Album Downloads: Hillsong UNITED - Wonder (2017), Tasha Cobbs - Heart. Passion. Pursuit. (2017), Hillsong Worship - The Peace Project (2017) and Casting Crowns - It's Finally Christmas EP (2017)

I know you guys have missed me on these streets (happy winks), and yes, I'm back! And I hope that I'll be as active as I can be, God willing.

Now, to motivate y'all and as a welcome-back gift, here are 4 major downloads for your listening pleasure this festive season: 

Note that all the 4 albums I'm sharing are zip folders that either need a file manager like Solid Explorer File Manger (on Android) or Bandizip (on Windows) to open. Please click on the highlighted links to download the app or program if you don't have an alternative.
 

1. Hillsong Worship - The Peace Project (2017) 

Summary info on the album:
The Peace Project is an album done with collaboration members the Hillsong band (Y&F, UNITED and Worship). It is an interesting project which features seven new, original songs including “Prince of Heaven,” “Seasons,” and “Peace Upon The Earth” along with new arrangements of five of the most beloved Christmas classics like “Hark,” “O Holy Night” and “Joy To The World.”

Artist: Hillsong Worship.

Album: The Peace Project.

Number of tracks: 12.

Album length: 57 minutes, 20 seconds.

Date of release: October 20, 2017.

Record label: Hillsong Music.

Music genre: Christmas.

Download link: Hillsong Worship - The Peace Project (2017) (55MB).

Hillsong Worship - The Peace Project (2017) official album cover art

2. Casting Crowns - It's Finally Christmas EP (2017)

Summary info on the album:
Grammy-award winning and Multi-platinum selling Christian band Casting Crowns have just unleashed their 2017 Christmas EP with the typical Casting Crowns sound we all love.
It’s Finally Christmas is all about the little details that make Christmas. From twinkling lights, to ‘the smell of cookies baking’, to singing Nat King Cole classics - family traditions are at the heart of the song. Christmas is a time for coming together, and looking forward to warmth of family and friends, wherever you are. Even die-hard Christmas fans may find earnest lines like ‘If you’ve got love, you’ve got it all’ a little cloying, but the song rounds off with a return to the heart of it all - remembering the Christmas story together. - Eden Magazine

Artist: Casting Crowns.

Album: It's Finally Christmas EP.

Number of tracks: 6.

Album length: 25 minutes, 38 seconds.

Date of release: October 20, 2017.

Producer: Mark A. Miller

Music genre: Christmas.

Download link: Casting Crowns - It's Finally Christmas EP (2017) (24MB).

Casting Crowns - It's Finally Christmas EP (2017) official album cover art

3. Hillsong UNITED - Wonder (2017) 

Summary info on the album:
Hillsong UNITED (the band) had several recording sessions for Wonder at The Record Plant in Los Angeles. Lead vocalist Joel Houston felt that the album's title and themes reflected returning wonder to both faith and worship, saying, "This is the challenge, and this is what worship - if worship can be summed up as an expression of art and music and story - is ultimately designed to do. To elevate the conversation, re-awaken the soul to something other, and lift our eyes to the wonder of a superlative truth." "Splinters and Stones" was described as having "striking vocal modification and pulsing bass samplings" while containing personal lyrics. - Wikipedia
Note: "So Will I (100 Billion X)" is my favorite song on the album. (That's why I have attached an acoustic bonus of the track done live at the Worship Together studios, which is not on the original album.)

Artist: Hillsong UNITED.

Album: Wonder.

Number of tracks: 13.

Album length: 71 minutes.

Date of release: June 9, 2017.

Record label: Hillsong, Sparrow and Capital CMG.

Music genre: Contemporary worship/Christian music.

Download link: Hillsong UNITED - Wonder (2017) (77MB)

Hillsong Worship - Wonder (2017) official album cover art

4. Tasha Cobbs-Leonard - Heart. Passion. Pursuit. (2017)

Summary info on the album:
When the Grammy-award winning Gospel artist Tasha Cobbs-Leonard announced that she was going to feature Nicki Minaj (yeaaaah, some of y'all yelled, "of all people!") on her album, her Instagram went ablaze...
"How could she?" "Why, Tasha, why?" "I can't believe this!"... Went the comments.
But during her interview with Essence, Tasha came out to defend the reason why she involved Nicki on her album by saying, 
"I've seen the Nicki that is off the stage and that Nicki has a great relationship with God. My assignment with this song was for a particular audience. Some [of the listeners] have never experienced God ever and she exposed that audience in her way, to the God that she loves."  
She also added by saying that this partnership with Nicki Minaj served as a healing process for those she’s come into contact with:  
The testimonies that have come because of this – I would absolutely do it again. I’ve had thousands of people say to me, ‘This is the first time I’ve ever bought a gospel album. This is the first time I’ve ever felt God. I didn’t believe in God until I heard this song.'”

Well, fellas, download the album, move over to track number 8 and be the judge...   

Artist: Tasha Cobbs.

Album: Heart. Passion. Pursuit.

Number of tracks: 16.

Album length: 89 minutes, 37 seconds.

Date of release: August 25, 2017.

Record label: EMI/Motown Gospel

Music genre: Urban contemporary Gospel/CCM.

Download link: Tasha Cobbs-Leonard - Heart. Passion. Pursuit. (2017) (85MB)

Tasha Cobbs-Leonard - Heart. Passion. Pursuit. (2017) official album cover art

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Well, I guess that is a full dose for today, guys.

See you next time!


Bonface Morris.

Here Is the MP3 Download for Hillsong Worship's 2016 Easter Single "Grace to Grace" Plus Lyrics

Hillsong Worship - Grace to Grace (2016 Easter song)

Click here to download MP3 audio for Hillsong Worship's 2016 Easter Single 'Grace to Grace' (5.2mb)

Scroll below to find the lyrics and chords.

Note: I have also embedded the lyrics within the mp3 file so that you can see them directly from your music player as you play it. You'll need to have an audio player that has the cappability to view lyrics in order to see them. Try jetAudio and PlayerPro for Android or MediaMonkey and MusicBee for Windows). Thank me later :-) 

Summary

In their post today, Hillsong Worship wrote and said, "Grace to Grace is our 2016 Easter single. It's a song penned by Joel Houston and Chris Davenport featuring Marty Sampson, Taya Smith, Jad Gillies and Matt Crocker. We are so excited for you to hear it and trust that it will help you again sense the wonder, beauty, pain and triumph of the cross of Jesus Christ... so central and grounding to our faith not only at Easter but daily as we continue to work out what it means to live out the resurrection. We've also made chord charts & translations available for you and your worship teams here. "Looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted" (Hebrews 12:2-3, ESV)

Here are the lyrics to Hillsong Worship's 'Grace to Grace':

GRACE TO GRACE
Words and Music by JOEL HOUSTON & CHRIS DAVENPORT 
♩= 62

---

| B E |
VERSE 1
B                                 F#       G#m  E
If love endured that ancient cross
B                                F#           G#m  E
How precious is my Saviour’s blood
B                                   F#                     G#m  E
The beauty of heaven wrapped in my shame
B                            F#                  G#m
The image of love upon death’s frame

PRE-CHORUS 1
E                                     G#m F#
If having my heart was worth the pain
E                                          G#m F#        B/D#
What joy could You see beyond the grave
E                                             G#m  F#
If love found my soul worth dying for

CHORUS 1
                 B                 F#  G#m7
How wonderful, how glorious
      E         B                   F#  G#m7
My Saviour’s scars, victorious
       D#m7 Emaj7         F#       G#m7
My chains are gone, my debt is paid
          E        B                      F#            E
From death to life and grace to grace
| B F# | G#m7 E | B F# | G#m7 E |

VERSE 2
If heaven now owns that vacant tomb
How great is the hope that lives in You
The passion that tore through hell like a rose
The promise that rolled back death and its stone

PRE-CHORUS 2
If freedom is worth the life You raised
Oh where is my sin, where is my shame
If love paid it all to have my heart

CHORUS 2
         E      B                  F#  G#m7
How wonderful, how glorious
      E           B                F#   G#m7
My Saviour’s scars, victorious
      D#m7  Emaj7          F#      G#m7
My chains are gone, my debt is paid
          E        B               G#m7  F#      E
From death to life and grace to grace
| E F# | G#m7 E | B | F# |

BRIDGE
E                                             F#
When I see that cross, I see freedom
G#m7                                        E
When I see that grave, I’ll see Jesus
B
And from death to life, I will sing Your praise
F#
In the wonder of Your grace

Repeat BRIDGE

TAG
E                            F#            G#m7
How my soul will sing Your praise
                         E           B
In the wonder of Your grace
                                                F#
How my soul will sing Your praise

Repeat CHORUS 2

Hillsong Worship (O Praise the Name), Jeremy Camp (I Will Follow) & Bethel Music (We Will Not Be Shaken) Free Album mp3 Downloads

Guys, as I promised, here are the three downloads :-):

Hillsong Worship - O Praise the Name song art (the cross = love) 

1. Hillsong Worship 2015 Easter Song + Chord Chart free download (3.8MB + 157kb) (128kbps, Standard quality)

Jeremy Camp - I Will Follow 2015 album official album art

2. Jeremy Camp - I Will Follow 2015 full free mp3 album download (58MB) (128kbps, Standard quality)

Bethel Music "We Will Not Be Shaken" album art 

3. Bethel Music - We Will Not Be Shaken 2015 full free mp3 album download (65MB) (128kbps, Standard quality)

Hillsong Worship: No Other Name Full Review & mp3 Downloads

You love music? I do. You love contemporary Gospel music? O! I'm a great fan. 
 

Now, talking of contemporary Gospel music, and a lot more about Gospel soft rock and Gospel rock (I am not even sure there is such a genre of music, anyway, who cares? Hah), I wanna review a great Australian band by the name of Hillsong (formerly Hillsong, then Hillsong United, and now Hillsong Worship.)

I have been an ardent follower of Hillsong Worship ever since I got saved. In fact, I boast of having their entire discography – music from, let me see - from the year 1990. One of the first English songs I came to know after getting saved (weird as it was because I was a Hip Hop head while running secular) was a Hillsong song: "Shout to the Lord" followed by "Power of Your Love" and thereafter, so many more followed.

Boasting over 60 chart-topping albums with spiritual and theologically sound songs of worship and praise, thanksgiving and communion, Hillsong Worship is more than just a band. It is said that about 30million people sing a Hillsong composition every Sunday all over the world. Their creative team is one of those teams that seek to "make music worthy an ear and a heart" and moves to make Jesus known - with the artistic ability to even top secular music charts. This has been proven by songs like Oceans: Where Feet May Fail topping secular music charts, winning the Annual K-LOVE Awards and becoming their all-time best selling single.

But Hillsong has progressed over time. From the days of Shout to the Lord to the days of God He Reigns; from the days of Mighty To Save to the days of God Is Able their music style has radically changed.

The face of Hillsong in the earlier days was a music style dominated by an alternative genre of contemporary worship. This was the period between 1990 (under the album Show Your Glory) and 2000 (when they produced the album Shout to the Lord - The Platinum Collection Vol. 1). All this time, the Hillsong team was under the guidance and leadership of one Darlene Zschech. She wrote and directed most of the songs – becoming famous when Shout To the Lord went platinum in Australia and topped Christian music charts all over the world. It became the most popular song at that time in an era where contemporary worship was still a new thing to the church.

The period between the year 2000 and 2005 marked an inception of rebranded worship and more acoustics chipped in, making the music more radical and modern. From the year 2006 to present time, Hillsong Worship has moved bounds. When you examine the music style used in Mighty To Save (produced in 2006) to the music style in No Other Name (released this year on 1^st July), one cannot cease to see the improvement in the fervency, lyricism and spontaneity, theological aptness, creativity and inspiration used while producing and releasing these albums.

Of course so much has changed since Darlene Zschech left in 2008 (she left to join and support her husband in their ministry, Hope Unlimited Church). The team is now under the guidance and leadership of the soft-spoken Reuben Morgan as the music pastor. Some of us were worried back then. We were tempted to ask (and we did ask), "What will become of Hillsong after Zschech? Will we still experience the movement of God's Spirit in their songs? Will they turn too contemporary as a team?" This is because, as we thought, Hillsong was synonymous with Darlene Zschech. Leading such a great team for more than two decades somehow makes you some sort of founder and brand... But we were wrong. Hillsong emerged to be more than just Darlene Zschech. Hillsong is a team – a band full of talent and build on the Word of God – it has proved that it is/was not founded on a one-man policy but the policy of many who trust in the Lord…

Oh well…

From This Is Our God (2008) to Glorious Ruins (2013) to No Other Name (2014), God has proven that Reuben Morgan is worth his salt. These projects have brought us countless church worship anthems. (I can't even start mentioning them here.) New members have joined the team: the likes of Taya Smith (who I now call "Hillsong's golden lady"). She sang their most popular song today - Oceans:Where Feet May Fail  and has sang my favorite song in No Other Name: Broken Vessels (Amazing Grace). She somehow has managed to take away the hangover I had while missing collaborations introduced by the band sometime back when Darlene Zschech was joined by Brooke Fraser in Faith+Hope+Love (2009) as a guest singer and when Brooke Fraser was included in Savior King (2007) and in This Is Our God (2008).

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Now, rolling through the years down to No Other Name (2014), you have a taste of soul-freeing music done to the taste of Scripture. No Other Name is a declaration worship album whose theme resembles one project they did in 2006: Songs For Communion. Obviously, the music style is different, but the message resounds the same thing – delivering to its listeners a deep theological message with Christ at the centre, something to remind us of Calvary, who we are in Christ now that we  are saved and the power and hope in His Name to believers.

The development of No Other Name begun in February this year when Hillsong Worship through their page announced that they are working and recording a new album to be released for July 2014 – having the same theme as their Annual Hillsong Conference held early this month (July, 2014).

Hillsong's music producer and director, Michael Chislett together with various team members announced that, "We just want people to tell of and know the name of Jesus, that it may resound in the hearts of all that there is #NoOtherName but Jesus Christ our God" and that "the new songs are bringing new life..." before the album was released. Their creative team leader, Cass Langton shares on The 10 Things She Has Learnt About leading A Creative Team.

The official album cover art for Hillsong Worship's #NoOtherName

On 23^rd April in Times Square, New York City, one Jay Argaet was seen shooting the album art for the cover of the new album whose name was not mentioned until May 5^th when they posted the cover artwork of the album (the same picture Jay Argaet shot of Times Square in New York City) which showed screens with the text, "No Other Name, Jesus" imprinted on it.)

Before doing this, they released and shared the album's first single, a song titled "Calvary" as an Easter single on 3^rd April (which I actually shared on my Facebook and Twitter.)

No Other Name has a specific theme. The theme resounds throughout the album, and unlike every other Hillsong album released since the year 2000 when they began introducing high tempo songs and acoustics in their albums, it has no high tempo song. (Well this is a little of a sad story to guys out there who have enjoyed songs like Always Will, God Who Saves and Lift You Higher from the previous album Glorious Ruins.) But be it as it may, the album is great.

The album is 65 minutes 35 seconds long and contains 11 songs sang and arranged in a manner that tells a story from the first to the last song.

For instance, the first song is This I Believe (The Creed) which introduces you to the album with an old message most of us have well forgotten – a message contained in the Apostle's Creed. (Yeah, not many of us even know that there exists something called the Apostle’s Creed. Too bad.) The song was written by Matt Crocker and Ben Fielding. Click here to read about and watch a video on the story behind the song. 

The next song is HeavenAnd Earth sang by the same guy who sang the theme song Cornerstone in the 2012 album, Cornerstone. (By the way his voice resembles one guy I used to know in More Than Life (2004) and in Blessed (a 2002 album – singing a song called Magnificent.) (Yeah I had to mention that because his voice is cool like that… and by the way, get those two old but very cool songs…)

The third song, Broken Vessels (Amazing Grace) which is my favorite on the album - and which I have been playing endlessly by the way - is sang by their golden lady – Taya Smith. The song was written by Joel Houston (Pastor Brian Houston's son) and Joans Myrin. Now, Taya Smith is exemplary. Her voice is addictive. He falsettos are unique. The pulses within her vocals are beautiful. (I use her voice often to train mine, by the way.) Well, download the song here and prove it for yourself. Get blown away like I am. (By the way – yes, that's another by the way I guess - I have only known three other ladies who have a voice as addictive as hers: Brooke Fraser (of whom I have been waiting for her fresh album to be released this year but I am still in some sort of a hangover), another one called Lainey Wright and one Kim Walker-Smith… they all sing folk/pop Gospel except for Kim who mostly does soft rock and contemporary Gospel. Well, that becomes a story for another day…

Back to the album review...

The theme song No Other Name (click the link to download the song) is song number four, written by the same authors of the third song. And as it is characteristic with Hillsong, it comes with their usual anthem shouts – flaring harmonies that pull you into glory and vamps that repeat the theme, "There is no other name, there is no other name, Jesus Christ our God…" 

In the next song (song number five) Depths, you hear a continuation of the theme in the previous song. Okay, Hillsong has a habit of pulling words from the Psalms and all over Scripture into their music which, if you are a music writer, you know that it is never that easy. But with them, it comes out so naturally: I love You with all my heart, I love You with all my soul, I love You with all my strength, with all that is within me… are the lyrics you sing along to in this song, with the name Jesus being a sort of alternating bridge in the song.

To make a summary of the rest of the album (because I am avoiding boring you), Calvary (that Easter song) comes at number six, ThankYou Jesus makes a continuation of the voicing in Calvary at number seven, All Things New comes at number eight, My Story at number nine, Our Father is a prayer at number ten and Mountain seals the album at number eleven. (Please click on each link to download the song. I may upload the lyrics to some of the songs soon, so keep checking.) 

End Note: To finish off, some other Hillsong projects worth looking into are; Hillsong Young & Free who I think replaced Hillsong Youth Alive! (Shame on me that I have not shared with you guys some of their great music right here...) And I also think you may be interested in reading on Hillsong United/Worship's upcoming documentary film to be released in 2015. Read the details about it here. (Maybe it is about time I started doing reviews on some of the movies I watch, right? Oh well, we'll see about that...)

God bless.

Bonface Morris.