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[ NOW HEAR THIS | Gerod Bass ]
I AM THEY Trial and Triumph
Trial and Triumph is the long-awaited sophomore release from Carson City, Nevada based alternative / pop worship group, I Am They. The quintet of Jon McConnell, Abbie Parker, Matthew Hein, Justin Shinn, and Sara Palmer have done an incredible job of crafting an album full of worship that will reach people where they are while proclaiming the hope of redemption that Christ holds for all. The main theme of the album mirrors its title, as the songs contained here explore the struggles of faith( fear, doubt, regret, sorrow, etc.) that we all face daily. Yet the delivery of this theme is done with authenticity and lyrical realism in a way rarely heard in the CCM worship world. Musically, I Am They kind of sits between the deep writing and story telling of Casting Crowns and the energy and creativity of Rend Collective. One of the things that makes I Am They stand out is the emotionally raw and real nature of their writing. These songs are expressions of hearts that have gone through fire. The best example of this is the simple yet profound, " Near to Me," which is an incredibly vertical and intimate song of vulnerability that reveals the mercy of Christ when we are at our weakest. " Scars ", continues in the same vein and is a gorgeously written, piano-led ballad about thanking God for the pain and trials in our lives so that we will remember to lean on Him in all things. " To The One " is truly a song of hope that musically reminded me of " Hope to Carry On " by Caedmon ' s Call, while " My Feet Are On the Rock " is a peppy worship opener about how Christ is the solid foundation that we stand on when life gets uncertain. There is no sophomore slump here for I Am
They. This is a really great album full of spiritually mature songs of heartfelt worship. These songs are well written models of how God allows the hard things in life, and how we find our salvation and hope at the cross. Some tracks may fall into the " performance " category, but most can be done in a congregational worship setting. Pick this one up.
PAUL BALOCHE The Ultimate Collection
Normally, I shudder at the thought of reviewing a greatest hits album, simply because everything that needed to be said has pretty much already been said and I would rather spend time and space on these pages telling you about some great new artist, or new collection of songs from a well-loved worship group. But when Paul Baloche releases a greatest hits album, we must pause and take notice. Rarely does a Sunday go by where one doesn ' t hear a song written or co-written by the " worship leader of worship leaders ". Songs like " Open the Eyes of My Heart " and " Above All " have stood the test of time and still find a spot on the top 100 worship songs list over at SongSelect. com even though they are around 20 years old. Yet, as the style of church music has changed, Baloche and his writing have kept up with evolving church culture because Paul is, and has always been, a true worship leader rather than a recording artist. He doesn ' t write music to win Dove awards or to get radio play or to sell out concerts, Paul Baloche writes songs for the glory of God and so that people can connect with their Savior in a deep and profound way. His greatest hits album, The Ultimate Collection is more than a nice stroll down memory lane, even though all fourteen tracks are the recordings
from their original albums. Rather, these songs take us on a musical journey through the years as it mirrors the contemporary worship genre from 1992 to present day. We hear a younger and smoother Baloche vocal on tracks like " Above All ", " Offering " and " Open the Eyes of My Heart," which brings us back to the classic days of piano-led Contemporary worship, and I couldn ' t help but smile as I reminisced about all the times and places I have led these songs myself and how God ' s people were impacted by them. Paul has always written songs of Biblical substance. From the confessional exploration of God ' s forgiveness in " Your Mercy " to the celebration of Easter victory in " Glorious ", Paul Baloche ' s understanding of Biblical theology and its importance in modern worship has always been evident, and I thank him for reminding the church what is truly important when song writing. " Our God Saves ", " Once For All " and " The Same Love " all speak of the unchanging heart of God who is head over heels in love with us. " What Can I Do " closes out the collection appropriately reminding us that the best way to thank our God for His faithfulness is to give our lives as an unending " hallelujah ". Paul has always put Christ at the center of his songs. If you examine his writing style you will notice that most of his songs are centered around what God has done for us, and then our response follows, not the other way around. His simple yet complex melodies are humbly written with the casual worshiper in mind, with arrangements custom built for average church musicians, and the church is better because of it. One cannot but wonder if this album is a bit of a farewell from Baloche and friends, since it has been a few years since a new album( that isn ' t redone Christmas Songs) has been released, and his main bandmates, Carl Albrecht( Drums) and long-time guitarist, Ben Gowell have since moved on to other projects, with only Michael Rossback remaining from the core group. Paul
68 April 2018 WorshipMusician. com