Music Reviews (by Kim Gentes)
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.
Entries in prayer (2)
Show Me The Way To Your Heart - single (Review by Kim Gentes)
Friday, January 21, 2011 at 1:32AM 
When we do reviews, it is normally on a full album project, or resource. Today, however, I wanted to share something that is just a single song resource. Normally a single isn't something I investigate simply because of the time and work it takes to do a review. This song, however, caught my attention instantly when I heard it, so I investigated further.
The song "Show Me The Way To Your Heart" is a new single just releasing from ION Records. You can find it on their front page at http://ionworship.org/ . The song is a captivating call both to us and God. To us because it invites us into the prayer with its writers to seek God's heart and call on him even as we make our journey towards him. A call to God in that the song itself is a prayer "show me the way to Your heart".
The song is presented crisp, and clear, with the vocals of veteran worship leader Brian Doerksen executing his trademark pensive call and response styling. The musical backdrop is provided by Doerksen's own band including the great rhythms of Calum Rees and Peter Davyduck (drums and fretless bass), with Brian Theissen on electric guitar adding melodic hook and with a meaty center of volume through the instrumental segment.
Songwriters Adam Villiers and Pete Beaumont give us lyrics that are as easy to sing as they are to listen to, and I found myself joining in almost instantly. In fact, the reason I am writing this review is because the song quickly became my prayer for the hours and days that followed the first listen. Wonderfully infectious, the melody and theme of this song deserves a listen from any church which is looking for exceptional songs of longing that are perfect as congregational prayer-songs. As a worship leader, I have already begun to learn the song and practice it for the next opportunity I have to introduce a new song.
I'd encourage you to listen to it as well and see if it doesn't open your heart and lift you along with its prayerful melodies and lyrics. The song is available from ION directly at http://ionworship.org/ . For the price of a single song, plus a free chord chart included, you can hardly go wrong. An excellent resource!
New Bonus Video - "Show Me The Way To Your Heart" - songwriter Adam Villiers and worship leader Brian Doerksen demonstrate the song and show how to play it.
Show us the way to Your heart. Yes, Lord!
In Him,
Kim Gentes
Selah 2 - Like Men Who Dreamed - Heather Clark (2002)
Friday, August 17, 2007 at 6:37PM 
Over the years, reading and growing in the words of life given to us from the Scripture has been a combination of desire, delight and duty. Like many people, I am sure, enjoying the encouragement of the bible text is not a constant level of delight. Sometimes we continue in the word, simply because we are instructed by the Lord and the Bible itself to do so. Eventually, our duty turns to desire and then delight.
Along the way through that ongoing progression of our devotional lives, it is encouraging to have inspiration from the Lord come through other sources. One such source is scripture in music. If we were to trace the history of modern day Christian music (not just worship music, but even contemporary Christian music- CCM) we would find much of its origins in small publishing company called 'Scripture In Song'. From that company in the late 60's/early 70's (and other like sources) grew much of what we have today in praise and worship. There was a reason for the potency and application of those songs-- they allowed the authentic follower of Christ to draw in the God-breathed words of Scripture through their minds and emotions-- through words and music. It is that same strength that Heather Clark draws on to continue the 'Praying the Bible' series of projects with her latest CD 'Selah 2 - Like Men Who Dreamed'.
Using the Psalms as the base, she adds her signature vocals and growing musical palette to develop melody and vibe to a number of songs of the Psalms. It is suprising to me that this powerful combination seems somewhat lacking as a general rule through most praise and worship projects. But this CD certainly adds a wonderful example for all of us byt taking good music and melody writing skills and partnering them to the skill of the lyric writers in the Psalms.
You will find these not only resourceful as praise and worship materials, but you will be reciting Scripture joyfuly, as these infectious melodies work their way into your mind and heart.
What is great is that you can check out a number of the songs online by listening to some audio samples yourself. I think you will find, as I did, that scripture in song is alive and well, and has some heart and passion! See the above sound clips to hear it yourself!
Product Link Selah 2 - Like Men Who Dreamed
Selah!
Kim Gentes