Another Collection of Faith-filled Anthems | Posted September-25-2018 What You Need To Know
Elevation Worship, the worship collective from Elevation Church in Charlotte, NC, is known for serving the Church with both declarative songs of praise and poignant songs of adoration and reflection. It's a balance of sounds, themes and worship moments they have learned to deliver well, and their latest project Hallelujah, Here Below is no exception.
What It Sounds Like
"Won't Stop Now" makes a great energetic opener for the album (and for a worship set) and has a hope-filled, anthemic bridge that is sure to have you and your congregation singing at the top of your lungs. "Echo" featuring Tauren Wells is another song along those same lines. It's joyful message of God's love causing us to break out in praise is perfectly complemented by the high-energy, synth and drum driven musical arrangement. It's a standout on the album for me as the song that would work best in a youth worship setting. "Faithful" is an interesting song sonically that combines the contemporary worship style we know Elevation Worship for with Gospel sensibilities in the arrangements and instrumentation - I could see a choir arrangement working well for this song. All around there are simply some fun melody lines and chord progressions on this album.
Spiritual/Lyrical Highlights
In true Elevation Worship style, every lyric is packed with truths that we are loved by God and free from shame ("Greater Than Your Love"), the victory of Jesus over sin and death ("Then He Rose," "Better Word"), and the hope of God's promises ("God of the Promise"). Every song is a declaration of praise to God, faith in who God is, how He can work in our lives, and faith-filled prayers for Him to do just that. From title track "Hallelujah, Here Below": What a wonderful day to come when every knee bows before Your name / But we will not wait until it does / For here and now shall Your Kingdom reign.
Best Song On The Record
It's a tie between "Echo" and "Then He Rose" for best song on the record. There's something about a celebratory praise song like "Echo" that just connects with people and makes a heart come alive in worship. At the same time, "Then He Rose" is a powerful song about the resurrection of Jesus that would make a great addition to Easter setlists.
Elevation Worship has delivered an album that is not only impactful spiritually but will also be a ton of fun to play and sing in personal or church worship settings. If you need a soundtrack for your heart's anthem to God, Hallelujah, Here Below is it.
Classic Church With A Contemporary Sound | Posted September-14-2018 What You Need To Know
Gaither Homecoming friend TaRanda Greene is back again with a brand new album, The Healing. Packed with poignant moments and lyrics that both challenge and inspire, The Healing showcases TaRanda's powerful vocals and features a performance with The Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir on "He's Been Faithful."
What It Sounds Like
There's something about a Gospel song that makes you feel like you're being enveloped in the presence of God when you hear it, and that's exactly what it's like to experience TaRanda Greene's latest album, The Healing. Featuring quieter piano driven moments ("Mercy Has Changed Me"), powerful choir vocals thanks to an appearance by the Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir ("He's Been Faithful"), hauntingly beautiful melody lines ("When The Healing Comes"), and even some hand-clapping, foot-stomping songs ("Think About You"), The Healing captures the sacred, "old church" sensibilities of Southern Gospel music packaged in a contemporary sound ("New Kingdom Rising"). And, let's not forget to mention that Greene's vocals are absolutely powerhouse and will stir your soul.
Spiritual/Lyrical Highlights
Hope is clearly a theme on this album, as "The Stone Is Rolled Away" expresses the hope of how Jesus can change lives right here and now: For every prodigal gone wild and every hurting father's heart / For the fearless and the faithless / For the wounded and the scarred / There's no reason to stay in the grave, the stone is rolled away. "When The Healing Comes" speaks to the hope and healing that will come one day with eternal life in Christ.
Best Song On The Record
"Think About You" wins for best song on the record - it's anthemic lyrics focused on faith and praising God's character joined with its uptempo feel and lively horn section make it a fun, inspiring song.
If you are a Southern Gospel fan but also have an appreciation for the contemporary music, then this album is for you. With The Healing, TaRanda Greene has delivered a body of work that captures timeless truth, classic and modern musical sensibility, and moving vocals into one incredible package.
Vulnerability and Powerful Lyrics | Posted August-11-2018 What You Need To Know
Pat Barret is known for his role as primary singer and songwriter of Atlanta-based worship collective, Housefires, and for co-writing the award-winning worship song, "Good, Good Father." Barett releases his full-length solo debut album as the flagship member of Chris Tomlin's imprint label with Capitol Christian Music Group, Bowyer & Bow.
What It Sounds Like
This album does a great job of using the instruments to serve the lyrics and create space for the listener to connect with God in the songs, as well as keeping the raw feel you've come to love from Housefires, even with the production of a studio album. There are several moments where space is left at the end of a song for the listener to linger and reflect on the lyrics and content of the song, and even to fill in some spontaneous songs and prayers as Pat does. ("Better," "My Hallelujah," "Hymn of the Holy Spirit.") These are hands-down the most powerful moments on the album. Some familiar Housefires songs also make an appearance ("The Way (New Horizons)," "Build My Life"). The final track, "Sails," features Bethel Music artists Amanda Cook and Steffany Gretzinger.
Spiritual/Lyrical Highlights
What's most refreshing about this album is how vulnerable and thought-provoking the lyrics are. The songs really do feel like modern sung prayers that remind you of the book of Psalms. A standout lyric from the song "Everything Is Sacred" is, "You don't see the lines we draw between secular and sacred." It perfectly captures the heart cry of the song—the desire to love God and live for Him in every area of life, not just the overtly spiritual ones.
Best Song On The Record
"Into Faith I Go" is my favorite song on the record because Pat's cadence and lyric delivery are intentionally imperfect, making the song feel like he is simply pouring out his heart out to God more so than crafting a song. It's an approach that's different and refreshing.
There is so much to love about Pat Barret's solo debut. True to his style as a worship leader, when Pat opens his heart in prayer and praise to God, it draws you in to connect with God and feel comfortable expressing your heart to Him as well.
Passion and Freedom | Posted June-21-2018 What You Need To Know
Here Be Lions is the Nashville-based ministry collective led by songwriter, worship leader and pastor, Dustin Smith. Here Be Lions makes their major label debut on Integrity Music with their new album, Only A Holy God.
What It Sounds Like
This is an album full of gems for corporate worship settings. Whether expressing passionate worship of God's nature ("Only A Holy God," "We're Singing Holy"), prayerful cries to experience God's presence ("Wildfire," "Encounter"), or powerful declarations of hope and victory in Christ ("Wonder Working Power," "Arise & Shine"), each song facilitates a conversation of prayer and praise with God. Listeners will recognize the song "Miracles," which originally appeared on Jesus Culture's Let It Echo (Live) album and was co-written by Here Be Lions front-man Dustin Smith. The drums, bass, electric guitars, and pads serve the songs well, helping to create an atmosphere of worship.
Spiritual/Lyrical Highlights
The lyrics on Only A Holy God are faith-filled. Confidence and thankfulness for the power of Christ in our lives fill every line of each song. Each lyric is crafted with vivid imagery that will immediately speak right to your heart and draw you into worship.
Best Song On The Record
"Wildfire" stands out as the best song on the record. It's joyful midtempo and lyrics crying out for the presence of God make it a great choice to open a worship set.
It's evident that Only A Holy God is an album created by people who are passionate about the presence of God and desirous to walk in the freedom He brings to our lives. That same passion to experience God will be inspired in everyone who listens to this album.
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