Kim Gentes

Inspiration, engagement, anthems, compassion and justice. These are the themes that stream into the mind when one thinks of the modern student movement and conferences known as Passion/268 Generation and its visible leaders Louie Giglio and Chris Tomlin. These themes and impact have only solidified and intensified with the latest edition of their live conference worship recordings, "Passion 2013: Let The Future Begin". With unrelenting stadium rock anthems, excellent lyrical songs and a great live engagement experience caught on the recording, this album continues the tradition of making Passion not only an influential musical voice to the college generation but a perennial provider to the liturgical sound track of the modern church.

Since Passion's first release in 1998, their annual conference has fueled both original songs and re-arrangements of great choruses and hymns from the Christian church song catalog. This project brings a huge collection of songs that are all usable and very thoughtful. One of the things that marks this release is the use of several voices across its track list. No less than eight different worship leaders lead this collection of 15 new tracks (there are only 14 on the regular version, but an extra track on the deluxe version). What this does for a lengthy "live" album like this conference recording is make it much more of an experience than just a collage of top songs. With a consistent sound canvas and band playing, these songs leap off the tracks and engage the heart in a worshipful experience.

Beginning with "God's Great Dance Floor", Chris Tomlin kicks off this album with pop/dance 8th notes that have both the conference crowd and the album listener clapping and surrendering their hearts in energetic praise. This is the 3rd album that this song has appeared on recently, and I have found it invitational and inspiring a song. While it is not likely a song that every congregation will jump to use, because of its dance/pop arrangement, it is perfect for almost every youth group and celebrative praise time that comes to mind. If your musicians can can play it, prepare to start the party!

The second track, "The Lord Our God" is one of the most usable songs on this album. Led and co-written by Kristian Stanfill, this song is a declarative listing of the glorious attributes of the Lord our God. It is a song that combines (in a bridge) those characteristics of God with a declaration from the worshiper to follow God's lead by committing to: 

We won't move without You
We won't move without You
You're the light of all and all that we need

At its core, this song carries the message and undergirded values of the Passion conferences- to make His name famous (Passion's mission statement is based on Isaiah 26:8 which says "...for Your Name and renown are the desire of our souls"). A great medium/fast tempo song with excellent lyrical and Biblically based content.

Track three is "Jesus, Only Jesus", a new song led by Matt Redman (who, like most of the tracks on this project are led by one of the writers of the song being sung). This song is melodic, powerful and very well crafted musically. Like all the songs on this album, I went through them with my guitar, playing along to learn, enjoy and ascertain how I might use these songs in worship times. I really loved this song. It has a unique musical twist in this song, in that the hook of the song contains a single phrase that changes the time signature for one bar. The song is in 3/4 time, but the hook line uses a bar of 4/4 for each iteration. This can be tricky at first, but after you practice it, it fits well. The song is well-worth the time it may take to learn to play it.

"Once And For All" is a great new song as well, another anthem that rings with great music, melodies and most of all some excellent theological concepts said well in succinct language. Some of the the lyrics use Christological language not normally seen in worship songs, borrowing liberally from the ancient creeds, such as these selected lines

He is the light in the darkness
Who took on flesh and took our place...
We believe our God is Jesus...
Jesus, Jesus, God from God, Light from Light

These are deeply theological and meaningful statements that call the worshiper to investigate the claims of such a song. It is certain that such writing will have congregants asking leaders and pastors what lyrics such as "God from God, Light from Light" mean. And this is a very good thing. Understanding the nuances of how such central faith statements have come about can only be a positive to any local church community and the spiritual growth of the people. In fact, what is an undertone in a number of tracks across this recording is the language of the ancient creeds and deeper theological statements. From the song just mentioned to "In Christ Alone" to "The Death of Death" and others- this album's pop/rock sound belies the profound lyrical foundations on which some of these songs are built, and this is a joy to discover.

The album continues through spiritual hunger song "Burning In My Soul", and the now church standard "Revelation Song" and into "Children of Light" a call to "rise up children of light" (which, with its overwrought "whoah- oh oh oh" lyrics sounds like a lot of superfluous cheer leading that abandons the strength of the rest of the album). But moving on through this project, track after track testifies powerfully with exceptional lyrics and great music, making this perhaps the best collection of new songs ever to appear on a Passion album. Yes, it is that good, and that extensive. Other songs that you must check out include "Whom Shall I Fear" (led by Tomlin), "Come to the Water" (led by Kristian Standfill), "In Christ Alone" (led by Stanfill, this is the best revision of this song I have ever heard- excellent additional bridge and more singable than any other arrangement of this song) and dubiously named "The Death of Death" by Charlie Hall. Really, be sure to listen to every track on this project and find out what would best fit your local congregation. It is truly worth hearing.

But I would be remiss if I didn't give a special recognition to the standout song on this project. My favorite song on this album is a simple but incredibly poignant surrender song "Here's My Heart" led by David Crowder (written by Giglio, Ingram and Tomlin). This song reminds me lyrically of Brenton Brown's "Surrender" or Hillsong "I Give You My Heart" (Reuben Morgan). This text of this song is a powerful offering of the soul given up to God through simple lyrics that present the one gift God looks for in our worship- the human heart, will and obedience.  If you absolutely are looking for one amazing song, this may become your favorite new song of 2013. It is mine.

Let me be clear- when I listen to a project from a group that has high popularity or notoriety, such as Passion, Hillsong or Jesus Culture, I am especially critical of their projects primarily because I don't want to recommend music based on the commendations of their namesake or past success to guide the value of a current project. With that understanding, I was armed intently to investigate this release. But instead of having a stoic critique of this project, the thorough and wonderful application of thoughtful lyrics, excellent music, melodic songs and a seamless live experience make this album the latest winner of my "Editor's Choice Award". It is really that good.

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.

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

From 2004 to the present, few Christian recordings have been able to attain the level of popularity that garners platinum record sales.  Fewer still have included songs that are not only great radio favorites but long term standards for Sunday morning worship. But all that and more has been accomplished by this amazing solo project from one of the top artists in Christian music today- Chris Tomlin. Arriving was Chris Tomlin's break out blockbuster album and it still holds sway as one of the best artistic endeavors in Christian music in the last 10 years.

Arriving became such a tremendous success for several reasons, but the primary are: great songs and great production. One of the hallmarks of a great artist is their ability to incorporate great songs that they didn't write. Tomlin shines in this regard, recognizing that while he has strong songwriting chops, some of the songs he is best known for are not his writing at all- Indescribable and Your Grace Is Enough two brilliant examples. Arriving is the perfect balance of radio ready songs and corporate worship favorites. This became the backbone of its stream of #1 radio hits. The creative genuis of Ed Cash rendered Tomlin in his absolutely best light, making the songs on this album shine.

Songs like Holy Is The Lord and How Great Is Our God have become staples in the CCLI top 10 list of most used songs in the world.  Cash's perfect production and layered sounds has since been copied time and again by other worship records, but never to the same level of authenticity or success.

But beyond the awards, success and record sales, this album represents what is the pinnacle of the praise and worship genre in Christian music- great art in a devotional context. While the album lacks the gritty vibe of a live project, nothing sounds phoney about the stellar arrangements placed on every track. Tomlin's high tenor reach and textured voice makes the project worth listening to all the way through.

While worship leaders would be ill-advised to retain the songs in same key as the original recording with Tomlin's soaring vocals, all the songs are usable and accessible. In fact, the tunes are so hook-laden and melodic any revisions will do well to retain the memorable arrangements even if shifting pitch for congregational singability. Again, this CD has recieved all the accolades possible. In the age of a collapsing music industry, church based worship music has continued to be as popular as ever. And none more popular than the songs, artist and writer of this album. Arriving has left a monumental imprint on the last 7 years of Christian music and continues to do so.  If you haven't got your own copy of the tremendous album, check out the link below and get the MP3 album for your collection. It is worth it.

Product Link: Arriving: Chris Tomlin

Review by Kim Gentes