Rend Collective Experiment | Campfire

"Imagine intimate worship around the glow of embers and friendship. Imagine church as a shared celebration of our stories, struggles and lives. And imagine mission as the ignition of God's people as they huddle closely around 'The Consuming Fire.' With Campfire, a 12-track collection recorded live on a beach in Northern Ireland, Rend Collective Experiment dare us to re-imagine worship and community." I wish that I could have been on the beach to experience this recording. Having listened to this album the last two weeks, there is something so unique, fresh, and special in the music. Even being on the other side of the Atlantic ocean with time having passed since this moment was recorded, the spirit of worship that encompasses this recording can't help but be felt and in turn draws you into worship as if you were on the beach around that very same campfire. The songs on this project will be familiar if you've listened to Rend Collective Experiment's previous two albums, Organic Family Hymnal and Homemade Worship by Handmade People. You will however notice new instrumentation as well as new arrangements. One new song they add to this album is a version of Matt Redman's song "10,000 Reasons." This album comes across as pure worship through music. It's not about the performance or production; no fancy lights, no smoke, no loud sound system. It is the church, the body of Christ, coming together to lift up praises to God through music.

"The album is entirely driven by classic, retro folk instruments that could be played by the fireside and by the ocean. The result is an album that captures the raw, rootsy, foot-stomping energy of the Irish worshippers, which has been infectious among audiences across the globe, as well as the vulnerability and intimacy of home group worship."

Special thanks to Integrity Music for providing this complimentary pre-release album to listen to and review. You can download the album here on iTunes.

Paul Baloche | The Same Love

Worship Pastor and songwriter Paul Baloche is back with a brand new album, The Same Love. Should you not recognize his name, most likely you have sung his songs in corporate worship. He is known for songs such as "Open the Eyes of My Heart," "Above All," "Hosanna," and "Your Name." As a worship leader I have greatly appreciated Paul's songs and have used many during worship services. I constantly return to A Greater Song and Glorious in times of personal worship. Through a collaborative effort with other great worship leaders and songwriters including Ben Fielding, Kari Jobe, Lincoln Brewster, Jason Ingram, Kathryn Scott, All Sons & Daughters, Brothers McClurg, and Ed Kerr, Paul Baloche has given us a great new collection of songs. Now to be honest, this album did not grab me right away like his other ones have. Having followed Paul's music for a while now, I thought I knew what I would be hearing the first time I hit play. It has taken a few listens to the album to get to where I've been with his previous albums on the first listen. This change in feel/sound is refreshing though. Music is always changing and this new album follows that, but Paul has not deterred from his solid lyrics. These new songs continue to draw you into worship and focus our hearts on the One who is worthy of our worship.

Shout For Joy: A wonderful call to worship for any service, though I could see it having tremendous impact at an Easter service or Christmas Eve/Christmas service. "Lift up your grateful heart to the Morning Star, He's alive and here with us. Shout for joy, for the Son of God, is the saving one, He's the saving one. Shout for joy, see what love has done, He has come for us, He's the saving one."

We Are Saved: This is a fantastic anthem that the church can lift up in praise, giving thanks back to God for the salvation that He's given us. "We stand amazed at the work of the cross, we are saved, we are saved. Our sin has been forgiven, You've broken every chain, we are saved, we are saved."

Several tracks on this album will also prove helpful for those looking to add a blend of traditional hymns and contemporary choruses to their repertoire. Paul has taken aspects of greats hymns and re-written them with wonderful new verses and choruses in "All Because of the Cross" (Nothing But the Blood), "My Hope" (The Solid Rock), and "Christ the Lord" (Christ the Lord is Risen Today).

Check out the music video to "The Same Love" below. You can pick up the single here, and get charts for the song here.



Special thanks to Integrity Music for providing this complimentary pre-release album to listen to and review. Look for this new album in Christian retail stores on March 13th and then through all digital service providers on April 3rd. You can also enjoy this new album in a great new digital experience.

John Mark McMillan | Economy

I have had the privilege of getting to listen to this new album from John Mark McMillan for about the past month and it is absolutely fantastic! If you're at all familiar with his last album, The Medicine (you can check out my review of that album here), then you will not be disappointed at all with this brand new release, Economy. This project keeps the familiar voice and rich, creative lyrics of John Mark. As I said about his last album, you can't help but be drawn into what he is creating. As you hear how John Mark talks about the album you get the sense of how personal it is to him and the realness comes out in the music. He's not making an album just to make an album; it's an album that serves a greater purpose. John Mark says this,

"There's a lot of hope and a lot of looking forward on this album. It's more than just thinking you can live, but you can thrive. You can survive and we can do it together. The first time someone hears this album, they could walk away with the feeling that they experienced something real, that they feel the heart of a real person."

As a worship leader I love that this album lends itself to corporate worship more that The Medicine. A couple weeks ago I had the chance to attend the San Francisco show of David Crowder Band's 7 Tour and John Mark played some of these new tunes and it felt more like a time of worship than just a show. As you listen to these songs you really feel the hope of a Savior that can overcome anything we find ourselves up against.

Sheet of Night: The CD begins with the familiar John Mark sound. Right away you get the feeling for the album though and the contrast between darkness and the hope we find in the light. "The devil's dealing dirty. The living isn't easy. But like diamonds we shine up against the sheet of night, the jet-black sheet of night. Whoa, we've got a blood, we've got a love that that'll brave the flood."

Murdered Son: It's with this track where I really started to feel the ability to be used in corporate worship. This is a song that shares the hope that we have through the Gospel; the Son of God dying for us so that we can be raised as sons and daughters of God. "Glory to One, God’s murdered son. Who paid for my resurrection. Once from the dust, once from the grave, daughters and sons from the ashes you’ve raised. And hidden our faults even from your own face. And scattered our debt upon the waves. Glory to the one who overcame in death. Glory to the one who paid for my offenses." Download the chart here.

Sins Are Stones: On this track, you will notice the familiar melody from the hymn O Come All Ye Faithful. This is another track that I believe will work well in corporate worship. The familiar melody, even though with different lyrics, will make it easy to catch on to. This is a song, that for those of us that have been changed by Christ, we can truly sing out from our hearts in praise! "By the blood of a son, I have overcome the grave. Recompense is made for the guilty and the shamed. For eternity is gained in the arms of the slain. Oh my soul praise him." Download the chart here.



Special thanks to Integrity Music for providing this complimentary pre-release album to listen to and review. You can download the album here on iTunes or amazon.com.

New Life Worship | You Hold It All

The team of New Life Worship have released a new project, You Hold It All, that joins their two other worship projects, Counting on God and My Savior Lives. If you're familiar with New Life Worship and Desperation Band this album will not disappoint. I do have to say though, the first time I listened to the album, it was very strange not to hear Ross Parsley's voice in the mix. Ross is now the Sr. Pastor of ONEchapel in Austin, TX which is one of New Life's church plants. But the spirit of this project is still the same; a spirit of true worship from the heart of those of a church that has gone through some very tough times. These songs come from a church that has sung them in worship and response to a God they love and I believe they will soon make there way into the worship of other churches. New Life Worship & Arts Pastor Brad Parsley says this:

"Through some of the toughest years a church will ever experience, New Life Church has seen the incredible faithfulness of our God. On October 13, 2010, we gathered as a church to declare our faith in a God that never fails and to thank Him for what He has done. You Hold It All is the refrain from that night of worship and it epitomizes what we want to say about our lives, our church and our God. It all belongs to Him, it all came from Him and it's all going back to Him. That's what we want to declare every time we gather as a body of believers and that's what this recording celebrates!"

This project contains a great mixture of songs written by Jon Egan, Glenn Packiam and Jared Anderson. Here are a few of the songs that really grabbed a hold of me.

Our Messiah Reigns: A great song that also appears in Glenn Packiam's new project The Kingdom Comes EP. There's something about a live recording and the spirit of worship that it captures. The scripture that Glenn reads at the end of the track is perfect for the song; Luke 4.17-21 (NLT). I also love the use of the word Messiah in songs. It truly shouts the majesty of Jesus Christ. Glory to the Lamb, who died and rose again. Exalted over all, our Messiah reigns. Every knee will bow. A thousand tongues will sing. Holy is the Lord! Jesus, our Messiah, reigns.

Lift the Name: This upbeat song written by Jared Anderson is a song that I believe is the cry of the church today and especially of the younger generation. A cry to lift high the name of Jesus, the One who reigns. Let's take this moment of our day, turn it into praise and offer it as a gift, to our King, to our Lord, for He reigns evermore. Praise and worship are Yours, heaven and earth sing for joy, like an eagle takes the sky, let Your name be lifted high.

Be Thou Exalted: I love this slower song written by Jon Egan. It's of a very hymn-like nature. The lyrics are very personal and ones that come as a cry from the heart to God to continue to guide and be with the worshipper always. Reminds me of the Psalms. Hallelujah to the Name of all Names. Hallelujah to the God be all praise. Ever holy, worthy be Thou exalted always.



Special thanks to Integrity Music for providing this complimentary pre-release album to listen to and review. You can download the album here on iTunes (deluxe version) or amazon.com.

Glenn Packiam | The Kingdom Comes EP

Glenn Packiam, from Desperation Band and New Life Worship is back with a new album, The Kingdom Comes EP. I have enjoyed getting to know Glenn through his music, blog and twitter and I was really excited to listen to this project. This project has a spirit of worship all over it. It really shows where the heart of the man who wrote the songs is focused; on the God whom he loves and serves. These songs are full of rich lyrics and wonderful melodies. I believe these songs will find themselves in the corporate worship of many churches and in a believers personal worship time. From the beginning to the end of this project you will be drawn into the presence of the Lord.

Our Messiah Reigns: A great upbeat track to begin the project. I love the use of the word Messiah in songs. It truly shouts the majesty of Jesus Christ. Glory to the Lamb, who died and rose again. Exalted over all, our Messiah reigns. Every knee will bow. A thousand tongues will sing. Holy is the Lord! Jesus, our Messiah, reigns.

All Things: A wonderful, piano driven track with fantastic lyrics rooted in Romans 8.28, "And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose." In all things God is working, for our good and for Your glory, God is working now.

Forgiven Forever: This is a perfect track to listen to especially as we approach Holy Week and Easter. I love the focus on forgiveness, but I believe what makes the track is how the theme of love is woven in with the bridge. Worthy is the Lamb seated in heaven, beautiful the blood, we are forgiven forever, forgiven forever. Victory is won, Jesus is risen, love has overcome, we are forgiven forever, forgiven forever.

Praise is the Offering: What a call to worship; corporately and privately! How great is Your love for us and great are the things You've done. With all of our heart and soul, for all that You are and more. Praise is the offering we bring to You.

Everlasting God: I'm glad Glenn included this track, a great song for the church to lift up in worship. You never change, You're still the same, You are the Everlasting God. You will remain after the day is gone and the things of earth have passed, everlasting God.

At The Cross: This track has a wonderful hymn-like nature to it. It's also a song that becomes very personal; crying out straight from the heart as we kneel at the foot of the cross. At the cross I've been redeemed, found forgiveness for my sin, no more shame, no more guilt, hallelujah. At the cross I give my life as a living sacrifice, saints and sinners lift your voice, hallelujah.

The project ends with a great acoustic track of Forgiven Forever, as well as Glenn reading the first chapter of his latest book, Lucky: How the Kingdom of God Comes to Unlikely People. You can get the book here on amazon.com.

Special thanks to Integrity Music for providing this complimentary pre-release album to listen to and review. You can download the album here on iTunes or amazon.com.

Parachute Band | Love Without Measure

The "next gen" of Parachute Band is back with their third studio album, Love Without Measure. This project joins two others since the band went through a change in 2007; Roadmaps & Revelations and Technicolor. If you've enjoyed the new sound and previous projects, you will not be disappointed with this self-produced project. It is full of fast, upbeat, electronic tracks as well as slower, melodic tracks. I believe the message and worshipful style of this project will speak to a generation that wants to do great things for God and the advancement of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. In the video that's below, they begin by giving the definition of measure; "to ascertain the dimensions, quantity, capacity of something." The love of our Father is exactly the opposite. It truly is a love without measure.

Gave It All: The opening track begins with a call to something that is greater than ourselves because of the one who gave His all for us. It's a call to share the message and love that is the Gospel. There’s a thunder in my heart, there’s a thunder in the sky that’s calling me. I will listen and respond to the Saviour’s call and give my all.

You Remain: This would have to be my favorite track on the album. This is where the love of our Father becomes personal. It's a love that touches the heart. It's a love that carries us through everything we go through, the good and the bad. You are my rescue, when hope seems lost. You are my refuge, when I am frail. God of hope, hold me close. Jesus You carried me this far, I'll hold onto this hope inside my heart. When all else fades, You remain.

Saviour Of The Broken Heart: Because of our human nature, the one's God calls us to love are usually the hardest to love, yet Christ loved them without a second thought. It was the ultimate gift of love through Christ's death that gave us all a second chance. It's because of that ultimate gift that and the calling that we have as Christ followers to seek the heart of the Father and see the world through His eyes; the need of a Savior for the brokenhearted. So this is our worship, to go where You lead, to love without measure, to clothe and to feed. I love and adore You, my heart's beating for You, I take up the cost, to carry the lost.



Special thanks to Integrity Music for providing this complimentary pre-release album to listen to and review. You can download the album here on iTunes or amazon.com.

John Mark McMillan | The Medicine

The Medicine by John Mark McMillan is a great album. I first heard of McMillan after hearing the song How He Loves being picked up by different artists. After listening to this album, McMillan's lyrics seem so honest and real. The melodic lines and his arrangements are very intriguing. You can't help but get caught up in the music. A lot of the songs on this album came out of a troubling time for McMillan and it's those raw lyrics that make this album so great. Personally, I'm not sure how many of these songs would work in my church for corporate worship, but I'm sure there's a place for them somewhere in a worship service depending on the elements of the service.

Death In His Grave: I love the picture that this song paints about what our Savior did for us on the cross. I also love the way he uses the word death in the lyrics. Even though are Savior was condemned to death, in this song there was victory over death and it was placed in the grave that was meant for our Lord, the grave that couldn't contain Him. On Friday a thief, on Sunday a King, laid down in grief, but awoke with keys, of Hell on that day, the first born of the slain, the Man Jesus Christ, laid death in his grave.

How He Loves: This is a song the church that has become an anthem in the church today. I introduced it to my church for the first time this morning. I love the lyrics he chooses to get across the true force of the love of God and how overwhelming His grace is. What a great song for the church to be able to sing when we feel like all is lost. We have a song that can help us remember how much He loves us. He is jealous for me, loves like a hurricane, I am a tree, bending beneath the weight of his wind and mercy. If grace is an ocean we're all sinking. How he loves us so.

Check out the video below as John Mark McMillan shares the story behind the song How He Loves.



You can purchase the CD here on amazon.com or download it here on iTunes.

Carlos Whittaker | Ragamuffin Soul

Integrity Music has another great album with Ragamuffin Soul by Carlos Whittaker. I first heard of Carlos when I attended Catalyst West in 2009 and then this past year in 2010 he led worship at a few of the sessions. He has a fantastic blog by the same name at Ragamuffin Soul and you can also follow him on twitter at @loswhit. It's been a blessing to get a glimpse into his life through his blog and twitter. And now you get a glimpse into who he is as a worshipper and one of the ways he worships, through his music. This is a great project with some great songs that share his heart and can also be used by others in the local church.

Rain It Down: So often in the Old Testament we see God providing for His people by raining down manna from heaven to feed and sustain them. Here is a song with a cry from the hearts of people for our Father to rain down His love on us in whatever situation we find ourselves in. Come Lord we're thirsty now, come Lord and rain it down, rain down on us.

We Will Worship: This is a great song that I think the church can really grab a hold of if they become honest with themselves, including myself. The lyrics are tough but are so true. So often we become comfortable in this life as Christians, but I believe God has called us to be so much more than comfortable in this life. Save us from these comforts, break us of our need for the familiar, spare us any joy that's not of You and we will worship You.

God of Second Chances: This is a song of outreach, but also a song that believers should not forget. We don't deserve the life that God gave us through His son Jesus Christ, but He gave us a second chance. He loves us and gave us the wonderful gift through His son. You’re the God of second chances, You're the God who still romances, we're in awe before You now and our hearts are bowing down. You're the God of all the ages, who are we that You would save us, we're in awe before You now and our hearts are crying out.

Check out this video of Carlos. He's singing God of Second Chances when up walks this homeless man named Danny. Out of nowhere Danny sits beside Carlos and starts singing with him. Listen all the way to end.



You can download the CD here on iTunes.

ALM:uk | Name Above All Names

Name Above All Names by ALM:uk is a fantastic project that has come out of the worship of a church. What I love about projects like these is that the music is coming out of the hearts of those writing it and those that are using it in their worship. The worship that is happening at Abundant Life Ministries in Bradford, England can now impact the lives of others all over the world. This is a project with songs that I believe will be adopted into churches all over the world as well as people personal worship apart from Sunday mornings. These songs are full of lyrics that are completely focused on our God; His greatness, His power, and the One that never changes.

Great and Glorious: A great song for the opening of a Sunday service or a night of worship. Upbeat and very energetic with a chorus that is an anthem of a generation giving all honor and praise to our God. "My soul sings, my soul sings, Hallelujah, God great and glorious You are, God great and glorious."

My God Reigns: The days that we are in are tough, that's no lie. I think songs like this one are helping people get through the tough times. To be able to sing a song that is a prayer to the One who holds all in His hand and rules over all is a hope that we can't find anywhere else. "I have a hope so sure, an anchor for my soul, my peace in the worst of times, I trust in God alone. My God reigns, His love will never fail me, my God reigns, He's ruling over all, In all my life, in every situation I know, my God is greater, my God is over all."

Name Above All Names: Lately I've really gravitated towards songs that praise the name of the Lord. This is another great one with lyrics like these, "Yours is the name filled with power and majesty, Jesus, Jesus. Name above all names we rise and sing your praise, we sing holy, worthy is the Lord. Name above all names, the name of Jesus, forever You will reign." My only concern on this song is that the melody of the chorus sounds like that of You'll Be In My Heart from Tarzan, though I'm sure by accident, and because of that, I lose the focus of the song.