To begin with, I am still undecided on what to call this post. I am held between worlds, between excitements and between fanatisms... because that's exactly what music does to me.
Well, I've given it a title anyways...
I love music. I can talk about music all day. I can. I can sing all day. I get crazy. I hit my headphones to 15. I jump. I yell. I dance. I can play a song I love all day... I love the stuff I listen to. I enjoy it, so I write about it.
So, here goes;
Now, this year seems to be turning my mind around as far as soft rock Gospel music (a genre of music that blends pop music, worship music, alternative and rock music acoustics genres) is concerned. I don't want to go overboard with all that, but boy! to say the least, the kind of music bands are pulling out nowadays is way above normal. The level unto which worship is rising (as far as music and singing is concerned) is indicative of Heaven opening to earth and we guys singing with the angles. True. Very true.
Take for instance the first album I met this year: Passion 2013's "Let the Future Begin". When Louie Giglio was ranting about it on twitter, I was like, "Okay, everyone rants about a new album... This will come and go." Worse still, it came about the same time Chris Tomlin was doing his Burning Lights tour, and I thought it was mere publicity. But wait, what caught my attention is the inclusion of Lecrae and Kari Jobe in his tour, and these guys (Tomlin and Kari Jobe) were posting stuff on Instagram showing the mad moves Tomlin was doing while singing "God's Great Dance Floor" (Track No. 5 on Burning Lights). Well, that caught my eye. It happened to be that, that very song is Track No. 1 on "Let the Future Begin". You can only imagine how excited I was... Passion's project was going to be a hit after all!
Yeah, "Let the Future Begin" did not disappoint and thus far, has not disappointed. Passion's greatest strength is bringing together different gifted singers onto one platform and making one album out of all of them. It made this album have a touch of genric hybridization (whatever that means), thus possessing and belonging to its own league of uniqueness.
The album is inclusive of (as it is the annual Passion culture) several musicians and bands. Out of the 14 tracks, Tomlin is the lead vocalist in 4 tracks, Kristian Stanfill leads 4 more, Matt Redman is the main vocalist in 2 tracks, while Christy Nockels, Brett Younker, Kari Jobe and David Crowder band lead a song each. Probably the guys you miss on this project are Charlie Hall band...
Lecrae (check out these playlists on YouTube) was a guest in the Conference held in March - but was not included in the album itself.
After falling victim to Passion 2013's project, I was privileged to get another enticing project from Jesus Culture : "Live from New York", a project which features one Martin Smith (who is on 7 out of 16 songs on the album). By the way if you know that group Delirious? (of the "Did You Feel the Mountains Tremble?" and "I Could Sing of Your Love" fame), you know Martin Smith. He has been one of their foremost lead worshippers for a long time.
Kim Walker-Smith is on this project too - doing her thing as usual. Her voice pitches you into addiction to three tracks: Holy Spirit, Pursuit and Waiting Here for You (with Martin Smith). Chris Quilala features in 6 songs. Considering the growth these guys have undergone (they begun as a youth band featuring three guys as lead vocalists: Chris Quilala, Kim Walker - right before she got married till now - and Melissa How), this project is one level above many others... but I leave it to you to make your own judgement on that.
And last, but utmostly relevant, is Hillsong's second project this year: "Glorious Ruins."
As I write this post, the album is running in the background on repeat. I'm loving it. I'm loving it 20 times more than I even tried to like "Zion" (their first album this year). To me, Zion was a bit weird - too contemporary... well that's a story for another day; but what do you say of an album which out of the available 18 songs, you only happen to play 3 of them and skip the rest?
Glorious Ruins carries one central message: ruins can be brought to life, ruins can share in God's glory and blessing... once they're fallen at his cross and learn to embrace Him...
With Hillsong's group of awesome lead worshippers (under the leadership of Reuben Morgan since 2008 after Darlene Zschech retired from being the music pastor), this project is amazing - maybe the greatest after "Cornerstone" (2012). Their creativity has cloned one song with a techno-rock fusion (Lift You Higher) - an amaaaaayzing song! And there's that Easter single (Man of Sorrows) they gave out as a free download on the Hillsong Live! website earlier on in March.
The introduction is great - more like Passion's. The arrangement of songs and their harmonious overlap is good. I think it is one thing Hillsong have perfected over time. They always know which song will follow which one, and making such a worship set enables a smooth flow of music. The album has a total of 15 songs, and you can be assured that Hillsong never disappoints when it comes to lyrical content and anthem-like shouts... My advice? Go get this album!!
Well guys, I have to stop here.
Let me leave you with the power to judge which of the three projects above really gets you into the Throne Room, because that's where we all want to be...
Keep worshipping.
Bonface Morris.
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