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.
Sunday, August 19, 2007 at 3:57PM "You can have Your way
You can have Your way
You can have Your way... "
...this is the naturally supernatural chant that serves as the introit to bring in the lyrical and musical masterpiece that is "Dwell", the new release from Vineyard Music USA. "Dwell" as a musical offering is nothing short of phenomenal, leaving me at a loss to find an album I've liked more in the last 5 years. We will come back to examining the song content, but before that, we have to talk seriously about resourcing the church in worship. In the last several years, I have listened to literally hundreds of praise and worship CDs. A couple of years ago I began to develop a secret "wish list" of what I would consider the "perfect" way to put together a worship project and present it for use to the body of Christ in a music release. Here is that list:
This list came out of seeing so many projects out there, often lacking in some way from having gone "half-way" with any one of the important items mentioned. I am delighted to say that "Dwell" is the first album I have found that to tackle that complete list-and it achieves amazing results.
The intro song and title track, Dwell, is a lyrical epiphany of prayer and scripture woven onto a gorgeous tapestry of instrumentation and enthralling 6/8 rhythm. It reminds us, as all great songs do, that the most evocative renderings of the heart come in simple, succinct, well spoken truths. I can scarcely go a day when these words don't ring in my thoughts:
"Dwell in the midst of us
Come and dwell in this place
Dwell in the midst of us
Come and have Your way"
The remaining two sections of the song are even more poignant, but I will leave them for you to discover (to your delight). I could rant on about this song, but I am convinced that simply allowing you to listen to this song (which you can do online) will be plenty enough to convince you. Plus, the great songs on this album begin with Dwell, and run through nearly every selection included on this project. From Dwell to the amazing upbeat favorite More Than Ever, to the wonderful ballad So In Need, and on through, no "filler" songs made it on this album. To understand what has happened with Vineyard Music USA on this recording, I talked to producer Casey Corum and found that they took a full 2 and a half years collecting the best songs (out of many hundreds) and letting this album grow into the offering that it is today. In my opinion, this is the best collection of new Vineyard songs on a single album since the 1987 release of Glory. If the new direction of Vineyard Music USA is to wait and release an album every 2 years, with this kind of quality, I applaud them! It will take me over a year to introduce my congregation to all the great songs I want to use from off of this CD, anyways!
For just a brief moment, I have to mention the amazing musicianship on this CD. You can read the liner notes for yourself, but consider for a moment that this CD uses the best musicians connected with Vineyard Music from around the world. This serves up a truly great album in a way that it will be listened to again and again to anyone who lends an ear.
The coup de grace for the Dwell project doesn't actually come from the audio CD itself. Even though the CD includes chord charts, lyric masters on a CD-ROM format, the real resourcing is placed on to the 6 Gigabyte monstrosity of a DVD that they have called a "Dwell Toolbox". It might be more aptly titled, the "Dwell Toolshed" or the "Dwell Home-Improvement Super Store of Worship Resources", but I suppose that doesn't exactly roll off the tongue like "Dwell Toolbox". Let me explain! The DVD comes FREE with the album when you buy the CD, and this may come off as good and bad. Good, because you get resources that are the best I have seen for any worship project released ever. Bad, because I worry that most people will think that anything free must not be worth selling on its own. But that would absolutely not be the case with the Dwell Toolbox DVD. Here is what the toolbox contains:
The truth is, Vineyard could have packaged this whole project into 3 separate products- audio CD, concert DVD and musicians toolbox DVD. But they chose to put it all together into one package and sell it as part of the regular CD offering. This is not only an amazing service to the body of Christ, but it is done with an amazing album.
I would have given the Dwell audio CD alone an Editor's Choice award, but with the inclusion of the incredible DVD toolbox, I am at a loss as to how to more greatly honor this project. The only thing not included in this massive data overload of CD/CD-ROM/DVD bliss is full piano/vocal/guitar scored sheet music, but alas they have taken care of that on a separate songbook (which even includes guitar tab!).
How else can I say it- regardless of who you are you should seriously consider the amazing Dwell album from Vineyard Music USA. If you are still a skeptic, listen to the audio of this album online and you will hear what I mean. Buy the project and watch the DVD, and you will see what I mean!
Product Link Dwell
Selah
Kim Anthony Gentes
Friday, August 17, 2007 at 6:39PM 
Who do you think made the follow two statements? A church pastor? An evangelist?
'It's far too easy to throw bread from a distance, and to have it in no way engaging your heart.'
'I think the Lord has been challenging us to... get involved with the poor and that it be a real and honest and open expression of who we are as a church.'(taken from the interview with Eogan Heaslip)
Well, the speaker is the young worship leader who brings us the latest Hosanna Integrity project, 'Mercy'. Eogan Heaslip expresses with passion the kind of heart and ministry that is the center of an outreach oriented church, called CORE in Dublin Ireland. Eogan (pronounced 'Owen') uses that same passion from the Lord to not only fuel an ongoing pursuit to reaching his local community, but to write music and lead worship. And fortunately for us, this is a passion worth bringing to the nations, with this new album, 'Mercy'.
As you can tell, I am particularily impressed with the heart and ministry behind this music. Additional to that, however, is some truly great music. As the CD perculates through the first song, the sounds of pop-rock intersect with acoustic guitar into a swell that welcomes the listener to nod their head and worship in beckon prayer and praise. 'All I Want To Do' is a good selection for the opening track. It's combination of progressive programmed rhythm and guitar-laced instrumentation a beckoning musical call. Not driven, but with much more edge and 'reality' than a pop-radio song the music is perfect for a group of longing hearts to sing out:
'All I want to do is to be close to You,
And all I want to say is thank You for the way,
You love me, You love me.'
Then in declaration, the chorus opens up into proclamation with saying 'You are faithful, to all that you have promised...' Simple, but intruiging, this is excellent as a call to worship song, bringing us together to declare, as one Body, our intention of drawing towards Christ in thanks for His love and faithfulness.
Flowing immediately into the next song, 'All That Matters' continues with the singular devotion of lyric and focus by stating, 'You are all that matters, all that satisfies, all that gives me life'. This upbeat song has a fun tempo along with a bass line that is reminiscient of Brian Doerksen's 'Light the Fire Again'. But the lyric content again is penetrating, saying 'Lord my life is in your hands, you fasion me, you form me. Fulfill your purpose and your plan.' Line after line speaks in surrender, bowing the heart low in submission to Christ's will. Once again, this song is singable and joyfully playable in most worship/praise band settings.
The instrumentation and arrangements simplify and breathe with 'Your Love', a song which is a weave of thankful and love-themed threads. For most of the songs on this album, the writer stays succint and consistent. Largely full of thanks and declaration of God's character, the album majors on lyrics talking about God's faithfulness, love, and (yes) mercy! Arrangements are relatively straightforward, lending opportuntity for swift congregational adoption into church services. As the album rises and falls in tempo and rhythms, the texture of Eogan's voice urges us on, an interesting combination of dry and breathy tones, but with grit enough to call you to attention. And while worship never stops on this album, listening to Heaslip's voice is certainly intruiging. By the sixth track, the feel mellows considerably and the sounds, rhythms and lyrics of an old Kevin Prosch song (Break Our Hearts) are blended as the introduction to a timely rendition of O Come Let Us Adore Him. The singing and spontaneous words of praise and humility echoing from the congregation are retained in this track especially, and it fits beautifully. If you aren't in crumbling posture of humility and abandon along with the lyrics and music of this CD by this point, you might want to check your pulse.
The next song drives straight into heart cry of Heaslip's constant prayer in this project for 'True Intimacy'. Still with bubbling programmed rhythm, percussion and light acoustical arrangements, this song builds and ebs through an honest prayer language of simple devotion to Christ, declaring 'You're all I am longing for'. One other thing that happens a number of times on this CD is a wonderful reminder of the power of congregation refrains sung a capella. Just beautiful! The songs roll on, through pop-rock, brit-rock and anthem sounds and even back to an acoustic guitar and keyboard offering with Heaslip joining label-mate Brian Doerksen singing the song 'The Father's Love'. Wonderful! The album concludes with the title track 'Lord Have Mercy' and the popular Tim Hughes song 'Here I Am To Worship'.
To get a good sense of the CD, I encourage you to check out the audio clips online (there are clips for every song!). After listening to those, hearing Eogan's heart on the online video, and reading the above text transcript of more Q&A with Eogan, I think you will be ready to check out this CD seriously. I liked it enough to give it an Editor's Choice Award, because of the easily adoptable songs, strong lyrical messages of thankfulness and Scripture-themed declarations of God's character, and very fine musical accomplishments and arrangements on this CD. I pray this passion and and music ignites across the earth in ministry as poignant as what the Lord is doing in CORE church and with Eogan Heaslip.
Product Link Mercy - Eoghan Heaslip
Review by
Kim Gentes
Friday, August 17, 2007 at 6:32PM 
A single voice echoes through the halls of an historic church in Dublin, Ireland. Shortly, the voice of that young chorister joins not just a band on a worship recording, but the choir of human history singing an anthem whose message is as old as Abraham, but as timeless as the long awaited return of Christ.
The LORD had said to Abram, 'Leave your country, your people and your father's household and go to the land I will show you. I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing.'
Ever since the call of Abram back in Genesis 12, the challenge to all of us has been to turn our attention to the greatness of God, especially in light of the discouragement of the earthly conditions that surround us. As the title track 'You Shine' plays on, the lyrics synthesize this struggle perfectly, saying:
In this world we will have trouble
But You have overcome the world
You shine brighter than the brightest star...
You shine, filling us with courage and strength
To follow You
Welcome to the the first track of the new worship project 'You Shine', from Brian Doerksen and Integrity Hosanna Music.
In keeping with his modus operandi, Doerksen places his most significant new song offering right on the first track, and in that sense, he also sets the tone for the album. For this album is not just about singing joyful answers (though it certainly does that)- it is about the struggle, the questions, and, yes, the joy of living in the resting place of God's love and strength. For those not familiar with him, Brian Doerksen is a worship leader from the Vineyard tradition, having written dozens of tremendous songs (including Refiner's Fire, Light the Fire Again, and many others) and recorded on over a dozen albums.
This spectacular new album, 'You Shine', palettes a wonderful song spectrum, adding seven newly-written Doerksen songs, four modern classics from his Vineyard repetiore, and a redone version of the church hymn 'It Is Well'.
Certainly the title track is the song which will gain huge acceptance in the global church, through this recording. But I would strongly encourage you to set aside an afternoon or evening and take the journey archived for us on this recording. As the power of the chorus drives home the hopeful message of 'You Shine', the listener is left perfectly at the doorstep of praise for the second song, 'Hallelujah (Your Love is Amazing)'. This popped-up version of the already classic UK Vineyard birthed song will carry your heart through the lyrics with musical bliss running through a path of crisp, exciting electric guitar, celtic bridges with violins, flutes and whistles, and a drum-framed acepella chorus. For the audiophiles, hearing these first two songs will make it clear that there is a level of excellence in this album that places the production on a whole other strata for Brian and his creative crew (who are the some of the same amazing musicians he has been recording with for years).
It is hard to deny the amazing timeliness of these songs. The third song, 'I Am Convinced', speaks succinctly to God's response to the deep sense of fear that has been imbedding North America around this one year anniversary of 9/11. It says
Violence or danger
Hunger or shame
Won't separate us
From the love of God
The song answers wonderfully drawing from the Corinthian text:
So high so wide so measureless, filling eternity
So strong so deep so intimate
Encircling mystery
That nothing can take Your love from me
The next few songs walk through Gaelic prayers with 'You Surround Me', the Vineyard classics with 'Faithful One', and the deeply personal struggles of life with 'Your Faithfulness'. I won't talk through all the great songs on this album, but would very strongly encourage you to spend time listening and praise and worshipping along with this album. You should especially highlight the following songs when searching for materials usable in your local church, and with your music and worship teams: 'You Shine', 'Hallelujah', 'I Am Convinced', 'Faithful One', 'Hope of the Nations', 'I Lift My Eyes Up', 'With All My Affection' and a lyrically updated version of 'Come Now is the Time to Worship' (includes new second chorus).
You will love this new recording from Brian Doerksen, and will find it an ample archive of excellent new songs for your local church. Thankfully, Integrity's Hosanna music brand has made this a useful church resource, by making available accompanying songbook and split tracks products as well. From the album liner notes and song stories, the only complaint I would have is a question as to why this project didn't also produce an accompanying VHS/DVD video of the live night of worship. Some of the moments and prayers were so poignant, I am sure it would have been a wonderful experience to share.
And while you will think deeply about the pains and struggles of life as you hear some of the lyrics of these songs, the overwhelming theme of God's powerful hope and love will surge into the forefront of your thoughts as you sing and bless the Lord with the album 'You Shine'. In many ways, Brian Doerksen is relaunching the Hosanna brand for Integrity with this new album, bringing to it sounds and raw passion that echo the heartbeats of so much of the worldwide church.
Don't pass by this new project, or by the great songs it gathers for us. You won't be dissappointed. In keeping with my lauds for this project, I am very happy to give this project our Editor's Choice Award. The great thing is, you don't have to take my word for it, you can check out the RealAudio sound clips for yourself.
Product Link You Shine - Brian Doerksen
Blessings in the Hope of Israel,
Review by Kim Gentes
P.S. Musicians and worship leaders, don't forget to check out the songbook and/or split track resources so you can put these songs to use in your local church
Friday, August 17, 2007 at 5:38PM 
Raw & unashamed - this is the sound of "Burn Service" CD, the new release of youth oriented worship from Vineyard! In an earlier review of a recent Vineyard CD ("It's All About Jesus"), I referred to a new sound in Vineyard Music that is starting to hit stride with truly "new" and truly "fresh" music. And not "new & fresh" at the expense of truly God-centric worship! In "Hungry" (from UK/B. Doerksen) the sound was more progressive rock, here the sound/style is Americana, country-fied rock. The point is that the style has less to do with the "freshness" than the authenticity of the music, the context and songwriting.
You can check out the sound clips at Vineyard's site here!
One of the signs of revival in church history has been repentance. The Burn Service CD is a venture into musical repentance and prayer. It is this state of heart that has typified the music of the modern day flames of revival. While I absolutely love the sound of this CD musically, what gets you "there" for the Burn CD is the abandon of "self" posed in these song lyrics. Ryan Delmore, Darren Clarke & Jesse Lane lead these songs with uncommon passion. It is clear right from the start that this CD holds nothing back, and pretends nothing! People praying to God in song; speaking their weaknesses; crying out for God's holiness to truly consume and change them. These folks are "tired of lukewarm living" and sing for God to "set me on fire"- the text and title of the opening cut.
"Refreshing" would be too subtle a word to describe this CD. The powerful themes, driving guitar, and abandon vocals make this whole CD more like "gut-wrenching" (and I mean that is a good way). Have you ever had a time when repentance was so deep on your heart that you just wept or called out or repented until your soul was empty? Have you ever read the Psalms and contemplated how the writers were really feeling in penning those songs? Now you are seeing the kind of raw passion I am talking about. Somehow, Vineyard managed to capture the essence of intensity that was going on with this time worship. It is awesome!
In listening to a CD for review, I tend to find myself getting drawn into the technical and musical components of a recording, in order to provide a complete review. I found it almost impossible to keep my mind on "evaluating" this CD - there was just too much worship going on! For those willing, this project rushes you into the presence of God in a firestorm of music, scripture-based lyrical themes and passionate prayer. Don't be fooled by imitations- this is the real thing! With the haunting texture of vocals by Delmore and Lane especially, the guitar powered liturgy of the Burn Service is very inviting. This CD gives you a look into the music and hearts of the 20-something generation of today.
Starting with "Set Me On Fire", the worship band lays their hearts out on the table for God. Moving to the second song, Jesse Lane leads an investigation into our lives as "New Creation"s, using 2 Corinthians 5:17 and Galatians 2:20 as underpinnings for this song. The driving groove and repeating 4 powerchord progression makes this an excellent rock contribution. On the topic of musical style, you will notice this CD slips into a country-esqe songs with "Real Love", "I Will Praise You", and "Your Love Reaches Me". "Real Love" is a simple ballad of the search for God's real love. The fourth song, "Father", re-iterates the cry of prayer that these worship leaders keep coming back to. Like "Set Me On Fire", "Father" restates that we truly need God in light of our emptiness. Like many of these songs on this CD, this is a song worth of air play on CCM radio. Unique and edgy, yet simple and with a singable "hook", this is very good material, even at an entertainment level (though, clearly that is not the intention of this music). In my opinion, Vineyard Music should look at promoting this CD to CCM/Alt radio, if they haven't already done that- but more on that topic at the end of the review.
My favorite cut from this entire album comes up next, with "Shepherd". This song is a great, singable, rock anthem, once again re-visiting the theme of trading our weakness for God's strength and coming up with the conclusion that simply-
"You are my Shepherd, and I will follow You,
I abandon my will and yield to Yours"
Taking lyrical content of the sixth track, "I Will Praise You", returns to the book Psalms, with chapter 42 (verse 5) outlining the lyrics source for this song. Another very singable, usable song for worship. The next song, "Let It Come" has a sound that is about as late-60's/early 70's as I have ever heard on a Vineyard album. Another retro sound is rekindled a little in the background vocals of track 9 ,"Friend". The album moves on through "All My Days" and "Surely Goodness and Mercy", once again returning the to Psalms for content, while keeping the beat strong and the guitar chords crunching along to sing to. Very nice, and you don't feel like the album gets stuck on a "blah" song anywhere along the way. The CD finishes with a wonderful love song, "I Love Your Presence". I really liked this song, ambient in the verse, but building into a chorus of thankfulness that gets more and more contagious. Excellent worship material here.
As you can tell, this CD comes with my highest recommendation- the "Editor's Choice" award. Even so, there are some things this project doesn't come with- and that worries me some. First, this project is put out to document Vineyard music as it is being employed in worship throughout their churches. So you might think that Vineyard would encourage the use of the materials through the publication of the printed music for this great project- but you would be wrong. With a great project and no printed music, the songs (though loved) may well go unused in just the contexts they would likely most useful- churches! My hope is that Vineyard puts forward the effort to print an accompanying songbook. The second thing this project does not come with is promotion. I looked through several trade magazines and found no mention of the Burn Service CD, except on a "shared" ad with 4 albums and another music label. I found no strong promotion of it from the distributors either. I also contacted Vineyard Music to ask them what their plans were for this series "Y-Worship", hoping to hear some good news about this bold new direction that Vineyard was taking. Carla Turner, Manager of Media Relations for Vineyard Music, said that "Y-Worship" is the "imprint" under which Vineyard will target future youth oriented projects coming out of the Vineyard movement. According to Carla, there are tentative plans for future releases under the "Y-Worship" brand. With no specific projects already in production, one hopes this is not a "one-time" CD for the "Y-Worship" series from Vineyard.
All that said, Burn Service is a great product from Vineyard. Incredibly useful in worship, yet their most progressive work to date. This CD, along with "It's All About Jesus", and the two UK releases from Brian Doerksen ("Winds of Worship #12" and "Hungry") have loaded my church (and many others) with a excellent cache of great new songs.
Product Link The Burn Service - Vineyard Music
blessings
Kim G.
The Burn Service, album, burn service, cd, darren clarke, jesse lane, live, project, review, ryan delmore, vineyard music, worship in Awards, CD Review, Music Review Friday, August 17, 2007 at 5:34PM 
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.