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, March 18, 2013 at 5:42PM 
[Free Song Download "God Is Here" from Darlene Zschech- see at the bottom of the review.]
We all know the song "Shout to the Lord". We all know that Darlene Zschech was its author and that she was the well-known face and voice of Hillsong Australia worship leadership for two decades. After hearing she would be putting out a new live worship album, I was interested to hear it. Later, I heard Israel Houghton would be producing and I knew it would be a stellar musical experience. Well, I finally listened to the album. WOW!
Houghton's production and Zschech's voice would be enough for a great musical experience, but that is just the beginning here! In addition to combing the talents of these two musical Grammy winners, this album contains great songwriting/co-writing efforts, great guest vocals and the entire project is wrapped up in Darlene's genuine gifting as a worship leader. I went through this album several times. At first, I was just listening for great songs. But you can't listen long to this project before you are pulled (or hurled may be a better metaphor) into all out praise, celebration and worship.
Right from the first track, Darlene jumps into her trademark declarative, yet worshipful posture as one who is heralding an entire congregation to lift Jesus high and to acknowledge that "God Is Here". I was expecting to have to dig into the album before hitting the deep groove and great choruses, but no way! "God Is Here" is infectious and courageous-- a kind of call-to-worship song that is destined to be one of the new songs the global church will sing. Unashamed and anthemic, this song isn't fluffy proclamation, but is a powerful reflection of the Lord's prayer put into emphatic song calling on the Holy Spirit to open the gates of heaven, bring His Kingdom and His glory. The bridge is a powerful compliment to the verse/chorus prayer and answer pairing- it humbly ascents the powerful truth echoed by every creature or human to encounter the unshielded presence of the Living God as they sing "Holy, we cry holy. Hallelujah God is here!". Really, folks, this is a truly great song. A wonderful co-write by Darlene, Israel and Phil Wickham. Check this one out! You won't be disappointed!
Track 2, "Best For Me", is a rocket ship that takes off from the launch pad that "God Is Here" ends with! Israel and Meleasa Houghton write this driving song of worship, surrender and testimony and it is has all the energy you'd expect from an upbeat song from Israel. Moving into "All That We Are", another Israel co-written song with more "oohs" and lots of pop, driving bass and infectious melodies. Like many songs on this album, there is a great pop-choral backdrop to these vocals, often singing "ooohs" but doing great BGVs on all the songs is a list of stellar voices - and they sound amazing on this album.
Track 4, "In Jesus' Name", is the fourth upbeat song in the upfront section of this project and it doesn't let up the great music and melodies. Another great song from Darlene and Israel. What is most powerful about this song, though, is Darlene's amazingly personal and poignant interjection at around 5:30 in this track. Vamping down temporarily into the song bridge, she starts speaking about letting the words and scripture sink in deep to the hearts of people, letting them become prayers. And she does just that, she encourages people to let the words be sung over them. It is an unnerving song to listen to at this point. Darlene does with this song something more than affect, but tugs at the eternal longing in all of us for the consummation of God's kingdom in fullness, in a way that is reminiscent of what CS Lewis spoke about in The Weight of Glory
"In speaking of this desire...I feel a certain shyness. I am almost committing an indecency. I am trying to rip open the inconsolable secret in each one of you—the secret which hurts so much that you take your revenge on it by calling it names like Nostalgia and Romanticism and Adolescence; the secret also which pierces with such sweetness that when, in very intimate conversation, the mention of it becomes imminent, we grow awkward and affect to laugh at ourselves; the secret we cannot hide and cannot tell, though we desire to do both."1
With this song, Darlene opens up the listener to this kind of surrender and opportunity to connect and understand the nearness of God and His desire for His people. As someone who has been touched by the pain of cancer in the lives of people I love, this song made me come to tears as I prayed for family and friends who are suffering from physical sickness and pain. I found this song to be a sound track for such prayer, asking for God's healing and calling on him for resolution of His kingdom to defeat such pain in our lives.
With the fifth track, the album takes an steep and intentional decrescendo from tempo and volume only, not from excellence. "Your Presence is Heaven To Me" is one of my favorite songs on this project. After the first four songs, you are ready for something "down", and this song is just as endearing, in its own way, as the others that have come before. Like many of the other tracks, Israel's voice takes temporary lead on a phrase and stanza here and there, making this seem much less of a "solo" project than the title of the album might imply. This song is another Israel Houghton songwriting effort along with Micah Massey. The music and lyrics are perfectly matched, as they sing plaintiff surrender in the verse into anthemic thanks in the chorus :
Nothing in this world can satisfy
'Cause Jesus You're the cup that won't run dry
Oh Jesus You're the cup that won't run dryOh Jesus Your presence is heaven to me
Oh Jesus Your presence is heaven to me
"Victor's Crown" is the next track and becomes the biggest anthem on this album. Starting softly, it builds into gigantic declaration of sound and lyrics that ascends to pray in mid song that anything that comes against Christ will be brought down in light of seeing Christ receive his victor's crown. This song adds a huge drum part, a gorgeous strings section and emphatic bridge declaring "You will overcome" to Christ. Very good!
After listening through half the album, you might be tempted to believe that the good songs are all done. You'd be wrong! This project contains an unbelievably well arranged, played and integrated set of songs that are comprised of an older Hillsong repertoire song (Magnificent, track 8), a rearranged hymn (My Jesus, I Love Thee, track 9), an excellent modern chorus (Your Name/P.Baloche, track 10), a deep worship song (I Am Yours/MW Smith, track 11) and a great closing song (Jesus At The Center/Houghton, track 12). If you have the special CD/DVD limited version of this it also includes versions of "Shout to the Lord" and "Agnus Dei"!
I would have to write pages more to completely explain this album. Instead, I can just give this recommendation. Go now. Get it. Really. I thought I had already heard some great albums this year, but this one is simply on another level in both musical production and a complete worship experience. This album easily gets my nod as "Editor's Choice Album" and is currently my top candidate for this years best album. I can't imagine anything beating it out, but it is still early in the year. But don't take my word for it- go listen to the audio samples online.
For churches using WorshipTeam.com, all of the songs, chord charts, lyrics and audio from this album 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/Zamvy2
Additionally, our friends at Integrity Music have also granted us permission to give you access to the audio and chord chart for the song "God Is Here" as a free download for a limited time directly here, so you will find it below.
Go check out this album folks. I am not kidding. It's ballistic.
Worshiping God!
Kim Gentes
Free Song Download "God Is Here" from the latest Darlene Zschech album "Revealing Jesus"
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1. Lewis, C. S. (2009-06-03). Weight of Glory (Collected Letters of C.S. Lewi) (Kindle Locations 298-302). HarperCollins. Kindle Edition.
Tuesday, March 12, 2013 at 2:27PM 
Review of "A Taste of Heaven" (EP)
View a brief profile of Andy Park.
When I started listening to this short EP I was working frantically on another work project. But as the songs "A Taste of Heaven" and "Perfect Peace" began to rise up from my office sound system, I began to listen. It was beautiful.
The first track, "A Taste of Heaven", is presented in both a standard and extended version (track 2) on this project. This song is about God's grace and favor on His people, and how that favor is a foretaste of the glory of heaven come to earth today. This song is really about God's presence being the unmerited favor of blessing for us, as he states in the second verse:
Standing under the shower of your unmerited favor
Your blessings upon us
You have given so freely your affectionate mercy
Your blessings upon us
This is not an indulgent declaration, but a thankful praise to God for his incredible love towards us, and this theme continues throughout the song. It is uplifting and engaging, pointing the worshiper towards the great Giver as we wait patiently on His presence to guide us.
Producer Kelly Carpenter has done a very nice job of keeping the music well suited to Andy's style, guitar playing and voice. The arrangements here are easily recognizable as Andy Park songs from the first bar. And the "extended versions" of the English and Spanish translations of "A Taste of Heaven" have a nice vamp into electronic/looped soundscapes that give Andy space to mix both English and Spanish in the ad lib sections. With a chorus echoing in the background perhaps this is a prophetic vision of all peoples, all languages worshiping God. Very worshipful.
As the next song, "Perfect Peace", began playing, my wife came upstairs to my office and asked about it. She said, "that song is for you." She was right.
Park has always used scripture foundations in his songs, such as this one that elegantly weaves Psalm 62:5, Isaiah 26:3 and Matthew 11:28-30, reminding us:
Perfect peace, he will give you perfect peaceAs you think about his goodness and his kindness......Come and rest, come and let your soul find restFor the burden that he gives you is light
The song is played with an acoustic guitar framed arrangement, keyboards, and programmed instrumentation. It's simple and lilting arrangement is perfectly suited for its message of peace by trusting in God. I found myself surrendering, singing along and reciting the lyrics as prayers throughout the day.
"Perfect Peace" is one of 3 different songs on this short EP, but the collection contains both "A Taste of Heaven" and "Perfect Peace" in Spanish versions as well, "Un Sabor De Los Cielos" and "Perfecta Paz" respectively. In fact, Park has wrote "Un Sabor De Los Cielos" in Spanish originally and translated it for the English version. It was beautiful to experience a worship EP that contained English and Spanish versions of the songs. In light of this, I asked Andy Park more about his music and ministry, and his work on this recent project.
View our brief interview with Andy Park.
The final song on this EP is a Spanish version of the classic Vineyard worship song "Precious Child", entitled "Precioso Hijo". This powerful song is about God's love for us as His children. It is about how we should see ourselves as being chosen for his family- bound, not by our performance, but by God's faithfulness. This is a familiar theme for Andy Park, as many of his songs explore God's love and characteristics, our identity in Christ and our community identity as the church (global and local).
If you are a local church worship leader looking for some excellent worship songs on the topics mentioned in this review, I encourage you to consider listening to the samples online at Amazon (or if you have WorshipTeam.com, you can preview the songs there). Especially if you are looking for Spanish worship songs, I encourage you to check out these 3 Spanish songs on this EP.
For churches using WorshipTeam.com, all of the songs, chord charts, lyrics and audio from this album 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/10NFHbV
Blessings
Kim Gentes
EP, album, andy park, music, perfect peace, precious child, review, songs, spanish, taste of heaven, vineyard, worship in CD Review, Music Review Tuesday, March 5, 2013 at 4:23AM 
Glenn Packiam's new solo album "The Mystery of Faith" is the newest project from this songwriter/pastor from New Life Church in Colorado Springs. In a surprising and encouraging departure from past recordings, this album ventures at speaking the central truths of the Christian faith, usable by all Christian churches whether modern or liturgical. In fact, this album presents a modern worship liturgy that can be used as a guide for an entire service or applied in portions, using songs that fit for the kind of themes and services you may planning for.
This is a studio worship album featuring several new songs based, created and presented as a fresh expression of the historic liturgical service! In addition to 8 songs, there are two readings (the Nicene Creed and Prayer of Confession) with musical backdrops for easily adoption into your services. This concept project has value both as a collection of great songs and as a complete service that brings the message of our faith through the progression of these songs. Glenn co-writes with Ian Eskelin, Ian Morgan Cron, Jennie Lee Riddle, and others to craft these beautiful and usable songs.
Walking through each track song by song does not convey the mode of use of these songs. One must experience these songs as a collection and participate as a worshiper, being shaped by the songs as they provide the movement of the central components of worship that have been used in churches for hundreds of years. The proclamation of faith, the creed, the prayer of confession, the blessings to one another, declaration of the risen Christ, the Alleluia - each of these elements are poignant and engaging.
Something must be said about the significance of this project as a gift to the broader church. Many worship writers, leaders and artists claim that they are writing new songs for "the church", but few have gone to the trouble of writing songs for usable application in the framework used by over 50% of the global church- the liturgy. Glenn has sculpted these songs as useful tools to the whole body of Christ. This is a blessing and a joy. And even if your church does not use a liturgical format, there are some excellent songs here for use in modern worship sets.
Again, while this album is meant as a liturgically guided worship service, I found some single songs that I would like to highlight for any worshiping church. First is the song "Our Messiah Reigns". This is the last track on the album, but it is an excellent song for both weekly celebration of the Risen Christ and for the upcoming Easter season. Another strong song is "Grace Flows Freely Down", a joyous song about the power of God's grace. Finally, the song "The Lord Be With You" is an inviting song in which the Body can give thanks together while speaking God's blessing to one another.
For churches using WorshipTeam.com, all of the songs, chord charts, lyrics and audio from this album 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.
Saturday, March 2, 2013 at 8:53PM 
It is no hyperbole to say that Jesus Culture and Kim Walker-Smith have become a powerful new voice in the sound of worship to the new generation and the "modern" church's musical liturgy. So, when I heard that Kim was going to be releasing a solo album, I was interested. Even though I often have the opportunity to get "free" product to evaluate popular worship resources/CDs, I almost always end up buying my own copies of things, because like many of you, I want to know if I feel like the money I spent was worth it. I am delighted to say that Kim's new album, "Still Believe", comes in very strong. It's not only worth the money, its worth your attention.
Having heard the previous Jesus Culture albums, I knew that her passionate vocals were her signature. My assumption was that it would be those impassioned vocals that would take over a solo album as well. I was right. And wrong. Yes, her vocals, with all their presence and passion rip through these songs with both peace and power- fitting them with the proper aspect as the song demanded. But also, no, in that Kim moves from just being a great voice to being a promising songwriter. On "Still Believe", Kim steps in with a surprising ability to write and present songs that are fresh, inviting and actually thoughtful.
The album kicks off with "Alive", a note pounding declaration that resounds with
"We will make Him known, Jesus is alive. He's alive!
We will shout it out, Jesus is alive! He's alive!"
The first track, written by Gabe Kossol and Jeremy Edwardson, comes across very strong, intentional and engaging. This is a great launch pad for the album. Praising God and declaring the resurrection truth is focused and yet celebratory. I love it!
The next song is written by Chris McClarney (author of "Your Love Never Fails") and others. "Waste It All" has quickly become one of my favorite "surrender" songs. Lyrically, it is a musical interpretation of Matthew 26:6-13 (woman pouring perfume on Jesus) in the first person. Every time the chorus rings out I find myself surrendering once again.
Track three continues the very hopeful, God-ward and personal language of all the songs in this album. "The King is Here" is new song written by Kim and Christa Black, this one exclaiming that God is here among us, He is present and we can rely on His being present and rejoice in that same reality. As much a song of faith as praise, this song takes our attention clearly from the far off God who watches us to the very present King who is in our midst. Again, focused, clear and powerfully delivered. Love it!
"Yield My Heart" settles back into a gentle brushes/cadence and Kim Walker-Smith opens up in first person language confessing, "I yield my heart to You." Again, coupling surrender and declaration, this song feels like a simple prayer, straight out of the ethos and language of the Davidic Psalms. And this is what endears you to this album- her intense focus on Christ, clearly at the expense of exposing her own vulnerability as she unrelentingly sings out these songs.
Tracks 5 and 6 are a live version of the Tim Hughes (et al) song "Spirit Break Out" and a spontaneous tag that extends out through an entire track. To be sure, almost every song on this album has a tag and impromptu segment that takes each song to a personal and "uncorked" expression from this worship leader to God, with all of us carried along in the tow of real worship. This song is a very well written re-examination of the Lord's Prayer (Matthew 6) that links that prayer to the release of the Holy Spirit across mankind and history. A beautiful prayer and offering. Walker-Smith doesn't leave the song to the text given by the songwriters. She expands on it with her own passion, ad libs and unguarded confessions of need to be overflowing with the presence of Christ, His love and His character.
The title track "Still Believe" carves a beautiful melodic understanding of the atonement found in Christ's blood and the sufficiency it establishes for all those who believe. Maybe one of the most focused songs on the blood of Christ that I have come across. Without compromise, Kim declares that the blood of Christ is the center of what grace and provision is available for all Christians. Again, I am very impressed with the focus and articulation that this young writer has by keeping the text to one topic on any given song. A song well worth listening to for anyone looking for great new songs in your local church.
The next track is a cover of Martin Smith & Stu Garrard's "Miracle Maker", done with both lilt and power. Not a song that is easily done in most churches, but a gorgeously presented declaration of the Revelation text that appears in chapter 1 and 4 "who was and is and is to come". The final song (called "Healing Oil" by Chris Lizotte) is a jubilation of thankfulness that launches Kim Walker-Smith into an overture of refrains. She is singing out, at the top of her lungs, declaring that she wouldn't trade another lifetime for the reality of God's presence being there, right now.
And that highlights precisely why I LOVE this album. Kim Walker-Smith refuses to be afraid of singing songs that are either well articulated theology ("Still Believe" and "Alive") or "in the moment" passion ("Waste It All" and "Healing Oil"). It is that edge of unguarded evocation that makes the album feel like a breath of fresh wind on the landscape of "prescribed" worship music productions which are often addled by so much musical and theological care they leave true passion off the recording. This needn't be so. And Kim Walker-Smith proves it.
I loved this album. You will too. Really.
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.
Kim Walker, album, bethel, cd, jesus culture, kim walker-smith, music, review, songs, still believe, walker, worship in Awards, CD Review, Music Review Monday, February 25, 2013 at 11:09PM 
Woah! Worship music redefined? With the last 10 years, what has been defined as a "worship album" has become a moving target. Well friends, the target has just moved again. Hillsong United's "Zion" departs from the stadium anthems and deep grooved choruses of their previous albums and the standard mix of the 4/5 piece "praise band" is traded in for electronics, pop-production ballads and an "Owl City"-esque layering of arrangements. Even the vocals are pulled back to set the songs into an artistic place never before seen on any Hillsong (United or otherwise) project. Experimental electronica, orchestral pad swells, breathy solo vocals, deep reverb and loop-timed guitar arpeggios all make this recording seem an almost surreal departure for Hillsong United.
I found this a very unique album to get used to. Because it is much more of an initial listening experience than a typical "worship album", you might be tempted to start listening for "usable songs"- but taking that approach won't work, at least not initially. What you must do with this album is listen to it 4 or 5 times first- just sit. Listen. After the songs go through your head and heart enough times, you will find yourself really loving this project. Then, you are ready. Listen through it again for what might be songs that could fit and work in your local context. There will be some, perhaps several. But take the time.
So much of this album sounds like something new, literally every track is worth a listen. The album starts like a euro-pop 80's hit radio barrage with front track "Relentless" leading into a beat driven chorus of
Your love is relentless
Your love is relentless
Track two, "Up In Arms" beckons to more European sounds with whistles and pipes bubbling over drum cadence, and while gradually flowing into full refrains it infectiously implants the melody in your head long before the song ends (that is despite this song's vague, aimless and scattered lyrical themes). "Scandal of Grace" is a 6/8 departure with acoustic guitar only intro on a parched dry vocal- but once again, this builds eventually into an "all in" chorus.
When I hit "Oceans" I found myself weeping in surrendered prayer along with the song, as Taya Smith sang against a backdrop of stripped down pads and electronic drums. With a Leigh Nash-esque style, her vocals lilt and soar to make this song a poweful ocean of experience and prayer. Really, really good.
And so this album goes.. ranging from songs that sound like 80's euro-pop to modern day acoustic, unplugged. Stops made along the way will range across sounds like more organic bands such as "City Harmonic" and "Rend Collective Experiment" to electronica "Owl City". And while there is a definite thread of electronica loops and tones that sow this album together, its clear that the Hillsong United crew was looking to step completely out of the "worship rock" world their youth concerts are known for. Even the end of the album keeps throwing twists your way- from the stripped back piano ballad of "King of Heaven", the John Mark McMillan styled "Arise", to the overdriven bass on "Mountain" that leads into a few big choruses.
For myself, my three favorite tracks on this project are "Oceans", "Scandal of Grace" (both previously mentioned) and "A Million Suns" (track 10), whose strange 70's cheesy organ sound blithely tags the song sections into a surprisingly well scripted lyrical adoration of
Jesus the First, the Last,
the Bright and Morning Star
In sum, this album is a brilliant musical exploration of what worship groups and songwriters can do when the "limitations" are taken off. There is much to like here and, excepting the directionless lyrical approach of "Up In Arms", the rest of the album not only scores strongly on musical vibrancy and enjoyment, but lands some solid songs that (perhaps re-arranged) could find their way into youth groups and Sunday morning worship services. You must listen to this album. It is truly unique and truly a gift.
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.
