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Category Archives: Music & Concert Reviews and News


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MUSIC REVIEWS and NEWS


Still – Steven Curtis Chapman 
***

Still is Steven Curtis Chapman’s first all new full-length release since 2016’s Worship and Believe. The new album features twelve new songs of hope and encouragement from the most awarded artist in Christian music history. In his 35-year career, the soon to be 60-year-old Chapman, has won 5 Grammy Awards, 59 Dove Awards, had 49 number 1 songs, while selling more than 11 million albums with 10 RIAA-Certified Platinum and Gold albums. Still is a solid addition to Chapman’s catalog as he works with respected producers Bryan Fowler, Micah Kuiper and Ben Shive.

Below are a few comments about each song:

Welcome Back to Wonder – This short song was written by Chapman and Dave Barnes and produced by Chapman, Bryan Fowler and Micah Kuiper. The song features keys, guitar, backing vocals, bass, and drums. The song is about experiencing the majesty of the world God has created.
Key lyric:
With every beat of my heart, I hear You callin’
“Welcome back, welcome back to wonder”

Click on ‘Continue reading’ for:

  • More of this review and a review of Revolver (Super Deluxe) by the Beatles
  • Music News
  • Song of the Week Lyrics ~ The Praise Is Yours by Matt Redman

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MUSIC REVIEWS and NEWS

Sandra McCracken is a singer-songwriter and hymn writer from Nashville, Tennessee. A prolific recording artist, McCracken has produced 14 solo albums over two decades. Her best selling release, Psalms (2015) received critical acclaim, followed by God’s Highway (2017) which made the top 50 on Billboard Heatseekers chart without a major label. She has had songs featured in TV, including ‘Ten Thousand Angels’ on ABC’s Grey’s Anatomy and has over 15 million streams. Blending the old and new, Sandra has also shown a unique ability to recast sacred scripture texts into theologically rich yet accessible songs. Her thoughtful lyrics and gospel melodies in songs like “We Will Feast In The House Of Zion,” “Steadfast” and “Thy Mercy My God” have become staple anthems in churches across the U.S. As a published writer, she contributes a regular column in Christianity Today and released her first book “Send Out Your Light” in September 2021.  She has released three full-length albums in 2022. Here are reviews of each of them:

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  • More Sandra McCracken reviews
  • Music News
  • Song of the Week Lyrics ~ Rejoice by Keith and Kristyn Getty and Rend Collective

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7 Upcoming 2023 Music Releases 

There are several upcoming music releases that you might be interested in during the first quarter of 2023. Here are seven of them:

Fragments: Time Out of Mind Sessions 1996-1997 The Bootleg Series Vol. 17 – Bob Dylan

To be released January 27.

The 17th volume in Dylan’s Bootleg Series, this one focuses on sessions from his acclaimed album Time Out of Mind. The song “Love Sick” (Version 2) has been released in advance of the album.

Sing! Christ Our Hope in Life and Death – Keith and Kristyn Getty and Friends

To be released January 27.

This is the live album from the 2022 Sing! Getty Music Conference from Nashville. Artists will include Keith and Kristyn Getty, Shane and Shane, CityAlight and many more. Thus far, the song “Rejoice” by Keith and Kristyn Getty, with Shane and Shane has been released.

Lamb of God – Matt Redman

To be released February 17.

This is a live album from Matt Redman recorded at the historic Mission San Juan Capistrano, California. Three songs have been released in advance of the album – “The Praise is Yours”, “Son of Suffering” and “Halfway Empty”.

Moving on Skiffle – Van Morrison

To be released March 10.

The prolific Morrison’s next project is a 23-track, double album. Two songs have been released in advance of the album – “Streamline Train” and “I’m moving On”.

Wilder Woods (title to be determined)

Release date to be determined.

Wilder Woods is NEEDTOBREATHE’s lead singer and songwriter Bear Rinehart. “Maestro (Tears Don’t Lie)” is the first single released in advance of the album.

Songs of Surrender – U2

To be released March17

During the lockdown, U2 reimagined and recorded 40 of their songs. We can expect the track list to follow the chapters in Bono’s recent book Surrender. The first single from the album is “Pride (In the Name of Love)”

Psalms, Hymns, and Spiritual Songs (Live) – Shane and Shane

To be released March 17

I was introduced to Shane and Shane at the 2018 Sing! Getty Worship Conference, and have enjoyed their worship music ever since. “You’ve Already Won” and “All Sufficient Merit” have been released in advance of the album.

These are seven upcoming music releases that I’m looking forward to. What new albums are you looking forward to in 2023?


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MUSIC REVIEWS and NEWS


Christ Our Hope in Life and Death – Keith and Kristyn Getty
****

Keith and Kristyn Getty follow-up their 2021 album Confessio – Irish American Roots with Christ Our Hope in Life and Death, their first major collection of new hymns since 2016’s Facing A Task Unfinished. The new album, one of my favorites of 2022, features guest artists such as Michael W. Smith, Skye Peterson, Matt Boswell and Matt Papa, and Rend Collective.
Below are a few comments about each of the songs:
Christ Our Hope in Life and Death (Radio Mix) – This song was written by Keith Getty, Matt Boswell, Jordan Kauflin, Matt Merker and Matt Papa. It was produced by Bryan Fowler and features Michael W. Smith on vocals. Inspired by the first question of the Heidelberg Catechism, this is one of our best modern hymns. The song features backing vocals, drums, bass, piano, guitar, and strings.
Key lyrics:
O sing hallelujah!
Our hope springs eternal;
O sing hallelujah!
Now and ever we confess
Christ our hope in life and death 

Click on ‘Continue reading’ for:

  • More of this review and reviews of Together for the Gospel Live V – Matt Merker and New Creation (Deluxe Version) – Mac Powell
  • Music News
  • Song of the Week Lyrics ~In the Valley by CityAlight, featuring Sandra McCracken

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MUSIC REVIEWS and NEWS


There is One Gospel (Deluxe Edition) – CityAlight
****

There is One Gospel is a collection of new music for congregational worship by CityAlight, a music ministry from St. Paul’s church in Sydney, Australia. I recently got to see CityAlight for the first time at the 2022 Sing! Getty Music Worship Conference in Nashville, one of many highlights from the conference.
In a session at the conference entitled “Behind the Songs Live with CityAlight,” I learned that they intentionally write simple folk melodies, which might even sound familiar to us, to go along with their biblically informed lyrics. It is not unusual for them to take six months to write a song, as each song goes through several reviews.
Here are a few comments about each song on this excellent new album:

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  • More of this review
  • Music News
  • Song of the Week Lyrics ~ The Lord Almighty Reigns by Keith and Kristyn Getty

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MUSIC REVIEWS and NEWS

Life After Death – TobyMac
****

Life After Death is 57-year-old TobyMac’s eighth studio album, and his first since 2018’s The Elements and the 2019 death of his 21-year-old son Truett from an accidental drug overdose. The 15-song album is the best I have heard this year.
Eight of the fifteen songs were released prior to the official album release date. The songs, which date from 2020’s “21 Years” and “I’m Sorry (a lament)”, include themes of loss, lament, hope, racial equality, the goodness of God, relationships, living for Christ and rest. Toby has said that there is life after death, and that the album chronicles the journey he has been on over the last two years. And somehow, through it all, he has experienced the goodness of God.
There are several collaborations on the album, including with Blessing Offor, Tauren Wells, Sheryl Crow, Zach Williams, and former DC Talk bandmates Michael Tait, and Kevin Max. Musically, the songs feature excellent, catchy melodies and beats, and the production is top notch. In other words, exactly what you would expect from a TobyMac album.

Below are a few comments about each song:

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  • More of this review
  • Music News
  • Song of the Week Lyrics

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Reviews of 4 New Christmas Music Releases – Part 2

Here are reviews of new holiday releases that you might be interested in.

Sing: Christmas Songs – Ellie Holcomb

*** ½

I was introduced to Ellie Holcomb at the Getty’s Sing! conference. Her 2021 album Canyon was one of my favorites last year. You can read my review of Canyon here.
Holcomb is back with a six-song Christmas EP Sing: Christmas Songs, which accompanies her latest children’s book Sounding Joy. The EP, which will be enjoyed by all ages, features three new original songs as well as her interpretation of traditional carols and holiday favorites. The book and album were inspired by the song “Joy to the World” by Isaac Watts, and the album is an invitation to sing about the hope we have. The album was produced by Christmas music legend Brown Bannister.

Here are a few brief comments about each song:
Sounding Joy – This was the first song released from the project, and was written by Holcomb and Nathan Dugger. The song begins with church bells, and features drums, bass, guitar, and a children’s choir.
Key lyric:
God sent His Son to make heaven our home
So, every Christmas, every girl, and each boy
Could lift up their voice and repeat sounding joy Continue reading →


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Reviews of 4 New Christmas Music Releases – Part 1

Since listening to the Andy Williams Christmas Album that my mom would play as we were going to sleep as a young boy, I’ve loved Christmas music, and am always looking for new releases to add to my collection. Here are reviews of four new holiday releases – from Crowder, Michael W. Smith, Ellie Holcomb and Switchfoot – that you might be interested in.

Milk & Cookies: A Merry Crowder Christmas – Crowder 
***

Crowder follows up his previous Christmas release, the David Crowder Band’s 2011’s Oh For Joy EP, with Milk & Cookies: A Very Crowder Christmas. The title is a nod to Crowder’s excellent 2021 album Milk & Honey. The project features four interludes narrated by Crowder “Burl Ives’ style”, ten songs, including festive and sometimes humorous originals, re-imagined classics and creative collaborations. It will be a nice collection to your Christmas music collection.

Below are a few comments about each song:
Prelude: It Came Upon a Midnight Clear – After the narration, there is a brief version of “It Came Upon a Midnight Clear”, written by Edmund Sears.

Thanks Giver – This is an mid-tempo song about God turning one into a thanks giver, was written by David Crowder, Jeff Sojka and Ben Glover. The song features guitar, drums, bass, piano, backing vocals, and a guitar solo.
Key lyric:     
You make joy out of simple
And ordinary things
You fill life up with stories
I’d never think to dream
So this holiday I wanna praise
The One who’s making a saint
Out of this sinner
The One who’s turned me into this thanks giver Continue reading →


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New and Upcoming Music You May Be Interested In

Here are 4 new Christmas albums, as well as 3 other new releases that you might be interested in:

Christmas Albums

Milk & Cookies: A Merry Crowder Christmas – Crowder

Crowder will release Milk & Cookies: A Merry Crowder Christmas on October 21. The 14-song project is a mix of originals, re-imagined classics, and creative collaborations. Continue reading →


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MUSIC REVIEWS and NEWS


There’s a Rainbow Somewhere: The Songs of Randy Stonehill – Various Artists
****

This album, by some of the best Christian artists from the 1980’s to the present time, is a celebration of the 50th anniversary of Contemporary Christian Music pioneer Randy Stonehill’s 1971 debut album Born Twice. Just looking at the names of the artists that contributed to this album brought a smile to my face and many great memories of the music I listened to as a new believer. Tom Gulotta and Ray Ware served as executive producers of the project.

I thoroughly enjoyed this album. Here is the track list, and just a few comments about each song:
Lazarus Heart – Phil Keaggy. The song was produced by Phil Keaggy and Rex Schnelle. Keaggy provides vocals, acoustic and electric guitars.

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  • More of this review
  • Music News
  • Song of the Week Lyrics ~ On Jordan’s Stormy Banks by Keith & Kristyn Getty

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