Kim Gentes

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

Part of my work requires me to listen to music. I mean a lot of music. Over the last 15 years, I've sampled literally thousands of projects- a sample is what I call a cursory initial scan to determine whether to take time for a full listen. Of those thousands, I've listened to several hundreds of CDs all the way through (hearing every track, completely). Of those several hundred, I've felt strongly enough to write about 90 reviews, of which I've highlighted just 22 as my "Editor's Choice" selections. Make that 23.

When I sat down this last week to hear this CD, I knew Chris Lizotte could write worship songs, and that he was a great voice with a solid acoustic guitar touch. But as I listened to "Power In Weakness" I found myself being emotionally moved. Song by song. Moved. Disarmed.

The longer I listened to the album the more I heard the prayers Chris was singing begin to rise up from of my heart, and I began joining with him. If nothing else, this album is about providing a place for others to join in the safety of surrendered peace with their voices echoing Lizotte's plaintiff prayers. And that is what I found myself doing the more I listened. Joining in. My shoulders feeling as though, for a moment, the weight of the world was lifted off. Not because my circumstances had changed, but because I had a prayer for a moment that could be mine.

Lizotte never expands the palette too far on this project. It is laid back acoustic, roots, with some bluesy tinge and the odd electric guitar dirtying up the texture. Spice that with some occasional hammond organ and gospel background vocals and you have the mixture that is Lizotte's "Power In Weakness". The arrangements and instrumentation sound like you are sitting in a living room, maybe with a few good friends, who are pouring out their hearts to God. Nothing to extensive, but nothing lacking.

This song is clearly not intended on being a collection of "Sunday morning" choruses, yet it still does contain a number of usable tunes for those looking for prayer-styled songs. Three songs stand out as possible candidates in that regard- "Peace In The Middle of the Storm", "I Love Your Ways" and "You Know My Name". My favorite song on this album was "You Know My Name", not only because it is the most singable and most memorable hook, but because it has the most engaging corporate nuance.

This album is full of honesty. Nothing extra. But it is beautiful, clear and unwilling to leave you without giving you several opportunities to surrender your stress filled day to the sense that God waits to hear your voice sing out in prayer to him. This is a unique and emotive album that gets an "Editor's Choice" not just for what it does with music, but for what it doesn't do as well. It doesn't overload itself with endless and varied arrangements, myriads of lyrical themes and layers of sounds. It stays as what the title declares- "Power In Weakness". Very well done.

For churches using WorshipTeam.com, several 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/Wklxkm

Review by Kim Gentes

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

Music is a strange thing. Like other technical art-based disciplines, perfection is not just about execution of the skill. Inside the skill of music lies the art. The art blossoms when the skill and structure of the notes, rhythms, fingers, voices and teamwork merge with such effortless integration that the message of the artist(s) rise above the din of music making. If we left it at that, the craft of music would stay an emotional and heartfelt, but ultimately, soulish venture. And so much music is today.

When one listens to the live recordings of a worship service with thoughtful music, well-crafted songs, and (dare I spend that overused phrase) authentic performances, the art of music rises beyond an appeal to emotion. When talking about worship music, what makes room for more than the emotive connection with music as an individual enjoyment is the cultivation of awareness- awareness of others and the Other.

Listening to "For The Sake of the World" from Bethel Music is a pulsing example of a vibrant worship experience and devotional offering of songs; one as intimately aware of God's transcendence as it is celebrating His immanence. When you listen to this new album there is "something" on it -or maybe in it- that takes great music and turns it into songs for nations.

The album begins with a subtle but inviting simmer- the call to worship song "To Our God". Rather than storming the gates of hell, and rousing the emotions of rally, this song performs the combined function of ancient introit, invoking God's welcome, calling all to join the prayer and declaring the intention of the congregation to move towards Him for no other reason than "We'll make His praise glorious, for His name is glorious". From ebb to ecstasy, track one welcomes us to another spectacular album from the folks behind Bethel Music.

Like their youth-focused counterparts on the Jesus Culture albums, this album isn't a self-centered show-case of homegrown tunes. And proving that point, track two is the song "Our Father", a cover of the song from the writers at International House of Prayer music group. Plaintiff, as expected, but powerful too!

Jeremy Riddle leads the third song, "This Is Amazing Grace", which is another blissful example of why Jeremy is writing some of the most heartfelt and widely sung new songs in the church today. I loved this new song, bringing the ancient rhetorical question to glorious life various takes on "who is like our God?", and answering it with poignant precision- "This is amazing grace, this is unfailing love..." 

"You Have Won Me" is a vivacious and powerful song, reminiscent of the 4-section tune patterns made popular in Hillsong United choruses (ABABCDBD- where C is a long musical interlude and D are anthemic bridges that could double for 2nd choruses on their own). Brian and Jenn Johnson share the largest portion of vocal point this project, and Brian applies his leadership here with great effect.

As the tracks play on, each is an excellent, diverse and compelling song. The 8th note hymn-styled "Who You Are" by Jenn Johnson, the slow building "Forgiven", the joy-graced power-praise of "In Your Light" with Jeremy Riddle, and the fast spinning "Freedom" are a steady and inviting ramp of rhythm and praise through the album's mid-section. By the time we reach "Closer" with Steffany Frizzell-Gretzinger we have come to the downward arch of tempo on this project and themes of intimacy and devotion are reaching the apex. On "This Is What You Do" (led by William Matthews), we pause briefly for what seems like a lighter moment, only to be pulled back into deeper groove and devotional themes once again.

Finally, the project is landed as it started, with Brian Johnson making the plaintiff prayers and invocations of a hungry people for a glorious God- calling out for revival flames in the hearts of the church to bring true love and passion to reach the world. This is apt not only as a theme for this album, but as a generalization of the Bethel Music as a whole- they are a revivalist church whose musical collective is singing the messages of their tribe. "For the Sake Of The World" is a song, and an album that reflects the best of the subtleties of passion and music that has burned in the tradition of revivalist musical liturgy across the ages of the evangelical church groups reflected by such as John and Charles Wesley, the Pentecostals of the early 20th century, the Jesus people of the 60's, the Vineyard churches of 80's and 90's and now Bethel Music and the Jesus Culture groups that emanate out of the Bethel church sphere. It is passionate, contrite, prayer laced, unafraid of intimate language, declaratively rich, exceptionally vibrant musical styling and maintains a balance of transcendence and immanence in its theological content. In short- God's glory and God's goodness.

I very much appreciate this album, its musical excellence and its lyrical, thematic and theological attentiveness to both the scriptures and the traditions of its tribal stream from which it comes. I highly recommend "For The Sake of the World". Check this album out- you won't be disappointed! If you are a worship leader in a church that is looking for songs laced with the prayers of revival tones and invocations of God's glory and nearness, you will have an entire cache of new songs to consider here- all worthwhile!

worshiping Him!

Review by Kim Gentes

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