By Kevin Pollard

• Mark Schultz: Come Alive, Word/  Curb/Warner

NOW at the decade milestone in his career, singer/songwriter Mark Schultz releases his sixth album.

Once again, he offers songs that are both emotion-packed and engaging. Known for his stories in song like ‘He’s My Son’ and ‘Letters From War,’ he presents another poignant song, ‘What it Means to be Loved.’

Other highlights here include the worshipful ‘God of Glory’: the powerful ballad ‘All Has Been Forgiven’; and ‘Grace Amazing,’ with its humble confession: “I’m not myself today, but I’m finding it’s okay. My heart is learning to believe that You could love someone like me. O Lord, I’m not myself today.”

Mark Schultz will make his concert debut in Vancouver March 20, along with chart topping veterans Point of Grace – who will be performing their hits, along with new music from No Changin’ Us. Opening up the show will be Salmon Arm’s Juno-winning Greg Sczebel, featuring music from his sophomore album Love and the Lack Thereof.

• Phil Wickham: Heaven & Earth, INO

The fresh Britpop sound of Phil Wickham on this modern worship CD makes it stand out from the crowd.

As one of today’s most popular new singer/songwriters, the artist offers us 10 great new songs that are both poetic and sonically appealing. He gives us a hybrid of rock, pop and electronic sounds featuring infectious melodies, with passionate cries of worship as in ‘Cielo’ (‘heaven’); the up-tempo folk pop song ‘The Time is Now’; and the piano-driven ‘Eden,’ that has a Coldplay vibe.

• Paul Baloche: Glorious, Integrity

Paul Baloche is one of today’s most influential worship leaders and songwriters, having written such favourites as ‘Open the Eyes of My Heart,’ ‘Hosanna’ and ‘Because of Your Love.’

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Marking 20 years of leading worship at his home church, Baloche’s eighth album includes nine new worship songs, along with his own take on ‘Today is the Day,’ co-written with Lincoln Brewster; and the Dove Award-winning ‘A New Hallelujah,’ which he co-wrote with Michael W. Smith and Smith’s wife Debbie.

Standouts include ‘You Have Saved Us,’ ‘To the Cross’ and the title song (co-written with Brenton Brown). Baloche once again shows us his ability to lead people in authentic worship, with this top-notch recording.

• Glory Revealed II: The Word of God in Worship, Reunion

In 2007, Mac Powell of Third Day and author David Nasser collaborated with some of the biggest names in Christian music for the first Glory Revealed project. Now they have teamed up again with friends in the Christian music community, for a collection of songs with a rootsy folk, bluegrass Americana sound. Some of the great tracks here include the energetic opener ‘How Great,’ featuring Powell; the fun, upbeat ‘Wake Up, Oh Sleeper’ featuring Jason Crabb and Shelton, with Needtobreathe frontman Bear Rinehart; the folk-driven single ‘Since the World Began’ and the country sound of ‘There is a City’ by Sara Evans and Bethany Olds.

• Kutless: It is Well – A Worship Album, BEC

With the success of their first worship focused album, Strong Tower, Kutless returns with a CD that combines timeless covers like ‘Hungry,’ ‘God of Wonders’ and ‘Remember Me,’ along with great original worship songs like ‘You are Everything’ and ‘I’m Still Yours.’ The light soft-rock stylings from these Portland natives may not sit well with fans of their hard rock sound; but the well produced orchestrations and acoustic mix here works well.

A highlight is ‘Redeemer,’ a medley of the Keith Green classics ‘Oh Lord, You’re Beautiful’ and ‘There is a Redeemer.’

March 2010