs and unguarded confessions of need to be overflowing with the presence of Christ, His love and His character.

The title track "Still Believe" carves a beautiful melodic understanding of the atonement found in Christ's blood and the sufficiency it establishes for all those who believe. Maybe one of the most focused songs on the blood of Christ that I have come across. Without compromise, Kim declares that the blood of Christ is the center of what grace and provision is available for all Christians. Again, I am very impressed with the focus and articulation that this young writer has by keeping the text to one topic on any given song. A song well worth listening to for anyone looking for great new songs in your local church.

The next track is a cover of Martin Smith & Stu Garrard's "Miracle Maker", done with both lilt and power. Not a song that is easily done in most churches, but a gorgeously presented declaration of the Revelation text that appears in chapter 1 and 4 "who was and is and is to come". The final song (called "Healing Oil" by Chris Lizotte) is a jubilation of thankfulness that launches Kim Walker-Smith into an overture of refrains. She is singing out, at the top of her lungs, declaring that she wouldn't trade another lifetime for the reality of God's presence being there, right now.

And that highlights precisely why I LOVE this album. Kim Walker-Smith refuses to be afraid of singing songs that are either well articulated theology ("Still Believe" and "Alive") or "in the moment" passion ("Waste It All" and "Healing Oil"). It is that edge of unguarded evocation that makes the album feel like a breath of fresh wind on the landscape of "prescribed" worship music productions which are often addled by so much musical and theological care they leave true passion off the recording.  This needn't be so. And Kim Walker-Smith proves it.

I loved this album. You will too. Really.

For churches using WorshipTeam.com, all of 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.

There is no substitute for passion. You can create sounds, play music and mimic emotion. But real passion comes through in a way that goes beyond all those. If I had to sum up Daniel Bashta's work on his new project "The Invisible", the word would be- passion.

A breathy pop voice, energetic motion in the arrangements and inventive twists throughout the album brings Bashta's ideas of reaching for the ear of God onto the audio canvas of the ten tracks of this album. Lyrically, Daniel almost completely relies on first person language in his prayer-like songs. Only one song is sung in the third person (the title track) and this is revealing. Bashta's passion for a person-to-Person connection with his Creator bleeds all over the prayers, thanks and declarations in this collection. Even anthems of invitation in which Bashta calls us all to join his call to worship with "we all cry holy" in Behold the Lamb, he returns to first person prayer language :

Yours is the kingdom Yours is the power

Yours is the glory forever and ever

Yours is the kingdom Yours is the power

Yours is the glory forever amen

Many of the songs on the album are inviting for church use.  The arrangements used on most of them build in ascending steps (it almost becomes a predictable pattern on this project), but all are welcoming to local church use, (as with so many high production worship albums today) if not in perhaps simplified form. Some great songs on this album are "I Want It All", "Let Hope In", and "Behold the Lamb". But my absolute favorite was the title track "Praise the Invisible"- its hard not to love the reimagining of the invisible, immortal and incarnate language glorifying the Trinity as Father, Spirit, Son. Great historic language as part of a powerful surrender to the Holy God.

Stylistically, this album scans a wide but enjoyable range- from symphonic swells to acoustic guitar drones to scattered banjo picking to piano driven ballads to hand clapping living rooms of worshipers. But it all feels real, fits the songs and creates focus towards the listener pointing their hearts to heaven. This is a very, very good album, and honestly, it surprised me. I was expecting something eclectic, but did not expect something accessible. 

For churches using WorshipTeam.com, all of 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/14C8bE4

worshiping Him!

Review by Kim Gentes

Part of my work requires me to listen to music. I mean a lot of music. Over the last 15 years, I've sampled literally thousands of projects- a sample is what I call a cursory initial scan to determine whether to take time for a full listen. Of those thousands, I've listened to several hundreds of CDs all the way through (hearing every track, completely). Of those several hundred, I've felt strongly enough to write about 90 reviews, of which I've highlighted just 22 as my "Editor's Choice" selections. Make that 23.

When I sat down this last week to hear this CD, I knew Chris Lizotte could write worship songs, and that he was a great voice with a solid acoustic guitar touch. But as I listened to "Power In Weakness" I found myself being emotionally moved. Song by song. Moved. Disarmed.

The longer I listened to the album the more I heard the prayers Chris was singing begin to rise up from of my heart, and I began joining with him. If nothing else, this album is about providing a place for others to join in the safety of surrendered peace with their voices echoing Lizotte's plaintiff prayers. And that is what I found myself doing the more I listened. Joining in. My shoulders feeling as though, for a moment, the weight of the world was lifted off. Not because my circumstances had changed, but because I had a prayer for a moment that could be mine.

Lizotte never expands the palette too far on this project. It is laid back acoustic, roots, with some bluesy tinge and the odd electric guitar dirtying up the texture. Spice that with some occasional hammond organ and gospel background vocals and you have the mixture that is Lizotte's "Power In Weakness". The arrangements and instrumentation sound like you are sitting in a living room, maybe with a few good friends, who are pouring out their hearts to God. Nothing to extensive, but nothing lacking.

This song is clearly not intended on being a collection of "Sunday morning" choruses, yet it still does contain a number of usable tunes for those looking for prayer-styled songs. Three songs stand out as possible candidates in that regard- "Peace In The Middle of the Storm", "I Love Your Ways" and "You Know My Name". My favorite song on this album was "You Know My Name", not only because it is the most singable and most memorable hook, but because it has the most engaging corporate nuance.

This album is full of honesty. Nothing extra. But it is beautiful, clear and unwilling to leave you without giving you several opportunities to surrender your stress filled day to the sense that God waits to hear your voice sing out in prayer to him. This is a unique and emotive album that gets an "Editor's Choice" not just for what it does with music, but for what it doesn't do as well. It doesn't overload itself with endless and varied arrangements, myriads of lyrical themes and layers of sounds. It stays as what the title declares- "Power In Weakness". Very well done.

For churches using WorshipTeam.com, several of 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/Wklxkm

Review by Kim Gentes