A Blend of Worship and Country Posted July 03, 2021 By GraceChaves_NRT, Staff Reviewer
What You Need To Know
Contemporary artist Chris Tomlin is a legend in Christian music. Most Christian music enthusiasts have heard of him. He's been releasing music since 1995 with his debut independent album Inside Your Love. Since then, he's become an extremely influential artist. Every Sunday, churches across the world are singing his songs, like his hits "Jesus Messiah," "Indescribable," and "How Great is Our God." In 2020, he released a new full-length project called Chris Tomlin & Friends. The album featured country artists like Brett Young, Russell Dickerson, Lady A, and many others. It became successful, and now Chris is back with his second Chris Tomlin & Friends project, Chris Tomlin & Friends: Summer.
What it Sounds Like
Like the last Chris Tomlin & Friends record, this project will appeal to anyone who's a fan of country music. The EP blends the sounds of worship and country music in a way that only Chris Tomlin can. It features country artists Thomas Rhett and Florida Georgia Line again in the re-release of "Thank You Lord," and country artist Russell Dickerson in "Talk To Him." It's been interesting to see Chris Tomlin cross over into the genre of country music. But with these country artists by his side, Chris has been able to nail down two projects that truly sound country.
Spiritual Highlights
Chris always puts Jesus at the forefront of his songs, and these new tracks are no different. This EP talks about the intimate friendship we can have with Jesus. Each song is full of praise, especially "Sing." One of the biggest themes on the EP is God's love. It begins with "Good to Be Loved By You," which recognizes how much we're loved by God. It closes with "Sing," which praises God for His incredible love. They're bookends to each other. These five songs are a great reminder that we are seen and cared for by God.
Best Song on the Record
"Thank You, Lord" is the best song on the record with its upbeat tune and catchy lyrics. Like the title implies, the whole song is about thanking God for the blessings He's given us. There are so many things we can thank God for. "Thank You, Lord" shows that. From the small things to the hard times, there will always be something we can thank God for: "Waking up today/Yeah, I just gotta say thank You, Lord/I just wanna say thank You, Lord."
Final Word
I'll admit, I'm not the biggest fan of country music. Bu,t for those who are, this new EP is for you. With the release of two Chris Tomlin & Friends records within a year, I'm looking forward to seeing what else is in store for this new project. You can listen to Chris Tomlin & Friends: Summer EP now on Spotify or Apple Music.
