Across The Earth: Tear Down The Walls is United’s first new live CD since 2006. The CD features 12 tracks, including 11 new songs of Hillsong United’s signature power pop/rock brand of worship. The band recently won "Worship Song of the Year" at the 2009 Dove Awards for "Mighty To Save." Produced by the Hillsong Church team of Michael Guy Chislett, Andrew Crawford and Joel Houston.
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01.
Freedom Is Here
02.
No Reason To Hide
03.
More Than Anything
04.
King Of All Days
05.
Desert Song
06.
Oh You Bring
07.
Tear Down The Walls
08.
Soon
09.
You Hold Me Now
10.
Arms Open Wide
11.
Your Name High
12.
Yours Forever
Entry last edited by on 06.02.09
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Hillsong United [Across The Earth: Tear Down The Walls]| Posted June 02, 2009 [MAIN REVIEW]
Hillsong Church has long drawn its worship leaders from the deep and talented pool of songwriters discovered in its United youth ministry, which includes over 3,000 young people at the church’s Sydney and suburban campuses. My initial feedback as a long-time collector of Hillsong and United is that the new album is on par with previous great albums from Hillsong and "Soon" and "You Hold Me Now" are great new worship anthems from the writers and singers of "Lead Me To The Cross", "Mighty To Save" and "From The Inside Out". I hear Joel Houston and Darlene Zschech on a few songs and I love the vocals on the song "Soon", which is written by Brooke (Fraser) Ligertwood and the song is beautiful. Also, I'm not sure of the name of the male singer on "You Hold Me Now" another great song, but he reminds me of Chris Tomlin. “Across The Earth: Tear Down The Walls” features 10 brand new live praise & worship songs and new recordings of “Desert Song” & “Your Name High”, previously released on “This Is Our God” by Hillsong.
“Across The Earth: Tear Down The Walls” is Hillsong United’s first new live CD since 2006. I’ve been singing “The Stand”, “From The Inside Out”, “Mighty To Save”, “Salvation Is Here” and many other Hillsong classics at my church for many years and I expect there will be several more worship classics from this album. One of the standout songs to me is the first song “Freedom Is Here”. From the opening keyboard part and pulsing drum beat and live audience participation, I knew I was in for a real treat with this album. The next three songs keep the energy going and this album was meant to be experienced along with a live audience as these are truly corporate worship songs.
The new recording of “Desert Song”, written by Brooke (Fraser) Ligertwood is another standout song for me and the vocals and sweet chorus of the song are very engaging. The anthemic “Tear Down The Walls” is a great call to unity and reminded me of “The Stand” which is one of my all-time favorites. The songs I keep coming back to over and over are “Soon” and “You Hold Me Now”. I’m looking forward to singing both of those songs with fellow believers “soon and very soon”. “Your Name High”, written by Joel Houston is another beautiful song that had me singing along and the closing song “Yours Forever” reminded me of an upbeat newsboys song in the style of “I Am Free”.
CLOSING THOUGHTS
I'm impressed by the consistent quality and fresh worshipful songs that come from Hillsong United. “Across The Earth: Tear Down The Walls” is no exception. A must-have for your praise and worship collection.
Rating: 9.4 out of 10 (94%, A)
Review written by: Kevin Davis | Review can also be found here.
This review has been reprinted on NRT with permission from ChristianMusicReview.org. Click here to visit ChristianMusicReview.org today!
MORE OF WHAT WE LOVE FROM OUR FAVORITE AUSSIE WORSHIP BAND| Posted August 18, 2009
For the past decade, the United band has extended a youthful arm to the enormous Hillsong congregation and millions of Hillsong listeners worldwide. An amplification of the Australian church’s youth ministry of the same name, the band successfully reaches a younger generation that may remain untapped, or at the very least uninterested, by the more “adult contemporary” stylings of, say, former worship pastor Darlene Zschech.
Now releasing their first completely live CD in three years, the modern-rock worship gurus forfeit the studio for a stage, returning to the format that first made them famous. With cuts by such United dream team members as Reuben Morgan, Joel Houston and new artist sensation Brooke Fraser (who became a contributing member after joining the church), Across the Earth: Tear Down the Walls features 12 sensational, stadium-sized songs of worship.
Comparable to Passion recordings here in the States, tight radio edits are traded for extended arrangements, and three-minute pop is exchanged for colossal climaxes, slowly building from the first solo lyric to the last communal phrase.
But when their songs of worship give way to fist-pumping arena rock, it’s hard to discern whether the band is promoting entertainment or corporate praise. United, however, purports its purposes are bigger than performance and its message more than a platform. And countering the idea that this musical outlet is solely about them as a band, they frequently rotate lead vocals, initiating a common spirit from the get-go.
Tear Down the Walls definitely further defines the band’s aptitude for creating relevant worship music for the church. And considering that is their explicit aim, I’m not sure what more we can ask from this fine Aussie collective. —Andrew Greer
This review has been reprinted on NRT with permission from CCMMagazine.com. Click here to visit CCMMagazine.com today!
[a_CROSS // the_EARTH] :: Tear Down The Walls| Posted February 18, 2014
You really should buy the ninth live album Across the Earth: Tear Down The Walls by Hillsong UNITED. These worshippers will make you praise with their songs. And you really need to listen to their music. Let's adore Him!
One of my favourites| Posted August 08, 2013
This is a fantastic album! I don't know where to start. Instrumentally, they dont miss a beat. Lyrically, these arent just repetitive hooks with a few half decent verses, I believe these songs show God's heart.
Next Level| Posted July 27, 2013
I have no complaints about this album whatsoever. United took it to the next level with their unique songwriting and songs that just speak life and blessings into people's lives. The concept "Tear Down The Walls" is the most brilliant thing I've heard of yet.
Great songs, needs more depth and theological reflection| Posted October 26, 2010
1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars Great songs/heart, excellent production...Needs more depth and theological reflection, June 5, 2009
This review is from: A_cross//The_earth:Tear Down The Walls (Audio CD)
It's been a pleasure to buy a copy of United's latest work. I've been processing it, listening to it in my car, and dialoguing with a few friends about it. I've been looking on United's site and reading some posts to get some context for its creation. Thank you, Hillsong United, for another beautiful offering to our Father in heaven.
I would like to review the album with some positive comments and then some constructive feedback. Hopefully it will bless the Church and worship leaders to be discerning about the songs they utilize in their worship services.
Positive Feedback:
What I love, more than anything else about Hillsong and Hillsong United recordings is their attempt to aurally capture the corporate worship setting. The lead vocals are always very tucked, and one hears easily the swell of many voices (whether choir or congregation) coupled with lots of verb to give it that "in-house" feel (I know many of them are actually in-house and the reverb is actual house acoustics). I also appreciate that they have an arsenal of different lead singers, helping play down the notion of a "celebrity frontman." Not every church has the resources to have multiple worship leaders and lead singers, but it's a blessing when they do.
The musical production is outstanding. It's the unique, "signature" Hillsong sound, with creative electric guitar and synth work. The electric guitar/synth line (at least that's what I think it is) on the opening track has that beautiful tension of familiarity and uniqueness (oh, so enjoyable).
The album title is creative in its double-entendre, and therefore it's a powerful umbrella to encapsulate a powerful album.
The best song on the album: "Desert Song." As a person who, even at a young age, has had to endure some heavy suffering, I have a tender spot in my heart for any song whose theme is, basically, "even when God has ordained suffering for me, yet I will praise Him." "Desert Song" does this. More than that, "Desert Song" has a unique, yet singable melody and chord structure, and has a nice flow and movement. We will be using "Desert Song" at our church.
Another great song: "Soon." The church needs more songs that focus on the eschaton. We get so caught up in the now, and yet Christ's resurrection and down payment of the Holy Spirit has sealed for us a future that we need to be continually aware of. "Soon" does this. Among modern worship songs, it is rare in its second-coming focus. It's a sweet, beautiful song.
(It's interesting that the two songs I most like are sung by Brooke Fraser. I can't find who wrote these songs [come on Hillsong, don't make it this hard], but my hunch is that she wrote these two. Why? She wrote "Hosanna," which is full of biblical allusion and theological reflection. And these two song seem to come from a similar mind. In general, I find Fraser's writing a cut above the other Hillsong lyricists.)
Constructive Criticism:
An overall observation of much of United's material, across their many wonderful albums, is that their lyrics tend to be disjointed (logical coherence is one of my criteria for choosing worship songs...see my article on criteria). From line to line, I sometimes have a hard time making the immediate logical connection. I understand that some songs are intentionally "impressionistic" (such is the case with the hymn on our album, "Light After Darkness," by Frances Ridley Havergal), but when it happens for much of the material, I have to pause and ask the question of how healthy it is for churches to speak to God with such hiccupped communication. For instance, here's verse 2 of "Freedom is Here:"...
For the full review, go here:
http://www.zachicks.com/blog/2009/6/5/album-review-of-tear-down-the-walls-across-the-earth-by-hill.html
New cd| Posted October 27, 2009
The new cd of hillsong united really disappoint it me. I was really excited but i really didn't give me the special click I have with hillsong United. The songs where beautifull but it was like I missed something. Maybe i was to exited to this new cd, or this wasn't the cd that i was subpexted from hillsong United.
Otherwise.. yours forever.. wouw..what a amazing song! I really like it.
I hope that the next cd is a little bit beter.. or maybe it is my fault that i really am dissappoint of this cd :S
But still I am a fan.. and i doesn't count that the cd is beautiful or not.. it is about Jesus..and the cd gives a great love of the love of Jesus!
Powerful| Posted September 28, 2009
A great album which shows maturity and growth. Great lyrics and musically as good as ever, the songs really speak to the heart and are aimed at giving God all the glory! Amen!
Dizzy| Posted August 07, 2009
"Your Name High" "Yours Forever" "Soon" and "Desert Song" were my favorites on this beautiful collection of music. I think Aussie accents make great music! Still dizzy from listening to it. :)
Hillsong cannot be stopped| Posted July 22, 2009
After previous amazing releases, Hillsong had to have a mediocre album. There is just no way they could continue to write and perform amazing songs again and again. Wrong. Hillsong United has pulled out all the stops on this album. There are the catchy songs, the songs to rock out to, the slow songs, everything. There is a song on this album for every mood. The best part of Hillsong's ability to record live is that you can hear the excitement in the crowd. They sing every word, scream at the top of their lungs, and express their love for God. This album is truly one of their best and will keep you hooked on this group. They are one of a kind.
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