Kim Gentes

Does anyone remember what a worship CD is? The last several years, it seemed like the "Christian Music" industry had missed the point. Endless collections, remixed cover songs and CCM bands trying to detour into worship leading (but quickly moving back to performance model when the "worship thing" dried up) showed a clear misunderstanding of the foundations of what worship and praise was all about.

If you have felt (like me) disappointed by several popular CDs in the last few years, welcome you back to what a worship project should be- "Playlist: Stand In Awe" from Vineyard Music. One of the original vanguards of resourcing the church in worship, Vineyard has stayed true to its roots with great songs, while making continued strides in progressive musical production and sound with its arrangements and musicianship. The essence of a great worship song is its ability to resonate with the heart-cry of the worshiper. The "Stand In Awe" project is a wonderful set of worship songs that resonate clearly with followers of Christ.

From the opening song, Vineyard brings some of its best young voices singing its best new songs, presented with its best studio production values. Normally known for its great live recordings, Vineyard Music has its second studio production (following up from last year's "Sweetly Broken") that marks a new era of excellence for them under producer Casey Corum. Add to Casey's great production some outsanding vocals by Jeremy Riddle, Steve Jones and Charlie Hines and stellar guitar work by veteran Glenn Pearce, the mix on this CD glistens under any audiophile's microscope.

But it all begins with great songs, and this CD is chock full of them! From the infectious layered sounds of "Saving Grace" (with a live orchestra backing! Wow!) to the anthemic offerings "Stand In Awe" and "God of All Glory", to the prayer praises of "As It Is In Heaven" and "Throne of Grace", to the poured out devotional of "With All My Heart", this project has a lot to contribute your local church. Track four, "Christ is Exalted", even includes a beautiful song of Christ's life, appropriate for Christmas worship, or any time of year. No doubt contend that the title track "Stand In Awe" and "God Of All Glory" (both sung by Jeremy Riddle) will garner considerable attention from both churches and radio play alike.

But for this reviewer, all the songs mentioned thus far are supporting cast for one of the best songs presented to the church in the last ten years- "All I Have". This amazing song provides a simple, but infectiously untiring sound track for unashamed worshipers the world ‘round. To date, I have listened to this CD about 35-40 times. And yet, as I drove to work this morning, I still wept as I worshipped along with "All I Have" with the chorus echoing some of these lyrics:

"Jesus, all I have is You,
You're the hope I'm holding to...
As the heavens hold the skies,
It's Your hand that holds my life"

After receiving an advanced copy of this project just weeks ago, our church already has three of these songs in its repertoire ("Throne of Grace", "Stand In Awe" and "All I Have")! But of those songs, none has gripped people more profoundly than my new favorite song "All I Have". I am sure we will see this song redone by other CCM and worship artists, but here is your first chance to hear it and use it in your local church. A truly great offering!

In an era when music purchasers scarcely think it wise to buy an entire CD, Vineyard's new "Playlist: Stand In Awe" project is well worth it. A wise investment, providing both an amazing suite of songs and PDF chord and lyric charts to help local churches put the songs to immediate use.

Product Link Playlist: Stand in Awe / Vineyard Music

Review by Kim Anthony Gentes

In recent years, musical styles represented on worship projects have coalesced into a "one-size-fits-all" acoustic/easy-listening/pop experience. While songwriting has continued to mature in the lyrical content of seasoned worship writers, the same cannot be said of engaging musical flavors in our worship environments. Proof of this is easily found- step into any local church today using a worship band format. What do you hear? Most often, it is the imitation of the sound of the local church's favorite worship writer/artist. Alternatively, it is the sound of the current popular singles playing on Christian radio.

What is missing? Local church voice, unique community expression, or local music culture flavor. These are issues too deep for be handled in an album review, but they come up here because of the encouraging life that springs up from David Ruis new worship collection "When Justice Shines". This project is a brilliant example of local church worship engaging its community with the real sound of its local musicians. It's refreshing. It contains the one element missing in 95% of the worship CD's produced today- risk!

If you have ever had the opportunity to meet David Ruis, you would not be surprised to hear that his music is full of risk with perfection. David and his band "Indigika" are the four members appearing on this 13 track collection of rhythm, sounds and melodies. Fusing and sounds styles ranging from electronica, world, rock, piano ballad, and dance, David and Indigika make no apologies for the journey they take. From the surrendering "Fragrant Oil", the declarative groove of "By Your Blood", the encouraging "Spirit Is On Me", and the proclamation of "Amen" the CD explodes with its signature sound of electronic loops mixed with crunch and whine electric guitar. Add to that the prophetic voice of David's lyrics and prayers interlaced in the songs and you are welcomed to an experience unlike any other worship CD you may have heard. David and Indigika rush unashamed towards God's heart and His kingdom through the hopeful "Arise and Shine", into the lamenting "Justice", coming to a musical pause appropriately at "Rest In His Promise". The CD wraps up with some of its best material, my favorites being "Hold Me" and the title track "When Justice Shines".

All at once you hear excellent production and musicianship layered with beautiful times of intercession and heartfelt prayer. It's not likely that many local bands can match the prowess of Indigika, but that is just the point. David isn't concerned if you sound like him or his band. He isn't worried if Nashville is listening or if any of these songs will be top radio hits. He simply abandons himself to Christ, expressed in a flavor of music that God has gifted his local church with.

I think it's a lesson we should all learn. Not to pick up this CD and try to imitate it, but to try to emulate rather the principle its built on- that we are all on a journey. Those journeys have common touch points, for sure. But each local church has a unique journey, and a unique voice to express its worship back to God. David Ruis has been a pioneer as a songwriter and worship leader for many years having written such songs as "You Are Worthy of My Praise" and "Every Move I Make". In this CD "When Justice Shines", he leads the way again- this time encouraging churches around the world to find their voice in Christ and sing their song while bringing God's mercy and justice to their local communities.

I am pleased to give "When Justice Shines" our Editor's Choice award. I strongly encourage you to consider getting this project- it will inspire and encourage you with its prophetic call, its amazing live musicianship and its unashamed message of abandon to Christ as we look for justice to the broken here on earth.

Product Link When Justice Shines

Review by Kim Gentes

I love a journey- a great book, a good movie, or a speech from a great story teller. Each of these can move you through a compelling message and an artistic crafting of language. But journeys are not quick trips to the corner store- they are treks that take us to distant places and back again close to home. Journeys have story, subplots and great characters. Journeys take time. Journeys give back to the traveler as much as the traveler gives to the journey. So it is with the new project in my player for the last 3 weeks- "Holy God".

Song writer/worship leader Brian Doerksen presents this latest offering of worship not as a collection of "hit songs" (though there are some worthy of that moniker), but as a journey that takes you from the call of prayer to the throne of heaven and back home where we live our lives with our Holy God. Doerksen has always been an artist who presents themes in his projects and songs, but this project epitomizes that style. At sixteen tracks with an hour and 7 minutes in length, "Holy God" is a journey that will have you captured with the crisp musical vision of Doerksen's Holy God. But this journey will not find you drained and tired from the experience. Quite the opposite! From start to finish this project is rooted in Biblical truth that challenges the heart, comforts the soul, and lights the fire of passion for those pursuing God.

The album ebbs to life with the self-titled "Invocation" and builds nicely into the prayer song "Our Father In Heaven", where the Lord's Prayer is the core of a nicely woven song in which we all can open up in prayer to our Father.

Song three explodes into the title track "Holy God", which takes a microcosm journey into the attributes of the Trinity and His works to reclaim man into a restored relationship. "Holy God" is a simple and powerful anthem that radiates with the names and deeds of God, lyrically. "Holy God" is one of those great and rare songs that worship leaders will be able to employ in any format, from a simple piano or guitar with a single voice, to a rock band, to a full orchestra arrangement. And producer Philip Janz makes that point by revealing a masterful musical production that gathers the sounds of choral and orchestral ancient forms with driving modern guitars and stellar drumming. I won't spill all the lyrics here, but the punctuated style of the verses in this song exemplifies the strength of Doerksen's writing skills with that age old adage - less is more. In this case, much more!

If you aren't on the road of this journey by track three, you will be soon, as track four is a simple narrative to help you along. It also intros for track five "Song for the Bride" in which God speaks to His church from the text of Isaiah 30:15. The music and lyrics are as renewing as they are convicting. As the tracks roll on you will find that this project does something very few Christian worship recordings do anymore—it provides food for the soul of the believer, while at the same time engaging and inviting all to join in with the songs of heaven. As a person who listens to a lot of music, I find it common for many producers and records to simply try to hook the listener with a good groove or catchy melody- but the content is either lacking in Biblical depth or simplistic in its musical development. Not so with "Holy God" or Brian Doerksen, whose musical prowess and attention to detail in staying scripturally themed has his music played across thousands of churches around the world.

When my CD player hit "He Is Here", I had to stop and replay it. I just melted into my chair. In a beautiful duet with Christine Dente, Doerksen (in a co-write with veteran Paul Baloche) presents a wonderful song of peace in God. Very refreshing.

Just as you are getting refreshed, the project explodes again. This time into a sparkling rendition of Doerksen's upbeat "Light The Fire Again". Completely rejuvenated, you will love this new arrangement of a great praise song. And so it is with this entire project—ebbs and flows of musical and lyrical content bring you through a complete journey of the holiness of God and the prayerful weakness of us, His children.

There are plenty of great songs along the way of this journey, and I really want to be sure you check them out. But don't plan on rushing through this CD to find your latest hits. If you want them, they are there, but I would encourage you rather to sit down and listen for an hour and walk through an age old journey of soul and spirit learning about, searching for and being pursued by our Holy God!

Worship leaders will do well to take note of tracks 2, 3, 6, 7, 8, 11 and 15, as possibilities for wonderful contributions to any churches repertoire. I also found myself especially captivated by track 13 that is a beautiful medley of the song "Be Unto Your Name" (DeShazo and Sadler) and the hymn classic "Holy, Holy, Holy" (Heber & Dykes).

What really impressed me with this project is how encouraged and thankful I came away from listening to it. That "we are a vapor" and "He is eternal", and yet in His holy power He still pursues us and calls us to return to Him. In the end, it is a hopeful message that reverberates through the songs, lyrics and music. It is a message that builds up the soul and stirs it forward towards Christ. I encourage you to take this journey as well.

This is a wonderful album worth taking the time to listen to and engage with.

Product Link Holy God

Review by Kim Gentes

From unashamed to impassioned, from declarative to prayerful, and from intimate to glorious- these are the swells of heart language that flow from "Unshakable", the sparkling new collection of worship and songs from veteran songwriter/worship leader Andy Park. I can't stop listening to this newest project because, simply, is inspires me at new depths with each listen. What a great collection of songs- very diverse but seamlessly synchronized in musical production and heart language.

What I love about Andy Park resounds in this new project, just as it has always rang out from his music and his life. His integrity, his clarity of purpose and the example of his actions run a consistent thread from his songwriting, his mentoring of other worship leaders, his work in local and world missions, all the way to his raising of his children. I must admit to having had the opportunity to get to know Andy over a few years in mid nineties. More than anyone else I have met in arena of worship leaders and songwriters, Andy epitomizes the balance of outstanding leadership and humble service. Most will know Andy as the prolific songwriter who has penned "In The Secret" (I Want To Know You), "Holy Love", "We Will Ride", "The River Is Here" and over a hundred published songs used throughout the world. What most won't know is that Andy also is the mentor to a long list of worship leaders, including people such as Brian Doerksen, Craig Musseau, Kelly Carpenter, Larry Hampton and many other people without songwriting credits and recognition.

It is with that kind of pedigree that "Unshakable" comes our way. Andy draws from a lifetime of songwriting to God for use in the church. This crop of new songs is as strong as ever. But unlike any project in the past, his excellent songwriting is presented through the shimmering production of veteran producer Nathan Nockels. The results are the outstanding new project, "Unshakable".

Declarative praise launches this project with the title track "Unshakable", where pop stylings deliver a great musical rendition of lyrics based in the 62nd Psalm - an excellent song, reflecting the unchanging nature of God. "Revive Us Again" as a new prayer anthem that is sure to be echoed in many churches, because of its singable, engaging chorus and universal heart cry for God to visit us with His holy fire and life. Moving from style to style, this album explodes with a full gospel choir and stylings in "Savior of the World". After you settle back into your chair, you come to the narrative/prayer song "Come Reign" which teaches about the kingdom of God through ebbs of biblical song stories and flows of the prayer "come reign".

The fifth track swells with my favorite song on the project, "You Are God", where Andy re-inspires the well used theme from the books of Isaiah and Revelation where all creation lifts up its voice and declares "holy is the Lord". If you are looking for an excellent new song to use in church this week, I urge you to look at this great song. I have to admit that I have played this one in loop for over an hour. It has that scriptural clarity and anthemic nature of a song you expect to be sung around the throne of God.

But don't stop listening there. As you continue listening to this project you will find precious pearls (the title of the next track, pun intended) on each of the 11 tracks on this project. From the devotional "Precious Pearl", "Worthy of All My Love" and "To Give My Life Away" to the intimate "My Father, My Friend" you will find encouraging treasures to both bless you and give language to your blessing of our Lord through worship and praise. One song I will point out in closing is the poignant "Carry Me", which is a prayer song whose lyrics are reminiscent of the desperate times of David and whose message resounds in the hearts of all who have encountered brokenness and painful times.

Andy Park's "Unshakable" is a brilliant marriage of top notch songwriting and sparkling production from a man whose life reflects the message of his music. This new project earns our highest marks here at Worshipmusic.com, and we are happy to mark it as an Editor's Choice as a great new contribution to the church.

I truly hope you take the opportunity to listen to the audio clips, but even more so to get the entire album and see if several of the songs don't find their way into your local congregation. This is one of the best albums I have heard in the last few years, so I hope you take a listen.

Product Link Unshakable

Review by Kim Gentes

I first heard of Vicky Beeching from the landmark Vineyard UK CD "Hungry", where her song "There Is No One Like Our God" appeared in the track list. Later, in 2002, the release of another Vineyard UK project, "Holy", included her popular song "Above All Else". This year, Vicky has come to fruition as a songwriter and worship leader with her new release "Yesterday, Today & Forever". This is a clean, crisp studio project with a mirthful combination of church-usable worship songs with radio-playable production.

What you notice right off about this CD is that it has perfect production sensibility for each song, elevating the arrangements for the anthemic songs and paring down to simplicity for the beautiful, haunting songs of intimacy. In fact, it took me a long time to detach from engaging in the worship music contained on this CD, to allow me to listen critically to the various components of production and songwriting it contained.
From the title track "Yesterday, Today & Forever", you will not be able to sit idly by as this project rolls on. You will be singing or humming your way through, and this is good. And this is not just because the music is interesting, but also because the lyrics have a beautiful balance and deep content to them such as the second verse to her opening
track:

Uncreated One,
You have no end and no beginning
Earthly power fades,
But there is no end to Your Kingdom
Always loving, always true,
Always merciful and good, so good.

Vicky's writing has a conscious balance of awe-filled, glory expression (songs like "Yesterday, Today & Forever," "Above All Else" and "Majesty and Mystery") and prayer and surrender songs ("Search Me", "Nothing Is Impossible" and "Extravagant Worship"). Her lyrical content is solidly scripture-based, while be obviously passionate and personal. A bit of background information on Vicky helps with understanding some of this lyrical depth, when I found out she is has a theology degree from Oxford University. Along with her competent acoustic guitar prowess and pristine voice, she certainly has a wealth of skills to draw from in writing and presenting her songs of devotion.

Listening through the CD, you will have a hard time not closing your eyes and surrendering your heart, if you sing along with honesty to the song "Above All Else". I still find myself in tears when I say those words from my heart. In this same vein, "Captivated" is aptly named as the song allows you to consider the Lord and be captivated by his beauty. This CD playlist is a wonderful washing of music and lyrics, bringing in waves of cresting celebration songs, accentuated with ebbs of deep worship songs. For me, the most memorable part of the CD is the last 3 songs, where we go from being captivated by His glory, to the 6/8 swing of surrender in "Extravagant Worship" and ends with a beautiful re-envisioning of the classic "Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus".

Because of the variety of tempo and arrangements across these songs, this is not a CD that will grow tired quickly in your player. Be sure to check it out- you will not be disappointed.

Product Link Yesterday Today & Forever

Review by Kim Gentes