Review by Tom Williams

Michael W. Smith has been around for over twenty years. He has had huge success both in the Christian Music world as well as the non Christian music world. He has sold over 13 million albums worldwide, and has recorded 29 number one hits in the US. I was a bit sceptical at first, as his music I had listened to in the past I felt was a bit cheesy and cliché! However, when I was in Wesley Owen a couple of months ago something about this album grabbed me. It was a live album which is always a bonus for me. It was recorded in June 2008 in front of 12,000 people in Houston, Texas. It also includes an African Choir from Uganda, and a guest appearance from Grammy Award Winner, Israel Houghton. So I went ahead and bought it for £9.99, got home and put it straight in the laptop.

After an instrumental introduction song, it goes straight into the first track ‘Prepare Ye the Way’ which starts with a distant voice ‘Give thanks to the lord for he is good, his love endures forever’ As an opening song this truly focuses you, and invites the Lord into your time of worship or prayer. The album includes 15 songs, some songs you will never have heard before, and there are a few that you will recognise. However don’t let that put you off the album. The covers of ‘Mighty to Save’, ‘Shout unto God’, ‘Amazing Grace’, and ‘Majesty’ are spine tingling. The balance of this album is really good. There are some more light hearted worship songs with the African Choir, and then there are real deep strong worship songs that really give you a sense of Gods presence. I am personally a big fan of instrumentals in worship songs, when you can hear Gods work through the instruments and this album is full of them. Explosions of sounds in ‘Mighty to Save’, and ‘Amazing Grace’ are phenomenal! As an all round worship experience, I have not bought or heard an album like this one for a long time. If you want an album that you can just sit and listen to, then this is probably not for you. If you want an album that you can sit and listen and worship to God through, then go and buy this album. You won’t regret it, you will have it turned up loud giving thanks to God and singing love for our one true awesome, and powerful Saviour.

“My chains are gone, I’ve been set free, my God my saviour has ransomed me, and like a flood, his mercy reigns, unending love, Amazing Grace.”

Review by Rachel Oram

Vineyard music is a world wide ministry which has a whole team of modern worship leaders and speakers. There are Vineyard congregations all over the world: UK, Europe, USA and Canada and more! And as a ministry they record the songs they sing and make an album. They have made over 20 albums worldwide over in the past 6 years. This particular album was recorded in 2001.

Producer and song writer Brian Doerkson says ‘This album has significantly impacted the worldwide church with many of the songs being translated into seven different languages. Further to that, proceeds raised through the sales of this album have helped fund orphanages in South Africa, plant churches in over 40 nations and train pastors for effective ministry in today's modern church’.

This album includes songs: Hungry (Falling On My Knees), Your Name Is Holy, Humble King, There's No One Like Our God, Make Your Home In Me, Child Of God, Be The Centre, All Creation, Rhythm Of Heaven, I Surrender, Only You, Refuge In You, You Are A Holy God and Breathe. All songs on this album carry the anointing of the Holy Spirit and some of the quieter songs like Hungry, Humble King, Make Your Home In Me, Be The Centre and Breathe are excellent songs to use for soaking!

There are more energetic songs on there too such as: There is no one like our God, All Creation and Refuge In You. If you sat down and listen to the album beginning to end, you will experience God’s powerful presence in a mighty way, maybe in a way you have never experienced before.

Review by Abi Duffty

The depth and rawness of the language moves you to feel the emotion behind the words, while the music accompanies you through the journey of the song.

Comatose means: ‘to be in a state of deep sleep and an unusually prolonged unconsciousness; unable to respond.’ This is one overpowering message that I feel moves through all the songs, but particularly in ‘Looking for Angels’, emphasising here the importance that we wake up to what is going on around us, instead of living in comatose.

The overall sound of Comatose brings more ballads; in songs such as ‘Yours to Hold’, however, it still holds power in ‘Better than Drugs’.

They have veered away from the metal side on this record and hit us with a grungy sound and bringing Korey back in to sing is definitely a big plus to the recording.

Their ability to mix ballad with hardcore rock has come together well on this album, along with their surpassing ability to communicate with their audience.

Review by Rich Houghton

It was with much anticipation that I first listened to the latest live worship recording from one of our country’s premier Christian songwriters.

And how refreshing it was to hear a recording of songs that are not only well-written and performed, but more importantly, catch the heartbeat of God.

The songwriting is distinctly more mature than previous Redman recordings, the female vocals are particularly graceful and inspiring, and the arrangements are creative and sensitive. But what really stands out is the heart of the recording. This album is clearly an intimate reflection of Matt Redman’s own personal journey of complete adoration, revelation and wonder, expressed through predominantly corporate songs that are simply bursting with heartfelt, passionate response!

Highlights on the album for me would be the anthemic ‘Nothing but the Blood’, along with the intimate encounter of the title track ‘Facedown’. Some of these tracks accompany well our encountering God in gathered corporate worship. Others are much more intimate, deeper personal responses that work better on an individual level. Either way this album is a real gem.

Past albums have included such excellent compilations as ‘Look to You’ and ‘More than Life’, but ‘United We Stand’ is even more polished, even more exhilarating, and packed with an even better selection of what Hillsong do best: sensitive ballads, anthemic choruses and full-on guitar-driven rock worship songs.

United We Stand displays all the Hillsong United trademarks: catchy and ‘singable’ melodies, memorable electric guitar riffs, and passionate worship right from the heart. Creative song writing and interesting melody/chord structures don’t always go hand-in-hand with inspiring worship songs, but Hillsong United have set the standard here, and you can see why. For me, this album works equally well as a personal accompaniment to worship, simply for pure musical enjoyment, or as a resource for the local church.

Personal favourites of mine include ‘From the Inside Out’, ‘None but Jesus’ and ‘The Stand’, mainly for the pure, intimate and raw worship they convey and inspire. Beautiful in simplicity, these are songs and lyrics that clearly catch a moment in local church life, whilst echoing God’s worldwide purpose.

If there are any negatives, it would only be that with such a well-evolved album of songs in terms of song writing, musicianship, vocals and production, some of the songs here are just too complex to be reproduced by your average music team, making it in some ways unattainable. However, we must be grateful and honour Hillsong for their perseverance and commitment in not settling for what they’ve already achieved, but continually pressing forward, pushing boundaries and breaking new ground.

“And the cry of my heart is to bring you praise, from the inside out, Lord my soul cries out…”

Review by Gideon Maybury

Arriving is a great example of the new wave of worshippers expressing themselves in current styles. ‘How great is our God’ has already become a classic praise song in our home congregation!

There is a clear passion and energy that shines through the songs on this album which causes a stir to engage in worship. This is highlighted by the clear devotion that comes through in Chris’s voice – it’s not only music, it is worship!

As a worship leader, what makes the music on this album even more special is that it is easily sung within the congregational setting. The style is strong but laid back enabling you to sing with an ‘anthem-like’ style and just open your heart. The lyrics are also clear and uplifting for a new generation of worshipping followers of Jesus. ‘It’s a Miracle to Me’ is a clear example of this.