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MUSIC REVIEWS and NEWS

Sing! The Songs of the Bible (Live from the Getty Music Worship Conference) – Keith & Kristyn Getty
****

A live album is released after each of the Sing! Getty Music Worship Conferences held in Nashville. The album from the 2024 conference, which had a theme of “The Songs of the Bible”, was produced by Nathan Nockels. It features performances from Keith & Kristyn Getty, Matt Boswell, The Choir Room, Cochren & Co, Bryan Fowler, Jordan Kauflin, Sandra McCracken, Matt Papa, Skye Peterson, Shane and Shane, Ben Shive, Michael W. Smith, Sovereign Grace Music, and Laura Story. Nine songs were released in advance of the full album.

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  • More of this review and In Bloom by Jon Foremen
  • Music News
  • Song of the Week Lyrics – “Heaven on My Mind” by TobyMac

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MUSIC REVIEWS and NEWS

Hear the Hallelujahs Roar (EP) – CityAlight
****

The latest project from Australia’s CityAlight is wonderful five-song EP Hear the Hallelujahs Roar. The songs are a nice balance of upbeat and more slower songs for congregational singing.
Here are a few comments about each song:

Hear the Hallelujahs Roar – This upbeat song about worshipping the Lord in Heaven, was written by Niki Shepherd & Natasha Percy. The song features guitar, drums, bass, backing vocals, and keys.
Key lyric:
A song of praise is rising
From every tribe and tongue
O hear the hallelujahs roar
To Christ the worthy one

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  • More of this review and a review of Psalm 119 Volume One (EP) – Stillcreek
  • Music News
  • Song of the Week Lyrics ~ “Psalm 27 (The Lord Is My Light)”

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MUSIC REVIEWS and NEWS

Music Review:
Cover Story – Russ Taff
****

I have long been a fan of Russ Taff. The six-time Grammy-winner’s latest album is Cover Story. The album chronicles Taff’s life journey of recovery and redemption via strong performances of songs by Bob Dylan, U2, Simon and Garfunkel, Prince, and many more.
The album was produced by John Mark Painter, with Steve Taylor serving as executive producer. Matt Wallace mixed the album. Taff is supported by an all-star band of session superstars including Painter, guitarist Kenny Vaughan, keyboardists Blair Masters and Phil Madeira. I especially liked the use of horns and a gospel choir on the album. The album is sure to find it’s way on my best albums of 2025 list.
Incredibly, Taff has been inducted into the Gospel Music Association’s Hall of Fame three times – for his work as a solo artist, and as a member of both The Imperials and The Gaither Vocal Band.
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~ More of this review
~ Music News
~ Song of the Week Lyrics – “Here Is Love Vast As The Ocean (Everlasting Praise)” by Keith & Kristyn Getty and Sandra McCracken Continue reading →


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MUSIC REVIEWS and NEWS


How to Re-Assemble an Atomic Bomb – U2
*** ½

How to Assemble an Atomic Bomb was U2’s eleventh studio album. It sold nearly ten million copies and won eight Grammy Awards. The twentieth anniversary package includes a remastered version of the original album, including bonus track “Fast Cars”, plus How to Re-Assemble an Atomic Bomb, a “shadow album” of ten previously unreleased tracks from their 2004 album sessions recorded with Atomic Bomb’s original producer Chris Thomas. The songs, discovered by The Edge while digging through the archives, offer a fresh perspective on that era.

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  • More of this review and a review of New Arrangements and Duets by Van Morrison
  • Music News
  • Song of the Week Lyrics ~ “He is Making All Things Right” by Bryan Fowler, Skye Peterson and Ben Shive

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MUSIC NEWS

Song of the Week: Victory in Jesus (Christ Won the Victory)” by Keith & Kristyn Getty and Matt Boswell

This week’s song of the week is “Victory in Jesus (Christ Won the Victory)” by Keith & Kristyn Getty and Matt Boswell, recorded live at the 2024 Sing! Getty Music Worship Conference in Nashville. The song was written by E. M. Bartlett, Matt Boswell, Keith Getty, and Kristyn Getty.

“Victory in Jesus” is one of the greatest gospel songs ever written, full of vitality and celebration of the good news of Christ.  This new version – written in cooperation with the family that has stewarded the song for decades – builds on the original lyric to further proclaim the decisive work of Christ to set the sinner free.

Watch the performance of the song here.

Chorus
O victory in Jesus
My Savior forever
He sought me and bought me
With His redeeming blood
He loved me ere I knew Him
And all my love is due Him
He plunged me to victory
Beneath the cleansing flood
Verse 1
I heard an old, old story
How a Savior came from glory
How He gave His life on Calvary
To save a wretch like me
I heard about His groaning
Of His precious blood’s atoning
Then I repented of my sin,
“Christ won the victory!”
Verse 2
I heard about His healing
All his miracles revealing
That He alone can save a soul
And set the captive free
I’m happy in His promise
How soon He’s coming for us
And home with Him I’ll sing again
“Christ won the victory!”
Verse 3
I’ll tell the old, old story
Till my Savior comes from glory
I’ll tell of all the Lord has done
To set this sinner free
That all who will believe him
By Faith can still receive him
And share in that redemption song
“Christ won the victory!”


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MUSIC REVIEWS and NEWS


The Beautiful Letdown: Live from Los Angeles – Switchfoot
*** ½

Switchfoot has been celebrating the 20th anniversary of their breakthrough album The Beautiful Letdown, which was recorded in Los Angeles, and has now sold more than three million copies and had more than 550 million streams. In May 2023, the band released The Beautiful Letdown (Our Version). This new surprise live album preceded the band resuming their The Beautiful Letdown 20th anniversary tour.
Switchfoot has always been an excellent live band, and they prove it again on this album, in which they play all of the songs from The Beautiful Letdown.

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  • A review of Live at Orangefield: Be Just and Fear Not by Van Morrison
  • Music News
  • Song of the Week Lyrics ~ Run and Run (Christ is All My Righteousness) by Matt Boswell and Matt Papa

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MUSIC REVIEWS and NEWS


Vintage Vol. 2 – Shane and Shane
****

Shane and Shane (comprised of Shane Barnard and Shane Everett), follow up their 2020 album Vintage with Vintage Vol. 2, an inspirational collection of eleven classic worship songs reimagined with fresh arrangements. The album was produced by Shane Barnard. I was familiar with some of these songs, but not all of them. I thoroughly enjoyed this new collection. Here are a few comments about each song:
Creed – This song was written by Rich Mullins and David Strasser. In addition to Mullins’ version, Third Day did an excellent version of this song. This upbeat version features dulcimer, strings, piano, drums, bass, and guitar.
Key lyric:
vAnd I believe what I believe
Is what makes me what I am
I did not make it, no it is making me
It is the very truth of God and not the invention of any man

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  • More of this review
  • Music News
  • Song of the Week Lyrics ~ “a lil Church” by TobyMac

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MUSIC REVIEWS and NEWS


Coming Back to the Heart: Live Collection – Matt Redman
****

Coming Back to the Heart is Matt Redman’s twentieth album. It was recorded live at the Beverly Theater in Las Vegas, with stripped-back instrumentation in order to make room for the voices of local worship leaders and singers present.
On this album, Redman reimagines ten of the songs he has written or co-written over the past twenty-five years, with “Better is One Day” being the oldest. In addition to that song, other favorites included are “10,000 Reasons (Bless the Lord)”, “Heart of Worship” and “Blessed Be Your Name”.
One of the things you will notice is how he creatively combines similarly themed songs as medleys. For example, he combines “Better is One Day” with “Facedown,” songs with the theme of God’s presence, and “Never Once” with “You Never Let God,” songs about the faithfulness of God.
vThe album also includes “Let Me See Jesus,” a new and previously unreleased song.
I have enjoyed Redman’s music for many years. I really appreciated the freshness he brought to these songs. The album will be enjoyed by those familiar with these songs and Redman and those just being introduced to his music.

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  • More of this review and a review of Zoo TV: Live in Dublin 1993 – U2
  • Music News
  • Song of the Week Lyrics ~ Approach, My Soul by Jordan Kauflin and Laura Story

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MUSIC REVIEWS and NEWS

Modern Hymns – Shane and Shane and The Worship Initiative
****

Modern Hymns is a collaborative effort of Shane and Shane and The Worship Initiative, along with Bryan Fowler and Semsen Music. This album includes covers of mostly Getty Music hymns with some wonderful choral arrangements.
I really enjoyed this new project of ten excellent songs performed and produced well. Here are a few comments about each song:

Come Unto Jesus – This song was written by Jordan Kauflin, Laura Story and Matt Merker, produced by Bryan Fowler, and features Shane and Shane. The song, which builds powerfully, features, guitar, bass, drums, keys, backing vocals, and choir.
Key lyric:
Come unto Jesus, come unto Jesus
Lay down your burdens, He is enough
Come unto Jesus, rest in His love

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  • More of this review
  • Song of the Week Lyrics ~ Keep the Feast by Skye Peterson and Ben Shive

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MUSIC REVIEWS and NEWS


For All The Saints (EP) – Fernando Ortega
****

For All The Saints, a beautiful five song EP, is Fernando Ortega’s first new release in four years, following his 2020 Christmas EP Lo, How a Rose E’er Blooming. The release is co-produced by Ortega and Matthew Tobias, and engineered and mixed by Russ Long.
About the new project, Ortega said “There are so many hymns that are not really sung anymore; they’re, by and large, just not known. So, I like bringing those hymns back. These hymns also bind us together in a transcendent way with generations of Christians who have gone before us.”
Below are a few brief comments about each song:

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  • More of this review
  • Music News
  • Song of the Week Lyrics ~ Christus Victor (Amen) by Keith & Kristyn Getty and Cochren & Co.

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