Review: Overcomer: Music from and Inspired by the Original Motion Picture - Various | Cross Rhythms. Online Christian radio, Christian music articles, reviews, news and artist profiles. Christian life articles, prayer rooms and much more!
Reviewed by Stephen Luff
All About Worship is a community of worship leaders and songwriters with reportedly over 25,000 subscribers. This live set, recorded in 2015 in Colorado, features numerous singers on songs designed to equip churches around the world. The opener "Lift My Eyes" is an outstanding song, aided by Alisa Turner's Lorde-style vocals which is a pleasure to listen to. "Faith Forevermore" featuring Aaron Tomberlin is a faith building anthem that would work in most church environments. Another strong song is the title track featuring Benji Cowart. While each song offers something for its audience, collectively there is nothing on 'My Pursuit' that makes it stand out.
Reviewed by Stephen Luff
Colorado-based Red Rocks Worship consist of David Anderson, Adaeze Nooelle Azubuike, Jake Espy, Brinnae Keathley, Jerrica Matrone, Tyler Roberts and Nicole Serrano. This release follows the more sedate offering 'The Rooftop' EP in 2014. The first two songs, the title track and "Echo The Son" deliver energy a-plenty but after this the pace slows down with, to my mind, the best tracks on the collection, the Lumineers sounding "Love Changes Everything" and "More", which has been selected to get a bit of Cross Rhythms radio airplay. Although the seven-song mini-album does not break the mould of the "typical" worship offering, there are certainly some great songs showcased here. It will be interesting to hear a full album of material in the future as there are seeds of something special germinating.
Reviewed by Stephen Luff
This album follows the 2009 EP 'Courage And Fire', with nine new songs at the same high octane pace, more akin to a rock concert than the Abundant Life recordings of the church it is a part of. This is a positive strength and helps it stand out amongst the many recordings out there. It is evident from the start that the quality of musicianship is very high, the opener "In This Moment", although tame compared to the pace of some other tracks on the album, the souring guitars, heavy drum beat and rock style vocals set the bar high for the rest of the album. "Heart Made Whole" and "Breakout" sound like U2 at full power and "This I Know" has elements of Coldplay at their radio-friendly best. "Almighty", "Heart And Soul" and "The Cause" offer some calmer moments. The DVD that comes with it contains a record of the performance of the tracks. It is also worth noting that the production quality here is extremely high and the sound mix between congregation and leaders is spot on. This has to be amongst the top live worship albums of the year!
Reviewed by Stephen Luff
There are many hymn collections out there, varying in both quality and style. Here we have 12 re-workings of these classics with arrangements which take in pop, Americana and a bit of modern country. The first cut is Edward Perronet's "The Sound That Saved Us All" sung by songwriter and producer Antony Skinner (sounding like Springsteen in many ways), is a great opener and sets the pace for the collection. Savannah Ellis presents George Matteson's "Love You Never Let Me Go" based on the original 1882 hymn but with additional lyrics from producer John Hartley. It works well with a strong vocal and deft banjo. "Alleluia He Has Loved Us" has a Mumford And Sons feel delivered by UK-based Tom McConnell while The Choir's Derry Daugherty puts in a good vocal on "The Glory Hymn". This collection is a thoroughly enjoyable listen, presenting timeless hymns in a new context.
Reviewed by Stephen Luff
This two CD set was recorded in June 2013 at London's Riverside Vineyard Church, contains 17 musicians from the UK and Ireland, alongside various worship leaders from UK Vineyard churches. The album is overflowing with songs written by British songsmiths including some penned at a songwriting retreat. There is also an excellent version of Kevin Prosch's "Show Your Power" and a new, powerful version of Samuel Lane's "Oh My Soul", which opens the album. It is very difficult to highlight the best tracks as there is not a bad one in the 13 song collection, but the title track is a strong contender, with its gentle start slowly building a wall of sound with several drum kits featured on an atmospheric finish. "The Light" with its gentle, intimate feel, is another. The only concern is that given this is a live recording, there is little congregational atmosphere contained here, even when listening with headphones, making it sound mostly like a studio recording with occasional clapping. But having said that, this collection confirms what we already know, that the UK Vineyard churches have some of the most talented songwriters and musicians in the country.