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.
Monday, May 28, 2012 at 3:21PM 
Rita Springer is a name that has been synonymous with passionate worship. Like many of you, I've been enjoyed her songs, been inspired by her powerful vocals and encouraged by her living example as a leader and mentor to a generation of worship leaders. I first met Rita in 2001, and did a video interview with her on a tour she was doing with Worship Together newcomers (then) Tim Hughes and Chris Tomlin. Rita was then, and continues to be, a trailblazer who never settles for the "status quo". She was never content to live on your latest success or create a song to fit with the "formula" that might be popular.
Rita's latest album, called "The Playlist (Deluxe)", is a progression in that journey, taking Rita's music from its powerful and inspirational roots to a place of beautiful artistry and pop accessibility. This marks the first album for Rita with her new major label partner, Integrity Music. Instead of pressing Rita into a plastic mold of pop-Christian music, this new release has Rita playing some of her most innovative music to date (such as tracks In This Forever, Over I Go, and Made For This), while on the same album including some of her most worshipful, hook-laden grooves (such as tracks I Call You, You Are My Hallelujah, Come In, All I Need, You Are Good, Oh How You Love Me, Make You Happy, and gospel drenched This Blood).
"The Playlist (Deluxe)" is a triumph of the best passionate worship, glorious vocals, great lyric writing, and artistic production that we've ever heard from Rita Springer. I couldn't get through this album without lifting my arms, raising my voice and joining in worship. While this album is made with top level production, it remains 25 excellent tracks (11 studio and 14 live tracks) for consideration by local churches looking for great new songs. Rita is joined by a veritable "who's who" of producers who's collaborative efforts shine, rather than segment, this great album. Jason Halbert, David Ruis, Bobby Hartry, Jason Morant, Anthony Skinner, Daniel Bashta and Joel Khouri apply their considerable talents to this project, and each track brings out a slice of Rita's passion that fits the song. Additional to that, the "Deluxe" portion of this album is a live version of many songs, PLUS four of Rita's most amazing corporate worship favorites: Created to Worship, All I Need, You Are Good and Oh How You Love Me.
Listening through the album multiple times, I keep changing my favorite songs. Lyrically, I found myself resonating with the lead track Come In very deeply. Rhythmically, I loved In This Forever and its 6/8 feel. But four songs stand out profoundly for me. First, I Call You is an infectious song of praise with such devotional language I find myself reaching for my guitar and joining in every time the track starts. Second, This Blood is something of the feel of an old-time hymn, with gospel choir backdrops and the undeniable message of Christ's redemptive work made possible in the sacrifice of His Blood. Then, You Are Good is one of those songs that will ring around in your head and want you to put it on the set list for next Sunday every time you hear it- a great corporate worship song. But my absolute favorite song has to come down to Oh How You Love Me, which though it is one of Rita's classic worship songs is so powerful, so compelling and pulls such a deep musical groove that you can't do anything but absolutely love it and want to sing along to the Lord "Oh how You love me".
If you have never heard Rita Springer before, this album should be your first stop into one of the most passionate, gifted songwriter/worship leaders in the last 20 years. It's that good. I have no hesitation with naming The Playlist Deluxe a 2012 Editor's Choice Award recipient. It is a great album, really. Check it out.
NOTE: Below is a free download from our friends at Integrity Music, with both the MP3 and chord chat from the song "This Blood" from Rita's new album. Enjoy!
Amazon Link: http://amzn.to/KX4Nsj
Review by Kim Gentes
Free Song Download "This Blood" from Rita Springer
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album, award winning, cd, christian, music, playlist, praise, project, review, rrita springer, springer, worship in Awards, CD Review, Free Download, Music Review Monday, August 20, 2007 at 9:35AM 
Does anyone remember what a worship CD is? The last several years, it seemed like the "Christian Music" industry had missed the point. Endless collections, remixed cover songs and CCM bands trying to detour into worship leading (but quickly moving back to performance model when the "worship thing" dried up) showed a clear misunderstanding of the foundations of what worship and praise was all about.
If you have felt (like me) disappointed by several popular CDs in the last few years, welcome you back to what a worship project should be- "Playlist: Stand In Awe" from Vineyard Music. One of the original vanguards of resourcing the church in worship, Vineyard has stayed true to its roots with great songs, while making continued strides in progressive musical production and sound with its arrangements and musicianship. The essence of a great worship song is its ability to resonate with the heart-cry of the worshiper. The "Stand In Awe" project is a wonderful set of worship songs that resonate clearly with followers of Christ.
From the opening song, Vineyard brings some of its best young voices singing its best new songs, presented with its best studio production values. Normally known for its great live recordings, Vineyard Music has its second studio production (following up from last year's "Sweetly Broken") that marks a new era of excellence for them under producer Casey Corum. Add to Casey's great production some outsanding vocals by Jeremy Riddle, Steve Jones and Charlie Hines and stellar guitar work by veteran Glenn Pearce, the mix on this CD glistens under any audiophile's microscope.
But it all begins with great songs, and this CD is chock full of them! From the infectious layered sounds of "Saving Grace" (with a live orchestra backing! Wow!) to the anthemic offerings "Stand In Awe" and "God of All Glory", to the prayer praises of "As It Is In Heaven" and "Throne of Grace", to the poured out devotional of "With All My Heart", this project has a lot to contribute your local church. Track four, "Christ is Exalted", even includes a beautiful song of Christ's life, appropriate for Christmas worship, or any time of year. No doubt contend that the title track "Stand In Awe" and "God Of All Glory" (both sung by Jeremy Riddle) will garner considerable attention from both churches and radio play alike.
But for this reviewer, all the songs mentioned thus far are supporting cast for one of the best songs presented to the church in the last ten years- "All I Have". This amazing song provides a simple, but infectiously untiring sound track for unashamed worshipers the world ‘round. To date, I have listened to this CD about 35-40 times. And yet, as I drove to work this morning, I still wept as I worshipped along with "All I Have" with the chorus echoing some of these lyrics:
"Jesus, all I have is You,
You're the hope I'm holding to...
As the heavens hold the skies,
It's Your hand that holds my life"
After receiving an advanced copy of this project just weeks ago, our church already has three of these songs in its repertoire ("Throne of Grace", "Stand In Awe" and "All I Have")! But of those songs, none has gripped people more profoundly than my new favorite song "All I Have". I am sure we will see this song redone by other CCM and worship artists, but here is your first chance to hear it and use it in your local church. A truly great offering!
In an era when music purchasers scarcely think it wise to buy an entire CD, Vineyard's new "Playlist: Stand In Awe" project is well worth it. A wise investment, providing both an amazing suite of songs and PDF chord and lyric charts to help local churches put the songs to immediate use.
Product Link Playlist: Stand in Awe / Vineyard Music
Review by Kim Anthony Gentes
cd, christian, glenn pearce, jeremy riddle, playlist, review, sheri carr, sheri keller, stand in awe, steve jones, vineyard, worship in CD Review 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