I have listened to this music over and over again. I really love how worshipful it is to God
This music makes me want to lift my hands in praise to God and I could definitely see the church using this music as worship music during their services. I like how the songs are all so different and yet each one focuses in on how wonderful the Lord is and how He is so worthy to be praised!
I listened to this music while doing my quiet time and I also listened to it while cleaning house. It's really perfect for both as it helped me to focus in on the Lord while I was reading my Bible and doing my devotions. On the other hand, while I was cleaning my house, the music kept me still focusing on the Lord and remembering how wonderful He is! I love music that I can listen to under all circumstances. I listen to music many hours every day and the fact that this one was on repeat, is a testimony of how much I enjoyed it!
My heart was lifted to God through this music. I really loved all the songs on this CD but my very favorite one is "Nobody Love Me Like You". Such an absolute beautiful reminder of how much God loves me when I feel like no one does. It absolutely brings tears to my eyes every time I listen to it because it's so joyful to know that I am loved by the One True God!! What an amazing song this would be to sing in church - with all hands risen in worship with one heart in the congregation!
The whole CD is like this. It just makes you stop and think and worship. Chris Tomlin's music and lyrics are so gorgeous and worship the Lord in such a beautiful way. This is a wonderful worship CD and I highly recommend it! I give it 5 out of 5 stars.
*This CD was provided to me by FlyBy Promotions. I received a copy of this CD to review but I was not financially compensated in any way. The opinions expressed are my own and are based on my observations while listening to the CD.
ABOUT THE ARTIST:
Chris Tomlin is one of the most heralded singer-songwriters in the world who has amassed an impressive body of work. He has sold more than 8 million albums, 11.3 million digital tracks with 16 #1 singles. Chris is one of only four artists ever to receive the Sound Exchange Digital Radio Award for over 1 Billion digital radio streams, others include Justin Timberlake, Pitbull and Garth Brooks.
The Grammy® winner’s list of music awards include an American Music Award, 3 Billboard Music Awards, 21 Dove Awards, a BMI Songwriter of the Year Award and more. Chris’ concert tours have sold-out venues in major cities including New York City’s Madison Square Garden, The Forum in Los Angeles, Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena and Red Rocks in Denver, among others. This spring, Chris marked another career milestone by launching his own imprint record label, Bowyer & Bow, in partnership with Capitol Christian Music Group.
While working on the follow-up to her debut album Unbreakable Smile—a 2015 release that premiered at #2 on the Billboard 200—Tori Kelly felt compelled to include a track that honored her lifelong passion for gospel music. With the help of her manager, Scooter Braun, the L.A.-based singer/songwriter soon connected with Kirk Franklin, a 12-time Grammy Award-winning gospel artist and one of Kelly’s musical idols. “I flew to Dallas and Kirk showed me a few songs he’d written, and I fell in love with all of them,” says Kelly, a 2016 Grammy Award nominee for Best New Artist. “Next thing you know, one song turned into us doing a whole album together. It just took on a life of its own.
”With its R&B-infused, deeply melodic take on classic gospel, Hiding Place offers up what Franklin refers to as “hope-pop”—a classification that fully resonates with Kelly. “One of the things I want for this album is for people to feel uplifted and encouraged when they listen,” she says. “I want them to know that, no matter what they’re going through, there’s a God who loves them so much and so unconditionally, and there’s always a reason to feel hope. That’s what I really believe in, and I want everyone out there to hear my heart.”
As Kelly explains, the title to Hiding Place draws inspiration from a line in one of her favorite psalms (“You are a hiding place for me; you preserve me from trouble; you surround me with songs of deliverance”). “That always stuck with me: this idea of God being a place of safety, a place where you can hide from all the crazy things that this world can throw at us,” she notes.
Produced by Franklin, Hiding Place unfolds with a lush yet simply adorned sound beautifully suited to Kelly’s incomparable voice.“I’ve worked with Mary J. Blige, Bono, Yolanda Adams, and I’ve never seen anyone that’s a monster behind the microphone like Tori Kelly,” says Franklin. “She’d nail one song in three takes, and all those takes were amazing. It set the bar higher for my whole career.
”While half of the songs on Hiding Place were penned solely by Franklin, the remaining tracks came from a collaboration between him and Kelly—the first time that Franklin’s ever co-written in a decades-long career that’s seen his songs performed by legends like Stevie Wonder and Whitney Houston. (“It blew me away that she wanted us to co-write, because she’s a phenomenal songwriter and could’ve easily done it herself,” Franklin says.) And at Franklin’s urging, Hiding Place was mostly recorded at his studio just outside Dallas. “The most important thing to me was that if Tori wanted to do a gospel album—a real, authentic, heart-throbbing gospel album—she’d have to come to the South,” he says. “Then she showed up at my studio with no entourage, no handlers—just Tori and her guitar, standing at my front door.
”With its sonic palette gracefully rooted in live instrumentation, Hiding Place first reveals its unbridled spiriton the album-opening“Masterpiece”(featuring Houston-bred hip-hop artist Lecrae)—a joyfully uptempo track that instantly sweeps the listener into a more radiant state of mind. From there, Kelly delivers her slow-burning lead single “Help Us to Love,” whose breathtaking harmonies feature the famed HamilTones(official background vocalists for Grammy Award-winner Anthony Hamilton). Proving her versatility as an artist and musician, Hiding Place then shifts seamlessly from the silky groove and playful scat singing of “Sunday” to the sweetly ethereal soul of “Just As Sure” (a duet with chart-topping gospel star Jonathan McReynolds) to the quiet intensity of “Psalm 42.” “So many of the songs on this album are so intricate, I wanted a song that I could play completely stripped-down, just me and my guitar,” says Kelly of the tender piano ballad.
One of the most profound moments on Hiding Place,the hushed yet urgent ballad“Questions” finds Kelly tearfully examining the current state of the world(sample lyric: “What happens when the healing never comes?”). “It’s about trying to make sense of all the dark and heavy things that keep happening, sort of crying out to God and asking, ‘What’s going on? I don’t like what I see down here,’”says Kelly. Then, on the subtly determined “Never Alone,” Kelly recollects her own struggles(“I’ve cried many rivers/I’ve walked through some pain/Seen my world crumble”)and ultimately re-discovers comfort and peace through her faith.
On “Soul’s Anthem,” Kelly closes out Hiding Place with an acappella, full-choir-driven rendition of the beloved hymn “It Is Well.”Perhaps the most powerfully captivating track on the album, “Soul’s Anthem”also gave way to what Kelly considers a landmark moment in her musical career.“Before we started, Kirk said to me, ‘Don’t look at me or the choir, just look down and get into your own world,’” says Kelly, who recorded “Soul’s Anthem” at the iconic Capitol Studios. “So I sang it all the way through, and at one point there’s a part where the choir takes over. I looked up and saw all these incredible singers, and it finally hit me that this was really happening. You can’t hear it on the recording, but I’m crying at the end of the song.”
Looking back on the making of Hiding Place, Kelly still marvels at the experience. “I always thought I would do something like this, but I thought it would be much further down the line,” she says. “It’s been in my heart for some time, but the timing didn’t feel right until now. I didn’t think I’d get the chance to work with someone like Kirk just yet, and that people would be so excited and accepting.” And though the album marks a stylistic departure from her work in the pop world, a commitment to uncompromising artistry carries through all of Kelly’s music. “No matter what genre you’re working in, there should be a level of excellence, and Tori definitely brought that excellence to this album,” says Franklin. “A lot of artists out there will rely on Auto-Tune or studio tricks, but there’s no button you can push for emotion, and there’s no button for skill. Tori is excellent in everything she does, because she’s a real, pure artist.
”As she gets ready to share Hiding Place with the world, Kelly hopes that it might give others the same sense of solace and joy she’s found in gospel in her entire life. Andas the album’s creator, one of the most rewarding aspects of Hiding Place was embracing gospel’s boundless intensity, and pushing her vocal performance like never before. “With gospel music, you can’t sing without all your heart being in it,” says Kelly. “This album was an opportunity to not only express my faith and my love for God, but to do what I felt and never hold back. I could just be free and let the song take me over.
MY REVIEW:
If I could only tell you about this CD in three words, it would be...I LOVE IT! I have listened to this CD over and over because it's so good!
There is a little bit of everything on this amazing CD and Tori sings each and every song beautifully! Her voice is so amazing and, seriously, she can sing anything and it's gorgeous! I love the gospel over-tones on the songs!
Tori Kelly and/or Kirk Franklin wrote each and every song on this CD, and they are all so wonderfully praising of God. I have always like Kirk Franklin and you can feel his touch on this music, but Tori definitely makes it her own.
My very favorite song on this CD is Psalm 42. It's such a beautiful song that speaks of our soul needing God. It's so amazing. My next favorite song is Never Alone where Tori and Kirk team up to sing this uplifting and upbeat song. Here's some of the lyrics:
I've cried many rivers
walked through some pain
I've seen my world crumble
and I've carried the shame
but I know somebody, He calls me His own
I can hear heaven singing out
Oh, you're never alone
Oh, you're never alone
Can you relate to those lyrics? I certainly can! That's what I love about this CD - the music speaks to my heart of things that I'm feeling or have felt but reminds me that God loves me and calls me His own! You can enjoy listening to this song on this video:
Another great thing I love about this CD? They have the lyrics in the booklet! If you're like me, you love when artists give us the lyrics so we can sing along.
I love everything about this CD. Each and every song is gorgeous and speaks to my soul with the truth of God's love. I highly recommend this CD and give it 5 out of 5 stars!
*This CD was provided to me by Fly By Promotions and Capitol Records. I received a copy of this CD to review but I was not financially compensated in any way. The opinions expressed are my own and are based on my observations while listening to the CD
“Rooted out of the Passion movement, we are committed to leading people towards renewed intimacy with God and fresh encounters of worship. Passion is more than music. More than events. Passion is a generation living for His name.”
WHOLE HEART is the new live album from Passion—captured at Passion Conference 2018 in Atlanta,
Passion Conference 2018 was a beautiful worship experience, and the live album captures each powerful moment, allowing those who were not in attendance to experience it.
Featuring Passion Artists: Kristian Stanfill, Melodie Malone, Sean Curran, Matt Redman, Crowder.
Info about Passion: http://passionmusic.com/story/
MY REVEIW:
I absolutely love this CD! Each and every song is inspiring and draws me closer to the Lord through worship.
I really liked all the songs, however, I have some favorites. "Heaven" is so beautiful with lyrics that touched my heart. "Hallelujah, Our God Reigns" is just amazing. I love how different, yet thoughtful an inspiring, this song is. "Great is Our Lord" reminds us who God is! It's just beautiful.
I have listened to this over and over and especially like playing it while I'm doing my Bible study or devotional. It is a form of worship that perfectly enhances my quiet time. Of course, this isn't the only time I listen to it. It's perfect for any time.
You can purchase this CD HERE and I highly recommend you do. I know you'll love it as much as I do!
*Disclosure (in accordance with the FTC’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”): Many thanks to Propeller Consulting, LLC for providing this prize for the giveaway. Choice of winners and opinions are 100% my own and NOT influenced by monetary compensation. I did receive a sample of the product in exchange for this review and post
Since signing to BEC Recordings in 2001, Kutless has transformed from a new rock band to a staple artist in the industry that has multi-format, top-charting hits, sold millions of records and more than eight million streams. Launched by original members Jon Micah Sumrall (lead vocals) and guitarist James Mead, the band formed first as a modern rock/worship band at Warner Pacific College in Portland in 2000. Kutless has two RIAA Gold-selling albums for Strong Tower and Live from Portland. The band has had 12 No. 1 radio singles across all formats including their major hits "Strong Tower,” "What Faith Can Do" and "Carry Me To The Cross.”
After more than 15 years together and reaching fans around the world, Kutless continues to be focused on sharing the Gospel with a younger generation that is searching for answers.
“We really believe that music can make a difference in people’s lives,” shares Jon Micah Sumrall. “Music is an incredibly powerful tool that can break down walls and allow us to communicate a message of hope to people who may not listen otherwise. We are still recording and performing because we really do believe it makes a difference. We hear stories all the time from people who share with us how a concert or a song has radically impacted their life, and it’s these types of testimonies that keep us going year after year.”
In 2012, Kutless formed EOTA Ministries (End of The Age) to expand their evangelistic outreach around the globe. EOTA is the non-profit arm that aids Kutless in hosting large, free outreach concerts and events. In 2015, they partnered with other organizations to bring concerts to Kiev, Ukraine and other cities for six events - the largest of their kind in that country. The next year, Kutless returned to 11 cities in Ukraine as well as in Belarus, a communist country, where more than 100,000 heard the Gospel and over 40,000 commitments to Christ.
With their upcoming album ALPHA / OMEGA, Kutless has created a collection of rock and worship songs of both original and cover tracks that are true to who the band has been for the last 17 years. They wanted to create a project that would engage the Christian community and have the greatest impact. The songs are true to who the band is at their core - rock and worship. ALPHA / OMEGA features a new version of “Strong Tower” as well as the debut radio single “King of My Heart.”
MY REVIEW:
This is an amazing CD! I absolutely love the favorites I've known as well as new to me music. It's such a beautiful compilation of praise and worship music!
My soul was lifted each time I put this music on. Some of my favorites were:
Your Great Name
King of My Heart
No Wonder
Shepherd of My Soul
Each and every song spoke to the Lord what my heart wants to say. Praising Him for all He is and all He has done! It's like Kutless knew exactly what I needed to hear and put it all together on this wonderful CD.
Here's one of my favorites from this CD. I love the words and the music - it's the perfect praise song.
Each and every song is wonderful! It's definitely something you're going to want to get and listen to everywhere you go. It would be the perfect Christmas present for friends or family! I have really enjoyed this CD and I know you'll love it, too. I highly recommend it and give it 5 out of 5 stars.
*This CD was provided to me for my honest review by Propeller Consulting LLC
Cultivate a heavenly perspective on life’s struggles through the
heartfelt, passionate songs of the CD Take Heart by singer and songwriter
Shannon Wexelberg.
Written during times of hardship, each song is both a declaration of
who the Lord is in the midst of trying times as well as an expression of
gratitude to God for His faithfulness. You’ll find 10 peaceful and uplifting
praise and worship songs like “Join the Song,” “Hope in God,” and “Exalted
Alone.”
ABOUT SHANNON:
Grateful for the journey, Mark and Shannon have walked through their
share of challenging seasons, followed by miracles. After a 10 year
struggle with infertility, they were given the gift of adopting their
son Christian (read their journey to parenthood in Shannon's blog). And
in 2009, Mark had a catastrophic motorcycle accident (with a truck that
ran a stop sign) going 55 mph and flying 40 feet, leaving him with 23
broken bones, 4 surgeries, and metal implanted into many limbs and
joints! Still, they are so grateful that he had no head or spinal
injury. Though they would've never chosen this accident as a part of
their story, God has been using it to deepen their faith and dependance
once again.
Shannon, her husband Mark, and their son Christian, make their home
in Colorado, along with their two orange cats. With the exception of a
few overseas trips here and there, Shannon ministers a couple weekends a
month in the US and in her home church, preserving time for family,
friends and the stuff of life! She is still most at home behind a piano,
worshipping the Father, and is grateful for the chance to bring others
along.
I love this CD! My measure of good Christian music is if I can listen to it while doing my Bible study or quiet time as well as when I'm cleaning the house. This beautiful CD meets all those criteria!
Every song on this CD is beautiful. I love how Shannon sings every song as though it's a prayer to the Lord. Her voice is so lovely and you can understand every word as she sings her worship music. I think that's so important as we sing along with her in worship, too. I think when you read about Shannon's story, you know that her beautiful, prayerful voice comes from a place in her heart that really knows and understands the Lord and all He has done for her.
I've listened to this CD over and over again. As I sit down for my quiet time and study, it's the first thing I turn on. I love every song on the CD but my favorites are "Be Still", "Who You Say You Are", and "Love Divine". The words are beautiful and each one really speaks to me. All the songs are like this, though, throughout the entire CD.
I highly recommend this CD. It's become one of my favorites and I think it will be a favorite for you, too.
I'm an ordinary woman who wants to be an extraordinary follower of Jesus. I'm a wife and mother who has changed roles over the years. From a homeschool mom to a mom of adult children. There have been tribulations along my way and I have learned to hold tighter to Jesus because of them. My hope is that I will inspire you to do the same as I share my life with you as a writer, artist, and homemaker.
