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By Kevin Pollard
• Michael W. Smith: A New
Hallelujah, Reunion
For his third worship album, Smith chose Joel
Osteen’s church in Houston to record this live album –
along with 12,000 worshippers.
The album is not only large in scale, thanks to a
250-voice choir, but also has a global feel – with guest vocals
provided by the African Children’s Choir (‘When I Think of
You’), Israel Houghton (‘Help is on the Way’) and the
incredible young Latin worship leader Coalo Zamorano (‘I Surrender
All’).
Smith offers a perfect balance of favourite modern
worship songs (like Hillsong’s ‘Shout Unto God’ and
‘Mighty to Save’), along with ‘Majesty’ by
delirious? and Chris Tomlin’s newly arranged ‘Amazing Grace (My
Chains are Gone).’
The inclusion of new original material also makes for a
more personal reflection of worship, as heard on ‘Deep in Love with
You’ and ‘The River is Rising.’
michaelwsmith.com
• Mary Mary: The Sound, Columbia
This Grammy winning sister duo is back, with their
highly anticipated fifth album.
Their R&B/Gospel CD has something for everyone: the
dance/club first single ‘Get Up’; 70s throwbacks
‘I’m Runnin’’ and ‘Forgiven’; the
smooth R&B of ‘Seattle’ and ‘Dirt’; and the
traditional gospel ballad ‘It Will All Be Worth It.’
But the most impressive thing is their exhortation to
be a light, as reflected in these lyrics: “You don’t seem
to have a problem [when] my language is profane / But you’re offended
and insulted when I say ‘in Jesus’ name’ / Still I close
my eyes and bow my head and fall to my knees / Cause my conviction is much
stronger than my need to please.”
mary-mary.com
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• Rush of Fools: Wonder of
the World, Midas/EMI
The most-played song on Christian radio in 2007 was
‘Undo,’ from Rush of Fools’ debut. Now, 16 months after
that album, this Alabama-based band has released Wonder of the World –
which offers up modern worship that will certainly be embraced by fans of
delirious?, MercyMe and Starfield.
This album is full of worshipful, radio-friendly songs
like ‘You are Glory,’ ‘Holy One,’ ‘The Only
Thing that’s Beautiful in Me’ and the title track.
The concert-ready rock anthem ‘Lose it
All,’ shows us that these guys can turn it up a notch; it was just
disappointing that this is the only time they really rock out.
rushoffools.com
• David Phelps: The Voice, Word/Curb/ Warner
Although former Gaither Vocal Band member David Phelps
is, hands down, one of the best vocalists in Christian music, his latest
solo effort does not have a lot to offer.
Going the route of so many of his mainstream
counterparts by releasing an album of ‘standards,’ he covers
secular classics, from Foreigner’s ‘I Want to Know What Love
Is’ and Sarah McLachlan’s ‘Angel’ to the Righteous
Brothers’ ‘Unchained Melody.’
The songs, though well performed and produced by Monroe
Jones, lack any real feeling and conviction. There are only three originals
here, with the standout being the self-penned ‘I Just Call You
Mine.’ As Phelps has come into his own as a song-writer on past
efforts, this album seems like a step backwards. davidphelps.com
• WOW Hits 2009, EMI
It’s hard to know how much longer this franchise
will survive, offering multi-artist collections of the year’s best
songs – when so many people use iTunes to create their own
playlists. But for those looking for a broad cross-section of Christian
music, no one does it better than WOW.
Because of the timing of the release, many of the
songs, although great, seem ‘so 2008’ – as with
‘Everything Glorious’ (David Crowder) and ‘Every
Man’ (Casting Crowns).
But the inclusion of songs that are currently hits make
this a well-rounded snapshot of the best Christian music had to offer in
2008 and into the first quarter of 2009.
wowhits.com
February 2009
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