Worship Album of the Year?
Posted May 02, 2014
By KevinDavis_NRT, Staff Reviewer
This entire self-titled project by All Sons & Daughters feels seamless and intentional. The album includes standout recordings like the hauntingly accessible "Christ Be All around Me" and "You Will Remain" and the lose yourself-in-the-moment sing-ability of "God with Us," "Tonight" and "Great Are You Lord."
From my first listen, I was totally captivated by this album. The opening track "You Will Remain" has an ambient sound, building with strings, drum, guitar in a steady worshipful flow and beautifully setting the tone with Leslie's distinctive and emotive vocals. It is such a fresh song. I'm really engaged by David Leonard's and Leslie Jordan's emotional vocals and the deep, prayerful and vertical lyrics throughout the album. This song has a Gospel proclamation: "You are the Great I AM, so unchanging Your promise is sure, Never Ending, Your love will endure, You were, You will be, You always are the Great I AM." Amen.
The next songs "Tonight" and "God with Us" continue with an engaging ambient rock musical style. The soothing musical feel is just one of the many attractions to savor about this ambient and introspective worship album. The band co-wrote "Tonight" with Francesca Battistelli.
"Your love is deep, Your love is wide, I will rest in Your arms tonight, Your love is deep, Your love is wide, I will rest tonight" is the Christ dependent refrain of "Tonight," applying Jesus's promise in Matthew 11:28: "Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest."
I find many of the songs have me pondering eternity such as: "You are here and You are holy / We are standing / In Your glory (Lord)" in "God with Us."
"Christ Be All around Me" was co-written with Leeland Mooring and is an emotional description of our calling as Christians: "Above and below me, Before and behind me, in every eye that sees me, Christ be all around me." I'm drawn to the song's sincerity, gorgeous musical bed and the profound songwriting. The song also appears on Michael W. Smith's album, Sovereign.
"For Your Glory & My Good," co-written with Derek Webb, switches to more of an acoustic folk musical style and we get to join in the band's prayer: "I would be a fool, If I could be made new, Come ruin, come ridicule, Recklessly I come, I run to You." This is a great song to pray along with Leslie and David.
"King of Glory (You Restore My Soul)" and "The Victory" are also standout songs which I would love to sing with fellow believers. They are vertical worship songs sung directly to God, with the declarations: "You restore my soul, I'm Yours alone, Oh King of Glory" and "Yours is the Victory, Lord."
"Great Are You Lord" takes you on an emotional journey that gives me goose bumps every time I hear the song. You'll be blessed by this powerful song which is a stand-out anthem with a convicting declaration: "All the earth will shout Your praise / Our hearts will cry, these bones will sing / Great are You, Lord." We live in a fallen and sinful world. One day we will have a new heaven and a new earth and until then we need to all pray: "It's Your breath in our lungs / So we pour out our praise to You only."
"Almighty God" features Sandra McCracken and is a gorgeous vocal offering of this vulnerable Lord's Table expression: "Almighty God, to You our hearts are open, You take away our sickness and our sin, Oh Lamb of God we gather at Your table, In bread and wine, You have supplied our needs, Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah."
Closing Thoughts:
More than just a collection of great songs, this album is a deep meaningful worship experience unlike any other I've heard this year. If you feel like many worship albums sound the same and you want to experience a fresh, deep, introspective and completely worshipful album, look no further than this album. The standout songs are "You Will Remain," "Tonight," "God with Us," "Christ Be All around Me," "The Victory" "King of Glory," "Almighty God" and "Great Are You Lord," which has quickly become one of my all-time favorite worship songs. This is a very emotional album, loaded with hook-filled vertical expressions with catchy melodies wrapped around introspective, worshipful and emotional lyrics. My favorite albums grow deeper with each listen. All Sons & Daughters is the worship album of the year.
Song to Download Now:
"You Will Remain" (Get it on iTunes here). View All Music And Book Reviews By KevinDavis_NRT | View KevinDavis_NRT's Profile
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