From national worship conferences to local youth group meetings, Fee brought a new level of abandon to rock worship, gifting churches with riveting songs of praise.
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WORSHIP/ROCK BAND IGNITES SATISFACTORY SECOND SET| Posted November 09, 2009
"Worship music" hosts a myriad of different genres within its own genre. From modern rock to vocal pop to Caribbean music, recordings designed to prompt corporate singing run the gamut. Unfortunately, the level of musicianship that dictates each recording runs the gamut as well, with many worship recordings falling into the "just plain bad" category and failing to meet professional standards.
Enter: Fee. Having garnered a No. 1 radio hit, a handful of Dove nods and a recognizable name among modern rock fans and worship music aficionados from their successful first record, the energetic worship band issues its second set of all-out worship rock, countering the B- and C-level worship culture with a blast of fresh spunk.
Musically, the songs on Hope Rising will hold up just as easily in a high-energy, strictly entertainment gig as they do from the stage at Passion or a local youth gathering. Couple "Rise and Sing" and "Promised Land" for a night of synth-searing, bass-busting arena rock; the latter achieves a near-dance-club remix with Madonna-like voice effects and techno beats. Or tie together "We Crown You" (featuring background vocals by the always-affective Christy Nockels) and "Arms that Hold the Universe" (derived from this year's Maryville, Ill., church shooting) for a poignant night of worship.
Lyrically, Fee is a bit standard. But considering their intentions remain corporate vs. performance, it's nice to hear a worship-oriented band that can wow a panel of critical music industry execs, as well as sensitively usher a congregation into the presence of God. —Andrew Greer
This review has been reprinted on NRT with permission from CCMMagazine.com. Click here to visit CCMMagazine.com today!
Fee [Hope Rising]| Posted October 01, 2009 [MAIN REVIEW]
Fee’s second project "Hope Rising" comes after much acclaim from their freshman album “We Shine” which garnered a No. 1 radio smash hit in “All Because of Jesus, and four GMA Dove Award nominations including a nod in the “New Artist of the Year” category.
Opening song “Rise And Sing” had me hooked immediately with the lyrics “If you’re alive and you’ve been redeemed…rise and sing” with an upbeat melody similar to “We Shine” from the debut album. “Greatly To Be Praised” keeps the great melody going and is another song I can imagine singing with fellow believers. As for the band’s first single “Glory To God Forever”, Steve says “There is a message for us here in this era and period in church history. I’m confident that songs which echo the victory of Christ are exactly what we, the Church, want to say and God, in his timely way, put songs in us like “Glory To God Forever.” This is one of my favorite songs of the year and it has already risen to the top of the Christian chart.
The Atlanta-based foursome’s newest release contains twelve original tracks. Though the band continued with their signature worship sound on the record, “Hope Rising” also includes statement songs that the band hopes will transcend one style of music. It was after recording tracks such as “Everything Falls” and “Promised Land,” that the group decided on the title “Hope Rising”. In fact, the song “Arms that Hold the Universe” was born out of a concert the band did shortly after the March church shooting in Maryville, Ill for the congregation as a message reminding listeners that when you factor in God to any circumstance, you will find hope.
“Hands Of The Healer” was also recorded by John Waller on his album “While I’m Waiting”. The album closes out with “Your Love Is Better Than Life” based on Psalm 63:3, and “Send Me Out”. There is a great mix of upbeat and reflective songs, all of which are perfect for any worship setting, whether personal or with a body of believers. After such a great first album, I wasn’t sure if Fee could match the intensity and catchiness of “We Shine”, and yet they’ve actually taken it up a notch with “Hope Rising” in my opinion.
CLOSING THOUGHTS
I can’t get enough of this album and every song is worshipful, totally catchy and instantly sing-able. For me, the standout songs are “Rise And Sing”, “Greatly To Be Praised”, “Glory To God Forever”, “Everything Falls” and “Promised Land”. I rank this album in my top 15 albums of 2009 and if you like fellow Passion Conference worship albums “We Shall Not Be Shaken” by Matt Redman and “Life Light Up” by Christy Nockels, then I highly recommend “Hope Rising” by Fee.
Rating: 9.6 out of 10 (96%, 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!
Hope Rising 5 ***** CD| Posted December 30, 2009
This entire CD is awesome! This is one of the best CDs from 2009. The entire CD rocks!! Glory to God is such an awesome worship song. Steve Fee and the band have hit a home run in 2009!
Awesome album!| Posted November 04, 2009
I loved every song on this album! They were beautiful. I wish I had their 1st album too. They may have one of the shortest band names in Christian music, but they're long on takent!
Fee Rocks Again| Posted October 07, 2009
If you liked Fee's earlier albums you will love this one. Fee rocks out with some very singable new songs. I can't wait to pass along the chord charts to our worship leader so we can sing the new songs in church. Definitely worth getting this CD.
Glory to God Forever| Posted August 04, 2009
This is an awesome song, they played it at Big Stuf this summer and it rocks! The chorus is so catchy and they perform it so well. I can't wait for this album to come out this fall.
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