Because Of Your Love

I’m not sure why Brenton Brown would want to release an “American” album. But that’s exactly what the proficient South African worship leader says he intended to create with his latest, Because of Your Love. The decision seems questionable only because Brown’s notoriety spans the last 10 years with popular songs like “Everlasting God,” “Lord Reign in Me” and “Hallelujah (Your Love is Amazing).” In other words, why mess with a good thing?

Yet, Brown doesn’t disappoint on this Stateside influenced collection (Brown has been living here for the last three years), choosing modern and radio rock accoutrements for the new tracks.

Paul Baloche contributes on the straightforward rock song “Our God Saves,” while Leeland Mooring’s fingerprints can be found all over the slow-building “Adoration.” “Come Let Us Return (Gloria)” is a summery, rollicking number that rides catchy acoustic strums as a call to worship. It’s a joyous tune with infectiousness destined for congregations near and far. The pensive “Send Your Rain” was a response to the California wildfires, according to Brown, and the additional meaning only strengthens the solid track.

Some songs seem a bit too familiar (espec...

I’m not sure why Brenton Brown would want to release an “American” album. But that’s exactly what the proficient South African worship leader says he intended to create with his latest, Because of Your Love. The decision seems questionable only because Brown’s notoriety spans the last 10 years with popular songs like “Everlasting God,” “Lord Reign in Me” and “Hallelujah (Your Love is Amazing).” In other words, why mess with a good thing? Yet, Brown doesn’t disappoint on this Stateside influenced collection (Brown has been living here for the last three years), choosing modern and radio rock accoutrements for the new tracks. Paul Baloche contributes on the straightforward rock song “Our God Saves,” while Leeland Mooring’s fingerprints can be found all over the slow-building “Adoration.” “Come Let Us Return (Gloria)” is a summery, rollicking number that rides catchy acoustic strums as a call to worship. It’s a joyous tune with infectiousness destined for congregations near and far. The pensive “Send Your Rain” was a response to the California wildfires, according to Brown, and the additional meaning only strengthens the solid track. Some songs seem a bit too familiar (especially the oft-retread lyrics of “Holy”) but Brenton Brown continues to build his legacy of providing the church with quality, vertical songs for worship. –Matt Conner This review has been reprinted on NRT with permission from Christian Music Planet. Click here to visit ChristianMusicPlanet.com today!

Chances are you've sang the songs of worship leader and song-writer Brenton Brown. While his name might not be as tip-of-the-tongue familiar as Matt Redman, Chris Tomlin, David Crowder, etc., his compositions are nearly as ubiquitous. Songs such as “Everlasting God,” “Hallelujah (Your Love Is Amazing),” “Lord Reign in Me,” “Humble King,” and “Because of Your Love” have become contemporary worship staples and were all written or co-written by the aforementioned Mr. Brown.

Prior to coming to the U.S., the South African native led worship at several venues, was involved with the Vineyard Music Movement in the United Kingdom and toured the world extensively. He has written or co-wrote numerous familiar worship songs with contemporaries Paul Baloche and Brian Doerksen; as well as having peers such as Chris Tomlin and Lincoln Brewster record his songs for their worship projects. Five of his songs are included in worship licensing and administration organization CCLI’s Top 100. His first solo project, Everlasting God, was released in 2006 and quickly brought his name to the attention of a wider audience.

Because of Your Love is a distinctly different entity from Brown’s debut, affe...

Chances are you've sang the songs of worship leader and song-writer Brenton Brown. While his name might not be as tip-of-the-tongue familiar as Matt Redman, Chris Tomlin, David Crowder, etc., his compositions are nearly as ubiquitous. Songs such as “Everlasting God,” “Hallelujah (Your Love Is Amazing),” “Lord Reign in Me,” “Humble King,” and “Because of Your Love” have become contemporary worship staples and were all written or co-written by the aforementioned Mr. Brown. Prior to coming to the U.S., the South African native led worship at several venues, was involved with the Vineyard Music Movement in the United Kingdom and toured the world extensively. He has written or co-wrote numerous familiar worship songs with contemporaries Paul Baloche and Brian Doerksen; as well as having peers such as Chris Tomlin and Lincoln Brewster record his songs for their worship projects. Five of his songs are included in worship licensing and administration organization CCLI’s Top 100. His first solo project, Everlasting God, was released in 2006 and quickly brought his name to the attention of a wider audience. Because of Your Love is a distinctly different entity from Brown’s debut, affecting a more intimate and unvarnished feeling. Whereas many worship projects seem to be assembled as superlatives of the songs they include, Because of Your Love is more a suite of songs that epitomize and represent the quintessence of compositions and worship. Each song acts as an unguarded glimpse into Brown and his collaborators’ inner-being- sincere expressions of unfettered creativity. The songs of Because of Your Love are not only lyrically honest and sincere, but musically effortless, genuine and stylistically varied: Brown and his collaborators aren't afraid to reach into the dusty boxes of yore and make use of arrangements and instruments that are more traditionally associated with folk, bluegrass and gospel. The use of these less modern, more traditional instruments adds contrast, creating a bridge between their modernity and heritage. If you are a fan of Watermark, Chris Tomlin, David Crowder Band and Matt Redman, pick up Because of Your Love to experience Brenton Brown and Co.’s worship experience ably captured on media.