Unexpected
by
Jason What You Need to Know:
Jason Crabb is one of the most versatile voices in Christian music today, spanning southern gospel, adult contemporary...
Chè Sarai is on a mission to present truth to this generation, and she's...
Alpenglow
by
Cameron Worship leader Cameron Moore's sophomore release Alpenglow is a passionate worship album. Hope and love are consistent themes that bind the project together. Cameron Moore expands his worship...
A New Face In Worship | Posted September-09-2014
Julie Elias is a bright new face in Christian music. After spending time in Hollywood, she knew she needed to do something more fulfilling with her life. God's direction brought her not only to record Christian music, but also to minister specifically to youth. That ministry is what helped bring about Julie's new worship album Love Rain Down. With a voice like Natalie LaRue's and an eclectic musical style, Julie Elias leads listeners of all ages to the heart of worship.
The title track "Love Rain Down" is one of the originals on the album and sounds very much like something you would hear in a contemporary worship set. The music is upbeat, and the lyrics give honor to the God who reigns forever and whose "love brings us life."
Also on the album is Julie Elias' cover of the Misty Edwards song "You Won't Relent." Featured on this track with Julie is worship leader Justin Adams from Calvary Worship Center in Colorado Springs. Justin's voice is the perfect complement to Julie's, and together they deliver a powerful worship track. The song starts out slow but around 2:14 the music amps up into a brief guitar solo worthy of an 80s hair band and leads into the lyrics "You won't relent until you have it all... Come be the fire inside of me."
Closing Thoughts:
Julie Elias is new to the Christian music audience, but she brings with her a sincerity and emotion that you would hear from someone who'd been in the ministry for years. Her original music will be a great addition to church worship sessions, and her covers will help reach a new generation of listeners. I look forward to hearing what she does in the future.
Powerful and Emotional Worship | Posted August-17-2014
Award-winning group Selah has had a heart for worship since their origin. No matter the style of song, the sincerity behind the lyrics comes through in the emotional vocals and instrumental backing. Todd Smith, Amy Perry and Allan Hall have worked hard this past year to bring You Amaze Us to life. This latest studio project is a combination of old and new worship that blends seamlessly together for a complete experience.
"Soon and Very Soon" is a traditional hymn by Andraé Crouch to which Selah added an African flair and new bridge melody. Not only is it sung in English, it's also sung in the language of Todd's childhood, Kituba. The language and new melody work well with the hymn and make for an interesting new take on an old classic.
"O The Blood" and "At The Cross" are powerful reminders of what happened at Calvary. "O The Blood" is wonderfully backed by a choir that lends to the emotion behind the piece. "At The Cross" includes the goosebump-inducing lyrics "At the cross, the Prince of Heaven died. At the cross, death became a lie," reminding listeners of exactly what the cross means. Both songs fit well in the overall theme of being amazed by God and what He's done in the lives of those who believe in Him.
Closing Thoughts:
I can definitely hear more than a few of these songs being sung in churches, as You Amaze Us has songs that will appeal to many different styles of worship. The blend of new and old songs works well and adds to the cross-generation appeal. You Amaze Us is another great release from Selah.
The Next Big Bluegrass Thing | Posted July-22-2014
Flatt Lonesome is a fun young band that is taking the bluegrass world by storm. The band consists of brother and sisters Buddy, Charli and Kelsi, and their friends Dominic, Michael and Paul (who is married to Kelsi). They've had a number of wildly successful performances, including The Grand Ole Opry's 87th Birthday Bash, IBMA Fan Fest, Joe Val Bluegrass Festival, and Music City Roots. Besides making great music together, they also teach and mentor kids at bluegrass camps and give private lessons. In 2013, Flatt Lonesome received a nomination for the IBMA Emerging Artist of the Year Award. More recently they signed with Mountain Home Records for the release of their sophomore album Too.
Kicking off this album is the song "So Far." The song gives listeners a taste of the picking skills, amazing vocals, and great bluegrass harmony that is Flatt Lonesome. Another fun song on the album is "Never Let Me Go" which has a bluegrass swing to it, evoking images of a dance during a barn-raising.
Showing Flatt Lonesome's gospel side, "I'm Ready Now" reminds listeners that if they accept Jesus' gift of salvation, they'll be ready when He calls them home. Not only does it have a great gospel message, it also showcases some pretty quick picking. "He Still Hears" is a slower gospel moment on the album. With the lyrics in the chorus "He still hears when it seems you're all alone. He still hears when your bread has turned to stone," Flatt Lonesome reminds listeners that God's ears are always open and they can call on Him anytime.
Closing Thoughts:
Flatt Lonesome's new album Too is like a hoedown without the hay. Talented picking in a style like Flatt and Scruggs combined with robust vocals makes for a complete bluegrass hit. It's easy to see why Flatt Lonesome is becoming a popular new bluegrass group, and I'm excited to see how they grow on their music journey.
Song to Dowload Now:
"Slowly Getting You Out Of The Way" (Get it on iTunes here.)
Journey of a Troubled Soul | Posted July-07-2014
George Jones (1931-2013) is a legend in country music. With over 50 records in his discography, it's no surprise that people are still listening to his chart-topping hits. Jones sang everything from honky-tonk to ballads to gospel, and he did it with passion.
Personal friends Charlene and Earl Peanutt Montgomery wrote The Legend of George Jones: His Life and Death to give people a more complete picture of the man behind the music. Published in April 2014, The Legend of George Jones includes a bonus CD of songs written by George Jones and Earl Peanutt, plus the never-before released title song, “The Legend of George Jones.” The songs included on the CD take listeners on a journey through the many years of George Jones' music career.
Sung by Tosha Hill, the first song on the CD is “Let's All Go Down to the River” and it is most definitely a gospel tune. With its Grand Ole Opry style, it invites listeners to “go down to the river” where “there's a Man who's walkin' on the water.” The lyrics clearly point to Jesus and His divine power and show that George Jones was a man who grew up in the church. “The Legend of George Jones,” performed by Dinah Smith, sums up the life and music of George Jones in four minutes. A bit darker in tone than the rest of the works included, it gives listeners a glimpse into the experiences that made George Jones who he was.
Another great song sung by Tosha Hill (who sounds a bit like Miranda Lambert) is “Someday My Day Will Come.” This a moving number with only guitar accompaniment that everyone can relate to and the line “For each step I take Lord I'm set back two” is one of the most powerful lines in the song. Who hasn't experienced that in life? Definitely a song that will remind listeners that life on this earth won't last forever, but the end will be a beautiful thing.
Closing Thoughts:
The Legend of George Jones is a good collection of George Jones covers. All the singers were new to me, but they all have great voices and potential to go far in the music business. There were a few songs that I think would have been better covered by male singers because of context but the ladies still did a good job with them. For George Jones fans, The Legend of George Jones is a good album to add to the library, if you don't mind covers.
Song to Download Now:
“Let's All Go Down to the River” (Get it on iTunes here.)
PhronsieHowell_NRT's Music and Book Reviews 
