NEW MUSIC
SELECTIVE HEARING | Robert Berman
TAUREN WELLS
Citizen of Heaven
REND COLLECTIVE
Choose to Worship
DAVID DUNN
Perspectives
In times that have everyone wondering where
the “reset” button for 2020 is kept, celebration
makes a welcome respite. Enter Tauren Wells’
latest project, which focuses on the presence
of God in a broken world and the hope of
glory hereafter. Old school R&B and funk figure
strongly, most notably in the grooving “Miracle”
which vibes on “Thriller” era Michael Jackson,
whoops and all. “Trenches” carries on the “hills
and valleys” metaphor of Well’s previous album
with a 9/8 ballad about Christ’s incarnation.
“Love’s Worth the Fight” encourages us to
have the hard conversations. Hollyn joins in on
“All About You” to make it delightfully clear that
the “you” needs to be Jesus, not us. “Like You
Love Me” sets the perennially popular theme
of Psalm 8 to song, rejoicing in God’s care for
his creation, most especially his people. Pastor
Steven Furtick adds Biblical commentary
to the sideband-heavy “Close,” based on
Elijah’s moment of despair in the wilderness.
Other welcome guests include Jenn Johnson
on “Famous For” and Kirk Franklin on the
humorous, bass-driven “Millionaire.” Even
Rascal Flatts stop by for “Until Grace.” But as
usual, the main attraction remains the fluid yet
powerful vocals of Wells, at present the finest
vocalist in the genre.
Northern Ireland’s most prominent gospel
music export delivers another collection of
anthems that could find a home in corporate
worship yet also sound great blasting from your
convertible on a breezy summer drive. The
title track kicks things off with a surprising slow
burn that simmers and then boils.
“Behold, He Comes” is every bit the stomper
of Parousia that you’d expect from its title, a
gospel choir and punctuating the triumphant
tone and a brass ensemble delivering an
unexpected and delightful reprise. “Rend the
Heavens” links that Second Coming theme to
a longing for revival in the meantime. “Day of
Victory” weds a fiddle riff to a rhythmic page
from “Viva La Vida.” “Defiant” strikes a Queenlike
12/8 pose of octaved guitar riffs crying
confidence out of “the valley of my soul.” “My
Advocate” takes a theological turn, welding
several Scriptures into a sermon about Christ’s
atonement. Chris Llewellyn’s vocals, recalling
a young Russ Taff, lend the tunes presence
and conviction. This is Christian music in its
most unvarnished, unapologetic form: Songs
about the past, present, and future work of
Jesus Christ.
It’s a taking-stock kind of moment for David
Dunn, looking for lessons in the past and
resolving for a different tomorrow.
“Starting
Now.” “Perspectives.” “Spend a Life.” And
so on. Whereas last time out 2017’s “Yellow
Balloons” was a guitar-based affair, this time out
synths and light hip-hop beats predominate,
with occasional harmonizer. “Church” even
makes room for a little chiptune while reminding
us to make our faith an everyday matter, not
just an hour a week. Familiar collaborators like
Colby Wedgeworth, Benji Cowart, and Josh
Bronleewe keep the pop hooks coming early
and often. Aaron Cole adds rap to “Anxiety.”
Highlights: “Interruption” and the jaunty “No
Grade,” an endearing romantic memoir.
Robert Berman
Robert is a Sunday School teacher, music nerd,
and acoustic guitar enthusiast. He lives in rural
Tennessee with his wife and three boys.
34 July 2020
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