4 comments about Hillsong Ultimate Worship.

1. A positively yummy offering from Hillsong. I was rather disappointed by their "Celebrating Christmas" Album, but "Ultimate Worship" is back up to Hillsong's usual standard of excellence. "Made Me Glad" is extremely powerful and beautiful, musically, lyrically, and spiritually. If you like these folks, add this one to your collection. Hallelujah for modern worship! :-)



2. This is my first Hillsong CD. It will likely not be my last.
   
   All of the songs are focused on worship. Some of them are very good. Some of my favorites include the following: Made Me Glad, The Potter's Hand, Everyday, Worthy Is The Lamb, and, of course, Shout To The Lord. The songs are all strong lyrically. They are definitely about praising God.



3. A great CD...I recommend to hear this CD every day, every where, to Praise and Worship HIM, Keep your spirit on Fire and Make you're heart closer with Him. Hallelujah



4. Very good album. Every song on the whole disc is great, but my favourites are My Redeemer Lives (track 2), Shout Your Name (track 6), Better Than Life (track 7), and Shout to the Lord (track 17). I fully reccomend this album for anyone who likes this kind of music.

5 comments about WOW Christmas: 30 Top Christian Artists and Holiday Songs.

1. I love Christian music and I love Christmas music, so I thought this album would be the perfect combination for the holiday season and I couldn't wait to pop it in and usher in the yule tide. I was sorely disappointed. I can appreciate the effort to update traditional music and put a fresh spin on classics, but most of these songs were nearly unrecognizable and that's not what I want in my Christmas music. I want to spend the season listening to beloved favorites and sing my heart out to them for the month or so that we have together...Not scratching my head and trying to figure out the music. I was also surprised by the R&B flavor to a lot of the songs. Again, nothing wrong with that genre of music, just not what I expect and find comforting in my Christmas music.



2. Thanks again to the musicians who did the songs for this WoW CD. I always look forward to different variations of Christmas songs!! It's nice to have the variety that WoW CD's offer. They're a definate inspiration and wonderful alternative to some of the music out there!



3. Yes, even my seven year old granddaughter loves to listen to this Christmas CD. I like the diversity of the songs and the entertainers. I loved the way some of the old standards were done, especially Emmanuel, Let It Snow, and Away in the Manger. Plus there are some songs I had never heard before and they were good.
   But, the only thing I didn't like was, some of the old standards were (I felt) were terrible. Like Do You Hear What I Hear, Joy to the World, and Little Drummer Boy. But my granddaughter liked them.



4. This is a collection of mostly familiar Christmas songs done with a modern twist.
   
   While I didn't really like several of the arrangements here, there were also many others that were very good. Due to the diversity of musical tastes, this collection has something that virtually everyone will like. On the other hand, most will find some that they do not appreciate as much.
   
   Some really good arrangements were done by the following artists: Point of Grace, 4Him, Nichole C. Mullen, Mark Schultz and Nichole Nordeman, Kathy Mattea, Third Day, Jennifer Knapp, MercyMe, Jars of Clay, and Rebecca St. James.
   
   Overall, this is a worthwhile CD set.



5. This is one of my favourite Christmas music collections, along with Donna Summer's classy 'Christmas Spirit'. The name really says it all, wow!!!
   
   Ranging in style from jazzy treatments, to alternative rock to urban, this is a collection of perrennial favourites redone (and in some cases drastically redone) by most of contemporary Christian music's best. This might not appeal to some but I love the different treatments.
   
   Disc one has the swinging jazzy treatment of 'Winter wonderland' by Avalon featuring the tight harmonies they are known for. 'Strange way to save the world' is a beautiful ballad by 4Him with lyrics about God's choice to send a baby in a manger to save us all. There is the melodramatic 'Emmanuel' by Michael W Smith, the stunning acoustic treatment of 'O come, o come, Emmanuel' by Nicole C Mullen (check out her brilliant 'Christmas in black and white' CD), the celebratory 'Hallelujah' by Soulful Celebration, the soul/gospel choir sound of Kirk Franklin's 'The night that Christ was born, and the awesome 'Mary did you know' by Kathy Mattea, with lyrics asking Mary if she knew the baby she was carrying would one day walk on water and be the saviour of the whole world.
   
   Disc 2 is more rock laced and edgier; 'Do you hear what I hear' by Third Day, an acoustic 'What child is this' by MercyMe, the rocky 'Little drummer boy' by Audio Adrenaline, a soulful rendition of 'O little town of Bethlehem' by Out of Eden, complete with a much needed prayer for peace on earth, the driving rock/pop of 'Angels we have heard on high' by ZOEgirl, 'O little town of Bethlehem' by Caedmon's call, a wonderful slow shuffling performance of 'Christmastime is here' by Sixpence none the richer, the acoustic 'God rest ye merry gentlemen' by Jars of clay featuring excellent harmonising, and the hip hop 'This Christmas (joy to the world)' by TobyMac.
   
   If you are looking for a beautiful, experimental collection of Christmas music with the message of Christmas told, this is the CD for you.

5 comments about Dream.

1. I ordered the cd "NEW" and when I received the cd the cover was broken and the cd was scratched. I paid for a new cd not a used cd. This has been a horrible experience.



2. Maybe I'm weird, but there are artists that I think I really like, and the more I listen the less I like (Waylon Jennings and Queen fit that description). Others are ones I never think of, but I'm blown away when I listen to a project by that person. Michelle Tumes is an example of that category.
   
   "Dream" is awesome. My favorite tracks are "Dream", "The Light", "Everywhere", "The One And Only", "Image Of", "God Of My Hope" and "Blessings Flow." "Image Of" is especially encouraging and uplifting.



3. Michelle Tumes, due to her heavenly voice, is one of the handful of artists whom I enjoy listening to repeatedly. Lyrics are meaningful, music is top notch!



4. Okay, let's get past the first, most obvious fact: Michelle Tumes is the most physically attractive artist in all of music, regardless of genre.
   
   Her talent is undeniable. Her music has breadth, and her voice, while not trained as well as many artists', is beautiful and a pleasant listen. Why the people managing her career (to a degree Michelle herself and her husband, if reports on the world-wide gossip web are correct) are squandering her talents by recording songs that mask her voice in some ethereal wisp are beyond me. I say this to set up my review of Michelle's best effort to date, "Dream."
   
   The CD opens with the title track, a catchy little tune that will get your toes tapping and put a smile on your face. But then you actually listen to the words, and your head starts to spin. "Faith in the power to believe He has given you a dream." What?! What does that mean??? It's so convoluted that I actually had to think about it for a few minutes driving in my car one day. Oh, the toe-tapper in me says I shouldn't care- I know what she means by that line, and she's just making the words fit the music. But the one-time musician in me says that's sloppy writing - the kind of thing that should be shored up between an early version of a song and its final version. If she wasn't performing Christian music I don't think it would bother me; I expect that kind of nonsense out of secular music, and can even enjoy it. But Christian music is supposed to have a point and make sense. The gratuitous rap/groove piece that runs the song about a minute longer than it ought to be irks me, too. As long as I don't listen closely to the song, it's great, though. Highly recommended for casual listening or even workout music. There are other tracks on this CD in which the lyrics aren't as well-written as they should be, but "Dream" is the most egregious example.
   
   There are a couple of gems on this album that make it stand out from her other work. "King of My Heart" is the best thing she's ever put out. It's simple, upbeat, and the words are fantastic. Her voice isn't masked, and her voice is not only beautiful, it's...innocent...for want of a better word. Some of the vocal parts are somewhat demanding, too, and she sings the song perfectly. Outstanding job. Not far behind in terms of solid work are "Love Shines Through," "One and Only," and "Shine the Light." These four songs make this album a worthy addition to any pop- or christian-music listener.
   
   Conclusion: this is a must-buy album if you like pop music or christian music. It's the most honest, unbridled, and versatile album Tumes has released, and showcases her voice better than any of her other works. A little more diligence in lyric writing would have made this a five-star album in my book without question. Still, a meritorious effort that deserves recognition. If you had to choose only one Tumes album to buy, this should be it. All her other work hides the beauty of her voice by and large, and those wispy songs all start to sound the same quickly.



5. I never considered myself a big fan of MT before this CD...I don't like the new age-y, ethereal music she used to sing. I heard the song "Dream" on the radio, fell in love with it, and was shocked to hear that it was MT who did it. The songs aren't overly deep, it's a lot of peppy pop stuff, but the lyrics are good. The only reason I don't give it 5 stars is because at times the background music is trite syntho-pop which hasn't had a place in CCM since the 80's. Not everyone will be a fan of this change in MT's style, but I like it!

5 comments about Learning to Breathe.

1. This cd is by far the best of all of Switchfoot's cds. With amazing lyrics and gorgeous melodies, it's one that you'll never get tired of listening to. For those who have only recently jumped on the Switchfoot bandwagon, you'll recognize "Dare You to Move" on this cd, in it's original (and better) form. Every song on this cd has a great message, and is worth listening to over and over. Every fan should own this album.



2. My all time favorite cd from this band. It includes Switchfoot's biggest hit "Dare you to move". I liked this the first time I heard it, and it remains my favorite cd. This is a must for any Switchfoot fan.



3. Learning to Breathe is a very enjoyable album. It contains some very interesting and good music along with good vocals and positive lyrics.
   
   The words in this CD are definitely focused on the Creator of the Universe. Here are some examples of lyrics:
   
   Learning to Breathe - I'm finding that You and You alone can break my fall.
   
   You Already Take Me There - You meet me where I am, forgive me where I am.
   
   Love Is The Moment - Why God gave His life to put motion inside my soul. It's bigger than cold religion. It's bigger than life.
   
   There are really no bad songs in this collection. Two that are real standouts are Dare You To Move and Learning To Breathe.
   
   If you like Christian music, this is a good album to get. If you like Switchfoot, it is a must have. If you are not in either of the above categories, I'd recommend it anyway. It is a very creative effort and you will likely enjoy it.



4. "I Dare You to Move" first drew me to this band and so of course I had to check the other little music clips Amazon provides. Learning to Breathe is a little less polished then The Beautiful Letdown, but in a nice way. It actually works better for this album I think.
   Musically, Switchfoot has a very distinctive and gripping sound. Most of their lyrics avoid direct subject references that can turn some people off to secular music, and so this album stands on it's own because the music is just great.



5. I first listened to 'Dare You To Move' from the movie 'A Walk To Remember' and I was instantly wanting to know more about this band so I purchased their album 'The Beautiful Letdown' and since that first time of listening to that album I was hooked. This self professed christian trio have not let down fans with this their 3rd album but have cemented themselves as a must listen band in the soft-rock genre. The first 4 songs of this album is the reason I gave the album 4 stars in rating cause in my opinion the 4 songs are some of the best that Switchfoot have created. 'Learning To Breath' takes your breath away, it is intoxicating. Another great song is track 4 'Love Is the Movement' which sounds more anthem popish than rock. This is a less spiritual feel to the album than the first 2 Switchfoot album but there is a feeling of messages of hope for youth and those who are facing problems that seem to big. Another nice song is 'The Loser' which would not be out of place on one of those sappy teenage romance films in vogue at the moment. This album is for all christian band fans and soft rock genre fans in general.

5 comments about Anybody Out There?.

1. I took got to see Burlap to Cashmere when they toured with Jars of Clay. Absolutely amazing performance and interaction with the audience. This remains to this day one of my favorite albums I bought in my teen years and the fond memories will carry on for a lifetime.



2. The CD has a strong spanish influence. I do not care for the fast paced music. But I love Treasures in Heaven.



3. THIS IS THE ABSOLUTE BEST ALBUM EVER MADE!! Hearing about them breaking up just breaks my heart- their music is truly unique and their sound is incredible. I'd pay twice as much for half the number of songs just to get another album. The guitar player is incredibly talented. I highly recommend this albumt to anyone with ears.



4. Here is the true and tragic story of Burlap to Cashmere.
   
   Burlap to Cashmere started gaining popularity in 1997 into 1998 and did a tour with Jars of Clay. I had the opportunity to see them open for Jars of Clay at the University of Iowa in 1998. There were probably under a thousand of us there in a small room so it was a real intimate feel. Even those standing in the back were not more than 50 feet away from the stage. What we saw that night absolutely amazed every single person in the audience. I'll never forget watching members of the band playing different instruments seemingly each and every song. One guy in particular that played percussion on one song was literally running back and forth from one side of the stage to the other to play different instruments. Each song was a clinic on how to play many different instruments on the same song. Each song the crowd got into more and more and by mid-way through their set every last person was in awe. Absolutely everyone was 100% into the music. When they finished their set we screamed for an encore and then another one but sadly they had to stop playing. Jars of Clay came on next and put on a good show. At the end of their show Jars of Clay said they'd like to meet all of us and offered to sign autographs after they had a few minutes to rest and get some water. As we were streaming out of the auditorium everyone was saying the same thing in different ways "Jars of Clay was good but we want to meet Burlap to Cashmere!!!" The funny thing about it was the chatter going into the room was "Who in the world is Burlap to Cashmere? Have you ever heard of them??" Everyone was so taken by Burlap to Cashmere that their table was 10 people deep waiting to buy their album while only a few were at the merchandise table of Jars of Clay.
   
   Their CD "Anybody Out There?" went on to sell very well and the band rose to stardom and their fans eagerly awaited their next release. Sadly, no studio album was ever released again as the band members started fighting about where to take the music and eventually broke up. Their only other release was a very short live album called "Live at the Bitter End" Stephen Delopolous (one of the lead singers) put out a solo album that, in my humble opinion, is terrible.
   
   I can't pick out any highlights off of this album as each and every song is a highlight that I rate as 10/10. Buy this album and treasure it for the amazing musiciansip, amazing lyrics and for what could have been.



5. In the post grunge wake of the early 90's, music took a nosedive towards the incoherent. Burlap to Cashmere is one of the best exceptions of the decade of angst ridden pop. The songs are deeply moving and stirring. The classical-nylon guitars are virtuosic in their performance and dynamic sensitivity. I haven't heard anything like it in recent years. The sheer passion of the music comes through the CD with great clarity. The world beats and complicated rhythmic meters are stunning in their execution. The desperation and simultaneous hope of the lyrics come through. I have no idea why we haven't heard more from these guys. They easily are one of the best bands to have come in the modern era.

5 comments about Storm.

1. I enjoyed this CD. it's not one that i will listen to non-stop all week but it's a nice enjoyable CD.



2. Nobody is making music for the glory of God today quite like Fernando Ortega. A strongly talented vocalist, pianist, and musical interpretator, and a really nice guy. On this album, "Light of Heaven" is a particular favorite. This great music that will calm and relax you on one song, inspire and motivate you on the next, and always move you to praise God.



3. One of Christian music's best kept secrets. Fernando combines the old and the new creating another awesome CD.



4. It is not unusual for an artist to have one quintessential recording that documents them at the absolute peak of their creative talents. For Fernando Ortega STORM is that recording. Every cut is a gem. I love this album so much I've tried hard to develop a similar affection for Ortega's other music. Perhaps it's because STORM is so special I've found that hard to do.
   
   Note: Be sure to check out 'Our Great God' with Third Day's Mac Powell on lead vocal on the third 'City on a Hill' album. It's even more powerful than the version here (Powell sings back-up).



5. He is one of the best I've ever heard, buy it you'll love it.

5 comments about Donnie McClurkin... Again.

1. This cd will make you just set and listen to it over and over again. A beautiful job he's done and the dvd is just as awesome.



2. "The Prayer", i think, will forever be one of my favorites. I used and at my wedding, i play it all the time. When i hear it on the radio, i still get goose-bumps. Really great song and well done guys.



3. I bought this CD because my daughter had to sing "Yes I Can" in the church choir. I am so glad that I did. I enjoy almost every selection. It is uplifting and fun to listen to.



4. I love this CD by Donnie McClurkin. Every song is very unique. I am a fan of Pastor McClurkin. I will always support him. Buy this CD it's the best



5. the prayer f/ yolanda addams is a type of song that you can listen over and over again. i love it so much

4 comments about Timeless: The Selah Collection.

1. this set is the BEST and I can now listen to all of my faves together .I feel SO much closer to the LORD when I listen to their awesome music!



2. I received this boxed set for Christmas and have been listening to it non-stop ever since. If you're a fan of Selah, this is a must-have. If you're new to Selah, this is a great place to start because for basically the price of 2 regular CDs, instead you get 4. The first three in the set are "Be Still My Soul," "Press On," and "Hiding Place." The final CD contains some songs from "Bless the Broken Road," as well as some new singles, a live version, and a demo.
   
   One of my favorite things about this group is that, in addition to their beautiful hymn arrangements, on each CD is at least one classic contemporary Christian song (back from when it was known as "Jesus music"). There are redo's of songs done by Evie, Larry Norman, Russ Taff, Cynthia Clawson, Andre Crouch, etc. The fourth CD of this set contains a new version of "There is a Redeemer" by the incomparable Keith Green. There is also a wonderful rendition of Andre Crouch's "I Didn't Think It Could Be ('Til It Happened to Me)." Actually, I believe each CD in the set has at least one Andre Crouch song [hey guys--if you read these amazon reviews, would you consider recording "Soon and Very Soon" some time?!] Probably my favorite new song off this set is the old hymn "Revive Us Again." Not only is it a great chance to really hear the latest member of Selah, Amy Perry, sing, it is a fantastic song to kick off the new year with.
   
   The last thing of note about Timeless is the book included--there is a history of the group and how they formed (written by Todd Smith) as well as a lot of new liner notes and hymn stories.
   
   "Timeless: The Selah Collection": What a fantastic gift to give or receive!



3. Awesome! This album is very anointed of the LORD! Selah is a wonderful group of musicians.



4. I was so excited to see this 4-disc collection by Selah, released for their 10th anniversary. Three discs in the collection are their first 3 albums: Be Still My Soul, Press On, and Hiding Place. If you're not familiar with Selah, these are wonderful collections of timeless hymns and theologically substantial worship music, sung in gorgeous harmony by Allan Hall, Todd Smith, and Nicol Smith Sponberg. If you are familiar with Selah, having additional copies of these albums is wonderful for a number of reasons, not the least of which is that you can stop switching them back and forth between the car and your house! The fourth CD in the collection has some of their radio hits from their latest Duets album, which features their newest member, Amy Perry. It also has 3 new songs with Amy, plus some previously unreleased material, including a live version of Todd singing "Were You There?" (Speaking of live, if you ever get a chance to see Selah in person, do anything you can to make it happen. I say "in person" rather than "in concert" because it is a wonderful worship service rather than simply being a performance. And Allan Hall about sets that piano on fire when you see him live!)
   
   Another great thing about this new collection is that there are all new liner wrotes written by Allan, Todd, and Amy. Selah is great for writing notes about each song--either the background of the hymn or a personal meaning it has for someone in the group.
   
   So, purchase this box set, put it on the disc-changer, have a Selah concert at home, and sing along!

5 comments about Come Together.

1. Third Day has been one of my favorite all time bands for several years. This album is superb.
   
   Not only does it contain great sounding southern rock, but the lyrics also contain very meaningful Christian messages. Mac Powell's vocals are unique and amazing.
   
   This CD contains many great songs and has no weak links. My favorites song here is 'Show Me Your Glory'. It is an amazing tune. The top notch sound goes well beyond that track however.
   
   I strongly recommend this album. I consider it a must have for any collector of rock and/or contemporary Christian music. Buy it. You won't regret it.



2. This album is the best of 2001!I bought this CD with my lawn-mowing money and It's great!!My personal favorites are:come together,40 days,show me your glory,when the rain comes,and nothing compares.This album takes us on another ride (like conspiracy no.5)Except it has a more southern twist.I hope you buy this and if you do,enjoy!



3. This CD is by far one of the best that I have ever bought.



4. This cd gets better every time I listen to it! The lyrics hit home and make you think of God's grace.



5. Come Together is a great album that combines great music and great lyrics. My personal favorites are Come Together and 40 days. Those are the first two tracks on the disc but don't think that it goes downhill from there. The disc is full of southern rock treats and a ballad or two. Overall this disc doesn't disappoint. Give it a try and you won't be disappointed.

1 comments about Phantasmagorical: Master and Musician, Vol. 2.

1. The latest instrumental offering from Phil Keaggy shows us, once again, that their is no bottom to the well of Phil's music. The subtitle, "Master & Musician 2," is very appropriate: although Phil's music transcends any category or label, it is obvious to all who are familiar with him that he is the musician, playing music inspired by and written for his Master, and these pieces are worthy of Him. I cannot recommend this CD highly enough.