Kim Gentes

Joyful, unencumbered and refreshing. These are the thoughts that come to mind as you sit down and worship along with worship leader Carl Tuttle's latest studio CD 'Vineyard Classics'. These are some of the most poignant, worshipful songs you will ever hear. At the core of this album is simplicity and devotion. The songs are accessible in their musical and lyrical arrangements, though the album is very well produced and sonically pleasing. For those who are familiar with the songs that have come out of the Vineyard music stream in the last 25 years, they may be aware of the foundational component that Carl Tuttle and his music have played in forming the Vineyard values and style in its music content and writing.

On this album Carl revisits the best songs he has penned and captures fresh and engaging recordings of these great songs. From the celebrative 'Lift Jesus Higher' and 'Hosanna' to the repentant 'Oh Lord, Have Mercy on Me' to the glorious 'All The Earth Shall Worship', song after song will wash a sense of peace and truth into your heart. It's interesting to me that as I look at these songs, so much of the lyric content is simply capturing the message or direct content of the Psalms, or various other scriptures.

As a worship leader myself, I have a repertoire of songs from across many groups. I use some UK worship songs (Redman, Hughes, Delirious et al), Passion worship (Tomlin, etc), Integrity music (Doerksen, Ten Shekel Shirt), recent Vineyard music (Dwell, David Ruis, Andy Park etc), and a smattering of other sources (from Third Day tunes to old hymns). I mention this because it might help those who have similar song sets in their local churches. Over the last several years, as these songs have grown and expanded into our local churches, the music has become increasingly well produced and more complicated in arrangement. While it gives us fresh music with interesting sounds, in an effort to make each song more interesting, more engaging, more unique, it seems that we may have lost something. This new album from Carl Tuttle, reminded me of the simplicity and power of songs speaking of repentance, humility and simple abandon to falling at the feet of Jesus.

What I try to do, as a worship leader, is to hold in tension two things: following the dynamic direction of God for the moment, and using a collection of well-thought, scripturally-centered songs that present the complete picture of Christ and his works. What I love about this album is that it reminds me of one of the most important themes that can easily disappear from our music selections- the song of repentance. The seeds of revival and renewal have always been prayer and repentance (2 Chron. 7:14). Three songs on this album are powerful in that regard of giving us language to express our human weakness while inviting Christ's redemption to overwhelm us- 'Without Your Love', 'Because of the Lord's Great Love', and my favorite 'Oh Lord, Have Mercy On Me'. I recently reintroduced this last song to our local church during worship and it was very engaging. What I'd like to convey most of all is that this is an album that lyrically encourages you to simply bow down at the feet of Jesus.

Those of you who have long known these songs will be happy to find this CD of excellent songs collected into one release. Those who haven't heard these before, I strongly encourage you to check out this CD and be refreshed. A truly great album!

Product Link Carl Tuttle's Vineyard Classics

Review by Kim Gentes

From 2004 to the present, few Christian recordings have been able to attain the level of popularity that garners platinum record sales.  Fewer still have included songs that are not only great radio favorites but long term standards for Sunday morning worship. But all that and more has been accomplished by this amazing solo project from one of the top artists in Christian music today- Chris Tomlin. Arriving was Chris Tomlin's break out blockbuster album and it still holds sway as one of the best artistic endeavors in Christian music in the last 10 years.

Arriving became such a tremendous success for several reasons, but the primary are: great songs and great production. One of the hallmarks of a great artist is their ability to incorporate great songs that they didn't write. Tomlin shines in this regard, recognizing that while he has strong songwriting chops, some of the songs he is best known for are not his writing at all- Indescribable and Your Grace Is Enough two brilliant examples. Arriving is the perfect balance of radio ready songs and corporate worship favorites. This became the backbone of its stream of #1 radio hits. The creative genuis of Ed Cash rendered Tomlin in his absolutely best light, making the songs on this album shine.

Songs like Holy Is The Lord and How Great Is Our God have become staples in the CCLI top 10 list of most used songs in the world.  Cash's perfect production and layered sounds has since been copied time and again by other worship records, but never to the same level of authenticity or success.

But beyond the awards, success and record sales, this album represents what is the pinnacle of the praise and worship genre in Christian music- great art in a devotional context. While the album lacks the gritty vibe of a live project, nothing sounds phoney about the stellar arrangements placed on every track. Tomlin's high tenor reach and textured voice makes the project worth listening to all the way through.

While worship leaders would be ill-advised to retain the songs in same key as the original recording with Tomlin's soaring vocals, all the songs are usable and accessible. In fact, the tunes are so hook-laden and melodic any revisions will do well to retain the memorable arrangements even if shifting pitch for congregational singability. Again, this CD has recieved all the accolades possible. In the age of a collapsing music industry, church based worship music has continued to be as popular as ever. And none more popular than the songs, artist and writer of this album. Arriving has left a monumental imprint on the last 7 years of Christian music and continues to do so.  If you haven't got your own copy of the tremendous album, check out the link below and get the MP3 album for your collection. It is worth it.

Product Link: Arriving: Chris Tomlin

Review by Kim Gentes

The chapters of Nehemiah have long been a prophetic spark to call forth life in the church. The painful beginnings in the rubble of defeat and shame. The ongoing antagonism and attacks of Sanballat and other nay-sayers. Even the internal struggles of uniting the families and people into the one task of rebuilding the wall of hope. Nehemiah is not a story for the great victorious church, where Christians triumph idyllically in every circumstance. Rather, it is a call to the broken and tired church, where followers of Christ long to be reminded, and encouraged, to once again stand up, and say with that ageless prayer-confession of Joshua, "As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord" (Joshua 24:15).

With these two thoughts, Brian Doerksen begins an interwoven message of music and ministry through his newest offering, entitled "Today". As I soon found out, merely picking up this CD and listening to it, was a bit of a limiting perspective in engaging with all that this project encompassed. For days, I listened to and enjoyed the CD, but the richness of the "Today" experience wasn't clear until I began to read the book-length liner notes (seriously) and finally to pour over the "Today" DVD (available separately from the CD).

"Today" is a worship project that really needs to be experienced to be appreciated (IE. get the DVD!). And there is much to appreciate here. Musically, the track list is comprised of eight new songs (except for one, all written or co-written by Doerksen), five redone songs mostly from Doerksen's Vineyard repertoire, and two re-visited classic hymns. Stylistically, this is Doerksen's most diverse palette of tastes presented on a single album yet. While maintaining his signature vocals and soft pop acoustic/electric sound, Brian draws in sounds and sights of the past with moving renditions of hymns of the church, and incorporating music styling from classical and traditional influences. Blending pop vocals and instrumentation, adult & children's choirs, a wonderful orchestral group and even a jazz ensemble, Doerksen, and co-producer Philip Janz, create an album that bridges ages and builds a wall of God's faithfulness through music and multimedia.

The live evening of worship (as recorded on the DVD) begins with the reading of Nehemiah and a short message by Doerksen. The music recorded on the CD provides the content structure of the worship flow that goes from declaration and celebration to deep devotion and contrition to heartening prayer and exultant praise. The first song and title track bursts out with the anthem "Today", singing a modern revision of the declaration of Joshua. This song is typical Doerksen- refreshing lyrics, hook-laden melody, and easily played music. But right from this first track, there is a distinctive clarity on this project that defines a previously indefinable Brian Doerksen. From the understatement of pop influence on this album, to the inter-generational song selection, to the orchestral arrangements, to the blends of vocal leads, choirs, and children- Doerksen looks more at home on this album than any to date. The song "Today" will be a great new 'call to worship' song for the church.

The second track is the song "Everlasting", which is a building declaration song that is vibrant and memorable, and ripe for use in churches. And like much of the new songs on this album, it is a well-crafted collaborative songwriting effort. This CD is a wonderfully arranged worship set, songs selected purposefully to tell a story in a rich sequence of ebb and flow. Track three is a deep prayer/declaration (in the tradition of Psalm 42) called "You Are Everything". This song leads perfectly into the lilting melody of "The River", a country-styled song highlighting the beautiful voice of Brenda Janz. Don't miss this song, or you will miss one of the most easily adapted contributions on this new album. For brevity, I will not explain each song on this album, but please give yourself the benefit of listening to them. You won't be disappointed. From a song about our place with God ("My Redeemer"), to the call to war in "Fortress 144", to the timeless repentance anthem of "Refiner's Fire", this is a storehouse of great songs for the church.

My favorite track on this project is titled "Hear From Heaven", a soul-piercing prayer borne from text of 2 Chronicles 7:14. This prayer/song calls to God to forgive our wickedness and heal our land. I have been saying regularly in this review that you must experience this project to fully appreciate it, and this is most poignantly expressed in the video (from the DVD) of this song. I was moved to tears as I watched every person in the auditorium of the event expression hand actions while singing this song. The song rests in tender prayer transitioning from our cry for God's healing into the wonderful declaration of His work on the cross, through the song "I See The Cross". The album concludes with an equally powerful reprise of "Today", in which any father or parent will be brought to tears as you see generations of Christ's servants declare in song to Him, "today we choose to follow You"!

There is no doubt about it, the new album "Today" with Brian Doerksen will bring you a collection of songs ready for use in a broad spectrum of church applications from styling as diverse as guitar-driven bands to blended worship to choirs and orchestra-backed ensembles. But this project is much more of an experience of sounds and sight than just a few new songs. It is a celebration of what the church is called to, and what it can be- a church of unity, of power, of history and of "today".

Product Link Today

Review by Kim Anthony Gentes

Live worship albums have been a strange mixture of odd results over the years.  From ultra-produced albums that have little semblance to the actual original recording from which they are founded to the "push play" recordings of raw worship with poor production, one always has to take the "live" moniker in an album title with a grain of musical salt.  And this isn't just a recent thing- it is something that has been the way people have viewed "live worship" albums for now well over 15 years.  But few people would disagree that the monumental contribution of Kevin Prosch's "Even So Come" album gave us the landmark for all attempts at live albums that would follow in the 13 or so years since its original release by Vineyard Music (back in 1991).  We are elated to announce that Even So Come has now just be re-released and is available!

What is even more astounding about it is that while many have come after, attempting to mimic or even be inspired on to a better results- none, absolutely none, have surpassed Even So Come.  On the musical side, this album has a supreme combination of more vibe, great musicianship, and wonderfully balanced production than any live album ever recorded in the worship genre, and most Christian music for that matter.  Even if you aren't stylistically inclined towards Kevin Prosch's musical tastes, you simply can't ignore the great listening and engaging experience of this album.  On the "worship" side of things, this album epitomizes the spiritual journey of the "dream" spontaneous worship set- a time when the obvious anointing of the Holy Spirit was so present that it was captured on the recording of this evening of worship.

This album starts off right, as a live offering-- inviting the listener to humble their hearts by joining in with the opening prayer led by Kevin Prosch. Walking through the songs on this album is a list of classics that now stand as some of the most unique and powerful lyrical and musical pieces played in churches in the last 20 years.  The scripture-inspired prayer of "Show Your Power" catapults you into the experience from the first downbeat, as it has for thousands of churches around the globe. The great song, "Shout to the Lord" is a refreshing upbeat declaration of prayer and obedience to the direction of scripture to sing and even shout to the Lord. The next song is the title track- an ethereal, prayer song called "So Come" which invites Jesus to return to His bride the church in the manner of Revelations ("come Lord Jesus").  My favorite on the album, this song is as soothing to the soul as it is haunting to our sensibilities.    This is one of the few songs I have ever used in a church service, that also has the strength and depth of content to be equally comforting at a funeral of a loved one (I have used it in both).  The album truly moves on with the recording track of a spontaneous song, they titled "Great is the Lord", which highlights the amazing gifting of not only the musicians, but Prosch as truly an inspiring musical and lyrical gift to the whole church.  This is followed by three more Prosch classics (His Banner Over Me, Thanks Lord, Save Us Oh God) which have also found their place across the worldwide church.  Then comes another amazing spontaneous song, and finally the project concludes the way it began- with ministry and prayer.

What is even more amazing than the songs and this tremendous CD is the far-reaching effect of Kevin's ministry as an igniting force in the lives of innumerable worship leaders, from the local unknown worship leaders to now well-known ones such as Matt Redman, Darrell Evans and many more.

The re-release of this great album is welcomed back to where it belongs- a true gift to the world wide church!  Absolutely no one should miss having this CD in their collection, whether the worshipping Christian, or the aspiring worship leader.  It is such an important album on every level, we have to give it our Editor's Choice Award.  The number one live worship album ever!

Product Link Even So Come : A Live Night of Worship at the Anaheim Vineyard

Review by Kim Gentes

Sometimes listening to CDs means we miss the whole point of a worship recording project.  The idea that we are supposed to just "listen" to a music experience was not part of the heart or intention of most pastors, worship leaders or ministers. In fact, most of them would say that if all you did was listen to some nice songs, that they aren't interested in writing songs, making music and producing CDs. 

Such is the case with Vertical Music newcomer, Dave Lubben. His freshman release is a completely live and personal journey into what is really worship.  This does not involve the temporal items such as instruments, music and CDs, but the eternal action of laying down one's life, as a surrendering act of obedience, into the powerful peace of God's will.  You could have learned this was on Dave Lubben's heart, and in God's heart for him (and us!), simply by reading the incredible story in the CD liner notes. I will leave you to do that, but even without the amazing story of life and death that surrounds the recording of this album, all one needs to do is simply participate in what is sung and spoken on this wonderful musical journal to catch the real "story".  Aptly named, A Place Called Surrender is about the real message of Jesus.  The message he gave to all who would come after him- that they should take up their cross and follow him.

Each song on this project weaves a tapestry of humility and praise that any follower of Christ can echo, in words and heart. From songs of building joy ("Lord Most High" and "King Of Nations") to plaintiff prayers like ("We Need You", "Save Us" and "Speak To Us") to songs of abandon and devotion ("Surrender" and "Lay It Down"), this engaging night of worship is not just a CD, but a beautiful collection of modern psalms.  Initially, I was captivated by the energy and intensity of the opening cut "Lord Most High" and the heartfelt prayers included in the recording.  As I continued on, I went from praise to prayer and finally to bowing on my bedroom floor in worship to Christ, tears running down my eyes as I found myself reflecting on the call of the lyrics on my favorite new song- track seven, "Speak To Me".  Repentance is the response of our lives coming in contact with the Holy One, and as I echoed the words on that song, I found myself weighing sadly short of the scriptural themes being sung to God. As the CD continued on, the next track, "Lay It Down" has Dave Lubben reading from the text in Psalm 116 (verses 2, 3, 5, 7).  As the lyrics of the song and the Scripture reading wash over you, the essence of this project will become pristinely clear- it is about expressing the true heart of worship (submission to God's will, brokenness, offering our lives to Christ, and repentance).

And while the experience is clearly out front on this new project from the re-launched Vertical Music (the youth label from Integrity Music), this CD is also purveyor of both excellent musical presentation and powerful songs for the church.  In fact, the more you listen to this CD, the more the great work done by producer Nathan Nockels (from OneDay/Passion CDs, Philips, Craig & Dean "Let Your Glory Fall", Watermark and others) begins to shine.  The presentation is aptly framed with accessible musical and vocal parts. Along with great song writing by Lubben, this album is absolutely full of usable, excellent songs for the church.  Nockel's arrangement skills not only make strong presentation of the material for church use, but also give a wonderful diversity to the flow of the album.  So the album is top notch stuff in the production department.  But as I said before, that is clearly not the focus here- worship is.

If you are a worship leader looking for a cache of excellent new songs, you must give this project a serious listen.   I will be listening to this CD for a long time... you simply will not get tired of it.  I believe that songs from tracks 1 through 4, and tracks 7 through 10 provide the best set of songs on a single album that I have heard in a very long time.  In fact, I have never recommended 8 songs from any single album ever!  If you are like me, you would be skeptical of anyone claiming there was eight (yes 8!) strong, usable songs on an original album.  So don't believe me, but make sure you check out the songs yourself by listening to the samples provided online.  And thankfully, Vertical Music backs up this excellent CD by providing us with an entire suite of resources to get these songs to use in church (songbook, stereo tracks, and CD-ROM digital songbook).

This CD is easy to select as an Editor's Choice Award winner for me, for all the reasons I have given in this review.  But again, don't take my word for it, check out the songs above for yourself. And remember, once you buy the CD for yourself, be sure to read the liner notes!

Product Link A Place Called Surrender - Dave Lubben

Review by Kim Gentes