Back in the mid-90's Kim began writing impromptu reviews of church music CDs (worship music) so that people who were looking for CDs would have an opinion from someone who is also a worship leader and is garnering music for local church use. Up to this point, this was rarely something that was done, because church music was revered as sacred and it was thought that any offering of that sacred worship shouldn't be criticised or evaluated. In fact, Kim wasn't as much a critic as he was an evaluator, helping people find what fit their church. He began posting his reviews on line in a email discussion forum, called the Worship List (website). After a while, when he helped launch Worshipmusic.com, he continued that same concept of trying to help other local church worship leaders and musicians find music that might be applicable to their situations. The reviews continued to be a part of that. Worshipmusic.com went on to grow a staff of writers that would add many more reviews to the collection they have, but Kim continued to participate as a key reviewer. This journal logs all the reviews Kim has written on worship music CDs and projects.
Kim's reviews of CD projects of worship music includes independents, label and main stream recordings, but all having to do with worship music.
Friday, February 22, 2013 at 11:26AM 
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.
christine d'clario, dclario, deeper, integrity, latin, music, praise, review, songs, spanish, worship, worship leader in CD Review, Music Review Wednesday, January 4, 2012 at 2:14PM 
[Don't miss the free download of the song "Holy Spirit Come" at the bottom of this review! Many thanks to Vineyard Music for providing this!]
The last two years have seen a beginning resurgence of stylistic creativity in the "worship music" genre. After 15 years of acoustic guitar based music in light pop/easy listening arrangements, we are beginning to see broadening pallet of music taste, styles and even languages bubbling up in the modern church music offerings.
One of the absolute best albums I have heard in the last couple years is the worship offering called "Miami Vineyard Live". The namesake church featured in this album provided a group of several worship leaders, musicians and songwriters that created a stellar sonic experience while remaining completely worshipful and well-fit within their local church context. Producer Mike O'Brien architects a gracious balance between flourishing artistic style and church-usable arrangements. Finding this balance is no small feat since the album features several worship leaders, and at least 4 different music stylistic ranges. It may seem inconceivable for a single project done in a "live night of worship" format to include songs that are clearly rendered in Latin, black gospel, island and funk stylings- but that is the task that the production team for "Miami Vineyard Live" took on. And they succeed with flying colors.
If merely creating a seamless collage of musical styles wasn't enough, "Miami Vineyard Live" also features a truly bilingual lyrical approach. With lyrics written and sang in both English and Spanish, this album becomes a motif for the many thousands of churches who are reaching out to bilingual communities across America and the world. Again, the album is the real thing- keeping songs sung in two languages authentic, engaging and poignant.
The project begins with the upbeat effervescence of "Holy Spirit Come", a brilliant bi-lingual song inviting Spirit of God to visit the church. It's engaging, uplifting and encouraging to be a part of the larger body of Christ, and this song has both the lyrical and language written to best draw the worshiper to a point of collective worship to God. A great call to worship song! The second song is "Gloria A Dios Solo" (with My Whole Heart) and features a continuation of the call to worship theme, but this time having a directive praise invitation calling everyone "with my whole heart I give you all my praise". Both of these songs feature a wonderful weaving of English and Spanish without sounding like a trite acquiescence to inclusion- no, instead this is a thoughtful and honest group of English and Spanish speaking people who have crafted music that ebbs and flows through both languages. Beautiful!
The third track is a re-envisioned version of Vineyard classic song "Lord Reign in Me", but redone in energetic Latin rhythms and sounds, with some rock overtures. It's a fresh and encouraging revision, which again sways between English and Spanish. I love it! And the track list continues with this same fresh approach. Track five is cry and response gospel song with all the energy of a full on hip swaying, hand clapping celebration. Fused with more rock overtures, "At All Times" is another song that will charge you up as you sing "I'm gonna bless the Lord!"
The mellow sounds of island music become the enlivened style of the Vineyard classic song "If You Say Go". But no sooner have you settled down into island subtle rhythms and you are back on your feet shuffling with the song "Everything to Me" and "Your Name Is Great". Pensive love ballads, rousing gospel call/response songs, and renewed versions of classics "Breathe" and "How Great Is Our God" all find their way in this album, not as obtuse appendages of music experimentation, but as enthralling, worshipful re-envisioning of classics put in proper musical context for the Miami Vineyard worship community.
I absolutely love this album. On a recent day trip my teenage son came with me. For hours we listened to "Miami Vineyard Live", replaying it over and over again. He was so impressed with both the music and its unique approach, he has written the church to find out more about their church, worship and work across bilingual communities in their area. He hopes to even go the the church (though) as an intern at some point to learn from them. All this sparked simply from listening to their music. Yes! It's that engaging, and that encouraging!
If you haven't had a chance to listen to "Miami Vineyard Live", I strongly encourage you to do so! You can listen to online samples of every song at the weblink below. But to do this album justice, make sure to go through all the samples of each song. A great new worship album with fresh ideas, great songs and a wonderful approach to bi-lingual worship. I love it! A full Editor's Choice Award goes to "Miami Vineyard Live." Well done!
Amazon Link: http://amzn.to/xNNKBM
Free Song Download from "Miami Vineyard Live"
|
|
|
*many thanks to the fine folks at Vineyard Worship for providing this.
Review by Kim Gentes