Reviewed by Matthew Cordle

This CD is a live recording from the Oasis Christian Center in the heart of Hollywood’s “Miracle Mile”. It’s a challenge to objectively approach a praise and worship CD which is said to be anointed and then critique it, but for me this CD just does not work. The stated “palpable and infectious natural rhythmic energy running back and forth between the musicians, singers and congregation” just doesn’t seem to translate to the CD. I don’t know if it’s my Britishness, but on each listening it has remained nothing more than a performance. The musicianship and singing is impeccable, but it seems too rehearsed and produced, if not contrived. There is a dimension found in many of the Hillsongs recordings, for example, which seems absent here, and it does not draw me, or others I played it to, in worship in the same way at all. That dimension seems replaced by something more resembling showmanship. I have found many enthusiastic American reviews of the CD, so it obviously works for others, but I have had the same feeling in some of the large American churches I have visited - maybe that’s my problem! As far as the music is concerned, an eclectic mix of styles, from the powerful gospel/R&B style intro “Are You Ready” through the salsa “Rain Down” and ballads to more traditional praise and worship styles. All these are admirably performed and taken as such it’s fine, but as a praise and worship CD it falls down.

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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