Hillsong United - Look To You

Published Wednesday 22nd February 2006
Hillsong United - Look To You
Hillsong United - Look To You

STYLE: Rock
RATING 4 4 4 4
OUR PRODUCT CODE: 12957-
LABEL: Hillsong Music HMACD183
FORMAT: CD Album
ITEMS: 1
EXTRAS: Bonus DVD with documentary and six live tracks
RRP: £14.99

Reviewed by Ben Lilford

Australia's Hillsong United series of CDs has always done really well at separating the "with it" from the "coffin-dodger". Keeping up with the times, United haven't just put out an audio CD to humiliate you in your decrepit-ness, they've now thrown in a DVD featuring some of the performance. So now you can see people bound around with a youthful energy that you've not had since England last won the world cup. Once you get past the Pepsi Max'd out feel to CD's music and DVD's stage performance though there are legitimate concerns about the songs on 'Look To You' which older Christians should spot almost immediately. They have as much depth in God's word as a stone skimmed across a pond's surface, and for new Christians young or old that's not a good thing to be exposed to. No one wants to be a Matt 13:5-6. Joel Houston's "Salvation Is Here" and the Marty Sampson colab'd "What The World Will Never Take Away" are two good examples of this. Both tracks sound fantastic in terms of melodies and riffs but the gospel seems dumbed down into cliché sound bites, providing little inspiration to read God's word where good worship should always lead you. This is music specifically designed for the youth market but if the songs on 'Look To You' have broken that vital link between worship and word, Australia will ultimately be looking at another lost generation.

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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Reader Comments

Posted by Pete Wall in England @ 13:14 on May 27 2011

Hillsong have come from this early, very good album and proffesionaly produced DVD, to now with the I heart Reveloution, where they have toured earth pretty much, speading the good news and their latest studio album Aftermath. It is a very good album with great tunes and lyrical content!! They obviously have come much further from then, now in 2011 we have seen tons of CD's and DVD's since, the cross rhythms review was obviously very wrong. Hillsong United are in my opinion one of the best worship groups around!!



Posted by VANESSA in ST BUEDAUX @ 11:20 on May 15 2007

HILLSONGS UNITED ROCK. THERE LIVING MY DREAM CAUSE ITS ONE OF MY BIGGEST DREAMS 2 BE IN A BAND LIKE THAT.



Posted by Jez @ 16:30 on Apr 3 2007

I recently posted a comment, but then i decided to read other comments, posted before mine, lots of people seem to argue back with Ben claiming that simple is good as far as lyrics are concerned. Well that is just a silly as what Ben has said, simple is good sometimes, but not all the time, no matter what age we are we need to make sure we are singing songs that have some good firm biblical truth, but in any case, thats not a problem with this album, there are plenty of songs with good firm biblical truth, but there are also a good mix of simple response songs; as Job said 'You are God in Heaven and i will let my words be few!' It is important to understand that (as Ecclesiastes tells us) there is a time for everything. And in this album there is a briliant mix of everything.



Posted by Jez @ 14:20 on Mar 29 2007

This review really doesnt reflect the truth behind this album, the person who did this review has completely missed the point and it really shows in what has been said, its such a shame that Ben has confused genuine joy found only in Jesus Christ with "youthful energy and pepsi max' Come on Ben get with it mate, some songs need a simple response like 'Look to You', please do your research before making silly comments like that, look at what the guys at United are achieving, do you really think they're looking at another lost generation? Sort it out mate



Posted by John in Scotland @ 11:05 on Mar 16 2007

I can't believe the way the reviewer has totally pulled this recording and DVD to shreds. As a youth worker, the DVD was nothing but a major encouragement to me. It showed young people worshipping God and I believe that if it can happen in Australia it can happen in my town. On the lyrics front, personally I would rather young people sing lyrics they can understand the first time they enter a church than sing in deep theological truths about being washed in the blood (which I have no problem with, just think it has definate freak out potential for a 12 year old!!!). Please find out the heart and vision of the recording before tearing it to shreds!!!



Posted by rhonda in sydney, Australia @ 07:20 on Jul 23 2006

Ben... Have you ever been to Australia..
Hillsong United Youth Minsitry has 3,000 young people every week... And there are loads of other great churches all over Australia that have 1,000+ every week...
Yep looks like God is still in Australia, thanks for noticing..



Posted by Tom in Norwich @ 07:17 on Jul 23 2006

Ben Liford, does not know what he is talkng aboutr....
These songs are not written to impress you or to make the industry go wow!
They are written for he youth at their church, and simple is good for young people.. SOmething cool for their youth to worship God to... It just so happens that they pressed record and now millions of youth around the world can worship good withouthaving a doctrate...
Ben stop being a critic...



Posted by phil in hingham @ 21:19 on Mar 15 2006

i think the review here is a bit harsh. sure, the lyrics arent that deep, but god isnt supposed to be someone who have to work at to access. i think what the reviewer seemed to miss here, is that this music really motivates young christians. there have been times after listening to this album when i have really felt like going for it lol. and there are some tracks which arent just energetic rock songs, there are some really beautiful songs. definately worth checking out.



Posted by trevor in hampshire @ 19:40 on Feb 9 2006

hey this cd is truly grate in how its a blend of rock and the soft songs to give people what worship is about just standing there in the gory of god and praising him



Posted by Hannah in United Kingdom @ 15:19 on Jan 8 2006

I love this album, i've been so blessed just listening. 'Look to you' has to be my favourite song - i play it far too much. These guys are so blessed- God is so alive in their music. Love it!



The opinions expressed in the Reader Comments are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms.

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