A Heartfelt Entrance
Posted September 11, 2017
By JohnHisel_NRT, Staff Reviewer
Red Rocks Worship, born out of Red Rocks Church in Colorado, has been recording and releasing original worship music since 2014. Starting with the acoustically focused The Rooftops EP, they've released a short project annually for the last three years, but are ready in 2017 to release their first full-length album of original worship songs. Their new record Here is full of new songs and new voices that are more than ready to contribute to the modern worship movement.
LP opener "Fill This Place" is a great up-tempo song that announces the intentions of the project quite clearly: heartfelt lyrics, tight and creative melodies and spot on instrumentation (specifically guitars). The song drops into a solid half time chorus that sets the tone for the rest of the album.
"Heaven Is Here" opens with a solid guitar hook, features a memorable chorus and is one of several good mid-tempo songs sprinkled throughout Here. "Nobody Like You" opens with one of the more memorable verses on the album, serving to lead into the standout song of the project "Always And Only." Verse lyrics "The dreamer and the dream / the heart and the beat / the flame that starts a fire in me" lead into a chorus that beautifully declares our reliance upon God. A bridge sung over the top of a perfectly placed guitar part completes a truly memorable worship song.
Taking the feel back up slightly is "Right Here Right Now," with a nicely melodic guitar hook on the chorus. It is at this point in the LP that the focus on good guitar parts and tone becomes even more apparent as the classic U2 dotted eighth feel anchors the next track up, "How Beautiful Your Grace." Another album standout is next in "Not Afraid" as a soaring second verse and pulsing synth part leads us into a declarative chorus and bridge that proclaims our reliance on God in times of trouble.
The final part of Here begins with "Come Taste And See," a song about the Lord's goodness and faithfulness in our lives. One of the few prominent acoustic parts anchors "Overflow," which contains some of the better vocals on the album in the second verse. A slight stylistic changeup is in store for "I Am Home" as the intro channels something like the Fugees, with vocals throughout that are indeed reminiscent of Lauryn Hill. However, instead of singing of long lost love or heartbreak, this song sings of how we are never alone with Christ in our lives.
Final track "Love Changes Everything" celebrates that a life touched by God can't help but be changed, with the same perfect vocals and tight instrumentation that mark the whole project closing things on a high note.
The Bottom Line: Here certainly announces the arrival of Red Rocks Church onto the modern worship scene, and their full-length debut is well produced and full of heartfelt worship songs for the church. Taking a cue at times from either Vertical Church or Jesus Culture, it's well done from beginning to end, and the aforementioned spot-on guitar work and soaring harmonies are worth the price of admission!
Song to Download Now:
"Always And Only" View All Music And Book Reviews By JohnHisel_NRT | View JohnHisel_NRT's Profile
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