Review of Chris Tomlin's Arriving

Next to Watermark's The Purest Place, Chris Tomlin's Arriving has been one of my favorite albums of 2004. It is a project that each time I listen to it, drives me to worship God.

I remember clearly one Sunday morning as I was in my car on the way to church. It had been a difficult week for my family. We were facing a new season in our lives that was uncertain. Yes, we knew that God would take care of us and provide all of our needs, but still it seemed a bit overwhelming that the road ahead was unclear. As I drove, Arriving played in the background and the song "Indescribable" came on. I remember listening to the lyrics of the chorus:

Indescribable, uncontainable
You placed the stars in the sky
And You know them by name
You are amazing, God/All powerful, untamable
Awestruck, we fall to our knees
As we humbly proclaim
You are amazing, God

Suddenly emotion washed over me as I was reminded once again that if God knows the name of all the stars, then surely He was aware of our needs and had good things instore for my family.

The songs on Arriving are destined to become well-sung not only by listeners at home and in their cars, but corporately at churches. They are, as Tomlin says he strives for, clear and simple. It didn't take long before I was able to sing along, not to mention find myself singing the songs later on my own. For example, take "Holy Is the Lord," in which Tomlin sings:

We stand and lift up our hands
For the joy of the Lord is our strength
We bow down and worship Him now
How great, how awesome is He
And together we sing
Holy is the Lord God Almighty
The earth is filled with His glory

The lyrics are pretty basic, yet powerful. Other songs include "How Great Is Our God," "Mighty Is the Power of the Cross," and "You Do All Things Well."

Arriving is an album I would recommend without reservation. And, for those of you looking for a good Christmas gift for a relative or friend, look no further then Arriving.

All quotes taken from Chris Tomlin Arriving PR Materials.

Review of FFH's Still the Cross

The first time I popped in FFH's fifth album Still the Cross I only had time to listen to the first three or four songs. "Hmmm ..." I thought, "this sounds like a fun project. I think I like it." Let's just say it made a great first impression. However, upon further listen I had to recant my enthusiasm. Why? Well, for me, I thought the album sounded very familiar -- familiar in the sense that it sounded a great deal like the past four FFH releases. Additionally, the production felt almost too fun that I had a difficult time taking it seriously. And, with a title like Still the Cross it was a release I wanted to take seriously.

Despite these feelings on the project, I have to say that FFH's renewed desire to focus on the cross is encouraging and convicting. Of the release, member Michael Boggs stated, "I think it’s pretty cool that after five records and thousands of concerts, as a band we’re still committed to the same thing we were on the first record. We’ve written lots of songs and we’ve talked about a lot of different things. But when it comes down to it, it’s still all about the cross." If there is one thing to praise this album for, that's it -- it's still about the cross.

Review of Bebo Norman's Try

For years, I have counted Bebo Norman's song "A Page Is Turned" as one of my favorites. So much so, that my husband and I used it as the processional in our wedding almost 2 years ago. Having one his songs included in such an important ceremony in my life has forever endured me to his music. Even so, I still listen to each new release knowing that I may suffer disappointment if it doesn't meet up to the expectations I have set for Norman's music. However, I can confidently say that his fourth studio album Try is far from disappointing. Instead, it is yet another shining chapter in his almost 10 year career.

With this album, Norman has continued in the acoustic "folkish" pop style I have grown to love and expect from his music. However, this time he has gone for a more organic, simple sound by striving to make production secondary to lyrics. Of this, Norman explained that he wanted to "find out what the essence of the song is and build around that." Also, that "on this album you don't hear the production, you hear the songs, and that's what I like most."

While proving to remain true to the melancholy feel Norman's projects have become known for, the release does contain a new sense of optimism. Perhaps this is in part due to his recent marriage and the inclusion of a couple love songs such as "Standing In Your Silence," replacing songs of brokenness in relationships or longing for the one God has intended. Overall, Try is an album of hope featuring compelling thoughtful lyrics drawing the listener to the Savior. Of particular note are "Nothing Without You," which speaks of "Take these hands and lift them up/For I have not the strength to praise you near enough/I have nothing, I have nothing without you ... All my soul needs/Is all your love to cover me/So all the world will see/That I have nothing without you", and "Soldier," where Norman sings, "When everything is closing in on me/I know you set me free the day you died for me/And who is this man who calls me by name/And covers himself with all of my shame/But not even death could make you surrender/I remember."

Try is a perfect album for listening to on a cozy autumn evening, when the rain is gently falling outside and a fire quietly warming the room. An evening with your thoughts prove to be stilled in such a way that you find yourself especially reflective and thankful of God's goodness to us and love for us.