Kim Gentes

Praise Adonai! What a way to start this incredible album. I love the journey that this new project, from Integrity Music, takes. One of the unique things about this album is that it is the first album in a very long time (perhaps since 'Father's House' from Brian Doerksen) that seriously considers the listener in the song sequence, laying out a well developed progression of intimacy, drawing us into the courts of praise and worship of our God. But this opening cut is far too overwhelming to worry about the rest of the album... so, let's 'Praise Adonai!'

The writing talents of Paul Baloche come to us in the ebb and flow of the country/rock instrumentation that is this well crafted call to worship in 'Praise Adonai'. Inquiring of us with the rhetorical phrase 'who is like Him', we see Jesus as:

The Lion and the Lamb
Seated on the throne
Mountains bow down
Every ocean roars
To the Lord of Hosts

Like the Psalms and Proverbs, Baloche proclaims the unchangeable paradox of God's character (the Lion and the Lamb), pushing us into the view from the heavens. Then, as he surveys the kingdom from this view (Seated on the throne), we see such power, in profound simplicity of word, that our hearts and voices launch unstoppably into the chorus, 'Praise Adonai'. Giving away any more of the lyrics would simply script the entire song for you, since it is as terse as it is powerful. The unfortunate thing about this song is that it has such appeal it threatens to keep many a CD player on long term loop, keeping the listener away from the other gems of this well produced studio project.

Moving on to the second and third songs, Paul Baloche teams up with Ed Kerr to pen some upbeat songs of great praise expression. These songs connect musically and lyrically. The lyrical connection is made in that both songs detail a modern day chorus for Psalm 47, in which we see God ascending amidst the shouts of people and sounds of music.

And if God is indeed enthroned in our praises, then the delight of His presence being made manifest in our times of celebration are made all the more evident through 'I Love To Be In Your Presence', and 'Sing Out'. Both these are earlier works for Baloche, and they get a well deserved update in production with these tracks.

Though this project is a tribute of sorts to Baloche's prolific songwriting, it could have just as easily been a thematic album, showing how an extended worship and praise time can be woven into a thoughtful trek of devotion and exaltation to our God.

Entering into 'Falling', 80's fans will recognize a page from the softer musical side of the sound of 'the Police'. Another collaboration, this song is co-written with UK writer Brenton Brown, whose contributions have been on such noted albums as Vineyard's 'Winds of Worship 12- Live from London' and 'Hungry'. My guess is that 'Falling' was something of an experiment, but instead of flopping into dead CD space, this song 'Falls' effortlessly into the ears of God, as genuine adoration expressed in love ballad style. Very nice! When we come to the song 'Above All', the theme is pure adoration, where simple arrangements replace guitars and drums with piano sounds and string backgrounds. It is simple, and powerful.

The trek of well-worn songs hits full stride with 'Revival Fire Fall'. The CD cover copy says this is 'funky, folksy', but I call it just intense! Not since the searing fiddle backdrops in 'Praise Adonai' has our tour taken us to such powerful undertones (and oh, btw, just thinking about 'Praise Adonai' again, should be enough to make you turn back to it for another listen). The contrast, however, is that while 'Praise Adonai' creates its energy through subtlety and understatement, 'Revival Fire Fall' simply pummels you with burning desire to participate in seeing God's revival fire fall!

I am sure you are wondering why I don't discuss the title track of this project, but it hardly seemed like much more could be said about Open The Eyes of My Heart, that the church at large has not already said. With the worldwide acceptance of that song, you hardly need the 3 cuts of it on the CD, though you certainly won't find it unlikable.

There is much more to this CD, but without ranting on each of the considerably exceptional songs on this project, I want to get right to my favorite song of this great collection- 'Celebrate the Lord of Love'! Like 'Praise Adonai', this song builds its arrangements using superb dynamics to propel you into abandon. By the time this song is vamping into the key change, you are lifting up your praise with outstretched arms and dancing around your kitchen, I guarantee it! Don't miss this song, or you will miss my #1 reason for playing this CD for hours on end in my CD ROM drive.

There will definitely be something everyone will like about this CD, but I guarantee you that a listen through the whole thing will be time in heavenly praise. The songs, the production, and the track sequence make this an easy selection for my Editor's Choice Award.

Product Link Open The Eyes Of My Heart - Paul Baloche

Enjoy! Kim Gentes

Crisp, clear and radiant--these are the inviting rhythms of Roger Hodges' best worship project to date, 'Big Big God'. Are you thinking of what it would sound like to have pristine sound production, knitted with completely rapturous melodies, all held together with incredible grit through honest vocals? Stop thinking, start worshiping--with 'Big Big God'!

Anyone who may have had the opportunity to worship in a meeting with Roger Hodges knows his approach is a one-way rocket to the courts of God. I have to confess something--I used to be of the opinion that truly great albums and songs would 'float' to the top, get picked up by the majors (labels), and make it to the masses. After the last two-and-a-half years of listening to stacks and stacks of praise & worship CDs, this just isn't reality anymore.

The rise of the 'indie' (independent) praise and worship projects has become a legitimate source of TOP quality resource and expression in that genre's music market. Sure there is a lot of 'fluff' put out by indies, but the truly great stuff is not only competing with the big labels, they are setting the pace in creative and passionate musical prayers and devotion. After indie projects like Langley Vineyard's 'the Well', Rita Springer's 'Created To Worship', and WaterDeep's 'Enter The Worship Circle', the water is gathering for this emerging stream of praise to become a torrent of the river of God.

And now you can add to that flow of God's praise, the rhythmic current of 'Big Big God'!

This CD belongs in that category of top notch projects. 'Big Big God' begins its spin in your CD-ROM with 'You Are,' a power-ballad that throws out the rules and rushes straight to God, speaking passionately to the Father. You will fall to your feet in surrender to Him, as you sing out:

And You are the air I breathe
And You are the song I sing
And You are redeeming love
I trust in You alone

You will be tempted to lock on to this first song and let the [repeat] function hold you here for hours! But that, my friend, would be a big, big mistake. The six minutes this track plays for will seem far too short to anyone who finds themselves on the floor, pouring out the heart to the Father.

Moving on to the next song, Roger calls us to 'rise up' in the military/march-girded rhythms of Psalm 33. I really enjoyed this song, as the music and Hodges' voice invites us to stand in the light of God.

But the journey has just begun, and as the light, crisp strum of the acoustic guitar begins to swell into the title track song, you are swept back into a personal conversation with God. Thankfulness expressed across the breadth of God's character is a constant staple to this great album, which is a well balanced feast of lyrical devotion. Of course, there is a reason 'Big Big God' is the title track to this project--the song is as infectious as it is thoughtful. But if you thought this was just another well-scripted, studio produced session of nice songs. well, by this third song you have begun to realize this is much more. In 'Big Big God', Hodges begins his adding of joyful, creative and honest worship and praise 'spontaneous' moments. And apparently, once he gets started, he can't hold it back.

Throughout the rest of the album, Hodges makes no apologies for his obvious attack of enjoyment that lifts this album into a real praise and worship experience. The joy keeps on going in the boisterous 'You Are Faithful', where this rocket launches into some very nice musical placements by electric guitar power-man Lincoln Brewster.

You can't put much better talent on an album, and those haven't already heard Brewster's work on his self-titled debut (from Integrity Music's youth worship label Vertical Music) will be very pleasantly surprised. After a brief settling back, with Kevin Prosch-esque 'The Son Is Rising', the trip continues with 'The Lamb has Overcome'. This has the same straight-ahead lyrical and progression stylings as 'You Are', but this time points us to the returning of Jesus.

Just when you think you have things all figured out, 'All that I Want' is slight step off the trail, but most welcomed. This song provides good style contrast, and again with deeply heartfelt lyrics sung with actual passion (wow! Imagine that!). By this time you are pretty convinced that Roger Hodges is the real item--an actual worshiper who recorded what he actually would do in a live worship service setting.

This time comes to an intimate juncture with just voice and acoustic guitar (and a touch of oboe or synth patch) laying out the song 'You've Captured My Heart'. This intimate worship ballad is perfect, no other words for it. On the final cut, every instrument is pulled back except piano. Then, Hodges just lets it all come out- passionate prayer, covenant commitment, and loving thankfulness, with a beautiful backdrop of sensitive piano playing.

Quite obviously, this project earns our highest commendation here at WorshipMusic.com, the Editor's Choice Award. I actually struggled to find something wrong with this CD, listening to it for 5 continuous hours (a record for me with any CD). Maybe it was because the musicianship was impeccable. Maybe because the vocals are just everything you ever wanted to say to the Lord. Or, maybe it's because you can't help but get caught up in the praise and worship with this album--I am not sure of the reason, but this project is flat out excellent. Praise God!

Product Link Big Big God - Roger Hodges

Review by Kim Gentes

A while back, I was spending a little time listening to demos from various music companies and individuals.. doing that isn't the heavenly experience you might expect.. so many CDs, so little real worship, so many cliche songs.. then something ballistic happened- I listened to an incredible CD by a new group called "Sonic Flood".

It is just awesome! It has many songs I already knew, from Andy Parks' "In The Secret", to Scott Underwoods' "Holiness", to a couple of Martin Smith tunes. But these are not renditions for the faint of heart-- only groovin' worshipers will handle some of the arrangements of these songs. For those who already know and like Sonic Flood, or just love worship and long for a musical sound that is alot more edgy-- you must check this project out!

Now, here is the coolest thing about this album- it has a simple, yet worshipful (as are all of the cuts) version of Matt Redmans "Heart Of Worship". And that is the beauty and power of this CD- Sonic Flood didn't take themselves so seriously that they had to pummel us with every new song written by "sonic flood". Instead, they put their very considerable musical talents to bear on some already very well received worship songs being used by the Body of Christ. If I had to select a CD in the category of song selection, this project would be at the top. The only thing missing from this great experience? I would love hear this group live!!

oh ya- I almost forgot... some the songs are titled differently on the cover than you may know them as (IE. "In The Secret" is called "I Want To Know You", "Heart of Worship" is entitled "When the Music Fades"). Just a warning in case you look at the released CD and wonder where all those songs are that I told you about..

Product Link Sonicflood

Review by Kim Gentes

Refreshing, enthralling, and God-ward! That is the rapturous sounds of "Draw Near To Me", the independently released devotional music project from Scott Brenner. The CD is sub-titled "Intimate, devotional worship for your quiet time". This is the perfect by-line description of this project.

The lyrical content of the project is prayerful (I Want To Be Holy), scripture themes (Changed by The Mere Reflection), and sometimes direct scripture quotes (O God You Are My God). Simplicity is woven into these lyrics, giving the church gifts of excellent songs for devotion.

The purity and integrity of Scott's love for Christ comes through in his voice and music, as though you are sitting in a room with him and everyone is lifting up Jesus. Melodic and rich, the CD takes a trek of invitation (Longing for the Day) to prayer (O God You Are My God/ Psalm 63) to intimacy (In Silence I Wait) and finally thankfulness (Thank You Lord).

This CD is notably soft music, laying the heart and soul of Scott's prayer's before God with care and kindness. It isn't rushed, and it isn't loud- it is intimate, and it is soft. This CD certainly reminds me of his earlier work on the Vineyard project "Before You Now" (second half of that project). Yet, this project is even more pensive, more intimate.

The thing that made me fall in love with this CD was the music and the arrangements. And perhaps not in the way you might think! The power of this project was the simplicity and care that was taken in giving it lots of strength with a few instruments. Using the guitar, keyboards, a cello and oboe, this project stays uncluttered- and it SHINES! Those of us used to listening to praise and worship music are used to the ever-present bass guitar- but not here! This CD is the first indie project I have heard that absolutely does away with the bass guitar and thrives because of it. I know this might sound strange, but the breadth of instrumentation with just the oboe, cello, guitar and piano give a wonderful diversity in relative simplicity. The occasional visit of electric guitar and some drums and percussion (all without a bass guitar present) make a few songs accented perfectly for some variety to the ear.

You will be turned toward the Lord immediately as "Longing for the Day" begins this project off, and we share an invitation to Christ for His return. Each song leads effortlessly into the next on this whole project. The fourth song (and title track), "Draw Near To Me", is a wonderful invocation song calling out in the theme of the Davidic devotional prayers for the Lord to have our daily lives from the early morning to the "never-ending". The tenth track, "We Cry Glory", is my favorite song of this CD. It's pacing, vocals and instrumentation become so rich (yet well spaced) it reminds me of the intensity of purity and precision of devotion that I first heard from a John Michael Talbot album- different musical framing, but deeply and similarily focused. The CD ends on a unified praise and thanksgiving that brings up such a heart of gratitude, you will find yourself singing "Jesus I Love The Way You Are".

This CD get's my "Editor's Choice" award from Worshipmusic.com.

A great project!

Product Link Draw Near To Me - Scott Brenner

Review by Kim Gentes.

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.