Who would have known that American Idol 2007 champion Jordin Sparks started off as a backup vocalist for MWS?
A few years ago Michael W. Smith brought a 15 year-old background singer on stage as a featured vocalist on one of his Christmas tours. That singer was the future American Idol champion, Jordin Sparks. Jordin shares in this video about the impact of her mentor, Michael W. Smith, and the importance of mentors in peoples lives.
Michael continues to stay in touch with Jordin and is humbled by this video that we had know (sic) idea was being created... watch the video and think about those in your life that look up to you. Sometimes you never know when someone is considering you their mentor and learning by watching how you live your life. (from michaelwsmith.com)
Here's the video, with a special cameo from Kevin Jonas:
I wish they had interviewed MWS in the video though... that would have been nice, and would have given a Grammy-winning CCM pioneer his well-deserved day in the sun.
Nonetheless, it's heartening to know that a mainstream singer is not afraid to quote a Christian artist as a main influence. Go Jordin!
Listening to Charlie Hall has always seemed to me a little bit like eating pufferfish at a Japanese restaurant - an acquired taste that may or may not go well with everyone who tries it (although I haven't yet heard of anyone poisoned to death from listening to Charlie Hall).
His lyrics and melodies have always tended towards obscurity (seriously, who sings songs about being found between Porch and Altar?), and his very unique (being politically correct here) voice and singing style have left quite a lot of listeners (myself included) out in the cold.
So it was with great trepidation that I opened my copy of The Rising and popped it in my CD player.
And I found, to my surprise, that it was a lot more listenable than I thought it would be.
There are still lyrics that made me do a double-take (We are rising / In Your rising - from the title track Rising; and Come illuminate the face that brings the healing / Comd illuminate the truth that brings the freeing - from Breathe), and some melodies and arrangements still need some getting used to, but the album as a whole has a pleasant electro-pop-rock feel that doesn't grate on the ears.
I do think that some of the songs could sound better if arranged differently, and I'm still making myself get used to Hall's voice.
But for a start, at least I'm not averse to re-listening to the album for my full review.
For a change, I'm going to leave this open-ended until I've given the album a couple more listens. Who knows? Perhaps I'll turn into a die-hard Charlie Hall fan by the end of the week.
I can't say the same for pufferfish though.
Here're two tracks from the album for your kind perusal please - the title track Rising (A Song of Ascent) and the slightly-maudlin Deeper In Love:
Let us know what you think! Charlie fans - no hate mail please, I have a fragile heart.
This is the second year that VFC's youth ministry (TheEDGE) is organizing the international youth conference - last year's conference saw over 400 young people registered as delegates and close to 800 youths attending the night rallies every night!
We're SUPER excited this year because my personal hero (well, one of them at least) Pastor Jude Fouquier (Facebook | Twitter) will be preaching, together with the very gifted Henry Seeley (Facebook | Twitter) of Planetshakers fame! Of course, the youth pastor of VFC, Pastor Jeremy Seaward (Facebook | Twitter) will be there too to lay down the Word!
We'll be giving up-to-date coverage of what's going on at the conference via Facebook and Twitter, so make sure you're following us! We'll also do our best to bring you exclusive interviews with the three key speakers! So keep coming back during the conference for updates!
My initial impressions for Chris Tomlin's And If Our God Is For Us... can be summarized as such:
And If Our God Is For Us... > Hello Love
but
And If Our God Is For Us... < See The Morning < Arriving
That's not to say that AIOGIFU (sorry, album title too long) isn't a great album. It is. But at first listen, it doesn't quite reach the heights that Tomlin's earlier albums attained (less Hello Love, which I really had zero emotional attachment to).
AI (sorry, acronym too long) is a hodgepodge of downright brilliant songs like the opening track Our God (the title of the album is the first line of the bridge) - which was also performed on the 'live' Passion album Awakening - and pleasant but somewhat ho-hum tunes like Lovely.
If you liked Our God on the Passion album you'll love it here. Tomlin has given it the full choir + strings treatment, and it comes off sounding way grander than I could ever have imagined.
There's a superb duet with Christy Nockels - Faithful - and a song that smells like an instant classic to me - All To Us (it might just be the next How Great Is Our God, a song that's sung to death because it's so widely loved. Kinda like getting smothered to death by a hug.)
However, the one song that I couldn't get out of my head for days after I heard the album was the very pop-rock I Will Follow, replete with drum loops and falsetto vocal riffs (think One Republic).
The album closer is Awakening, which was the title track of the Passion album. I was mildly disappointed here because this song had such excellent potential to be the hugest, baddest, meanest final track on the album had it been given the Our God treatment. Sadly, no soaring strings = no super last song. It's still nice, but I kinda think the Passion version sounds nicer because it had 30,000 people singing along.
As is requisite for any Chris Tomlin album, there are a handful of upbeat numbers on AI. Same thing, I don't think they're bad, in fact they're pretty good, but just not great. No Chains On Me is a declaration of freedom, but it doesn't quite compare to insta-classics like Your Grace Is Enough (on Arriving) or the awesome Let God Arise (on See The Morning).
I shall be critical for now and give A (too lazy to type 2 letters!):
Stay tuned for my final review! In the meantime, here's the super super super super super version of Our God:
Here at illuminated, we get really excited when we get fan mail! Actually, we get really excited when we get any type of mail. Because it gets reaaaaaaally quiet out here.
So we're pleased to reproduce in full, this fan mail/album review hybrid for Audrey Assad's The House You're Building from Ian Wu! (NB: All views expressed are Ian's, as are all typos and grammar errors. But we love Ian anyway! LOL!)
Having a male artist dominated playlist on my ipod, it was with a little apprehension that i decided to get this debut! Oh boy what a good choice i made!
The thing that struck me about this album was that it was essentially very very, simple. No flashy guitar solos, flowery synth effects (not that i have anything against those), but instead assad's voice was the star. It's a kind of album that you'll listen to on a rainy day, or well maybe just late at night with some warm lights and a cup of coffee.
So, I choose to believe, as i carry this cross, You'll carry me. Simple truths melodically spun into lyrics, what could be better? If i had to liken Audrey to any other artiste, he would be Jimmy Needham. Not so much for her musicality, but for her straight up, simple yet powerful lyrics, just like Jimmy's.
Folks this album is a must get! Kudos to elvin here for providing us all with a point of reference before purchasing any album, and of course theGLOW where i get all my albums from!
In His Love,
Ian
Keep the mail coming people! You can email us at illuminated.ee@gmail.com or just leave a comment after every post (look for a link that usually says 0 Comments - sad face).
We're working on getting illuminated onto Twitter so you guys can get updates even more regularly! PLUS we'll have a Twitter bar on the site so you can air your thoughts and discuss reviews with other fans at the same time! How cool is that!
And it could very well be their hardest rockin' album to date.
Driving guitars, infectious drum beats, and the hypnotic Southern twang that is Mac Powell come together in a powerful package that's sure to get you out of your chair and onto your feet (or at the very least, you'll be tapping your feet or bobbing your head in time).
Third Day has a knack for pairing the simplest, most straightforward lyrics with insanely catchy melodies that are easy to enjoy and sing along to.
Here's my hypothesis as to why Third Day songs are so easily recognizable and singable: Third Day song titles appear at least twice in the chorus of the named song.
I shall now attempt to prove my hypothesis, by copying out the chorus of the tracks in the album, followed by the name of the song.
#1: Lift up your face Lift up your face
Salvation is coming
Salvation is coming
(Lift Up Your Face)
#2:
Well, you've got love and I've got time
Won't you make a move before I change my mind
And I want to believe it's true
I'm listening close
Won't you make your move now
(Make Your Move)
#3: Children of God, sing your song and rejoice
For the love that He has given us all Children of God, by the blood of His Son
We have been redeemed and we can be called Children of God, Children of God
(Children of God)
#4:
You better give up, gotta stop running
It's the end of line, it's time to surrender
Hands up, turn it around
Fall to the ground, are you gonna surrender
(Surrender)
#5: Trust in Jesus
My great deliverer, my strong defender, the Son of God
I trust in Jesus
Blessed Redeemer, My Lord forever, the holy One
(Trust in Jesus)
#6:
Where love like a river flows
Peace like you've never known
And joy never ending lives
A place where faith can find
Hope that will never die Follow me there
Come on follow me there
(Follow Me There)
#7:
Well I'm gone
It was nice to meet you
But I'm gone
Sure gonna miss you
But I gotta keep moving on
Can't stay in one place too long
Say a prayer for me I'm gone
(Gone)
#8: What have you got to lose What have you got to lose
And tell me why you're so afraid What have you got to lose What have you got to lose
Think of all you have to gain
(What Have You Got To Lose)
#9:
When you're down and you're falling fast
And you feel like your hope won't last
You know that I'll be your miracle
When you find that your faith is gone
You're not sure if you can carry on
You know that I'll be your miracle
(I'll Be Your Miracle)
#10: Everywhere You go I wanna go
Will You take me with You
Everywhere You lead I wanna be by Your side
Everyone You love I wanna love
Just like You love me Everywhere You go I wanna go there with You
(Everywhere You Go)
#11:
Sing Your song to me
Oh there's no greater thing
Than to listen to the sound of Your voice
When I hear Your song
I wanna sing along
And listen to the sound of Your voice
The sound of Your voice
(Sound of Your Voice)
#12:
Don't give up faith Don't give up hope
There's always something better
Waiting around the corner
Don't give up now
Please don't let go
What can feel like the ending
Could just be the beginning Don't give up hope
(Don't Give Up Hope)
Gentle readers, hypothesis is 100% proven.
And here's the thing, I decided to do this experiment on a whim, so I didn't cheat and read through all the lyrics before typing them all out!
Therein lies the mass appeal of Third Day - simple lyrics that speak straight to the heart, catchy melodies that stay in your head long after you've turned off your iPod or CD player, and the awesomeness of Mac Powell's pipes all add up to create a sound that is distinctly them.
And this album is Third Day at their very best.
Their brand of Southern rock may not appeal to everyone, but I'm going to hazard a guess that listening to this album will make you change your mind.
And for once, a Christian music video that doesn't make me cringe! Check out the official video for the opening number, Lift Up Your Face. It might take you a while to get the meaning behind the story (I had to watch it twice before I did), but once you do, it's beautiful.
And here's another of my favourite tracks from the album, the amazing Children of God:
What do you think? Is this Third Day's strongest album to date? Is the 'two titles in the chorus' a Third Day phenomenon or does it apply across all artists? Let us know what you think! Leave a comment!
Can you believe it? It's been 15 years since Flood and Liquid (some of you weren't even born yet) revolutionized the Christian Rock genre and proved to the world that you didn't have to sell out to attain mainstream success (although the guys did draw their fair share of controversy in the early years amongst conservative circles).
With The Shelter, Jars of Clay delivers an album that is every bit as revolutionary as the original Jars of Clay was 15 years ago, whilst staying true to their acoustic-rock roots.
There are collaboration albums, and then there are collaboration albums. The Shelter sits firmly in the latter category. There are plenty of albums and songs out there that feature artists writing and performing together, but most of those never progress beyond being artistic collaborations.
On the other hand, Dan Haseltine's idea of getting other artists to buy-in to the concept of 'Shelter' and then perform on Jars-written tracks (instead of contributing to the creative process) is just sheer genius - creating an album that just oozes the very essence of community and mutual support.
The concept is nothing less than abstract but somehow, Jars of Clay and their guest artists manage to turn the abstract into something tangible, something that we are all familiar with and can relate to.
Perhaps the best way to understand what I'm trying to say here (words are failing me miserably right now) is to sample some of the tracks from the album.
We Will Follow - featuring Gungor:
The title track Shelter - featuring Brandon Heath, Audrey Assad and TobyMac:
Lay It Down - featuring David Crowder and Dawn Michele:
So here's my final verdict:
Here's the 'downside': if you're not a Jars of Clay fan, it might take some listening to get used to this album.
But once you do, it's likely that the songs and their message will stay with you for quite a while.
How many of you out there are old enough to remember such Jars of Clay classics as Flood, Liquid, Love Song for a Saviour and Needful Hands? Leave a comment and tell me so I feel better knowing that I'm not the only oldie out here!
In my initial impressions for Audrey Assad's The House You're Building, I said that:
"...this album sounds like a debut album should - carefully crafted, meticulously recorded and presented as a labour of love."
Having listened to it incessantly over the past week or so (mostly because I couldn't help myself - I just find myself scrolling through my iPod and landing on this album), I think I'm totally, completely, utterly spoilt.
Every other debut album had better be as good as this.
Assad's voice is an amazing instrument in its own right - bringing clarity and brilliance to beautifully written words and music. Never overbearing, never underwhelming - her voice imbues every lyric with just the right amount of strength and emotion to capture your heart and your imagination.
The genre of the music makes for comfortable and easy listening, but the lyrics will tickle your intellect and bring you on a journey of sights, sounds and colours:
I love you more than a slow-falling Summer rain
More than a silence that only the snow leaves behind
I love you more
And I love you better than the grey of the Autumn air
Better than spring in its blooming against the sky
I love you more
It may not be as red as the roses yet
It may not be as strong as the old oak trees, but
Love planted deeply becomes what it ought to be
(Ought To Be)
This may sound trite, but I can't think of any song on the album I love more than another on the album because (here it comes) I love them all equally.
Audrey Assad is one of those artists that show up every once in a while and make you go wow.
The House You're Building is one of those albums that show up every once in a while and make you go wow.
So it's not going to be surprising that the album gets:
This perfect album is worth every dollar and cent spent. My only worry now is, how can Assad top this for her next album?
Here are 2 tracks from the album for your listening pleasure (go buy the album already!) - the title track The House You're Building and the album closer, Show Me.
What do you think about Assad's debut album? Is it great or does it fall shy of your expectations? Let us know, leave a comment!
You know it's not good sign when you're listening to an album and then you find yourself skipping tracks.
Unfortunately, that's what I ended up doing quite a bit on this, Jeremy Camp's We Cry Out.
As I mentioned in my initial impressions, this album ends up being, by turns, both bland and engaging.
The bland bits are songs like Mighty to Save, Everlasting God and Overcome - covers of originals that just don't work for me. There are just so many other better versions and covers of these tracks out there that somehow, it feels to me like Camp's just including these songs in the album because he likes them.
There's nothing really wrong with that, I suppose. But the arrangements aren't superb, and to some extent I feel that he tries a bit too hard to infuse a worshipful atmosphere into them, like he does at the end of Mighty to Save.
Not all his covers are sub-par though. I liked his take on Matt Redman's You Never Let Go and Tim Hughes' Jesus Saves.
However, the real standout tracks on the album are the ones he penned himself, like the congregation-friendly You Are The Lord and the final two tracks, Unrestrained and King Jesus - tracks which show that a good worship song is naturally worshipful, you don't have to do anything to make it more so.
So here's my final verdict:
Jeremy Camp's We Cry Out is not a bad album - if for some reason you've never heard some of the covers before, you'd probably give this album a higher rating.
However, for those of us who have, he doesn't quite reach the height or depth that previous artists have set for these songs, which is disappointing, given that he writes great songs which are both worshipful and relevant.
I shall end this review off on a brighter note - take a listen to one of the better tracks, the mid-album You Are The Lord.
Think this album deserved better? Leave a comment and let us know what you think!
Here at illuminated, we get really excited about new music and new artists. Granted, Josh Wilson isn't really new - he released 2 albums on an independent label in 2004 and 2006 before releasing another 4 under the established Sparrow Records label from 2008 to 2010.
However, his lucky break came on 3 Jan 2010. While waiting out security delays at Newark Liberty International Airport, Josh decided to entertain his fellow passengers so he took out his guitar and started playing the Beatles' Hey Jude while the crowd sang along.
Someone took a video of it, posted it on youtube and the rest, as they say, is history:
Here's a track from his 2008 album Trying to Fit the Ocean in a Cup, the brilliantly written song Saviour Please:
His amazing musicianship coupled with honest, straightforward lyrics make him an artist to watch!
Here's hoping that our friends at theGlow will bring in some of his music, because right now, we're really loving us some Josh Wilson!
Third Day's brand of Southern/Gopel Rock lives on in Move, their latest album.
Expressed mathematically, I would think that:
Southern/Gospel Rock =
Songs in Mostly Minor Keys
+ Driving Distorted Guitars
+ Sudden Lapses Into Half-time Beats
+ Generic But Still Uplifting Lyrics
+ Occasional Banjos/Wurlitzers
+ Harmonica Solo
+ Black Choir
+ Mac Powell's Gravelly Voice™.
The last part of the formula is especially important for any third Day record. Sung by anyone else, most of the tracks would probably come across lame and/or cheesy.
But the deep, rich tenor of Mac Powell's voice carries the album and makes it compulsively listenable.
Here's a sample track from the album, the uptempo Gone:
But the song that I really really like on this album is this one - a classic Third Day power ballad called What Have You Got To Lose:
Unless you have something against Third Day or Mac Powell's voice gives you an allergy, there really is no reason to dislike this album.
But is it a great album? I'll withold judgement and comment on that until I post my final review of the album. In the meantime, here's a great Third Day staple to put a smile on your face (for those of us old enough to remember).
Jars Of Clay's latest project, The Shelter, is, at first listen, an intimate offering that doesn't stray far from their classic guitar-driven roots.
What makes it stand out is its message, and the myriad artists who contribute on the album.
Quoting from the CD sleeve:
This album is inspired by the old Irish words, "In the shelter of each other, the people live." These songs are meant to celebrate and inspire small communities of people to care for one another and embody the love, peace and hope promised by God and found in the life of Jesus."
A veritable list of Christian music's luminaries (both past, present and ancient) sing along on every track except one:
Brandon Heath,
Audrey Assad (yay!),
Gungor (or The Artist Formerly Known as Michael Gungor),
Mac Powell (of Third Day fame),
Derek Webb,
David Crowder (thankfully, not in his Church Music mode),
Matt Maher (there he is again!),
Sara Groves,
Amy Grant (still singing!)
and Burlap to Cashmere (remember these guys?!).
What I really like about this album, besides the fact that the songs are well-written (In the shadow of the cross where my first love died / In the valley where we learn how to climb so high / Will You open my heart and reach inside / Till the blood on Your hands is Yours, not mine - from the track We Will Follow) is that the inclusion of the guest artists in each song never feels egregious and overbearing, neither do they sound as if they were thrown in as an afterthought. They form a natural, integral part of the record - indeed, the message of The Shelter would be lost if they had not participated in the process and the product.
This is an album that's easy to listen to and enjoy. While I work on the final verdict for The Shelter, check out this video of Dan Haseltine talking a bit about the idea behind the record and what Jars of Clay want to achieve with it.
And here's a video of the powerful opening song, Small Rebellions.
Audrey Assad's debut album is an amazing and delightful effort that will undoubtedly please fans of indie pop/rock singers like Colbie Calliat and Corrine Bailey Rae.
Another notable comparison that's made is of her to Brooke Fraser (still trying to get that new album!).
But where Fraser's lyrics are usually more contemporary and only subtly religious, Assad's writing tends towards overt spirituality (You say I am blessed because of this / So I choose to believe / As I carry this cross / You'll carry me - from the song Carry Me) and in my opinion, that makes for better listening because I don't have to spend time trying to decipher what she's actually trying to say in the midst of all the metaphors and other obscure literary devices.
She wields her pen like a paintbrush, drawing pictures that inexorably materialize in your head as backdrops for a story or message that she's telling. See specimen A - Show Me - the beautifully emotional song that marks the end of the album:
You could plant me like a tree beside a river
You could tangle me in soil and let my roots run wild
And I would blossom like a flower in the desert
But for now just let me cry
You could raise me like a banner in a battle
Put victory like a fire behind my shining eyes
I would drift like falling snow over the embers
But for now just let me lie
Bind up these broken bones
Mercy, bend and breathe me back to life
But not before You show me how to die
Set me like a star before the morning
Like a song that steals the darkness from a world asleep
And I'll illuminate the path You've laid before me
But for now just let me be
Let me go like a leaf upon the water
let me brave the wild currents flowing to the sea
And I will disappear into a deeper beauty
But for now just stay with me
God for now just stay with me
Couple amazing lyrics like that with a myriad of brilliant arrangements - ranging from driving rock to quiet piano and strings - not forgetting her amazing range and rich vocal tones, and you have an album you're not going to tire of easily.
In sum, this album sounds like a debut album should - carefully crafted, meticulously recorded and presented as a labour of love. While I work on my final thoughts about this album, check out another of the standout tracks from the album, Restless.
I remember listening to Jeremy Camp's first ever radio single I Still Believe on an Internet Christian radio station sometime back in what, 2000, when I was 18? Which kinda tells you how old I am. But it's alright, I'm not the vain sort. Except that I still insist on kids calling me 'kor kor' and not 'uncle'.
But I digress.
With honest, moving lyrics that related to how I felt in my walk with God back then, I remember being so taken with that song that I made myself learn to play it on the guitar (in fact it was the first 6/8 song I ever practiced and learnt to play).
So, listening to this album (I'll be honest and say I haven't listened to another Jeremy Camp record since then) there was a sense of anticipation and expectation that I felt while plugging in my earphones.
After my first listen through, I found myself feeling oddly satisfied and disappointed at the same time.
Disappointed because some of the covers he does on the album (like Hillsong's Mighty to Save, Desperation Band's Overcome and Brenton Brown's Everlasting God) just don't feel to me as good as their original performances, or even their other covers (case in point: Lincoln Brewster's version of Everlasting God sets the standard waaaaaay too high).
I pointed this out to a friend after listening to it and he argued that they're not necessarily worse, they just sound different. And I thought, is that a polite euphemism for not great?
I mean, if you're going to cover a song that has already been recorded before, once or even twice or umpteen times (as in our case study Everlasting God), you've got to be able to put a fresh twist on it, make it sound new.
And sometimes, you just don't mess with a classic. Desperation Band's Overcome is one of my favourite songs of all time, and the way it was recorded on their album Everyone Overcome was simply phenomenal and mind-blowing. Jeremy Camp has great intentions (he was so moved by the song he decided to cover it) but as one of my pastors likes to say, good intentions are not enough - and his cover of this fantastic song sounded to me a little... lame.
So much for the disappointing part.
Where I felt truly satisfied and convinced that this is the same Jeremy Camp whose I Still Believe made me weep ten years ago, was when he performed originals like We Cry Out (a Camp and Brenton Brown collaboration) and You Are The Lord (Camp + the almost omnipresent Matt Maher).
The last two tracks were, I felt, the best songs on the album where the atmosphere of worship just permeated every word and every note.
So take this selfish heart of mine
I want to give it all
I've wasted too much time
And melt away everything that's not of You
I want to know You more
So much deeper than I do
Completely unrestrained
-Unrestrained
None can separate the very hope and grace that He displayed
Neither height nor depth or ayone can steal the love He gave
- King Jesus
So, for now, I'm going to be conservative and give the album the following rating:
I'll give it a few more listens and maybe I'll hear something I missed during my first time through.
In the meantime, you can take a listen to the album (I think almost all of it is on youtube). Here's the penultimate song, Unrestrained for your listening pleasure.
Hi everyone, sorry for the lack of updates recently. It's been a really busy week!
I'm currently listening to a bunch of albums, and should have first impressions on the way:
1. Audrey Assad - The House You're Building
2. Jars of Clay - The Shelter
3. Jeremy Camp - We Cry Out (The Worship Project)
4. Klaus - Prepare The Way
5. Third Day - Move
Also trying to get my hands on Brooke Fraser's new album, will let you know how that turns out soon!
In the meantime, I simply have to share this link:
You can watch Michael W. Smith's music video for his single Save Me For Myself there.
Be warned - video quality does not commensurate with song quality. In other words, song = 5 iPods.
Video = MINUS 5 iPods.
Unless you're into really kitschy, 80s-style, over-the-top music videos, then you may think otherwise.
On the flipside, maybe MWS was aiming for something that's so bad it's good, in a campy way.
Either way, the video had been slapping my forehead and yelling "MICHAEL W. SMITH WHAT ARE YOU DOING YOU'RE RUINING ONE OF MY FAVOURITE SONGS ON THE ALBUM!!!"
Watch at your own risk.
What did you think of the video? Should we send MWS an online petition to never do something like that again? Leave a comment or email us and let us know!
Album reviewing is inherently subjective. Everyone has a different view and a different opinion about the music they listen to. At the end of the day, it boils down to the experience that you have with the music - does it connect with you, does it trigger a memory, does it make you feel better on a bad day - and everyone's experience with music varies according to time and place.
Glenn Packiam's Rumors And Revelations was one of those albums that simply didn't connect with me, even after repeated listens at different times and different places (my initial impressions gave it 3 iPods).
It's hard to pin down why exactly I didn't feel much for it.
Perhaps it was his voice - unique, definitely, but not carrying quite the same amount of weight his fellow Desperation Band-ers have (that's Jon Egan and Jared Anderson).
Or perhaps it was the arrangements - somewhat bland and unremarkable (with the exception of the opening track This Is Our God, which might be the guilty party here for raising my hopes for the rest of the album).
Or maybe it was just that the whole album just lacked any sort of punch. Nothing outstanding that made me stop and listen and go wow.
It does bother me that I don't particularly love this album (or any other album, for that matter). I guess I feel bad because it's as if I'm not appreciating all the hard work the artist and band and producers have put in.
But I just can't help coming away from this record just feeling a little bit...
Underwhelmed.
I'm guessing this is probably because of the high hopes I had for this one (I talked about that a bit in my initial impressions). I've heard opinions on both sides of the fence so far - some agree with me, while others argue that the whole laid-back quality of the album fits in snugly with GP's style.
That argument kinda fails for me here because I've listened to artists who make a living out of being laid back and I've liked them. So I'm not sure it's a matter of style here.
Nonetheless, the songs are great congregational worship tunes and it's very likely that a number of them will be sung (if not already) at your local church.
Here's hoping that Glenn Packiam's next album will be better than this one!
It's official - one week on, and Michael W. Smith's Wonder has lost none of its lustre from my initial listen.
If anything at all, it has gotten even better with every listen - every melody, every lyric, every arrangement coming together in what feels like to me a glorious conspiracy to keep this album playing in an endless loop on my iPod.
The uptempo songs have a very old-school U2 vibe to them - the bass riff in the second verse of the excellent Run To You is especially reminiscent of the U2 classic I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For. The driving beat and syncopated guitars, as well as the soaring gospel choir on I'll Wait For You makes it another track that wouldn't be out of place in one of the older U2 albums.
That's not to say that the arrangements are not original - the style similarities are easily explained by the fact that Smitty is good friends with Bono and the rest of U2 (how cool is that?!).
Beyond these few songs, the tenor of the overall album is undeniably Smitty.
Forever Yours and You Belong To Me are songs written for and dedicated to Michael's wife Debbie - whom, as far as I can remember, he credits on every album as being the 'love of his life'. The latter, in particular, is a beautifully tender love song where Smitty recalls that moment he first saw Debbie and knew she was the one (they dated for 3 weeks and got married in 4 months!).
Amongst the more moving tracks on the album are Welcome Home - written in memory and celebration of Debbie's grandmother, gone on to be with Jesus - and Leave - a heartbreaking song written from the perspective of a young teenager living with an abusive father and struggling with bullies, crying out: I just need to know that You're really out there / Tell me, are You really out there / 'Cause I believe.
The title track Wonder (Not Far Away), co-written with Stu G (formerly of Delirious?) and Mia Fieldes is a declarative rock anthem that has an insanely catchy chorus - I can't recall the number of times I found myself singing it without even realizing it - chances are it'll do the same to you.
Rise is an inspiring, guitar-driven track that challenges the listener to take a step forward into faith - Beyond the obvious / And what you can attain / Past the here and now / Where faith remains.
The album closer Take Me Over is a simple worship song - the chorus echoing the innermost cry of the created yielding totally to the Creator:
Jesus, Jesus
Take me over now
I surrender
Everything I have
I lay it down
All of me
This simplicity is made incredibly magnificent by the soaring strings arrangement that serves as the musical interlude - and when you close your eyes and immerse yourself in it, it's almost as if the music of heaven is playing and God Himself is pouring out his pleasure on the pure-hearted believer looking to surrender his life fully.
I still remember listening to the last track for the first time, late one night with my eyes closed, and just feeling such an inexplicable sense of God's presence in that moment. I'm getting goosebumps just thinking about it.
With 3 Grammies, 40 Dove Awards, 29 number one songs and 13 million albums sold, Smitty continues to amaze and inspire with his very own brand of Christian music - which could best be described as 'in the world but not of it'. Despite his mainstream success, Smitty has always remained focused on the reason for his music - God - and that's why, 22 albums later, we are still listening, and we are still inspired.
What do you think of the album? Share your thoughts and leave a comment!
"With designs and colors taken from drawings by his late daughter, Maria, Steven Curtis Chapman and Taylor Guitars present the Steven Curtis Chapman Signature Model (SCCSM). Based on the 714 Taylor that is Steven's personal favorite, the guitar honors not only the instrument that has brought his messages of hope to millions... but is also a touching tribute to Maria." - CCM Magazine
This piece of news reminded me that I'll have to do a feature on Steven Curtis Chapman someday. He's one of my Christian music heroes, and his story of loss and grief leading to faith will challenge you. But first, it will make you cry like a little girl who just found out her dad gave her whole Barbie set away.
In the meantime, here's a video of Steven playing the SCCSM at a guitar festival. He performs the beautiful song Cinderella, which I like but I know one of the fans of this website absolutely adores.
In every group of friends that we have, there's always that one crazy, slightly kooky, boisterous person who adds to the atmosphere just by being there. You know, the one who has a comeback from every mock insult (usually side-splitting), the one whose voice/laugh you can hear from a mile away, the one who always seems to take a bad situation and turn it around.
Now imagine one day, this one friend turns up at a gathering looking somewhat forlorn, and lacking the usual exuberance and energy that he or she always exhibits.
Naturally, everyone else takes it as a sign that's something's wrong. Now imagine that person's answer: "No, nothing's wrong. It's just that I've been thinking about life and what it means lately, and I'm giving a lot of thought to what I really want to do with my life."
How do you respond?
You're probably intelligent enough to know that I'm about to draw some sort of parallel between this somewhat cheesy anecdote and the album review.
Lincoln Brewster's past albums have always been like that one boisterous friend - insanely energetic, (sometimes) over-the-top, unreserved in his expressions of praise and worship through music and lyrics.
And then one day, he comes along with Real Life - quieter and simpler, and with no small degree of introspection and self-review.
How do you respond?
Like me, you'd probably not be very used to it for a while. In fact, you'd probably find it kinda strange and out of the ordinary.
But then, like me, you'd probably realise that there's really nothing wrong with a little quite introspection. In fact, it's quite necessary (more for some than for others I say). And you'd learn to appreciate that friend so much more, for being willing to show a more personal and vulnerable side of themselves to you.
Songs like More Than Amazing, Loved By You and Whom Shall I Fear (on which he dueted with the increasingly popular Kari Jobe) all reflect the songwriter's awe and amazement at the wonder of God and His goodness.
The more uptempo songs like Best Days, Reaching For You, So Good and I Belong To You are vintage LB, though even here it's easy to tell that there is a measure of control being exercised - there's no crazy exuberance like in Today Is The Day, but the rhythms and melodies are still infectious and will get you feet tapping, and the guitar solos are, as always, incredible (and also incredibly hard to replicate, for all you guitarists out there).
And then 2 songs stand out from the crowd.
The song Real Life is a portrait of LB's, well, real life, beginning with his childhood with an alcoholic and sometimes violent father, and how his mother protected him and introduced him to music. It then gives us a snapshot of his life as it stands right now (a loving wife and boys to raise). It ends with a vision of heaven and how he hopes his life has meant something - "I hope I leave a legacy / I hope that God is proud of me".
Made For More is, by far, the most honest song on the record. Here, LB (and a stripped down guitar track) lays bare his thoughts about fame and status ("Never thoughy my gifts would steal my worth / I never wanted fans just wanted church"), and his realization that he was truly created for more than the temporary distractions of this world.
The album ends on a triumphant note with Shout For Joy, a soaring declaration of how Jesus is the saving one.
My final take on this album?
It's LB showing us a deeply personal side of himself we've never seen before, but the great thing is that he never makes it about himself - but always about God.
The slightly laid back feel of the album fits in perfectly with the message being conveyed, while the guitar solos somehow just seem so organic, and never egregious. It's almost as if the guitar was an extension of his voice, and his masterful control of it makes every solo sound like an opus of praise and worship, richly emotive but never jarring.
My only negative takeaway from listening to the album is that it just feels too short. It's over before you know it.
But given the quality of this album, chances are you'll be putting it on repeat for quite some time to come.
This will probably be one of the easiest album recommendations I'll ever make. Jimmy Needham's Nightlights is one of those records where you get hooked on the first listen, and then you don't listen to anything else for a month.
At least, that's what happened to me (I played in on my office computer so often that my colleague could sing along after a while).
Needham's a relative unknown in the CCM world - up until now.
His first album with a major Christian music label, Speak, was pretty obscure. But it was his sophomore effort, Not Without Love, that started getting the attention of critics and listeners alike. The combination of his soulful melodies and perfectly crafted lyrics got everyone buzzing.
Night Lights is his third and most successful album yet, garnering critical acclaim and earning him legions of new fans (yours truly included).
His music can probably be best described thusly: the lyrical and musical genius of Jason Mraz mixed in with the unapologetic, straight-up Gospel of Billy Graham.
Here's one example of his poetry (I don't know, but lyrics just doesn't seem to do justice to his writing):
This is grace at its best
This is taking a rest-
less messed up heart
And having You clear it
(from Yours To Take)
And another one of my favourites, from the song Part The Clouds:
We might as well just fold our hands
If we can't call a spade a spade
'Cos we will miss the heart each time
If we won't ever shoot them straight
Pleasantries
Shading me
(ed note: Pleasant Trees. Shade. Geddit?)
And you too long
Let's part the clouds
And show the world the Son
Brilliant writing matched with a bluesy, folksy style makes for utterly great listening - rainy day outside and cup of hot chocolate optional.
That's right, 5 iPods for this absolute work of art. That means you need to make space in your CD collection right now.
Here's a track off the album for if you really need to preview - his first radio single Yours To Take. (Sorry, youtube doesn't allow embedding for this video - probably due to copyright issues.)
And as a bonus, here's Hurricane, a deeply personal worship song from his previous album Not Without Love.
Watch out for the full review of Lincoln Brewster's Real Life, coming in hot within the next 24 hours!
Whilst I'm still listening to and working on my thoughts for the first few CD reviews, I thought I'd recommend some of my favourite albums in the meantime which are worth a listen. Or two. Or ten.
Here's recommendation #1!
Unshakable (that's American spelling for you) is Deluge's first studio-recorded album - their previous album was also their first; the self-titled project was a live worship album recorded at their home church's youth conference.
What sets this album apart from the many other praise and worship offerings out there is its heart.
Most worship albums (especially 'live' ones) get by by stirring up, to a certain extent - hype and emotion. As a result, much of the original meaning of the song (and sometimes, the purpose of worship itself) gets lost in translation.
Lead singer/songwriter Jonathan Stockstill and Deluge have done so much more with this record.
Despite the 'studio-recorded' trappings, they have managed to crystallize and convey the very raw yet immense power of a heart rooted in desperate seeking for God - and the indescribable joy of knowing, for sure, that God is real, and He is looking out for us.
Have you ever sung a song in a worship service that expressed exactly what you were feeling in your heart towards God, almost as if someone had written or chosen this song just for you to sing? It makes your heart soar, it makes you cry, but most of all, it makes you want to worship so much harder.
And that's what this album does. From the rocking title track to the moving Refuge, from the exuberant I Wanna Dance to the plaintive, desperate cry of I Want To Be Used By You, every song captures the essence of a heart of worship and a desire to draw nearer to God.
Jonathan Stocktill's gravelly voice belies the strong conviction with which he sings:
Cleanse my heart and my hands
To become the image of the Lamb
Cleanse my heart and my hands
Once every while, an album comes along that does more than introduce us to a bunch of songs about God.
They literally invite the presence of God down into the listener's atmosphere, and the listener is compelled to respond simply in worship.
This is that album.
Check out this video of Jon Stockstill and the members of Deluge talking about the album and the stories behind the songs:
Since this is our first post, we're assuming this is your first visit. And we're guessing the first question in your mind is: what on earth are we? A secondary school student's science project on the wave-like (yet strangely quantum) properties of light? An online shopping portal for the purchase of lighting fixtures? Some secret religious cult from a Dan Brown novel? (The answer is (d) - none of the above.)
Illuminated is a Christian lifestyle blog - we've got reviews of the latest Contemporary Christian Music (CCM) and Praise and Worship (P&W) albums, artist news and interviews, inspiring articles and recommended readings to help you get closer to God, and we're dedicated to convering the biggest Christian events in town (that's Singapore, by the way. And if someone pays our airfare, we'll gladly cover overseas events too).
Our mission is simple. We want illuminated to be your one-stop site for your lifestyle needs. There's plenty of websites out there dedicated to the music and the culture of the world. We think illuminated can shine a little light into this corner of the World Wide Web, and with your help we hope we can spread that light even farther.
That's why we value your feedback and your opinions! We're just starting out, so we want to hear what you think about our site. Love it, hate it, got suggestions for more features? Drop us a mail at illuminated.ee@gmail.com, or leave a comment!
In the meantime, have a look around! We're still a work-in-progress so some content might be missing and the layout might be a little rough around the edges. We're working on it and we're committed to bringing you a great online experience.
Here's our promise: we'll update the site with new content every 2 days, if not every day! So make it a point to check back every day for more illuminated!
Happy surfing!
Elvin
(on behalf of the illuminated team. Which, for now, is just him.)
P.S. Don't forget to friend us on Facebook for latest updates! All you have to do is click 'like' on our Facebook page to become a fan!
Have you ever fallen in love with a song or an album at first listen and bought it, only to discover a week later that it wasn't that great? Or perhaps you started off not paying particular attention to a certain song, but find that it grows on you after repeated listens?
Yeah, it happens to us too. So here's the deal. For every album we review, we'll review it twice. Once when we first get it, and once more after we've heard it for a week. So you'll know which albums you should only get at discounted prices, and which ones truly stand the test of time and deserve the (limited) space on your CD rack and in your iPod.
We use a simple system to rate albums - 5 iPods means it's great, and 1 iPod means keep the money for something better.
Like so:
= An outstanding album on every front!
= Some minor quibbles, but still a great album.
= Equal parts satisfaction and disappointment.
= Not the strongest contender for your hard-earned cash.
= Use the money for another higher-rated album!
Half iPods don't work in real-life. But here, they help us distinguish between good and great albums. So yes, we feature 0.5 iPods for our rating system. Just don't do the same to your own one.
theGLOW is illuminated.'s source for CDs and DVDs. It's an online shop dedicated to bringing you the latest and greatest CCM and P&W releases at truly affordable prices. Looking for an album? Just visit the site and order from the catalogue of hundreds of releases! Can't find what you want? Send an email to the webmaster and he'll do his best to get it for you. You can choose your mode of delivery from snail mail, registered mail or self pick-up if you live in the Bukit Batok area. And did we mention that it's truly affordable? Forget the hassle of making a trip down to your not-so-local Christian CD store and paying not-so-great prices for your favourite CDs! Visit the site today and experience the future of Christian music retail for yourself!
P.S. We're hoping this glowing recommendation (pun intended) gets us a sponsorship deal!
