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.
Thursday, August 16, 2007 at 2:05PM 
Welcome to a great worship music CD! When you strive for great music, worship is sometimes lost in the final "production" of a worship album. This can be especially true of independent projects that just don't have the time or money to make things sound awesome in the midst of recording true worship.
FEAR NOT! Casy Corum is a worship veteran who understands this and has put the components of a truly great project on to this CD. This project opens the windows of our hearts to the wind from heaven. This worship leader knows how to worship, and he isn't ashamed of it. I loved the energy and honesty of Alabaster Boxes
Alabaster Boxes parlays between the edgier Vineyard worship music and some groovier acoustic/rock. The songs are very usable and excellent for learning and doing in worship. Proof of that is the fact the Vineyard has been picking up many of Casey's songs and using them on the their Touching the Father's Heart and other series. Another proof is that I am using them at our church :)
Product Link Alabaster Boxes - Casey Corum
Review by Kim Gentes
Alabaster Boxes, Casey Corum, album, cd, music, praise, project, review, vineyard, vineyard music, worship in CD Review Thursday, August 16, 2007 at 2:01PM 
Worship with real edge. One of the most powerful CDs I have heard in a long time is Lincoln Brewsters self titled debut CD with the Integrity Label "Vertical Music" (the same label as Darrell Evans). Kids, don't try this at home! Listening to this CD is likely to drive you to loving Jesus way beyond what you may be currently comfortable with. The music on this CD is rock in its purest form - great groove, awesome licks and raw lyrics. If you think you know what great electric guitar is, then you must have heard Lincoln play guitar before. Lincoln combines his phenomenal musical prowess with gut-wrenching and raw lyric content. For those who love to worship God and don't mind being stretched a little with incredible music and style, you should really check this CD out.
Product Link: Lincoln Brewster
Review by Kim Gentes
1998, Lincoln Brewster, album, cd, original, project, review, vertical music in CD Review Thursday, August 16, 2007 at 2:00PM 
I remember getting my original copies of the UK released Cutting Edge CDs in the mail. Cardboard jackets with plastic inset trays for the CD. They were sent to me from a friend at EMI CMG. They were working on a launch the new Delirious? website to promote them in the US and I was helping with some online marketing and giving feedback on songs for a 3 song promo demo CD. It was 1996. I remember listening to great songs like Did You Feel The Mountains Tremble?, Find Me In The River and Happy Song. Wow. Unlike anything I had heard on a "worship" recording.
Then I heard I Could Sing Of Your Love Forever. I knew, in that moment, that "church music" had changed. Songs, they say, can have a life of their own. When songs can communicate something so relevant that we all want to join in, but say it in a unique way that awakens our emotions, those songs become "ours". As I listened to I Could Sing Of Your Love Forever, tears began to roll down my face. I was singing that song because it was truth captured in well-crafted art. Within a year, millions of other people across North America would learn that song and join in. It became an anthem of God's love for many of us.
The Cutting Edge CDs were eventually released in the US in 1998 as a double CD. Cutting Edge not only impacted worshipers and leader across the world, they inspired other writers. I remember a year or so earlier at a worship conference, Brian Doerksen talking about how he was being inspired by these same UK songs from early EP versions of the CDs he had gotten while in UK. He was impacted, as were we were all impacted by what Martin Smith and crew brought to church music. Today, it's hard to imagine modern worship without the profound impact of these songs and the breakout sound of the band.
The songs on this collection are recorded crisp, clear and in the studio. While Delirious? would become known for their layered U2-esque sound, Cutting Edge highlighted arrangements that were brilliant more for their sparse intention than their "wall of sound" attack. If you are one of those people who didn't get a copy of the Cutting Edge double CD, make sure to check out the CD on Amazon, or get the entire 25 song MP3 album there for a fraction of the cost.
These songs and this album are now classic, but remain some of the most popular songs in modern hymnody.
Product Link : Cutting Edge (Double Album) and Delirious? - Cutting Edge (Songbook)
Review by Kim Gentes
album, cd, curious, cutting edge, delirious, emi, furious, i could sing of your love, martin smith, review, tim jupp, worship in CD Review, Music Review Thursday, August 16, 2007 at 1:59PM 
After listening to this album repeatedly, I couldn't believe I was listening to an independent release. I have listened to hundreds of songs by independent worship leaders, publishers and so on. Many of them are good worship, but most are clearly not meant for "the nations", instead are God's gift to a local body. Not so with this new albums from Seth Peterson (Angels Dancing). This guy is clearly gifted and the project has superb lyrical craftsmanship. This project which will go to the nations, not just because of the skill level involved, but because of the creative gifting and anointing on this worship leader.
I loved the passion and grittiness of Angels Dancing. This project is clearly "Gen-X" worship with a edge and passion that will be loved by youth up through baby boomers. Great vocals, haunting themes and lyrics. Some wonderfully thoughtful worship songs.
Product Link: This project is not available online anywhere, but if you are interested in it, send me a note (Contact Us) and I will put you in direct contact with Seth Peterson, who still has some copies of this great project.
Review by Kim Gentes
album, cd, ihop, indie, kansas city, music, project, review, seth, seth peterson, worship in CD Review, Music Review Thursday, August 16, 2007 at 1:54PM 
I recently took a trip to Canada where I spent several hours in a rental car driving through rural Canada. I had originally thought I placed several CDs in my pack to listen to during the drive. Just one CD was found, however, and it was Danny Steyne's "Live At Blood N Fire". I listened to this CD and worshiped along for not just minutes, but a couple of hours! It is anointed and well executed. The songs are also excellent for use in worship. What I really liked about this CD was the heart after God that comes through so powerfully in every song. And it isn't just a musical passion either, as Danny has led this energy into the ministry of poor and broken lives. This is one indie CD that is definitely worth getting.
Product Link : http://www.themountain.org/apps/store/default.asp?view=profile&itemid=28747
Review by Kim Gentes
