Kim Gentes

Today I had the opportunity to listen completely through the new album "Deeper" by Christine D'Clario. It was a real delight! D'Clario is joined on a few tracks by worship leader/songwriters Anthony Skinner and Leslie Jordan to put voice to these 10 excellent worship songs. But the majority of the project is led simply by Christine herself. D'Clario co-writes on half of the songs on this project and uses standout compositions from others such as label-mates Daniel Bashta, Richie Fike, and others like Paul Mabury (One Sonic Society), Israel Houghton and many others.

The album ranges from radio pop to piano ballads to modern revisit of a classic hymn. There is a deep and grounded sense of presence to D'Clario's singing of these songs. She sounds so comfortable with the music, with the lyrics, that one takes away a sense that these songs are personal reality for her- that these songs are not just "favorites" she is singing for Sunday morning "airplay", but she genuinely believes them and embraces them as her story. These songs are a listening joy and carry something of a spiritual peace as you join in with them. 

Perhaps it is the steady, but subdued pacing of the songs and the arrangements, but this album is powerful, spiritual and deeply worshipful. Rather than forcing some theme or topic with over-arranged music and thunderous, complex instrumental assaults, D'Clario's voice is the focus here. Producer Paul Mabury scopes this project well, holding in the electric guitars, keeping the programming and rhythm compact and well-paced, and returning to the simplicity of piano and simple beats to frame the worshipful arias of D'Clario's sincere expressions.

One could sit down to listen to this album and not get back up for hours. It is captivating especially in its pensive, worshipful moments. Favorite songs for me were ballads Magnified (track 2), Pursuit (track 3), and Faithfulness (track 5). Strangely enough, I would venture to guess that "Arise" (track 7) will be a favorite for almost any church looking for an upbeat declaration song, with its pop-beat, infectious chorus and contrast to the rest of the album. But I warn those who think they will just skim over this project by listening to a few songs- you are more likely to find yourself awash in the peaceful sounds of D'Clario's sublime ballads and settled into your chair in worship for an hour or more. And a good number of us could very well use that kind of interruption in our frantic and busy world. This is a very strong album with good songs, well-produced tracks and an enthralling voice of a worshiper anchoring it all.

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

After over 15 years of reviewing worship music I've realized that there are often two types of exceptional worship projects: a) an amazing production with radio-singable songs and great singles for iTunes; or b) a great worshipful album with congregational singable songs that are accessible for the church worldwide. Normally, those two categories are mutually exclusive and only a very few worship albums ever combined both elements. Finding both was rare and exceptional, such as Tomlin's breakout "Arriving", Third Day's first "Offerings" album, and some of the new tracks from the live Jesus Culture albums.

Then came, "The Same Love", the newest album from Paul Baloche.  Before I decided to review the album, I had heard (and purchased) the title cut, which was released a few weeks before the album finally released April 3. The title cut was such a captivating track, I was very interested in pursuing listening to the full album. But rather than sitting down and listening to the complete project 5-6 times to soak in the songs, I decided to review the project in a way I've never done before. 

Before listening the album, I grabbed my guitar, capo and pick. I went into my office, turned on my computer, and logged into Worshipteam.com.  I found all the songs with chord charts and audio. Then, I went through the album in real-time, with the charts in front of me, playing along. My first experience with the album was listening, playing along, learning, singing and worshiping my way through all 13 songs.  It was an absolutely wonderful experience!

More than anything else, I was taken by surprise at the combination of exceptional songwriting and prestine performance that was merged with accessible, great congregational worship songs. I am an average guitar player and with a reasonable tenor voice and range. I was able to sing, play and worship right along with literally every song on the album. I didn't have to change the key of any song on the album to sing along, and yet every song had great musical balance and tightness to its presentation.

But once I went through the album once, I couldn't stop. I kept playing and repeating through the album, playing along, worshiping and even picking out songs I will add to my repeteroire as a worship leader.  And this is the power of this album- you will find a lot here that is useful for your local church! Having gone through the album this way, I write this review with no reservations or apologies. Let me highlight for you the songs that rivetted my attention and might yours.

Of course, the title track "The Same Love" is the standout favorite.  This song is so singable, so well written, and so well produced that it belongs alongside the very best songs written in the last 10 years. Paul does what he has become so proficient at- creating an infectious melody around substantial, theologically rich lyrics whose purpose is connecting the power of "the same God that spread the heavens wide" with the humble humanity of each of us whom he has come to "set the captives free" and "opened eyes to see". What ties this song together is the parallel balances of "The same love" (God) offers his invitation by entreating us as His children by "calling us all by name". I could spend paragraphs trying to expound the theological richness of this truth, but Paul Baloche and co-writer Michael Rossback have done the artful work of teaching us one of the main meta-narratives of scripture in a single great song, summed up best by the last half of the brilliant chorus:

The same God that spread the heavens wide

The same God that was crucified

Is calling us all by name, You are calling us all by name

And this is precisely Paul's writing gift, as it has been for years- he marries God's immanence and transcendence in a harmony that only music and lyrics can provide.

This glorious effort continues with the second track titled "We Are Saved". Co-written with Hillsong's Ben Fielding and Jason Ingram, this song reminds you quickly of a Hillsong United anthem, with deep pocketed chorus and a resounding bridge to vamp the song into another level. Another great track.

"King of Heaven" is a prayer call in the "maranatha" tradition (in the sense of actual biblical usage of the Aramaic word, not any reference to the music company)- the song lyrics are a call for Jesus to come down both now and future as in "King of heaven come down". The arrangement is a bit of straight rock mixed with meandering banjo overlays, all treated to the sweet-dry harmonies of 'All Sons and Daughters' duo Leslie Jordan and David Leonard. Think worship rock meets 'O Brother Where Art Thou'. Blissful!

Robert Lowry's "Nothing But the Blood" is the foundation of track four's "All Because of the Cross", which adds a nod to "Oh the Blood of Jesus" in the arrangement as well. Track five follows theme and empties out the sonic pallet with piano and cello guiding the song gently to its pensive place as a song perfect for communion called "Your Blood Ran Down".

Next, Paul (along with Ed Kerr) mines another classic hymn with "My Hope", drawing from Edward Mote's "My Hope Is Built (The Solid Rock)" in various stanzas.  Like its hymn source, this song is a resounding declaration that each worshiper can connect and relate with. That no matter the circumstances of life that "You are my Rock" and "I'm holding on". On a personal note, this song was very encouraging to me. The last few years I have seen a number of friends and family lose loved ones to illness and age. This song is a solace into God's reality of hope that lies beyond what we experience so painfully in those difficulties.

Track eight brings us to "Oh Our Lord", yet another co-write- this time with the aforementioned Leslie Jordan and David Leonard. Hints of the slide guitar and the haunting melodies of the co-writers imbue the song with a blue-grass/folk base that lifts the verses into glorious tension with the bittersweet chorus and triumphal bridge. Wow! I love this song.

And so it goes for the entire album- this album is full of resonate melodies, blissful harmonies and thoughtful lyrical text. 

But beyond all this great music, great lyrics and great production, remember how I said I reviewed this album- I literally sat down with a guitar and played along with all the songs, in my first hearing of the entire album!  This means the songs were as beautiful as they were accessible! I challenge you to do the same- grab your guitar, sit down and see if you can't find 3 or 4 songs that become part of your worship leading repertoire.

I think you will find what I found- this is album is worth spending the hour it takes to play along and learn from one of the best songwriter/worship leaders of our generation. For this reason, I unequivocally can say that "The Same Love" is an easy album to grant my "Editor's Choice Award" to. I can't see how it wouldn't make consideration for the top worship album of the year. It's that good. Great work Paul- and friends!

For churches using WorshipTeam.com, all the songs, chord charts 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. Integrity Music has also granted us permission to give you the chord chart for the title song as a download directly here, so you will find it below.

Amazon Link: http://amzn.to/HS0E9P

Review by Kim Gentes

Free Chord Chart Download "The Same Love" from Paul Baloche

One of the treasures we have in the United States is the songwriter, equipper and worship leader Paul Baloche. I have had the opportunity to meet with Paul a number of times. He has a desire to encourage and equip the church as much as any worship leader I have met. He doesn't just record albums and write songs- he has developed helpful resources, often pioneering in training, in an effort to truly give away the gracious gifting God has blessed him with. With that kind of heart, one isn't surprised that his recordings and songs have a special place in the heart of millions of Christians around the world. The same genuine pastoral care he has for the local church is conveyed in his songs and recordings.

The album "A Greater Song" shows one of the richest collections of new songs in recent memory. But beyond being just great singable new songs, they are crafted with excellence in lyrics and music. Paul manages to put together a truly great album with "A Greater Song" by not only attending to musical production, but by co-writing nearly every song on the album with some of the best songwriters in the world. Brenton Brown, Matt Redman, Glenn Packiam, Graham Kendrick, Sara Groves, and Don Moen all count Paul as a friend and lend their talents to this cornacopia of new songs harvested for the modern church.

The project kicks off with the very popular Hosanna (Praise Is Rising), a reverberating exaltation that declares with the Palm Sunday tradition "Hosanna, Hosanna, You are the God who saves us." This is a co-write with Brenton Brown, author of Everlasting God, Halellujah (Your Love Is Amazing) and many other songs. The lyrics have captivated congregations around the world and is rising to become one of the most used songs in the Christian church. If you haven't heard this song, take time and do so- excellent, playable and well-written theological lyrics.

The songs continue with brilliance in songwriting and top notch presentation with Because Of Your Love, another co-write with Brenton Brown. This upbeat declaration thanks God for his great love and it rings true with a unity of lyric and beat that emphasize the point. Like all the songs on this album, electric guitarist Ben Gowell works perfect tone and rhythmic placement on the leads and overlays for each section of the songs. They are as enjoyable to listen to as they are to sing along- a real delight.

The tracklist doesn't falter, and you get full load of rock/country/pop ballad and more on this project. Some of my favorite tracks are Thank You Lord (co-write with Don Moen), Creation's King (co-write with Graham Kendrick), and Here And Now (yet another co-write with Brenton Brown). Paul not only recognizes the value of great co-writing in his song craft, but incorporates the beautiful voice of Kathyrn Scott on a couple of tracks.  And this brings me to my favorite song on the album.

Your Name is a co-write with Glenn Packiam (of New Life Church in Colorado). On this recording, Paul Baloche entreats a ballad by way of a duet with Kathryn Scott- a duet that marks simplicity and perfection on the most singable and infectious melody on the album.  If for no other reason, get this recording of this song- it brims with glory, declaration, and not the least- the focus on the Name above all names. You will be launched into praise and worship if you dare to begin singing this encouraging ballad.

A beautiful song and a wonderful album, "A Greater Song" was awarded 2006 Album of the Year by WorshipMusic.com and it is no wonder. Don't hesitate to add this great album to your collection.

Product Link: A Greater Song - Paul Baloche

Review by Kim Gentes

Once in a while an album comes along that surprises you with great songs, capturing melodies and effusive worship. In the "normal" course of things, a strong project might contain one great song and maybe another good song. Rarely would you find a project with 3 or 4 truly top notch songs. But in 2006, a growing church in the Dallas metroplex released an album called "Living For You". The ministry of Gateway Church and its worship department was introducing its cadre of songwriters and leaders to the country for the first on a broad scale.  This inaugural release was not the first project Gateway worship had produced, but it was the first one released through Integrity Music, a group that has consistently mined a large portion of the most used songs in America over the last 25 years.

"Living For You" delivers no less thirteen prestine tracks, with four phenomenal songs, including one of the most popular songs in the world today in the blissful modern rendition of the trisagion prayer entitled Revelation Song. If you haven't heard this top 5 CCLI song at least once in the last 5 years, its likely you haven't been to church. For pastoral leaders and teachers Revelation Song was quickly accepted because it both glorified God with direct language and used mostly Scriptural quote and reference to fill and inform its lyrics. For worship leaders and musicians everywhere Revelation Song proved an irrisistable combination of excellent lyrical content and refreshing musical variety, giving the pop-worship 1-4-5 musical mantra a needed rest. Which of us worship leaders wasn't delighted to find a well-written song with a great melodic hook that made good use of a minor 5th and flatted 7th prominently styled into the song?

Other songs from this album, which have also found broad acceptance across the church, are You, You Are God, The More I Seek You and Thomas Miller's modern revision of the classic Come Thou Fount, Come Thou King. These songs are all incorporated with a top notch musical presentation into the "Living For You" album. Listening to this project, you will find moments of explosive praise, enthralling worship and absolute abandon. One forgets that the musical leaders on this project have become well known, because this project reflects none of the trappings of "stardom" that seem to come as quickly to Christian worship leaders as they do to pop stars.  The album feels and sounds like an authentic voice of a local church giving its all in song and worship to God. You will be drawn in and find yourself prayerful, praiseful and heavenward as you take the journey of the songs represented here.

If you haven't already put this project on your playlist, get the mp3 album and enjoy some great songs as you worship.

Product Link: Living For You - Gateway Worship

Review by Kim Gentes