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Great worshipful music | Posted December-07-2013
This is a good album with a nice mix of contemporary worship songs and classic Christmas Hymns. I liked how he wove his music together with these "classics".
The free album preview from NRT was great this week, however it seemed that the preview did not match the song listing on the album page.
Thank you NRT!
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Fun Christmasy music with a subtle reminder | Posted November-26-2013
I just enjoyed listening to this new album as it was streamed on New Release Tuesday. That was quite a gift. It is a fun album with catchy, jazzy, "Christmasy" music, such as what Bing Crosby, Frank Sinatra and the old "Rat Pack" would sing. I can see buying this and adding it to my extensive collection of Christmas music. I'll be pulling it out when decorating the tree and working in the kitchen, enjoying the fun, yet with a subtle reminder of the true meaning and reason for this season. As the lyrics of the last song, "Because It's Christmas" state:
And in this world so loud and busy
Sometimes we forget just why
We celebrate this time each year
But if you listen close the angels cry
The whole world sings the reason why
Because it's Christmas
Our savior's born tonight
Because it's Christmas
The thrill of hope is everywhere
So let the music play
And let your worry melt away
Because it's Christmas.
Let the music of Sidewalk Prophets play and let your worry melt away as you remember our Savior's been born.
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Interesting, fun and worshipful takes on classic hymns | Posted September-05-2013
I grew up with old hymns and as my faith has grown often the meaning of the words deepens more and more. I'm not that familiar with Jimmy Needham and his music style, but I found this new album quite interesting and fun. As I'm writing this I'm listening to the free preview of "Joyful, Joyful" and he really caught the joy of that hymn. It has left the formal choir heritage and become a song of real joy and celebration. Yet "It is Well" communicated such depth and feeling. I think he's really made these hymns come alive. I may have to get this album and listen to it many more times!
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Not my style -- too much loud rock | Posted June-20-2012
I normally try to listen all the way through NRTeam's album previews, but this one I'm turning off as soon as I write this. It might be your style, but it comes across to me as too much yelling and clashing guitars. If that's your thing, great, but it was just too much for me, particularly since I couldn't understand the lyrics.
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Bruce Cockburn meets the Dark Side of the Moon? | Posted October-29-2011
Thank you new release tuesday for letting us preview entire albums for free online. We get to try out new musicians and all the songs on a CD -- not just those that make the cut to be singles.
The Economy might be one of those albums that need to be experienced on a whole. As some other reviewers have said, the style is hard to peg. The lyrics remind me of early Bruce Cockburn, when he was explicitly Christian, although without the social critique that I was expecting on a CD entitled "The Economy". Instead it is very personal, like Cockburn can be, and like Cockburn using unusual metaphors and images with a melancholy air -- one that is quite aware of one's sinfulness and potential for evil. Yet the music also celebrates the great and bloody gift of Christ our Savior -- the murdered Son and rises to crescendos of praise. In many ways I thought it was a CD that would be introduced before Lent and Easter rather than Christmas, because its themes fit that season better.
The music also provides some eerie effects and creative sound images, thus my reference to "The Dark Side of the Moon". Not just Pink Floyd, but the music vaguely recalls some Moody Blues and others of the creative edge of rock. Its a CD that invites us to listen to it again and again.
I'm looking forward to listening to John Mark McMillen & band more.
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Catchy slices of life, but little redemption | Posted August-08-2011
This album has catchy choruses and great beats. The lyrics are full of rich, provocative slices of longing for relationships. But although there's some cries for hope and a few signs of faith, there's really not much redemption here. I longed for something similar to what David Crowder Band has on Remedy -- acknowledgement of the pain, but also a reminder of the grace of Christ. Not every song has to be this way, but it would have been nice ot have one song on the album that pointed more clearly to Jesus and how he can and does bring full salvation.
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A Full Salad Bowl of Worship | Posted July-28-2011
As one of the other reviewers noted, this album sounds like a tossed salad because he bounces between so many different genres of music and styles. His voice is rich and strong and quite expressive in worship, with a deep, infectuous yearning for God's presence and power.
We use "So Good to Me" in our worship services and even life groups and it has ministered to us as well as raised our level of joy and praise of God.
I'll be listening to more from William Matthews and the good people at Bethel Church.
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Good heartfelt worship music | Posted June-14-2011
I listened to this album while I was doing some other work and really enjoyed it. I had not heard of this singer/songwriter before, but I will tune in to his work in the future.
The album is full of good, heartfelt worship music with some songs with good driving beats and others more meditative and reflective. I particularly remember hearing Every Knee Will Bow -- the refrain and mood kept in my heart and mind for quite a while. I could see it easily joining the ranks of good worship songs.
I will look forward to listening to this album again.
Thank you NRT for providing this opportunity to hear a new album in its entirety!
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whl57's Music and Book Reviews 
