Planetshakers is a unique Australian praise and worship band. They have been going strong since 2000 and are now based out of Planetshakers City Church in Melbourne, Australia. They have released...
Aaron Keyes is currently serving as a worship pastor just outside of Atlanta, Georgia. He has a heart to restore the meaning of worship and living out the words we sing. It is evident through the...
Honest, Cutting-Edge and Catchy | Posted August-15-2011
Planetshakers is a unique Australian praise and worship band. They have been going strong since 2000 and are now based out of Planetshakers City Church in Melbourne, Australia. They have released several albums, but this is their first on the Integrity recording label.
Nothing is Impossible is a solid album, musically and lyrically. The message is very encouraging and the whole band is talented. It has the same kind of feel and vibe as the Hillsong albums, but with some key differentiations. It is impossible to sit still through the whole CD; a lot of the songs make you want to get up and dance. I like the switching between male and female lead vocals and fast and slow tempos; it keeps things fresh.
The album starts off with “Power,” an upbeat song about the life-changing power of God. It reminds us that having the power of God in us is something that should be very exciting, though we often forget.
It moves on to “Bring It On,” which espouses praise about God relentlessly pouring out His love and favor, though we are undeserving. This song has strong guitar riffs throughout. It is easy to catch on to because there is a lot of repetition.
“Give It Up” prods us to give up our life to the Lord so that we can truly live. The chorus says “Give it up to the One who saved You / Give it up to the One who gave You life / Give it up to the One who made You / Give it up to the Lover of Your Soul.” This song has an electric sound with a catchy beat. The vocals are also strong.
The title track, “Nothing Is Impossible,” is based on Philippians 4:13. It is a great reminder song that we really can do all things through God’s strength.
“Running To You” is a downtempo ballad that layers guitar upon a soothing piano base. Piano also is featured on the next song, "You Are God,” which contains the best vocals of the entire album. The song basically talks about all the attributes of God that makes Him God. It is a great song of adoration. “No One Like You” also lauds the attiributes and unique character of God.
“Favoured” is about the blessing we receive because of Jesus’ sacrifice. With impressive female vocals, the chorus tenderly resounds: “I am favoured I am blessed / By the cross, and the blood that was shed / I am favoured I am blessed / I can do all things, because of what Youʼve done for me.”
The pace picks back up on “Sound Of Praise,” a song that seamlessly marries the vocals and high-powered instruments. One of the more memorable moments of energy on the album is a breakdown in the middle of the song that really takes things to the next level. We’re encouraged to “Get up off your feet” in the next song, “Song of Victory,” keeping the power pumping.
“Hosanna” is a sincere and the instrumentation is beautiful. My favorite part of this song is the bridge: “We cry hosanna, hosanna/ Your Name be lifted up/ Forever hosanna, hosanna/ So high and lifted up.”
“Just run into His arms / No matter what you’ve done/ Just look into His eyes / And see the loving grace of God,” invites the pre-chorus of the tear-inducing “Come to Jesus.” There's a great dynamic build throughout the song, bringing the band in mid-way at a climactic moment.
“We Cry Out” has a live feel to it with crowd vocals. It is a very motivating song and a cry out for revival throughout the lands. I really love the spoken part at the end that names several countries.
Closing Thoughts:
If you're looking for an honest, cutting edge worship album with soaring vocals, catchy lyrics, grinding guitar riffs and memorable moments, check out Nothing is Impossible. Although there's plenty of variety throughout the album, what's consistent is the passion, the authenticity, and the quality musicianship. The best tracks of the album are “You Are God” and “Come to Jesus.”
Captivated by Nicole's Latest | Posted June-21-2011
It's been three years since Nicole C. Mullen has released an album, and her latest effort, Captivated, will prove to her fans it was worth the wait.
The ten new songs are full of truth and good reminders. The album also contains three extended mixes and one radio edit. Nicole's vocals are very strong throughout the album and the background vocals add to the power.
Mullen is joined on the album by several very talented contributing artists, including Michael O'Brien, Papa San, and The Katinas. From the upbeat pop to the soulful gospel, the album is musically strong, even if the vocals outdo the instruments.
The album begins with “Holy Captivated.” It is a beautiful song of praise to Jesus' name. It starts out slow and builds up through the song. My favorite line of this song comes right before the chorus, “Even in pain, you're worthy of praise.” The vocals are pure, and I only think the organ distracts from them.
The second track, “I Can Do,” livens things up. The energetic chorus is catchy and makes it very easy to remember the popular Bible verse, Philippians 4:13. The background vocals are eminent in this song. You won't be able to listen to this song without feeling ready to take on the world with Jesus by your side.
“I Need You (As The Deer)” is a good reminder about how much we need Jesus. It is upbeat and has enticing lyrics. The bridge is very powerful, declaring: “I need You, I need, more than air that I breathe. I need You, I need You, more than food, more than drink. I need You, I need You, more than flowers need rain. I need You, I need You, more than I can explain.” The vocals are great and the harmonies are beautiful. Instrumentally, the song has a unique mix of drums, organ and guitar.
“Kingdom Come” is an modern rendition of The Lord's Prayer. The song has a soft blend of the vocals and instruments that is amazing. The song puts you in the right mindset, reminding us to pray for God's will to be done in every situation.
The next song, “My Shepherd,” is an encouraging song. The lyrics consist of Psalm 23. At the end, the vocals overlap saying, “I shall not want, I shall not lack, I shall not do with out any good thing.” The musical style certainly gives a nod to contributing reggae artist Papa San.
“Forgive Me” is a heartfelt confessional. Through the lyrics and instrumentation it magnificently conveys the feelings of regret we have, in a way that only can be expressed through music. Then it moves on to the thankfulness and healing that follows confession. The piano, violin and drums at the beginning of the song set the quiet, serious feeling of the song.
“Lead Me” is a soulful cry out to God: “When my heart is overwhelmed, and I can hardly stand, lead me to the Rock.” I really enjoy the vocals featuring The Katinas. This song reminds us that through all of our difficult circumstances, the simple thing to do is call out to God. Though instrumentally the song may not be very strong, the impressive vocals more than make up for it.
“My Tribute/Redeemer” is an expression of thankfulness to God. “My Tribute,” which contains the hymn “To God Be the Glory,” and Nicole's hit song “Redeemer,” are arranged together. Vocally this song is probably the best on the whole album. I really enjoy this powerful medley.
“A Song For You” is about the unconditional praise we should give to God. “As long as there's still one breath in me, there always will be one more song for You.” This song brings to light a perspective that we often don't want to think about: at our worst and best, no matter what, are we still praising God? The instruments and vocals blend very well on this song.
Lastly, “Praise Your Holy Name” is an acoustic song of praise, love, and dedication. “As long as I live, I'll praise Your holy name.” This song is different from all the rest on the album, as Nicole is the only vocalist and only one guitar is heard. I think this depicts the simplicity of the choice to love.
Closing Thoughts
Captivated is full of encouragement and challenging truths. The vocals couldn't get much better and the instruments aren't bad, either. This album can be enjoyed by the whole family. I enjoy the use of Scripture throughout these songs, and the straightforwardness of the other lyrics. If you have never listened to Nicole C. Mullen or you are a longtime fan, you should give this new album a listen and be captivated by the beautiful truth.
A Refreshing Worship Experience | Posted June-13-2011
Aaron Keyes is currently serving as a worship pastor just outside of Atlanta, Georgia. He has a heart to restore the meaning of worship and living out the words we sing. It is evident through the songs on his sophomore project, Dwell, that God is using his music to minister to the hearts of His people. The theme of the album is getting to know God’s awesome character better so we can constantly dwell in His presence. The lyrics are pure truth; a lot of them come straight from Scripture. The vocals are consistent and beautiful. In some parts Aaron’s voice reminds me of Brandon Heath’s. However he doesn’t seem to use a lot of variation in his vocals or stretch his vocal abilities, which results in chorsus that are easy to follow but tends to become a tad monotonous. However the instruments are just as beautiful as the messages and on the whole, Dwell is one of the best worship albums I have heard in a long time.
Dwell starts off with “O My Soul.” It is a song that talks about God’s praiseworthy character. “Boundless love has won the day/ the sin of man is washed away.” It is a call to rise together in worship. Instrumentally, the song doesn’t lack.
"I Am Not The Same” is an encouraging song about the fact that we are new creations through Jesus. It reminds us to live out this new life we have so graciously been given. This song is a little more electric sounding and has an energizing sound. Also during the chorus the background choir vocals really come through. This gives it a family of God sort of feel.
“Sovereign Over Us” is a great reminder. It is about God’s faithfulness in every part of our lives and that He has not forgotten us. The chorus is catchy and easy to sing along with. “Even what the enemy means for evil / You turn it for our good / You turn it for our good / And for Your glory / Even in the valley You are faithful/ You’re working for our good / You’re working for our good / And for Your glory” I find this bridge running through my head throughout the day. The piano has a large part in this song; all the instruments complement each other very well.
“Song of Moses” is a simple song of praise. It has a slower tempo and a softer sound overall. This is a song I can imagine that almost any church’s praise team could learn and use to lead others in worship.
“Dwell” is based on Psalm 91, taking shelter in the shadow of the Almighty. The bridge repeats “No weapon formed against me will prosper says the Lord” In this song, there are a lot of different instruments used that work together to set the tone of the song; each instrument seems to have its own part.
“In the Name of God” is a cry out to God. This song seems to have a more intimate feel to it and reminds that there is no time that we cannot boldly approach the throne. It has a slower tempo and a lot of strings are used.
“Only Just Begun” is a reminder that God has only revealed a small part of His full character but we can still desire and grow to know Him. He is transcendent and knowable which is some sort of a paradox. It really makes you think about the awesome God that we can know if we choose to seek Him. The song starts out “Now unto Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all we ask or imagine/ to Him be the glory”. This song has somewhat of a pop feel to it and the beat is catchy.
“Sinless Savior” is a song about the death and resurrection of Jesus. It reminds us of the perfect sacrifice that He willingly made for us. The chorus sings “He is Jesus / sinless Savior / the spotless Redeemer of man / He is Jesus / God is With Us / All glory all praise to the Lamb.” Instrumentally, this song is amazing. The timing of each one coming in and out throughout the song really makes the song more impactful.
“Life Without My God” reminds us that life without God is not worth living. It is different from all the other songs on the album. It is a bit more upbeat and has a rock feel to it in some parts. I am glad that this song is on the album because it mixes things up a bit.
“Raised Me Up” is also unique. It starts off with a cappella then leads into an upbeat song of praise to God for deliverance and faithfulness.
“Every Knee Will Bow Down” is a paraphrase of Philippians 2:5-11. It is very encouraging to listen to this song and think about the humility and victory of Jesus. I can see this song hitting the top of the contemporary worship music list.
“Hope Is Dawning” is a soft song of hope. Aaron’s vocals are sweet and gentle which really adds to the meaning of the song. The pre-chorus says, “Open up our eyes to see Your glory all around.”
“Lavish” is a fun, fast-paced song. It talks about God relentlessly blessing His children. It also adds a little variety to the sound of the album.
Aaron has made a few of the lyrics and chords available at his website, aaronkeyes.com. “Dwell,” “I Am Not The Same,” “Song of Moses,” and “Sovereign Over Us” are all available. Aaron and his wife lead a worship school several months during the year so that they can help train up worship leaders that are founded in the word of God. I think this is really neat and you can find more information on his website about it if you are interested in attending.
Closing Thoughts:
The songs on Dwell are all original and in a sea of artists redoing the same songs over and over, Aaron leads his listeners in a very refreshing worship experience. This is a very solid album that I would recommend to anyone who is looking for great worship music to listen to or even to lead others in. God is definitely working through Aaron and his worship ministry.
Worth A Listen | Posted May-12-2011 Weights and Measures is Hyland's first album released on Tooth & Nail Records after two independent releases. These guys from Minneapolis, Minnesota are off to a great start! Hyland has an original sound that is a mix of Run Kid Run, Capital Lights, and Stellar Kart. The majority of the songs are about relationships: from purity, to loneliness, to passion. The other songs revolve around a theme of honesty, surrender and God's grace.
The album starts off with a burst of energy, and ends with a ballad of thankfulness. In between, there are heart-piercing truths and refreshing originality. In the song "Fireworks," my favorite line is “I’ve had quite enough of this lust disguised as love”
The best songs on Weights and Measures are "Crying Out," "Coast to Coast," "This Love Is Free," and "Fireworks." The chorus of "This Love Is Free" really sticks out in my mind: “Love has carried me on His broken back / To a place where I can finally see / This love is free”
Another highlight on the album is at the end of "Crying Out" when the anthem is sung: “We’re crying out for freedom / We’re singing glory and grace”
Closing Thoughts:
Overall the vocals are strong, the lyrics are meaningful and the beats are catchy. I had never listened to Hyland before Weights and Measures and now I will be sure to listen to all their future releases. I'm excited to watch this band's career as it develops. I love the honesty that they have and the way that the truth they stand for is conveyed through the lyrics. I really enjoyed this album and it is definitely worth checking out!
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