Kim 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

One of the treasures we have in the United States is the songwriter, equipper and worship leader Paul Baloche. I have had the opportunity to meet with Paul a number of times. He has a desire to encourage and equip the church as much as any worship leader I have met. He doesn't just record albums and write songs- he has developed helpful resources, often pioneering in training, in an effort to truly give away the gracious gifting God has blessed him with. With that kind of heart, one isn't surprised that his recordings and songs have a special place in the heart of millions of Christians around the world. The same genuine pastoral care he has for the local church is conveyed in his songs and recordings.

The album "A Greater Song" shows one of the richest collections of new songs in recent memory. But beyond being just great singable new songs, they are crafted with excellence in lyrics and music. Paul manages to put together a truly great album with "A Greater Song" by not only attending to musical production, but by co-writing nearly every song on the album with some of the best songwriters in the world. Brenton Brown, Matt Redman, Glenn Packiam, Graham Kendrick, Sara Groves, and Don Moen all count Paul as a friend and lend their talents to this cornacopia of new songs harvested for the modern church.

The project kicks off with the very popular Hosanna (Praise Is Rising), a reverberating exaltation that declares with the Palm Sunday tradition "Hosanna, Hosanna, You are the God who saves us." This is a co-write with Brenton Brown, author of Everlasting God, Halellujah (Your Love Is Amazing) and many other songs. The lyrics have captivated congregations around the world and is rising to become one of the most used songs in the Christian church. If you haven't heard this song, take time and do so- excellent, playable and well-written theological lyrics.

The songs continue with brilliance in songwriting and top notch presentation with Because Of Your Love, another co-write with Brenton Brown. This upbeat declaration thanks God for his great love and it rings true with a unity of lyric and beat that emphasize the point. Like all the songs on this album, electric guitarist Ben Gowell works perfect tone and rhythmic placement on the leads and overlays for each section of the songs. They are as enjoyable to listen to as they are to sing along- a real delight.

The tracklist doesn't falter, and you get full load of rock/country/pop ballad and more on this project. Some of my favorite tracks are Thank You Lord (co-write with Don Moen), Creation's King (co-write with Graham Kendrick), and Here And Now (yet another co-write with Brenton Brown). Paul not only recognizes the value of great co-writing in his song craft, but incorporates the beautiful voice of Kathyrn Scott on a couple of tracks.  And this brings me to my favorite song on the album.

Your Name is a co-write with Glenn Packiam (of New Life Church in Colorado). On this recording, Paul Baloche entreats a ballad by way of a duet with Kathryn Scott- a duet that marks simplicity and perfection on the most singable and infectious melody on the album.  If for no other reason, get this recording of this song- it brims with glory, declaration, and not the least- the focus on the Name above all names. You will be launched into praise and worship if you dare to begin singing this encouraging ballad.

A beautiful song and a wonderful album, "A Greater Song" was awarded 2006 Album of the Year by WorshipMusic.com and it is no wonder. Don't hesitate to add this great album to your collection.

Product Link: A Greater Song - Paul Baloche

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

Once in a while an album comes along that surprises you with great songs, capturing melodies and effusive worship. In the "normal" course of things, a strong project might contain one great song and maybe another good song. Rarely would you find a project with 3 or 4 truly top notch songs. But in 2006, a growing church in the Dallas metroplex released an album called "Living For You". The ministry of Gateway Church and its worship department was introducing its cadre of songwriters and leaders to the country for the first on a broad scale.  This inaugural release was not the first project Gateway worship had produced, but it was the first one released through Integrity Music, a group that has consistently mined a large portion of the most used songs in America over the last 25 years.

"Living For You" delivers no less thirteen prestine tracks, with four phenomenal songs, including one of the most popular songs in the world today in the blissful modern rendition of the trisagion prayer entitled Revelation Song. If you haven't heard this top 5 CCLI song at least once in the last 5 years, its likely you haven't been to church. For pastoral leaders and teachers Revelation Song was quickly accepted because it both glorified God with direct language and used mostly Scriptural quote and reference to fill and inform its lyrics. For worship leaders and musicians everywhere Revelation Song proved an irrisistable combination of excellent lyrical content and refreshing musical variety, giving the pop-worship 1-4-5 musical mantra a needed rest. Which of us worship leaders wasn't delighted to find a well-written song with a great melodic hook that made good use of a minor 5th and flatted 7th prominently styled into the song?

Other songs from this album, which have also found broad acceptance across the church, are You, You Are God, The More I Seek You and Thomas Miller's modern revision of the classic Come Thou Fount, Come Thou King. These songs are all incorporated with a top notch musical presentation into the "Living For You" album. Listening to this project, you will find moments of explosive praise, enthralling worship and absolute abandon. One forgets that the musical leaders on this project have become well known, because this project reflects none of the trappings of "stardom" that seem to come as quickly to Christian worship leaders as they do to pop stars.  The album feels and sounds like an authentic voice of a local church giving its all in song and worship to God. You will be drawn in and find yourself prayerful, praiseful and heavenward as you take the journey of the songs represented here.

If you haven't already put this project on your playlist, get the mp3 album and enjoy some great songs as you worship.

Product Link: Living For You - Gateway Worship

Review by Kim Gentes