By Kevin Pollard

• Chris Rice: What a Heart is Beating For, INO/Eb&Flo

Chris Rice took a big leap on his 2005 album, Amusing, as he stepped away from his folk/pop roots to write an album of life and love songs. This departure left me feeling a little empty, as his prolific songwriting abilities were just not living up to their potential. Now on this, his eighth studio album, Rice has returned to writing poignant lyrics coloured by his faith. Highlights here include the hymn-like ‘Tell me the Story Again,’ the easy going ‘Kids Again,’ the quirky yet quite profound ‘Sneakin’ into Heaven’ and the honest ‘Pardon my Dust.’ From the upbeat jazz-influenced ‘So Much for my Sad Song’ to the epic grandeur of the title track, this Dove-winning veteran offers a great collection of introspective songs.           chrisrice.com

• Casting Crowns: The Altar and the Door, Beach Street/Reunion

This ministry-driven group delivers a thought-provoking, powerful third album. Writer Mark Hall deals with everyday struggles in a deeply personal way, as on ‘Slow Fade.’ ‘East to West,’ a song about forgiveness, has hit number one on Christian radio. The guitars hit a little harder than typical Crowns fare on ‘What this World Needs’  – which has in-your-face lyrics: ‘What this world needs is not another one-hit wonder with an axe to grind / Another two-bit politician peddling lies . . . Another prophet in an Armani suit.’ It is this kind of honesty, married with melodies waiting to be sung, that make for yet another solid Crowns album.                                castingcrowns.com

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• Thousand Foot Krutch: The Flame in All of Us, Tooth & Nail

Thousand Foot Krutch returns with their third album on Tooth & Nail – offering an infectious mix of their signature rock, and soaring ballads exploring what truly burns within us. Not only did the album debut at Number 2 on Billboard’s Christian Album chart, but once again TFK tops the rock charts with ‘Falls Apart’ – as they sing about the inevitable result when we attempt to take control of our lives.  

    thousandfootkrutch.com

• Hillsong: Live – Saviour King, Hillsong

More than 13,000 worshippers gathered in Sydney’s Acer Arena for the latest Hillsong album. Generations came together as Darlene Zschech and the United band co-led the evening of worship. The high-energy ‘I’m not Ashamed’ and ‘Break Free’ are the best songs; and the title song is destined to be sung Sunday mornings. Although the passion for worship is evident, many of the songs here are not very memorable.

hillsongmusic.com

Various: Amazing Grace, Sparrow/EMI

Amazing Grace, the film about anti-slaver William Wilberforce, releases on DVD November 13. This collection, subtitled ‘Music Inspired by the Motion Picture,’ features classic hymns performed by top artists – including Jars of Clay, Chris Tomlin and Bart Millard of Mercy Me. Seven of the 13 songs are new recordings. Standouts include Steven Curtis Chapman’s ‘Holy, Holy, Holy’; Nicole Nordeman singing ‘Just as I Am’; and Jeremy and Adie Camp offering ‘It is Well.’ Although well-intended, gospel songs by Kierra Kiki Sheard and Smokie Norful, and country items by Martina McBride and David Crowder, seemed a little out of place.

amazinggracemovie.com

November 2007