Review: Silent Brass SB7-9

I bought the Silent Brass SB7-9 several months ago, and have experimented with its potential. The unit has an auxiliary input so you can hook it up to an mp3 player (or CD player), and a plug for headphones. This way, users can play along with other recorded songs to practice parts in a quiet environment. It also has a volume knob and an Echo feature. In playing with the unit, I found some insight into three main areas: Practice, Recording and Live. I divided up the areas to provide a more thorough review:

Practice
This is a great practice tool. It has the capability of hooking up to a computer, mp3 player, or CD player to play along with songs for practice purposes. Since I have two young children, I’m able to practice songs without making too much noise that would wake them up. However, I did notice that I got tired more quickly. Either I don’t have the endurance I used to, or the backpressure from the unit caused my embouchure to tire more quickly. Some reviews I’ve read online often mention the noticeable backpressure. If the purpose of using this device is to practice fundamental techniques (as opposed to tone, volume, etc), then this is a good tool to use when you want to play quietly as to not disturb those nearby. Thus, backpressure is not really an issue unless you’re practicing breathing or endurance techniques.

Recording
I tried using this in some recordings to see what kind of sound I could get. When I used the SB7-9, I hooked up the unit to my MacBook, and used GarageBand to manipulate the sound. With no effects added, it sounds like a regular muted trumpet. With the right effects, it sounded like I played in a large open room. However, it is still no match for the natural play-into-a-mic sound. The air flows so much better in an open space than containing the sound into a pickup mute. I used a standard SM57 microphone and the trumpet sounded really crisp. Again, the purpose of future recordings will determine whether this unit is a good tool. If the song requires a muted trumpet, then there are numerous possibilities to get the sound you want in the mixing phase. Otherwise, I'll simply stick with recording the trumpet into a regular microphone and mix from there.


In comparing the different sounds, I recorded three short 10-second blues riffs to show the tone differences:

Live
I have not yet used this live, but I already have some thoughts about it. When using the unit in some recordings, I noticed it picked up some things that I don’t want. It picked up the pressing of the valves, which could be annoying during a song, and it also picked up blowing in the trumpet, like emptying the spit valve. So in live sessions, there must be some discernment on when to empty the spit valve, how hard to press the valves when playing, and how good the sound person is to make sure you’re muted so you can quietly empty the spit valves or test the response of the valves during song breaks. Judging from the sounds in my recordings, using the SB7-9 in a live setting is very possible, especially if you need a muted trumpet for a more acoustic and rustic feel. All that is necessary to accomplish this is to either plug the unit directly into the sound system (with the proper adaptors and cables), or plug the unit into a computer where you can set the muted trumpet tone through recording software. Otherwise, I would say stick with a regular microphone if the song demands a more fanfare feel.

Overall, I would say this unit is very good for the money ($150 list price; $127 on Amazon). Since it has the capabilities of connecting to other sources, there are numerous possibilities as to its usage. Of course, the device works best as a practice tool in more private locations, but it can really be used anywhere given the right connections and some practice with the unit itself. It’s really a matter of determining what kind of sound you want, and spending time with the unit to hear what it sounds like when run through recording software. I would recommend the Silent Brass SB7-9 to any trumpet player looking for creative ways to mix some trumpet sounds into some recordings or a live performance.

REVIEW: "Hymns & Sacred Songs" by Leigh Nash

Leigh Nash fans are in for a treat!  After 5 years, she is releasing her first solo album, Hymns & Sacred Songs on November 15, 2011.  For those who are unfamiliar with Leigh Nash, she is the lead voice of Sixpence None the Richer.  Hits like "Kiss Me" (1997) and "Breathe Your Name" (2002) made Sixpence a mainstay in American pop culture.  When asked to record an album of hymns with Kingsway, Nash jumped at the opportunity.  Hymns & Sacred Songs holds a special value to Nash, and she graciously shared her thoughts with The Worship Community.

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How did this project come about?
I was asked if I'd be interested in making a hymns record and flipped!  I've always wanted to do this and am so grateful for the opportunity!

How did you come to decide which hymns to use?
John Hartley, who produced the record, did much of the song selecting.  He did a beautiful job I might add.  I contributed to the writing of several, and I selected those by looking through an old hymnal and finding words I was particularly moved by.

What brought on the decision to write new melodies as opposed to using the traditional ones?
I really love the idea of bringing new life into these beautiful words.  They're timeless, but sometimes melodies can get a bit stale and it's hard to be as inspired by them.  These new melodies are beautiful and I feel they breathe new life into these sacred words.

Which hymn(s)/song(s) mean the most to you in this project and why?
I love "O Heart Bereaved and Lonely" - this song resonates with me the most because it so adeptly describes feeling discouraged and broken.  It is a common human emotion and I think this song says so beautifully in words not to be discouraged because Jesus know all - we are not alone.  Such a comforting song.  I also really love "The Power of the Cross."  It's such a powerful song - I had chills while singing it.

What are your hopes as a result of this project?
I pray that people are encoruaged and lifted by this music.

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In familiar Sixpence fashion, Nash brings some bluegrass and folk in Hymns & Sacred Songs to some memorable hymns by Fanny J. Crosby, Charles Wesley and others.  The collaboration in this project really impresses me.  This collection contains songs from unknown lyricists, Nashville worship leaders, independent songwriters, etc.  You'll see what I mean as I share the song-by-song breakdown:

Savior, Like A Shepherd, attributed to Dorothy A. Thrupp in 1836, was musically arranged by Brian Ortize and Season 9 American Idol finalist Katelyn Clampett.  It starts off the album with a sweet upbeat bluegrass style.  The banjo adds such a nice touch to the dynamic of the song, and Nash’s voice makes it all the more sweet.  The melody is new.  So, it brings a fresh arrangement to the classic.

Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing is a VERY well done adaptation of the original.  The melody is fresh in keeping with the original 1758 lyrics by Robert Robinson.  The new melody, arranged by Leigh Nash, Chris Eaton, and John Hartley, is written in a minor key, which breathes new life into it.  Since I’m a sucker for minor, I was immediately drawn into the melody.  Adding a light “music box” feel to the beautifully crafted lyrics, I’m a new fan of this old hymn.  I highly recommend the arrangement for worship music libraries.

Isaiah 55 (Nothing You Can’t Do) is a new song written by singer/songwriter/worship leader Katie Gustafson.  It’s a great melody inviting everyone to the goodness of Jesus in the verses, adoration of God in the chorus, and exaltation of the Lord in the bridge.  Nash brings a light rock style to this modern hymn, and introduces Gustafson through this project.

O Heart Bereaved And Lonely is one of 8000 hymns written by Fanny J. Crosby.  It’s a great hymn encouraging those who have been broken to trust in the Savior who “knows it all.”  Leigh Nash, Chris Eaton, and John Hartley arranged the melody and accompaniment to a 6/8 light rock flavor.  Lyrically, it’s a great song to add to a set list when needing to encourage those among you that in all our trials, we can still trust the Savior to see us through.  Musically, it’s a tender minor melody that expresses the bereaved believer calling out to the Savior like what we would find in a lament.

The Power of the Cross is a new hymn from Keith Getty and Stuart Townsend.  This song gave me chills when I first heard it.  As the title suggests, Getty and Townsend go back to the cross at Calvary and wrote around its theology in worship.  “Ever bitter thought, every evil deed crowning your blood stained brow” and “we stand forgiven at the cross” bring that theology to life in a powerful way.  Musically speaking, it’s an easy listening song, but the lyrics make it more powerful than one may anticipate.  This makes a great teaching song when adding to a set list.

Give Myself to You is a new song from an unknown lyricist.  Nashville worship leader Savannah Ellis originally wrote the music, and Nash introduces it through this project.  It’s a light rock worship song that expresses the thankfulness of what Jesus did on the cross. 


Come Ye Thankful People Come is a great song of thankfulness.  Want a song around Thanksgiving?  This would make a great addition to a set list in that season. Henry Alford originally wrote it in 1844, whereas Leigh Nash arranges the melody.  The style of the song seems like a soft march with a light banjo mixed in.  It’s a great folk-style song to add to any music library.

Blessed Redeemer is another Fanny Crosby classic hymn in this project. Written between 1820 and 1915, Crosby brings Christ’s character to the forefront. Chris McClarney, Chris Eaton, and John Hartley arranged this hymn with a 6/8 folk style.  The melody is fresh, which allows a modern dynamic using electric guitar power chords.  As with many of Crosby’s hymns, it’s a great song to add to a Sunday set list.

Out of My Bondage (Jesus, I Come) was written in 1887 by William T. Sleeper.  Leigh Nash brings a light melodic 6/8 folk style to the arrangement.  This is a great song of freedom, coming from bondages of fear, despair, discontent, sickness, and need to everything that only Jesus provides like freedom, gladness, love, health and wealth.  It’s a must-add to any music library.

Song of Moses was recently recorded by Aaron Keyes.  He provides a great history of the song on his website.  I like how the banjo is used in this song.  It doesn’t sound bluegrass, but it has a folk flavor that is so fitting for Nash’s voice.  Congregations have already used this song in their set lists, but this arrangement may work great with female vocals with a folk-ish texture.

Praise The Lord Who Reigns Above is a great 1743 hymn from well-known theologian Charles Wesley.  The song was originally written in a 4/4 time signature, whereas Chris Eaton and John Hartley arranged the melody to a 6/8 time, arranged the dynamics to a light rock style, and added a new chorus.  The chorus is powerful and works very well with the new melody.  I highly recommend adding this song to every music library.  It’s a great adaptation of the original.

Be Still My Soul brings a slow bluegrass style into the project mix.  It was originally written in German by Katharina A. von Schlegel in 1752, and then translated to English by Jane L. Borthwick in 1855.  Chris Eaton, John Hartley and KatieGustafson arranged a new melody.  It’s a great song in a minor key that brings a tender lament feel to the dynamic.  This is also a great song to add to a music library.

Since most of these songs are well-known hymns, the lyrics simply need admiring (as opposed to critiquing).  It’s refreshing to hear some of these popular hymns to new melodies because as Nash stated in her interview, it brings freshness to melodies that may have become stale over the centuries.  Hymns & Sacred Songs is an extraordinary fusion of old and new.  Using any of these songs as part of a music library would help bridge the gap between generations.  Well done, Leigh Nash and Kingsway, well done!

REVIEW: "My Soul Yearns" by Vineyard UK

Vineyard has a long and rich history of bringing accessible praise and worship music to the church.  When I say “accessible,” I mean they write music that most musicians can pick up, learn, and sing/play in their local congregations.  Melodies are catchy, vocal range is accessible, melodic intervals are manageable, and the instrumental dynamics allow for other arrangements.  My Soul Yearns continues Vineyard’s focus of bringing music for the church by the church.  According to their website, this album “is an authentic expression of how God is moving with Holy power through the Vineyard UK & Ireland movement where worship is one of its cornerstones.”

My Soul Yearns features 4 worship leaders, each leading 3 songs at the 2011 Vineyard National Leaders Conference.  Carly Billingham, Dave Miller, Samuel Lane and Joe Blustin bring Vineyard UK’s passion for Jesus Christ from UK/Ireland to the US.  Here is a song-by-song breakdown of this 12-song live album:

1.  My Soul Yearns opens with a prayer to “galvanize us by the power of your Spirit to make a mark on this land” and a spontaneous worship moment.  It’s a cry of love to Jesus expressing that we belong to him and our souls yearn for him.  Samuel Lane leads this powerful worship song expressing the love of God and the reason we worship him.  It starts off slow but builds to a powerful chorus when the drums and guitars kick in.  This title track sums up the rest of the album.  We long for his Sprit to do the work in us first so we are empowered to go out into the world.

2.  Hear the Sound starts with a light upbeat rhythm that builds to a strong chorus.  It’s definitely a praise and worship song – recognizing the holiness of God giving him “glory and honor, thanks and praise.”  The dynamics add to the cries of the believer’s heart to hear the sound of our worship.  Led by Dave Miller, the melody is very singable for most vocalists, and can easily fit with various styles depending on the dynamics of the local worship team.

3.  Love Rain Down gets to the heart of the motivation of our “mission.”  We cannot and should not go out until we are filled with the Holy Spirit.  We cannot give Christ’s love away until we are filled with his love ourselves.  It’s a great way of poetically expressing the greatest commandment overflowing to love for our neighbors.  “This is our prayer that your love and your power would come like an ancient day, so your word will be heard and history is made as lives are changed” beautifully expresses the Great Commission.  The chorus (“Love rain down, fill us up and send us out to the cities and towns, one by one to see your kingdom come”) then expresses the need to be filled with the Spirit before being “sent out.” Carly Billingham’s voice adds to the purity and innocence of the song.  I highly recommend adding this song to your music library.

4.  Jesus Name speaks of the beauty and wonder of the name of Jesus. Joe Blustin leads this song with a richness of worship.  It’s a great worship song, good range, easy melody to learn, and great dynamics.  There is an ebb and flow to the worship going from a smooth flow in the verses to a strong chorus.

5.  The Lamb Has Conquered is an anthem-like song that celebrates the work of the cross.  It starts off kind of soft but it picks up to a strong chorus.  There is a section of the song that’s only drums and vocals, making it sound like a march to the drums.  In essence, this song expresses the Gospel, including the coming kingdom.  Dave Miller leads this powerful song.  It’s wonderful.  I highly recommend this song for a Sunday set list.

6.  Lift Up His Name (Part 1) is a short “spontaneous worship” time.  While the music is playing, people sing as they feel led by the Spirit.  For those who are unfamiliar with spontaneous worship, the congregation sings their personal praises to the Lord while the band plays simple chords and leads.  Vineyard has been doing this for decades, and many worship teams have emulated their desire to allow people to sing their hearts while the band eases back.  This portion of the song is only 1:05 in length, so it’s a pretty good feel for how spontaneous worship sounds.

7.  Adore Him is a ballad that includes a bunch of theology.  It takes what we know to be true of God and puts them in a teachable song yet it also includes a chorus that encourages others to adore the Father because we know these things to be true.  Using Romans 3, Colossians 3, Ephesians 3 and Psalm 119, Samuel Lane leads this worship song expressing our desire to come adore him by singing “To our God, To our Father, Be the glory, forever and ever.”

8.  Sweetly Broken is a great song of surrender and redemption. “At the cross you beckon me, you draw me gently to my knees, and I am lost for words, so lost in love, I’m sweetly broken, holy surrendered” beautifully expresses the heart of the believer.  Since Christ’s love pursues us, we’re brought to the beautiful brokenness as we follow his ways. Joe Blustin leads this great worship song.  I highly recommend this for congregational worship.

9.  Lift Up His Name (Part 2) continues the spontaneous worship from Part 1 into a song called “I Will Worship You.”  It’s a good song of surrender and a cry of worship.  Spontaneous worship songs are difficult to make recommendations for set lists because of their nature.  As with most worship songs, I encourage worship teams to allow their creativity to come out when arranging worship songs.  As long as the lyrics connect with the team and the congregation, go for it.

10. I Respond is a song of response to the cross.  It’s pretty straightforward of a “sinner” recognizing what Jesus did on the cross, and “I respond to your invitation.”  It has standard theological lyrics using phrases like “Wash me white as snow” and “you died on the cross.”  It may make a good song during an alter call. Carly Billingham leads this beautiful worship song.

11. Jesus, You Reign honors Jesus as our king.  It is a great song to lead into a spontaneous worship time with a good range for vocalists and easy melody for congregations to learn. Joe Blustin leads this song with the music starting off soft yet dissonant, and clears to a worshipful chorus.

12. You Are is a ballad that recognizes Jesus for who he is with lyrics like “You are the risen one who died to save … You are my God.”  It also expresses a willingness to hand over our lives to the Savior with lyrics like “You breathe new life into these dry bones again.”  Since it’s a piano-driven song, both traditional and contemporary worship services can use this song to express how Christ refreshes us when his presence is near us.  Carly Billingham leads this worship song.

Most of the songs in this album I would consider more “adult contemporary” or “easy listening” compared to other modern worship artists.  All the songs have melodies that are easy to sing along since the vocal ranges are obtainable by most vocalists.  Vineyard has a reputation of writing songs that are easy to sing and easy to arrange for most worship teams.  Every song in My Soul Yearns makes a great addition to a worship team’s library and I highly recommend downloading this album to add to your music library.  It has theology, poetry, and beauty.  Enjoy!

Review: "Boldly Close" by Radiant Worship

Radiant Worship’s Boldly Close maintains their desire to “encounter the Presence of God through passionate, modern worship music.”  (The quote is from their website, RadiantWorship.com)  Radiant Worship is a team of musicians with International House of Prayer in Kansas City, MO, led by Richy Clark.  They also have teams of intercessors and messengers who bring the presence of God to their gatherings.  To do this, they must encounter God themselves.  Boldly Close is an example of their encounters with God as they lead others to encounter the same God that comes close to them.  This recording is live, so there is a dynamic of audience participation.  Boldly Close will be released to iTunes on October 1, 2011, and this music is well worth the downloads.

For a more thorough review, here is a breakdown of each song:

** Lift The Veil **

I love how the songwriters use the elements of the temple to express how we should approach God.  The temple veil was torn in two so all can come and behold his glory.  When we see his glory, we also see our sinful nature and desire to rid ourselves of the sin in our lives to receive the glory he has prepared for us.  Musically, this starts off soft and builds to a powerful chorus.  Later on in the song, the chorus backs down into a gentle manner to allow the stillness of God’s presence, and then the song fades to the next one.  I’m a little stuck on the line “You’re countenance making new all that beholds your glory.”  If I understand the songwriters’ intent here, they are expressing how God desires to make us new, and more like Him.  Overall, it’s a great and powerful song with deep and rich meaning to those who understand how the temple’s design in the Old Testament is a model for our prayer and our reverence for a holy God.  It would make a great addition to a Sunday setlist.

** You Are The Christ **

This is a confession to the identity of Jesus as the Messiah.  The words are directly from the conversation between Jesus and Peter, and are applied to our response to Jesus upon recognizing who He is.  My favorite line in the song is “He’s given the keys of the Kingdom to the Church.”  As the Church, I’m always reminded we have the keys to unlock/release the Kingdom into this earth.  The song is a powerfully moving song with a driving beat.  It has some great guitar riffs and bass lines to add to the dynamic.  Overall, it’s a great song to add to a set list, especially expressing it as a creed of who Jesus is and how we see him.

** Unto You **

I like how the songwriters use the word “consecrate.”  For those who need a definition, it means to make or declare sacred.  Many modern songs avoid words that seem too “churchy.”  So, it’s refreshing to know songwriters are willing to reuse such words in worship songs to express the need to set ourselves apart for the Lord’s kingdom.  I only have one issue with the song, though.  The most memorable melody in the song is “Whoa.”  It’s catchier than the verse and the chorus.  So to me, the “Whoa” does not sound like an accent to the song but another section of the song.  People normally walk away remembering melodic lines the best.  So I wonder if people will remember “Whoa” more than the other lyrics, which are very beautiful.

** We Lift Our Voice **

This is a great worship song.  It expresses the heart of people willing to meet with God, and they come into his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise.  For those who understand the structure of the Old Testament temple, it has some deep and rich meaning.  Musically, I love the bass in this song, and how much it pumps through the song.  The song has a driving beat that is consistent throughout the song.  It would make a great song to addition to a Sunday Set List.

** The Real Fire (Prayer) **

I actually like this a lot because it’s just music with the lead worshiper praying.  I’ve come to appreciate songs that simply speak/sing a prayer because there is no pressure to make words rhyme or sing in a particular pattern.  I like how the lead worshiper encourages the crowd to seek God for the “real fire” and give us more than just the religion we practice.  We need God to be real with us, and we certainly need his “real fire.”  It’s a great example for a worship team when it comes to prophetic soaking music.  Since this type of song cannot be used in a set list, I would recommend teams to allow the Holy Spirit to speak through the music they play and sing.

** The Highest **

This is another great song of worship.  It gives all glory and honor to Jesus expressing that no other name deserves that much praise.  The 6/8 time signature, and ebbs and flows in tempo allow the song to breathe.  There are moments in the song that soften up for a more intimate feel, and other moments that are driving and strong.  I like how the musicians work with the different dynamics of the song, and highly recommend this song for a worship set list.

** Boldly Close **

This is another 6/8 time signature with a few ebbs and flows between intimate moments and declarative moments.  The chorus is pretty powerful, “I'm coming boldly close to You; I'm not afraid 'cause You've asked me to; I'm bringing all my emptiness; To be satisfied in Your likeness.”  It’s certainly a song that can be used in a corporate setting.

** You Are Holy (Isaiah 6) **

Using the words of Isaiah, the worshipers connect with Isaiah’s response to seeing God in his manifest glory.  While the verses are Isaiah’s response to what he saw, the chorus focuses on the adoration of the Lord by the Seraphim.  The chorus is very powerful, and would make for a great addition to a set list.

** The Good Part **

I find it refreshing to hear songs that express the value of resting in God’s presence and waiting on Him.  I wondered why the songwriters chose rest as “the good part” but then I remembered the story of Mary and Martha.  When Martha complained that Mary was not doing enough work around the house, Jesus said that Mary chose the better one.  With that said, may we always choose resting in the Lord’s presence over getting so much kingdom “work” done as if our labor is more pleasing to God than being in his presence.  I love how the song expresses that God is not always in the earthquake or the wind or the works we do.  He’s not always in the praise song or our pain, and he sometimes asks us to lie down and wait for him.  I recommend this song for sets that want to express waiting on the Lord and hearing his voice.

** Jesus, I Surrender **

This is a pretty straight-forward song.  It’s trusting in the words Jesus spoke about following him.  There will be trials, joy, and suffering.  We must give up our rights, and take up our cross.  Jesus also promised we would never be alone.  So trusting in his words, there is surrender to his ways.  The song has a slow to moderate tempo with an ebb and flow of dynamics.  In an intimate worship setting, I would recommend this for a Sunday set list.

** We Will Not Be Moved **

This is such a driving song from beginning to end!  The guitar riff is awesome.  There is a strong declaration that “we will not be moved” even if the mountains crumble to the sea, or the waters rise above us.  As much as I love the lyrics, there seems to be a disconnection of who the singers are singing to between the verse and the chorus.  The verse seems to be a group battle cry, and the chorus expresses how wonderful God is and how beautiful the things he makes are. Maybe the song is expressing that because God is so wonderful that we will not be moved, but again that connection is not really clear.  Other than that, it’s a great and powerful song, and I would recommend it for set lists as long as the lead worshiper somehow visually makes that connection.

** The Worthy Selah (Improv) **

I kind of like this because this is what prophetic soaking music does.  These songs are not intended for a sing-a-long.  Hearers just need to soak in what the Spirit is speaking to the church through the lead worshipers.  It’s during those long music-only portions that people are encouraged to pray and listen to the Lord.  I’m always amazed at how much God speaks, and all we have to do is listen.  Of course, these type songs can’t really be duplicated, or even recommended for a set list.  What I would recommend to any worship team is to allow creativity through the musicians, and allow the Holy Spirit to move through the music whether in instrument or voice.

Overall, this is a really good live album.  Radiant Worship has a reputation of bringing the presence of God to their gatherings.  The musicianship is top notch, the vocals are powerful, and Richy Clark has a way of allowing God to speak through him at their gatherings.  Musically, I’m not sure how many worship bands can duplicate the musicianship in Radiant Worship since they are incredibly talented.  However, I would encourage any worship team to use the songs that speak to the heart of their local congregation, and use their creativity to express the message in the songs.

REVIEW: "Come Away" By Jesus Culture

Jesus Culture’s “Come Away” Live CD debuts worldwide on November 23, 2010.  Feel free to visit their website HERE.  Below is a sneak peak into their latest live recording (images from Jesus Culture's website):

REVIEW – Jesus Culture “Come Away” Live CD

Jesus Culture’s “Come Away” is a must listen for any spirit-led worship team!  I must admit Jesus Culture intrigues me.  Their music is not the standard verse-chorus-bridge-guitar solo-chorus format.  They intend for their music to invite others to join them in a time of worship and adoration for the Savior, which means they repeat choruses and bridges several times as the crowd joins them.  At first listen, I was drawn in.  Live albums help in that aspect because listeners easily connect with the crowd in those recordings.  Jesus Culture has an uncanny ability of inviting the crowd into their personal worship time as evidenced by how they lead spontaneous worship.

Every song has “crowd participation.”  The band backs down so the crowd is welcome to sing louder than the lead vocal on stage.  When this happens, it’s a beautiful sound.  Although the bridges and choruses repeat often, the dynamics change enough to avoid needless repetition in a live recording.  The songs are longer than usual recordings due to the live nature, yet this simply means there is more music to love and worship with.

Are these songs usable for any congregation?  Absolutely!  In reality, any Jesus Culture song is adaptable for congregational singing.  Their songs are designed that way.  My personal favorites on this album are “Rooftops”, “You Are My Passion”, “My Soul Longs For You”, “Let It Rain”, “Show Me Your Glory”, and “One Thing Remains.”  Every melody flows smooth enough that an average acoustic guitar player can choose a song, and arrange a “camp fire” worship time. 

The song order seems intentional, which is not surprising to me.  “Come Away” begins the album from the perspective of the Father inviting his children to join Him in life together.  From there, the songs move into surrender, proclamation, adoration, longing for the Spirit, and faith in the moving of the Holy Spirit.  The album concludes with “One Thing Remains” which is a perfect example of spontaneous worship.  Half way through the song, the band and vocals cut out completely, and the crowd keeps singing and clapping.  After a few bars of crowd-only music, the band’s drummer joins the crowd with the kick drum.  One by one, musicians join in, and the full band continues the song in a powerful chorus.

Spontaneous worship, when done effectively is very powerful.  Jesus Culture sets an amazing example of spontaneous worship for other worship bands.  “Come Away” is yet another amazing live recording from Jesus Culture that will not disappoint.  The following is a song-by-song breakdown of the album:

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1.  “Come Away”

* Great opening song seeking people to open their hearts to God, and allow Him to move.

* A message from the Lord to his children, encouraging them to draw near

* High energy; starts off light then builds its energy through the choruses

2.  “Rooftops”

* A great song of surrender.  It acknowledges the greatness of God and futility of man. 

* The band lightens up for a sort of response time during the bridge then leads into a powerful chorus and an equally powerful bridge.

* The song ends with vocals only; the crowd sings along which draws the listener to worship with them.  Very well done!

* RECOMMEND FOR SETLISTS

3.  “You Are My Passion”

* High energy from beginning to end

* Song about the desire to know Jesus more

* The ending of the song cuts down while the crowd sings in the vocals place

* RECOMMEND FOR SETLISTS

4.  “I Want to Know You”

* Starts somewhat subdued, and builds to a powerful chorus

* Sounds like a few hooks put into one song.  Does not have the typical verse-chorus format

* I love the chorus, “I want to know you, let your spirit overwhelm me; let your presence overtake my heart.”

* Takes a while to get to the title phrase since the other phrases repeat several times

* The vocalist backs out, and the crowd sings in his place; always beautiful

5.  “My Soul Longs For You”

* Great song!  The guitar hook matches the lyric hook, which makes it very distinctive.

* Song breaks into two melodies one for male voice and one for female voice.

* Has an unconventional format; sounds like 4 phrases each repeat several times.  That may be the intention of the song to keep the format unconventional for the sake of encouraging worship and praise in a spontaneous way.

* Has a spontaneous worship moment after 5 minutes into the song

* RECOMMEND FOR SETLISTS

6.  “Freedom Reigns”

* Starts off soft with vocals and percussion, and builds throughout the song

* Unconventional song format

* Has a very strong chorus

7.  “Let It Rain”

* This song must be very familiar to the people in the live venue.  The crowd sang immediately as the song began.  This is evidence their music is a ministry. 

* Inviting the Holy Spirit to open the floodgates of Heaven and pour out on the Lord’s people

* Towards the end of the song, the vocals back out while the crowd sings.  After a few bars, the worship leader prays over the crowd.

* RECOMMEND FOR SETLISTS

8.  “Mighty Breath of God”

* Starts off soft and then builds

* Has a strong bridge then softens to allow spontaneous worship with the crowd

* I can imagine this as a “campfire song” with acoustic guitar only

* RECOMMEND FOR SETLISTS

9.  “Show Me Your Glory”

* Begins soft and builds to powerful chorus

* Has several dynamic changes between light and powerful

* The end of the song, yet again, drops the vocals out where the crowd is easily heard.  Beautiful.

* RECOMMEND FOR SETLISTS

10.  “One Thing Remains”

* I love the chorus, “Your love never fails; never gives up; never runs out on me”

* Great closing song because it sums up the Lord’s promises to us

* About half way through the song, the band stops but the crowd keeps going (singing and clapping).  The drummer keeps the beat with the kick, and one-by-one each musician comes in adding another layer to the song.  Without missing a beat, the vocalist comes in at just the right cue. 

* RECOMMEND FOR SETLISTS

******************************************************

Overall: Every song has repeated choruses or bridges.  Given the venue and the purpose of Jesus Culture’s ministry, it’s rather expected.  Since this is a live album, the shortest song is around 6 minutes (because of the repeated phrases).  The entire live recording is high energy, perfect for younger venues.  The style of the music seems much like U2 to me with heavy delay on the guitars.  Plus, there are sections of the songs where Chris Quilala sounds like Bono.  I'm not sure if this is the sound Jesus Culture aims for, but it still sounds good.  As with all Jesus Culture music, it’s a great resource to encourage the youth of this nation to search for the greater things of God through worship.

For more reviews of this album, visit TheWorshipCommunity.com.

[Review] Can't Be Silent by Youth For the Nations

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Can't Be Silent by Youth For the Nations

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