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MATT REDMAN These Christmas Lights
Christmas albums are always a tough thing. To be successful, an artist needs to honor the seasonal favorites that everyone loves, while at the same time being creative enough to keep the album interesting with new songs and clever re-writes. These Christmas Lights, Matt Redman’ s Christmas album, knocks the ball out of the park in both areas as he does an incredible job of paying homage to the classics while interweaving his own writing and passion throughout, creating a truly unique Christmas album experience.
Sure to be a future staple of worship during the holiday season is“ O Little Town( The Glory of Christmas).” Utilizing the words of the hymn“ O Little Town of Bethlehem” but set to a fresh melody, the anthemic chorus has that“ sticky” quality that you just can’ t help but sing along with.
The title cut captures the sentimentality of the season with its seasonal instrumentation that includes bells, violins, and glockenspiel, featuring a chorus that cries out to God to open our eyes to see Jesus our eternal light that was born that night in the stable.
“ How Far” is a melodious piano ballad that invites us to travel with Joseph and Mary, the Wise Men, and our wandering hearts to meet the Christ child. The cello on this track is warm,
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inviting and perfectly placed.
“ The Name Of Emmanuel” is one of the best songs on the album as it explores what the incarnation of Christ means for us, and“ Holy Night” is another Redman original which begins with what sounds like the angels proclaiming the birth before Matt takes over and musically winds his way through the Christmas story.
If you want a Christmas album full of re-writes and subtle re-wrappings of famous Christmas favorites, this isn’ t the one for you. Matt
Redman knows the needs of the church and has been writing songs for the Body of Christ to be used in worship for years. These Christmas Lights is an album that meets the Church’ s need for new, relevant and profound Christmas music. I appreciated the depth of writing and scriptural base that most of the songs in this collection shared, and although a few would be tough to sing by most congregations, this is a great album that will stir your Christmas spirit while helping you understand the magnitude of importance that the birth of Christ means for us today. Well done!
CHRIS TOMLIN Never Lose Sight
Chris Tomlin has often been called“ America’ s Worship Leader,” and with good reason. Tomlin is probably the best known Christian artist in the world and has won countless music accolades, including multiple Dove and Grammy awards. His songs are sung around the world and he is one of the primary pioneers of the modern worship genre.
His latest solo project, Never Lose Sight, reminds the chosen people of God to keep their eyes focused on eternity as they live life here on earth, with 14 songs of worship that will change your focus and challenge your faith.
The first radio single,“ Jesus” follows in the same vein as the worship hit,“ Jesus Messiah” from a few years ago, but takes the listener deeper by exploring how Christ’ s power and love is as relevant today as it was when He walked the earth 2000 years ago.“ Impossible Things” follows and features American Idol finalist, Danny Gokey whose dark vocal tone mixes nicely with Tomlin’ s shining tenor to create a tight vocal mix.
Tomlin’ s re-write of the classic hymn“ Come Thou Fount( I Will Sing)”. It is well done, but a bit obvious, and his version of the overcovered“ Good Good Father” is honest and straightforward but isn’ t anything that we haven’ t heard before.
Where this album shines is on the final two tracks of the deluxe version.“ God and God Alone” is based on Ephesians 4 and Romans 8, and is destined to be another Tomlin classic as it declares the reign of Christ on Earth. The best song on the album is the one that wraps it up.“ Kyrie Eleison” is a gorgeous foray into the power of forgiveness and mercy that only God can give, featuring 3 CCM giants, Matt Maher, Jason Ingram, and Matt Redman. Their voices blend seamlessly, and my only complaint is that this track should have been included with the non-deluxe version. This track alone is worth the price of admission.
This is another classic Tomlin album that will get plenty of radio airplay, and many of
MATT REDMAN“ O LITTLE TOWN( THE GLORY OF CHRISTMAS)” |
CHRIS TOMLIN“ JESUS” |
PAUL BALOCHE“ YOUR MERCY” |
GRACE CHAPEL WORSHIP“ LOVE” |
PLANETSHAKERS“ OVERFLOW” |
30 Nov � Dec 2016 WorshipMusician. com