Kim Gentes

Another level! That is how I describe the latest project from the increasingly popular catalog of projects from PDI Music. 'Everlasting' releases a new level of musicality, production, and diversity for the listeners of PDI music. From the series, Come & Worship, this latest CD takes on the 'big' labels with excellent musical presentation and very strong song selection.

The project opens with 'I'm Calling Out', a dynamic song of God's faithfulness and our need to call out! Well written, the lyrics simple, but not simplistic. Songwriter Mark Altrogge gifts us with this song of paradox, by comparing (in the manner of Proverbs) our attempts at reaching God to the provisions He has already made to enfold us. Excellent biblical based content while being singable and worshipful! Just take a look at the first half of the chorus of this song, a sample of excellent lyric writing :

So I'm calling out To You who called me I'm holding on To You who holds me I'm seeking You Who came and sought me in my sin

Moving on, 'Great Is Your Faithfulness' is another nicely singable and scriptural based song, again by Altrogge. Next, we run into the title track, 'Everlasting'. For a minute you may think your CD changer moved over to your Jars of Clay CD, as the into and musical interludes of this song mix a nicely rhythmic and acoustic sound with a string quartet from heaven. This is one song in which the listener can hear the strong increase in production and musical presentation put into this sixth edition of the Come & Worship series from PDI. Nicely complimentary percussion, and violin parts make some beautiful listening and worshipful sounds.

I am not sure why, but my favorite song on this entire CD is next with 'This Fathomless Love'. Maybe it is the hintings of Celtic sound, the 6/8 feel, the ringing vocals, or the gut-wrenching lyrics.. who knows, but it works for me! Even writing this review now, I am listening to this song for about the 30 or 40th time, and it still causes me to say 'yes, Lord' as I pray and sing along.

But you don't have to agree with me on the favorite song to LOVE this CD. 'Your Love Is Higher', 'For Your Glory Alone' and 'I Love The Cross' add to the sizeable list of singable and useable songs on this project! 'I Love The Cross' is a simple, but heartfelt, cry of thanks for God's sacrifice. At times this CD stretches quite far vocally and stylistically, making it tougher in some songs to consider them for strong congregation use. Particularly, 'More than Life Itself', 'I Must Have You' and 'For Me' make for excellent solo presentations, with some reaching notes and rushing lyrics in a more CCM style. Having twelve excellent songs, though, it is nice to have the diversity of this CD.

The climax of this project is the song 'I Bow Down'. Ethereal and flowing, visions of the Titanic movie love theme will no doubt come to you as you listen. Super clean vocals with pristine acoustic guitar work, this song could be the track to any movie! Surprise- it is! This tremendous trek of devotion is appearing on the new 'Searching for True Love' videos by best-selling author Joshua Harris (I Kissed Dating Goodbye).

Though not a progressive stylistic project, this CD is excellent and solid with content and very good production.

Product Link http://www.sovereigngracemusic.org/albums/category/sovereign_grace_music/everlasting

Review by Kim Gentes

There is a certain quality that God blesses some with. It is musical, yet it is more than notes. It is confidence, yet it is more than personality. It is giftedness, yet it is more than prodigy for the sake of self glorification. It is that certain something we have found in those that don't just excel, they expand and explore. We have met these people; people like Kevin Prosch, Martin Smith, Darrell Evans, and Brian Doerksen. Meet another one of those people - Kate Miner! And meet the new project "Live Worship from the Strip" out of the new praise and worship label "Sovereign Productions".

All this "newness" might seem like just a fashionable trend to those not aware of the heritage coming with this great worship project. While a new company, Sovereign is no small outfit or a fly-by-night garage recording studio. Run by some of the same people that brought you the new sound of Vineyard music, when it was still "new", Sovereign is headed by worship veteran Carl Tuttle. With worship leader Kate Miner, Sovereign has come out of the gate with an awesome debut project in "Live Worship from the Strip".

Right from the intro, you get the feeling this CD was going to burst with expression. The first cut, "Dream Before You", feels part rock club, part beckoning love song. It isn't long before you realize this CD is no cookie cutter experience. At times Miner's vocals and lyrics become so intimate, it pushes the listener to the precipice of decision- I am either going to participate with this (and worship), or I am shutting this thing off. There isn't much room for "fluff" in any song on this CD. Miner is intense and overwhelming as an artist. Songs like "Dream Before You" and "Better Is One Day" make the point with Pat Benatar-esque vocal power and Delirious?-esque rhythms and strength.

The intensity and raw intimacy don't just reside in rock ballads and driving beats. "Hung The Moon" becomes my favorite cut from the project, as Miner sings a song from God to us, expressing His incredible providence. Hearing Scripture crafted in song and then sung like this is as beautiful as it is riveting. One thing this CD does is leave behind any traces of the pop country/jazz/easy listening 70's sound that has pervaded much of the praise & worship "sound" since the early 80's. This project is clearly rock. There is lots of adoration on this album too - check out "Holy Spirit Come". Excellent.

On the way to making this completely live project a reality, the crisp, cleanness of a studio sound is sacrificed, no doubt about it. But Miner doesn't care, and neither should you. As she powers her voice to heaven, you will wonder how you ended up belting it out along with her (as the man in the car in the next lane looks at you like you're going berserk).

To quote Matt Redman (who listened to a preview copy of the CD) :

"It's 'Intimacy' with guts!"

Enough said! Run, don't walk, and get this great new rock praise & worship CD.

Product Link Live from the Strip - Kate Miner

blessings
Kim G.

p.s. For those who didn't know, the album 'Intimacy' was the original title of Matt's project that came out in the US under the title "Heart Of Worship".

Editor note: this review was originally written in 1999, and like many things in the music industry much has changed, including, sadly, the demise of the company that produced this recording.

In the mid-90s a number of local musicians, songwriters and worship leaders in the UK began to flourish and influence not only their nation but the world in bringing new songs to the church. From that stream of praise and worship comes possibly the most influential songwriter over the last 20 years within the modern worship movement- Matt Redman. Redman's songs have been used across the globe, and in virtually every Christian denomination. They have been recorded by countless other leaders, artists and musicians. And while Redman shirks the notariety of his influence, there is scarecly a Christian musician or leader in North America that would not recognize his songs or his name.

Matt Redman was introduced to the North American church largely through the efforts of the music label WorshipTogether, a brand of EMI Christian Music in the United States. The WorshipTogether moniker was comprised largely of songs and recordings from UK leaders and songwriters that were connected with Kingsway Music.  As part of that effort, WorshipTogether introduced Delirious?, Matt Redman, Tim Hughes and others to a broad church and consumer music market from 1998 until the present. While some of Delirious? (Martin Smith) and Matt Redman's songs were making their way across the pond before the EMI marketing effort began, the impact and effectiveness of the WorshipTogether brand, recordings, marketing and website was nothing short of phenomenal.

To review either of Matt Redman's first two albums seems a bit misinformed, as both albums were released first in the UK and both contained slight modifications before being introduced to the US market. The first was a merger of UK releases (songs from UK releases "Passion For Your Name" and "The Friendship and the Fear" became  the US version of "The Friendship and the Fear"), the second was simply a name change (UK "Intimacy" was released as "The Heart of Worship" in the US). In any case, we review each album here.

Redman's first recording that released in the US was "The Friendship and the Fear" in 1998 (released through the EMI StarSong label).  This album was chock full of singable and upbeat songs that contained a rock driven sound with fresh rhythmic sensibilities such as Believer and Better Is One Day. But it was mixed in with intimate melodic classics that have become staples in churches worldwide- such as I Will Offer Up My Life and Once Again. Each of these songs resonated across the North American church, but probably none more so than the Better Is One Day track, which found wings on many other recordings including the phenomenal explosion of the Passion youth gatherings and their associated recordings, whose breakout album in 2000 not only included the song but was entited "Passion: Better Is One Day".

After establishing a strong presence in the church with "The Friendship and the Fear", WorshipTogether released another album by Redman a year later. In 1999, the WorshipTogether label released what would become, at the time, Matt Redman's signature album and song in "The Heart of Worship" (it would later be eclipsed only by his most popular song, Blessed Be The Name). Like Believer on "The Friendship and the Fear", this new album included another celebratory praise hit with Let Everything That Has Breath. But it was the title track that seemed to find its way into hearts across not only North America but the world. In what Redman would later explain as a response to God's corrective to him (as part of his serving in a local church worship leader context), the lyrics of the song The Heart of Worship focused on repentance and Godward devotion intended for worship rather than the music in which praise or worship may be delivered.

These two albums were not only the introduction of Matt Redman as a worship leader and songwriter, they were the seedbed of dozens of other recordings both in North America and abroad. The songs were just the first of dozens that Redman would continue to write, which eventually placed him as one of the most prominent church songwriters in the last 100 years.  And he continues to write the songs of our modern liturgy, even today.  These original albums are still available and are a great archive of wonderful songs usable for churches.

Product Links:

The Friendship And The Fear - Matt Redman (1998)

The Heart Of Worship  - Matt Redman (1999)

Review by Kim Gentes

While most of our reviews have centered around products that don't get a lot of attention (either through retail advertising or simply an indie), one of the things I have noticed in the last couple of years is the waning influence of Vineyard's Touching the Father's Heart series on the list of "new songs" being used by churches. Partly because of the insurgence of the UK worship songs, increase of similar music from other labels in the US, and growth of indies, the TFH series has been less than the "staple" of excellent song selection it has been in the period of 1994-1996. With a string of ho-hum projects like "Receive Your Praise", "I Love Loving You", "I Love Your Ways" and "I Just Want To Thank You", Vineyard Music has not helped themselves a lot. Additionally, much of Vineyard Music focus recently has been on a flurry of collections, remixed oldies, and "best of's", making the even the most ardent of Vineyard worship fan crinkle a brow.

But alas, things are looking up! One thing Vineyard has done since early days (under the direction of John Wimber) is to foster the constant birthing of new songs. That kind of real encouragement can't go too long before another crop of good fruit comes due. The most recent addition to the TFH series is just one such "pick" of recent fruit from Vineyard Music. Along with the new project "The Burn Service", this CD has indicated a strong crop of usable and fresh music from Vineyard.

So let's dive in to this CD, "It's All About Jesus"!

To kick it off, this CD begins with a karate chop to the chin of P&W project "formula" of starting with an upbeat song and fading to slow. Instead of hyping us up, pumping the emotions, and playing to our expectations, they start off with the song "Stand Back". This song moves from the contemplative position of encouraging us all to "stand back" and let God move. Writing the lyrics in synch with musical feel, Scott Underwood lets the song grow, building intensity. In an attitude of "standing back" and letting God move, the song ebbs you into the presence of God as you refocus why we worship. This song eases into your heart, and just as you get the point of it, you run into the title track, "It's All About Jesus".

Easy to sing and powerful in message, this song exemplifies the musical contribution that Vineyard has placed in modern praise & worship over the last several years- easy lyrics, simply played music, contagious melodies, and unashamed intimacy. While it isn't as reflective and haunting as the Matt Redman "Heart Of Worship", it doesn't have to be. Still, the messages are the same, and there is no doubt a number of people who will get the two songs confused just by title.

The trek continues through Simple Prayer, a vintage Terry Butler song rife with accidentals (those keyboard players :) and the lyrical message of God's holiness. Another nice touch on the first "set" of this project is the modern hymn "My Soul Finds Rest" by Mary McLean. Not a redone oldie, but a revisitation to themes of "On Christ the Solid Rock", complete with 3/4 time and beautifully spacious notes.

The second "set" is led by Danny Daniels. Track eight heralds a wonderful song "Faithful Love". A great songwriting contribution by Rita Springer and nice vocals by Paula Bowers make this a [repeat] track on most CD players. Danny Daniels chimes in with "River Of Delight", a soft congregational declaration of what we will do at the coming of Christ. Another song that builds with intensity, "River Of Delight" leads well into the 70s country/rock sounding "Lord I Lift Up My Voice". A signature of Danny Daniels songwriting and leading, this song reminisces of the straight forward praise of his classic "Glory". Thereafter comes a couple of songs from Mark McCoy, lifting the worship into much more upbeat praise. "Messiah" is an excellent moving rock ballad that calls out to Christ. "Messiah" hints at a blues feel, and that gets re-ignited in the next song. "Sow In Tears" has strong musical composition, though it misses singable and well-paced lyrics that typically accompany Vineyard songs. The trek of nostalgia doesn't end until the song "We Will Run", when Danny Daniels wraps up the set with another declarative song, but this one has a 60s feel. A nice praise song telling God how we will run to Him.

And just when you were sitting back and thinking you were finished, the great surprise of the album happens- "Wonderful"! Appropriately titled, this song is jumps and hops into praise for God. I was unsure as to the language of the lyrics in the intro line of the song, but Vineyard Music assures me it is that oft sought after language of aboriginal Australian. Apparently the word "Humbia" means "yahoo" (not to be confused with the website) or "yippee". I didn't need to call VMG to get the intention of the song, though. Contagious and upbeat, you will be bouncing throughout the day as this tune rings through your head. This would be a great song to alter, by fixing a "yippee" in your favorite local dialect over the current "humbia" ('course, you'll want to make sure that's covered on your CCLI license and such ;) .

Overall, I think this CD represents the meatiest offering from Vineyard in some time. Though not as creative a musical effort as "You Shelter Me", from the same TFH series, the songs are certainly more useable and likely to be used in the local church. You won't love all the songs on this album, but you will like 3 or 4. Your friend across town will like a different 3 or 4. Your friend across country will like another 3 or 4. You get the picture- a little something for everyone, without fluff anywhere.

Nicely done Vineyard Music! Welcome back.

The project also has an accompanying songbook and split tracks, for those worship leaders who intend to use the songs.

Product Link It's All About Jesus: Touching the Father's Heart

Review by Kim Gentes

This is a tremendous new indie CD that we are very excited about. This CD is a studio recording of a worship leader from the Valparaiso, Indiana Vineyard church. Frankly, this CD has the absolute best sound and production of any indie CD I have ever listened to. The musical presentation is arranged and mixed on par with ANY "big" company CD I have listened to, and eclipses most of those.

But the best part of the CD is the content of the songs. Musically enjoyable, and very accessable for churches, the list of songs is almost entirely authored by the worship leader, Sheri Keller. She has a gift for writing, and this project makes that point. The opening cut is just awesome (called "new song"). Only one song is not authored by Sheri, and that is the wonderful Doug Horley song "We Want To See Jesus Lifted High".

I have also heard 3 editions of that song on various projects. This CD is far-and-away the best, most inspirational rendition of that.

The clincher for this CD is the lead vocals, on which Sheri Keller unleashes some serious worship. My first question when I listened to this CD was "why isn't this person signing on with a CCM label?" Her voice and execution on the songs is easy that good. I guess that is what impressed me alot about the project- while the artistry level is way beyond what is usually heard in churches, the intensity of worship is at an equally high level.

Product Link http://www.worshipmusic.com/sk-btld.html

Review by Kim Gentes