CD reviews galore

There were an awful lot of CDs in the reviewing box this month. My first thought was: perhaps there are too many Christian music acts around. Perhaps we should all just get on with our work.

Then I thought that was probably a bit ungracious and I am not the person to open that can of worms. So here instead we have a smorgasbord of pithy reviews to help you separate the duffers from the genii next time you peruse the music section of your local Christian bookshop. In no particular order...

Jason Morrant: Abandon. This guy is being hailed as a great new worship leader. Don't let that put you off. Rather than being a Matt Redman wannabe, Jason has combined (it sounds like) his like of secular bands such as Coldplay with helpful, encouraging lyrics. My favourite song? 'Inside of me': 'Now I walk beside my father / without fear of what may come tomorrow / 'cause I know, even in death I'm alive / for you are inside of me'. And he even makes the 80s chorus, 'I love you Lord and I lift my voice', sound cool. In a similar vein, Eoghan Heaslip: Grace in the wilderness is coming out on the same day.

Mark Lowry: the best of Mark Lowry (volume 1). He looks like a right comedian on the cover of the cd, and I think sometimes that is what he is meant to be. The musical style is kind of country and western verging into something more cheesy even than that. A political satire 'God help the USA' and a jokey song written in order to wind up his singing partner, 'You needed me', sit rather randomly among the more serious and very American-sounding songs like 'Sweet Beulah land' and 'Goin' up yonder'.

Building 429: Glory defined. Interesting name for a band; it comes from Ephesians 4.29, apparently. This six-track CD will appeal to people who like to rock in a third day, train, nickelback kind of way, which brings me to the next album: Third Day: Wire. Pretty familiar territory really. Solid, rocking tunes, challenging lyrics, probably not that different from the other albums but worth a listen.

The gravelly vocals of Third Day singer Mac Powell also appear on Various: The Christ: His Passion. Remembering the Sacrifice along with other big names like Sixpence None the Richer, Sara Groves and Jars of Clay (to name but a few). I think this is somehow linked to the recent film (though it is not the soundtrack) making the most of the opportunity to get people thinking about what Jesus did for us on the cross. The songs, a mixture of old and new, are given a passionate acoustic-rock treatment, and generally done very well. For me, the highlight is 'Beautiful scandalous night', done by Sixpence and Bebo Norman.

Billy Graham Crusades: Through the years. This is one for you blue rinses and golden oldies out there. These songs have been recorded live over the course of Billy Graham's vast years of ministry. The sound quality is not great and the style can be a bit sentimental at times, but I actually found this rather encouraging! It's always good to sing along to old classics like 'Blessed assurance' and 'To God be the glory'. It did my heart good!

Ginny Owens: Beautiful. More contemporary in feel; soul-tinged pop songs about God's care for each individual and the need for us to trust him. I particularly love her funky rendition of the message of Ecclesiates, 'Chasing after the wind'.

Finally, my favourite of the bunch was probably Chris Rice: Short term memories. A best of by this popular American artist. He's got an acoustic guitar sound and an interesting way of looking at things. These are songs about an ordinary Christian experience, with all its ups and downs, relating it to the truth we have in God's Word.

There were other CDs to review, but I think that is enough to be getting on with.

Carruthers

For prices and other information see the Authentic Media website.

Carruthers

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