5 comments about Lost in the Sound Of Separation (CD/DVD).

1. This album perfectly combines the melodic, punk-like sound of They're only chasing safety and the blistering heaviness of Define the great line and makes a simply wonderful album. I Love it!! I give it 4 and 3/4 stars.
   
   P.S.- Watch out, the first song starts slow and soft, but then blows you away!



2. Let me start off with saying that I've been a big fan of Underoath ever since they hit the music industry. Let me also say that if a band I really like doesn't live up to expectations, I'll say so.
   
   This is the most well written (musically) album they have ever done. They just keep getting better and better. When I fist bought Define the Great Line, the album they did before, I was first surprised because, unlike alot of popular heavy metal bands, they got harder musically rather than softer. This is something I like, and also shows that the band is staying true to the beginning, to why they fell in love with playing heavy metal in the first place. Then I bought Lost in the Sound of Separation, and had preconceived notions that it would be mediocre at best. I left it in the case for a few days in my car, and then one the way to work one day I put it in my cd player. Not only was it better than mediocre, they had gotten even harder than the last one! It was refreshing to see a band really mature and develop without losing what I loved about them in the first place.
   
   Lyrically, it's a little muddy and vague, but that's the style of alot of bands in this genre. I enjoyed the message that this album had to bring. It's about pain, hope, doubt, and all of the things that make us human.
   
   
   I hope that Underoath keeps up with the amazing work.



3. absolutely sick! if you like underoath and the like ofcoarse. someone who listens to kid rock won't understand, but if previous underoath albums do it for you, then you know what i mean. theres no epics here, unlike define the great line, which had some epic songs, however all the songs are solid. if you love define the great line then you should give this an honest go. theyre best album is still ahead of them i know........and hope!



4. I have all of Underoath's CDs, even from the old days. First, this is the best! It has a harder edge but is true to their unique sound. Some of their other CDs have a more Emo sound, but this doesn't but has true "hard rock feel". This is a must buy!



5. With their last two records, Underoath have consistently set new standards for melodic hardcore - standards which elevate them so far above their peers, the gap between them and the crop of scene bands occupying MySpace and filling the pages of Alternative Press could hold an ocean. Separation is an unequaled illustration of what can happen when a group of immensely talented and inventive minds transpose their brilliance onto musical instruments and marry ferocity and savagery with artistry and purpose. Behind the dizzying, distortion-heavy riffs, sudden tempo changes, bestial screaming, and moving instrumental refrains lies a heart of darkness. Separation is without a doubt, the blackest, most foreboding work the band have recorded in their current incarnation, exemplified by lyrics exploring drug abuse, waning faith, and self-loathing. Despite the dark themes prevalent on the album, there's something about it that sends a surge of adrenaline through the listener's veins and elicits a palpable sense of tension and release. The verbosely titled Anyone Can Dig A Hole, But It Takes A Real Man To Call It Home, one of the heaviest tracks on the album, precedes A Fault Line, A Fault Of Mine, a dramatic arrangement incorporating heaviness, melody, and shoe-gazing experimentation. It's the balance between brutality and subtlety that makes Underoath unique, the push and pull between frontman Spencer Chamberlain's ferocious roar and drummer/co-vocalist Aaron Gillespie's temperate singing. Separation culminates with the austere math metal barrage of Desperate Times, Desperate Measures, which segues into the grandiose two song closing suite of Too Bright To See, Too Loud To Hear and Desolate Earth: The End Is Near, commanding you to listen not just with your ears and heart, but with your very soul. The album's 11 tracks are alternately - and often simultaneously - cold and warm, poignant and inspiring, foreboding and inviting, creating an enigmatic complexity that makes Separation a brilliant achievement of not just post-hardcore, but heavy rock in general.

5 comments about Sola Scriptura & Beyond (2pc).

1. Sola Scriptura & Beyond (2pc)
   
   Great concert DVD! Terrific sound and video that puts the viewer in the front row. Even though the band had never played with Morse before, the energy and musicianship is first-rate.



2. Okay, religiously, I'm not sure what to call myself. I believe in God, but I don't really believe in any one religion. I guess agnostic would be the best way to classify myself.
   
   My Uncle had a Dream Theater CD that changed my life forever, and to this day, they are still my favorite band of all time. Dream Theater are friends with, and have toured, with many other bands, Spock's Beard being one of them. When I listened to them enough, I got to a point where I loved their music so much, I just had to buy all of it. I was distraught to find that Neal left the Beard, and it's quite clear to me that with the music that the Beard is making today, although still good, they are missing a very prominent piece of their music and that piece is a person named Neal Morse.
   I have many people scattered about within my family who are hardcore fanatical Christians, so when I found out that Neal was a born again, I was very iffy about even giving him a chance. I decided to put my biased views aside, and I am SOOOO EFFING HAPPY that I did because I would've missed out on all of the great music that this man has made if I decided to be ignorant, biased, and hard headed like I almost was. Aside from the fantastic musicianship and powerful heartfelt message, he is also insanely diverse, going from metal to epic to soulful to bluegrass to hard rock to jazz all in one man's mind.
   If there is anyone in this world that would make a Christian out of me, it would be Neal Morse. His studio albums are extremely fantastic, the question mark album is probably the one that resonates best with me. So much incredible music, not to mention the lyrics and vocals are incredible as well. But, what Neal has accomplished on this DVD is beyond words. He is one of the very few people who can record a live concert and make you feel like you're there. All of the heart, soul, and passion he puts into his music is completely unleashed when he plays. The band he plays with are also all very good musicians and I feel like I would get a good vibe from all of them if I met them.
   What I'm trying to say overall, is that it's not only about his music, it's about his attitude toward the music. There are so many points within this live show that I feel as though I'm on the verge of tears because I feel the message he's trying to get across. Whether I fully agree with him or not is irrelevant, because his message is a positive one, and that's all that matters. I am not going to be able to put this away and not watch it for at least a couple months. I know I'm gonna be popping this baby in at least 2-3 days a week for a couple months to come. Utterly fantastic DVD and it definitely gives DT's live DVD's (Score, Live at Budokan) a run for their money. I hope he keeps making music for a long time, because he has ever so easily and suddenly become one of my favorite composers of all time.



3. Realmente no hay palabras que logren definir lo impresionante de este concierto, es lo mas espectacular que he visto en mi vida. Le doy gracias a Dios por haber creado la musica y haber dotado a Neal Morse de un talento tan enorme para componer e interpretar estos temas llenos de pasion y de un mensaje positivo, lleno del amor de Dios por la humanidad y que nos transporta con la mejor musica hacia un mensaje claro: Dios nos ama y quiere redimirnos de nuestros propios errores... es lo mejor que he escuchado y es una compra obligatoria tanto para creyentes como no creyentes, para fans de neal como seguidores del rock y especialmente del prog rock, aunque en lineas generales es un disco que debe estar en el repertorio de todo aquel que se precie de escuchar buena musica.. entre las cuales esta es sin duda LA MEJOR.



4. The quality is out standing. The musicianship is top of the line. Wish I could see these guys in concert.



5. I have never seen someone put so much heart into their performance.
   This DVD is pretty much perfect. Almost 3 hours of music from Neal that is played nearly flawless with a band of great musicians will not dissapoint. Even though I'm a non-believer, listening to Neal sing these songs gave me chills and made me really feel the music. His love for his music is truly shown here.
   The second disc is loaded with a lot of great extras. The ? tour songs are also of great quality, and the acoustic version of Bridge Across Forever is awesome.
   
   You will not be dissapointed with the purchase of this DVD!

5 comments about God of This City.

1. What a joy to worship and even better with the powerful lyrics and beautiful melodies from the new Passion CD. I listen to it once a week on my way to work and its a great way to start up an awesome day!
   Praise the Lord for the music that flows from His hands through His people.
   Have a blessed day y'all!



2. I've been a big fan of the Passion conference collections for the past 10 years, especially the last few which have included the newest live versions of future hits by Chris Tomlin, David Crowder, Matt Redman and Charlie Hall.
   
   Passion: God of This City is another good Passion collection. God of This City by Chris Tomlin is one of the highlights and I love the addition of Fee and We Shine to the conference. My other favorites are Hosanna sung by Christy Nockels, The Glory Of It All by David Crowder and my favorite song is Shine by Matt Redman based on Philippians 2:14-16, which seems to be the theme of this album.



3. Ditto the other reviews that recommend this album. One thing to say--Sing Sing Sing by Chris Tomlin reminds me of being at his concert (in San Diego) Same feel, but you get it everyday in the car! I don't love every song, but they all give me things to think about.



4. Great CD....I just went to their regional conference in D.C. and all the songs that were played at the conference sounded just like the cd. AMAZING!!



5. With a collection of songs that are as memorable as the events where they were recorded, God of This City is, without a doubt, the best album Passion/sixsteps has put out thus far.
   
   Highlighting some of the best moments of both Passion'07 in Atlanta (with over 23,000 university students) and the USA regional events in Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, and soon, Dallas, DC, and Atlanta, the album features 6 new tracks from sixsteps' artist-worshipers, as well songs that will be familiar to those who follow the Passion movement closely.
   
   Featuring the talents of Chris Tomlin, David Crowder* Band, Charlie Hall, and Matt Redman, God of This City is moving from start to finish. Naturally, the title track serves as one of the more captivating anthems on the album. Written by an incredible, Belfast-based group called Bluetree, and led by Chris Tomlin, with a chorus that is at least as memorable the Passion events themselves, the very heartbeat of God pours out of the lyrics of this song that will no doubt serve as a banner over the Passion movement - and all those it reaches - in the days, and even years, to come.
   
   In all, God of This City is an incredible collection, a must-have for anyone who desires to draw near to the heart of God through music.

5 comments about Jars of Clay.

1. im not going to do a in depth review, all im going to say is its a classic you must own.



2. Jars of Clay hit the music scene at a time in my life when I had graduated from college and I loved the alternative rock bands Collective Soul, Toad The Wet Sprocket and Weezer (I still do) but I didn't know Jesus. I grew up thinking being faithful was Jesus+church, works, etc. The song Flood came out on the radio and MTV and I needed to hear more by this new band, similar to how I felt about The Fray's debut album in 2005.
   
   The first few seconds of Liquid had me hooked on Jars of Clay (and ultimately Jesus) forever. The Gregorian Chant, the driving beat and then the completely spiritual lyrics floored me and made me want to know Jesus as did my other favorite songs Love Song For A Savior, which really is my story as I longed to fall in love with Jesus, and Worlds Apart, an all-time classic which just wrecks you if you really pray along with the song.
   
   Ultimately this is one of the all-time best albums in the history of Christian music and it led me to seek Christ for which I'm eternally grateful.



3. This is one of the best acoustic albumns ever! Even after 13 years I still love listening to these songs, and they don't feel outdated at all. If you have never heard this albumn I suggest you get a hold of it and have a listen because you are in for a real treat. Full of clever, meaningful lyrics, interesting melodies, with strings used extensively for delightful countermelodies. You won't be let down by this one!



4. Saw them in concert with my daughter. Recognized "Flood". My daughter asked for the cd for X-Mas. We all love it!



5. The debut by Jars of Clay is an album that seems to get better the more one listens to it.
   
   When I first got it, I really liked a couple of the songs. As I began listening to it more, I started liking more and more of them. It is really a CD packed with very good songs. Some notable standouts include the following: Flood, Liquid, Sinking, Love Song For a Savior, and Like A Child.
   
   This CD has really become a classic. I consider it a must have for any fan of Christian rock.

5 comments about Here We Go Again.

1. With talent beyond their years, fun faith-filled lyrics, spunk and high "NRG", thirteen year olds Caroline Williams and Carolyne Meyers and fifteen year old Jordan Yates shine as Pure NRG in their sophomore album "Here We Go Again". The title is quite appropriate because of the fact that the trio shows the same talent and dedication as in their self-titled debut album only enhanced with further experience. This isn't just a "teeny-bopper" group, behind their poppy sound and lyrics, their belief of God sure shines through and makes them stand out and become a favorite of parents for their kids to listen to. Good, clean fun, is just what parents want for their kids and what their kids truly need. Personally, I love music that has substance but, is still clean and I'm in my mid-teens. I'm a Christian too naturally making Pure NRG's "Here We Go Again" one of my happiest listening expierences.



2. I bought this CD for my girls who love music. Was tired of Hannah Montanna so thought I'd pick this up. It's great positive lyrics and upbeat songs are a hit with our whole family. BFF is one of the girls favorites. We've given it as gifts to tween friends and its a hit!



3. This is their secong album and again they bring it!They are not world known yet but they are getting their.This to me was better than the first cause it brought more.Best songs off there was"Here we go again","Like"
   "Call on Jesus" and many more.This is perfect for younger kids and older kids because it brings the message to anyone and tells them to serve God and not the world and to get your life on the right track before its too late.My sister love this when I bought it for her birthday and u should buy it,trust me,you will not be disappointed!



4. I think these kids do a great job of creating fun, upbeat, easy to listen to music. I highly recommend this CD.



5. pureNRG's energy invites you to participate--sing along and move to the beat of each and every song. Most of the songs make you feel alive and happy as well as make you think. Songs like Like and BFF are contemporary topics for tweeners, but other songs are definitely for all ages. It is a great tween and family DVD with great words and music. Memorize the words; they are good for living a good life! So Here We Go, Again is the continuation of something worthwhile, wholesome, and a whole lot of fun.

5 comments about Lead Me On (20th Anniversary Edition) (2 CDs).

1. The Lead me on Anniversary Edt. is a great CD..especially the BONUS CD with the LIVE Tracks from the 1989 Tour and the Accoustic recordings are a blast to listen.
   I hope Amy will do many many new songs..she has such an heart-warming voice, the lyrics are so real, positive and it was fun listening to her in the 80's in the 90's and also in 2008.



2. I remember purchasing my original copy of Lead Me On 20 years ago! This special edition sounds great and I love the acoustic versions of some of the classic recordings from this CD. Any Amy fan must have this anniversary edition in their collection!



3. You have to understand that Amy Grant's musical style, prior to 'Lead Me On' were VERY upbeat, sweet, contemporary christian. She was, after all, a teen-aged evangelical. This album, however, marked a change. Now, we hear about her struggle... her history... her maturing faith. There are even some selections where she DOESN'T mention God! A very honest, lean album full of heart-felt, more mature songs. Great album.



4. As a long time Amy fan (yeah I remember her on vinyl)I can say this is definitely an essential addition to any Amy collection. I cannot believe it's been 20 years, can any of you? I love disc two...a very intimate listen. I haven't heard those live recordings since the Lead Me On tour, and what a FUN tour that was. Amy-keep on making music...you are still an important singer/songwriter and we all would like to keep listening to what is on your heart and mind. Beautiful recordings. A MUST have!



5. As a huge Amy Grant fan, I am so excited this came out. The remaster on the tracks is amazing. The bonus disk has some interviews, as well as live concert tracks. Lead Me On is probably my favorite Amy CD of all time. My only complaint- the remakes of a few songs on the bonus track. They are acoustic sets, and I feel like they changed the songs too much. I wish they had kept them similar to the originals. This is a CD you HAVE to own if you are an Amy fan!

5 comments about Beautiful People: The Greatest Hits of Melanie.

1. I enjoy each of Melanie's albums, and every time I listen to her music, I reminisce to when I first heard her music. Thank You Melanie, for your excellent music!



2. In terms of her greatest hits, this leaves out two while including several album cuts and failed singles. The missing hits were, in fact, her last two, both of which originally came out on the Neighborhood label she started with husband/producer Peter Schekeryk: Bitter Bad, a # 12 Adult Contemporary (AC) and # 36 Billboard Pop Hot 100 in the spring of 1973 b/w Do You Believe? (which also made it to # 115 on the Hot 100 "Bubble Under" charts; and her cover of the 1961 Shirelles hit Will You Love Me Tomorrow? which finished at # 42 AC/# 82 Hot 100 in January 1974 b/w Here I Am.
   
   Her only other four hits on Neighborhood are, however, included: the smash Brand New Key (a # 1 Hot 100 for 3 weeks and # 5 AC in late 1971 b/w Some Say (I Got Devil); Ring The Living Bell (a # 18 AC/# 31 Hot 100 in early 1972 b/w Railroad); Together Alone (a # 86 Hot 100 in November 1972 b/w Center Of The Circle; and Lover's Cross (a # 109 Hot 100 "Bubble Under" in August 1974 b/w Holding Out. None of those B-sides are here.
   
   The rest of her hit singles came out on Buddah, beginning with her first in the spring of 1970, Lay Down (Candles In The Rain) billed as Melanie with The Edwin Hawkins Singers and which peaked at # 6 Hot 100 b/w Candles In The Rain by Melanie alone. Late that summer she had Peace Will Come (According To Plan) rise to # 32 Hot 100 b/w Close To It All on some releases of Buddah 186, and Stop! I Don't Wanna Hear It Anymore on some issues of that same label number. That last also scored at # 112 on the Hot 100 "Bubble Under" charts in October 1970.
   
   Her cover of the Rolling Stones # 1 1967 hit, Ruby Tuesday, only managed a # 52 Hot 100 in late 1970/early 1971 b/w Merry Christmas, and in early 1972, The Nickel Song finished at # 30 AC/# 35 Hot 100 b/w What Have They Done To My Song, Ma? which is the only B-side included here. Melanie wrote this tune for The New Seekers who had a 1970 # 4 AC/# 14 Hot 100 hit with it as Look What They'd Done To My Song Ma. In 1972 the late, great Ray Charles took it to # 25 R&B/# 65 Hot 100.
   
   Normally, I'd deduct 2 stars for the omission of two of just 11 registered hits in a 19-track "greatest hits" album, but this not only has excellent sound quality, but seven full pages of fascinating background notes written in May 1999 by David Okamoto, music editor of The Dallas Morning News as well as being a contributing editor to ICE Magazine, a full page containing Melanie's thoughts behind Summer Of Love II, and a complete discography of the contents. The additional photographs sprinkled throughout are, however, rather small and dark.



3. 'Beautiful People: The Greatest Hits of Melanie' is a superb collection of Melanies' many great hits. Best known for the #1 hit 'Brand New Key', Melanie shows the wide range of her singing/songwriting ability on this CD.
   
   Included is 'Lay Down (Candles in the Rain)', a gosepl song with the Edwin Hawkins singers singing back-up. 'Beautiful People' is also an amazing song, that crescendos to a phenomenal, inspiring vow. Other tracks are 'Summer of Love II', 'Ruby Tuesday', and 'Animal Crackers'.
   
   Melanie is more that a 'one-hit wonder'. From folk to gospel to pop - Melanie did it all - and did it all well. With 18 tracks, this CD certainly has both quantity and quality. *****



4. This CD is an excellent start for your Melanie collection. It contains almost all her most well-known songs and a selection of other songs that show off her vocal range, lyrical depth, and sometimes childlike imagination. Melanie's music serves to remind us that innocence is a state of mind. Personal favorites include Ring the Living Bell, Leftover Wine, and Peace Will Come(According To Plan).



5. Since Melanie didn't have that many albums, this is probably the most complete variety of her work. She may sound screechy at times but that was her style and part of her charm..

5 comments about Undone.

1. ONE OF THE BEST CHRISTIAN ARTIST OF OUR TIME! UPLIFTING & INSPIRING ALBUM.
   HEALING OF HEART & SOUL A MUST FOR TODAYS CHRISTIAN. MY FAMILY FOUND MERCY ME ON THEIR FIRST ALBUM AFTER MY HUSBAND HAD OPEN HEART SURGERY. WE TRULEY BELIEVE THAT GOD HEALED HIM & HAD A AWESOME RECOVERY THRU THE POWER OF MERCY ME'S MUSIC. ALL TIME OUTSTANDING PRAISE & WORSHIP MUSIC OF THE DECADE!!!!



2. Another wonderful cd for this group. Songs from the heart that lead you straight to God.



3. The more I hear the more I want to hear of MercyMe, they lift my spirits and light my way home!



4. I am giving this one 5 stars soley because Everything Impossible is the best song I have heard in so long. I can't stop listening to it. Wow. This could have been a huge hit, in my opinion. It's better than anything on the radio today. It puts me in mind, sort of, of Maroon 5. Elsewhere, Homesick will hit home with anyone who have lost a loved one. This is one gorgeous song. A Million Miles Away another fave, almost as good as Everything Impossible. Never Alone, Where You Lead Me, and Here With Me all have melodies that get stuck in your head and are impossible to get out. This band needs to be recognized not just in the CCM market, but in the top 40 also. It's like if Maroon 5 and Nickelback were cloned and merged into one band, and sent to Catholic school, you'd get Mercyme.



5. i think this album is great. i was reading alot of the other reviews and just had to write in response to some of them. i know we all hear music differently. some people seem to listen and hear mainly lyrics. i always hear the melody and the mix of the instuments. the lyrics for me are a bonus. with many of mercyme songs a huge bonus. now, that being said, not every song can be a hit. some of the other reviewers seem to think that every song should be a number one hit. that would be called selling out. let these bands write and perform from their hearts. there is a song on this cd entitled HERE WITH ME. the music in that song is as good as it gets. the chord structure is awesome. and when you add the extremely well thought out and meaningful lyrics to the music, you have a masterpiece, and that's what that song is to me. i couldn't believe that not one person mentioned this song in any of the reviews until the very last review which actually was the first. mike mcallister had mentioned that HERE WITH ME was his favorite song on the cd. i guess mike and i have something in common. thanks mike, maybe some day we can talk. as far as mercyme goes, i would highly recommend any and everything this band puts out. i feel bad for the people who will never experience bands like this. we are extremely lucky to experience MERCYME. also, the live dvd is a must have.

5 comments about How Can We Be Silent.

1. I just love listening to this cd. Its awesome and you should buy it also. It is going to build up your walking with God. God bless you all



2. This is only the second Barlow Girl project I listened to -- I have yet to listen to their second effort.
   
   I was surprised with the strings on the opening song -- and pleased. I enjoyed this one much more than the debut project.
   
   Most of the time, I avoid reading any of the other reviews before I post mine, but this time I looked at the trio of 2 star reviews and the one 3 star review. One pointed out the music style is different. I agree, but for me, this is a plus. One mentioned it was too slow and another that all sounded the same. They must have been listening to different projects. Another mentioned the lyrics were hard to understand. To some extent I agree, but I didn't find it harder than a lot of other projects by other artists. And there was a lot I did understand without consulting the lyrics.
   
   One person mentioned the cover art (on the one 4 star review I read). I found the first picture to make a statement, tying in the title to the concept of "One More Round". This is not the first time Christianity has been equated with a boxing match (e.g. "Contender" by Sweet Comfort Band, "No Way I'm Going Down" by White Cross, "I Come Out Fighting" by Greg Volx), and that is because of its applications.
   
   My favorite tracks? "Song For The Broken", "Here's My Life", "Million Voices", "Sweet Revenge", "One More Round", and "I Don't Regret".



3. Honestly people, in case you haven't noticed, this album is exactly the same as every other album Barlow Girl has come out with. The songs all sound the same as they did before, both lyrically and musically. There's a good reason most Barlow Girl fans are between the ages of 10-14: they don't understand what good muisc is yet. There are only so many times you can say the same thing over and over again without becoming repentive, and they wore that out halfway through their first album. I'm hoping someday soon they leave the music business altogether.



4. The girls did an awesome job with this cd.My 11yr old daughter loves it!Definately alot of head shaking and dancing going on in my home! This is a way in which they have to chosen to sing about what they believe in.



5. this is a great Christian rock band, if you listen to Lifehouse or bands similar to them, then you will love Barlow Girl.

5 comments about All of the Above.

1. I'm so glad Hillsong United recorded a studio album and this album is such a perfect combination of upbeat and reflective songs, they are great in any format. Brooke Fraser's vocals on "Hosanna" and "Lead Me To The Cross" are extremely worshipful and captivating at the same time and "Solution", "Point of Difference" and "Saviour King" just round out an excellent worship album!



2. I've had this album for about 6 months and finally decided to write a review. It has grown on me over time, and it is truly an excellent album in its own right, but it is quite different (as a studio album) compared to all the rest. The production values are excellent, but you don't get the same "big praising church" atmosphere; instead, you feel a closer connection to the band itself. This can be a good thing when you have a band that is so talented in writing real, substantive lyrics that praise the Lord combined with great riffs, choruses and bridges. My favorite tracks on this album are Desperate People (3), Devotion (4), Lead Me to the Cross (6), Hosanna (8), Solution (10), My Future Decided (11), and Saviour King (14).
   
   Hosanna and Saviour King are definitely the most famous tracks from this album; they are truly God's work spoken through His hands and feet. I can personally credit an experience with God, where I just broke down and cried on my knees, while listening to Saviour King; what a powerful song. Lead Me to the Cross is, in my opinion, one of the most underrated songs ever written by Hillsong United. It is truly outstanding for its pure sound and simple, yet essential lyrics. May God bless you as you worship Him, our King!



3. I've heard that this album is less than satisfying because it is not a live recording. All I can say to that is it's far from the truth. The Hillsong United don't lose their touch and they pull it off again...creating an authentic and brilliant set of worship anthems that are already being sung around the globe. Hosanna, Devotion, Point of Difference, and Saviour King are at the top of my list.



4. I am very impressed with my first Hillsong United CD. I have stayed away from these in the past because I do not like live CD's (DVD's yes, but not CD's). But after hearing that they were putting out a studio album, I thought I would check it out. This isn't a "blow-you-away" album, but it does offer a lot of standout tracks and very passionate lyrics. I loved the song "Lead Me To The Cross" sung by Brooke Fraser. She has a really cool sounding voice and it fit perfectly with this song. The first four songs are very solid as well and the rest of the songs are good. I think that this is a group/church that is very relevant with their music. My only complaint of this CD, though, was the "sinner's prayer" that they had in the booklet to become a Christian. I do not find that very biblical at all, although that has become all the rage in the last hundred years. It seems like Christianity is straying away from the plan of salvation: Believe, Repent, Confess, Be Baptized, Live Faithfully. But looking past that, the songs are really good.



5. This is the second disc we've gotten in the United set - and this one, like the last, every song is distorted. I'm not talking about the guitar distortion. The master or copy or whatever was over driven and the audio as a whole is badly distorted, so much so that you can't listen to the songs at all.