This is a video to accompany the song Blessed be your name. It pulls out the full meaning of the sing with some real life examples of when the sun is shining down and when your in a desert place.
I watched it and had tears running down my cheeks.
Watch think and pray
If like me you like guitar driven music then you will know how difficult it is to find a worship CD’s where the electric guitar is the main instruments (with the bass and drums coming a loud thumping close second). Either you get the ‘sound’ and the lyrics have all the depth of a puddle in the Sahara or you get real depth of lyric but played in a style of music that you can only truly appreciate if you wear Arran jumpers, wear a beard and tug your ear while singing in a nasal kind of way.
It’s even worse if you want ‘happy’ celebratory worship, we often get angst, passion (nothing wrong with that), pity poor me styles but it is very hard to get music that lifts the mood, I know call me picky but hey that’s me. You know music that puts a smile on your face and puts a spring in your step. Music that you sing along to, at the top of your lungs, on the old mp3 player while on the bus or walking across town, to funny looks from those who have the misfortune to hear you.
Well I have been listening to a worship CD over the last few weeks by an American chap called Lincoln Brewster, which has all three of those elements, guitar driven, good lyrics and ‘happy’. It has made a refreshing change, so I thought I would post up a review of the CD in question “Today is the Day”
The CD is an eclectic mix of styles and in some cases seems to be heavily ripped from some secular music, at least in feel and riff. For example the third track (Give him Praise) on the CD has over tones of Paula Abduls “Opposites attract”, track five (The Arms of my Saviour) has an opening very similar to Parisian walkways, Track 8 (The Love of God) sounds like something off Stings Twelve Sumners Tales CD, track 10 (Let your glory Shine) is a direct clone of Bon Jovi’s “Lay your hands on me”.
But don’t let any of that put you off. There is not one bad track on the whole CD, all have excellent lyrics and Mr Brewster can make the guitar sing, wail and scream. Especially watch out for the ‘poodle perm rock’ solo on Let your glory shine…. the band are obviously having fun playing that! I play in a worship band that often “Jam’s to the Lord” at practice I know how powerful that style of free praise can be and how glorify of God it can be.
So get out there and get your copy today. Available on Amazon, Cross Rhythms and other good music outlets, then you too can sing as you walk / drive / ride and get funny looks!
A couple of Youtube videos of some of the songs for you to get a feel for them
Today is the day – live video
Let your glory shine – no video just the song played over the album cover
God you reign – Cheesy Pictures and some of them stink of gorgonzola!
One cautionary note however you will need to buy an air guitar to go along with this CD!
The Parachute Band return with their second CD Technicolour, including a DVD of interviews and a live performance of songs from their previous outings.. Similar to the first CD Roadmaps and revelation which was released two years ago (review here), Technicolour is a mix of high energy rock and slow contemplative ballads.
The sound has changed a little since the last CD with more Keyboard / synth being added to the mix. There is no ‘Parachute Band Style’ of song all of the tracks are different.
The first three tracks crack along at a fair pace and are excellent examples of the Parachutes Bands stadium rock celebration style. From here it moves into Anthem mode providing superb lyrics and ‘feel’ for more congregational praise all sang with real passion and love. The tracks show a real awe and reverence to the Lord, allowing the listener easy access both in terms of listening and worship.
There is of course the U2 / Delirious clone as there are on most Christian CD’s this one Glorious is our God, is excellent however and shows real maturity in the music and style.
Track 10 is probably the stand out track for me. It’s a completely different style to the rest and is in some ways reminiscent of the quirky songs of Blur and Space from the 1990’s. It’s a song of celebration about our home in Heaven. It is superb and i must admit to the odd tear while listening to it.
All in all this is an excellent CD and I would recommend it to anyone who likes a mix of powerfull ‘rock’ celebration / praise and personal worship of our Lord and Saviour.
In addition to the CD there is also an impressive free DVD. This contains a live concert of the band playing tracks from their previous CD and a testimony from the singer Omega Levine about how he was born without a nose and how that lead him to depression and suicidal thoughts… BUT Jesus met with him and changed his life forever.
