Back in the mid-90's Kim began writing impromptu reviews of church music CDs (worship music) so that people who were looking for CDs would have an opinion from someone who is also a worship leader and is garnering music for local church use. Up to this point, this was rarely something that was done, because church music was revered as sacred and it was thought that any offering of that sacred worship shouldn't be criticised or evaluated. In fact, Kim wasn't as much a critic as he was an evaluator, helping people find what fit their church. He began posting his reviews on line in a email discussion forum, called the Worship List (website). After a while, when he helped launch Worshipmusic.com, he continued that same concept of trying to help other local church worship leaders and musicians find music that might be applicable to their situations. The reviews continued to be a part of that. Worshipmusic.com went on to grow a staff of writers that would add many more reviews to the collection they have, but Kim continued to participate as a key reviewer. This journal logs all the reviews Kim has written on worship music CDs and projects.
Kim's reviews of CD projects of worship music includes independents, label and main stream recordings, but all having to do with worship music.
Thursday, August 16, 2007 at 4:00PM 
There may be no other CD in the last 20 years that better epitomises the modern worship movement than the March 1999 release of Vineyard UK's "Hungry". Produced by songwriter/worship leader Brian Doerksen, this now classic project contains not only a brilliant cast of leaders, musicians and voices but hosts a track list of some of the most popular songs sung in the Christian church worldwide. From the title track Hungry to the pounding Your Name Is Holy, to the beautiful Humble King, to the yearning Be The Centre and finally to what is perhaps the most recorded worship song in the last 30 years, Breathe - each song has become a staple in the modern worship liturgy of the last 15 years.
The songwriting, the musical prowess, the live energy and just the right of production brought this album to platinum success, making it the best selling album ever for Vineyard Music. But what reverberated across the tracks of this amazing recording was not just the notes and rhythms of music. It was the sound of prayer-filled liturgy, embodied in an authentic music expression. Something of the desparate calls of God's people was accurate about these songs. They struck a chord (no pun intended) with millions of people- that we could call out in our hour of need, and that God himself was listening and would answer. We are hungry. He is the bread of life for a starving world.
This juxstaposition is woven in the fabric of these songs, and presented in a rhythmic flow that is easily missed. Even the track list gives it away- our humanity laid out as we sing Hungry, then God's perfection declared in the triumph of Your Name is Holy. The prayerful Humble King in which we yearn for God to "show me how much You love humility", then the proclamation of There's No One Like Our God. The request that God Make Your Home In Me with the answer in the foundational truth of the Child Of God. This is the ebb and flow of this album: humanity embodied in prayerful calls; scriptural truth responding with God's nearness and promises. In this manner, Hungry (the album) becomes a living, breathing conversation that we can all enjoin. With it's backdrop of occasional celtic flutes, violin hints and ethereal treatments, the album brings the listener from "any generic album" to a sound that respects its voice from the nuances of the cultures of the UK.
In addition to all the above, the fact that Hungry is a live album places it as one of the iconic live recordings in the genre. Kevin Prosch's Even So Come, Michael W. Smith's Worship album's, Ron Kenoly's Lift Him Up, Vineyard's The River Is Here, WorshipTogether's Revival Generation: 12 Songs That Rocked A Nation and Passion's Better Is One Day are some of the other great live worship projects that have marked a move forward in musical prowess and capturing of great live worship experiences. Hungry takes its place among these recordings.
If you haven't have the opportunity to review this great project, here are some brief samples of the track list. Better yet, if you do get a chance, buy this project as an MP3 album (or CD if you like) and gather in an important marker in the modern worship narrative (link to amazon at the bottom). If you aren't already using many of these songs, there will be some new gems for you to discover. Enjoy!
Amazon Product Link Hungry / Come Now Is the Time (2 Albums in One)
Review by Kim Gentes
breathe, brenton brown, doerksen, hungry, kathryn scott, vineyard music, vineyard uk, worship in Awards, CD Review, Music Review 