Reviewed by Tony Cummings

Northstar Church has been worshipping together and serving the community of greater Panama City, Florida for 14 years. Now five members of their worship team have released this album. The fact that it is a studio album recorded by Mark Hornsby, an award winning engineer who has worked with such diverse acts as Outkast and The London Philharmonic, ensures it features a sonically satisfying sound much preferable to the muddy sound of many live church-origin albums. And these songs, penned over the last couple of years of Northstar worship, have some good moments, like the rocking opener "You Make Us Strong" with its strong guitar riffs and a bratty-sounding lead singer having an almost garage rock vibe to it. But the lack of overdubs and no harmonies (for instance the climax of "Rescue My Soul" with its line "praise be to you, oh Lord my saviour" is crying out for some BVs, if not a choir rather than the rather limited lead singer) mar sustained listening enjoyment. Also the lyrics often go no further than the concepts and phrases we've come so familiar with in worshipping circles ("hallelujah, he is with us", "there upon the cross he gave his all" or a chorus that consists of the words "Jesus, Jesus, Saviour, Jesus"). But then, that's the challenge in writing genuine Christocentric songs that avoid the dread hand of over familiarity.

The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms. Any expressed views were accurate at the time of publishing but may or may not reflect the views of the individuals concerned at a later date.

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