Reviewed by Chris Tozer

As most worship songs tend to take a decade to become embedded in the music of the average church, most of the better known songs on this multiple recording were written close to the new millennium - by members of today's writing establishment - Matt Redman, Stuart Townend, Paul Oakley and the guys from Delirious?, etc. All these writers are also represented by more recent material. Happily, the pioneers have not been completely neglected as space has also afforded to newer material from the pens of the veterans Graham Kendrick, Noel Richards and Dave Bilbrough. Whilst a few of the classics originated from elsewhere in the English speaking world it's good to note that nearly all of the 54 songs were home grown. It's equally encouraging to know that they are being sung increasingly beyond these shores and are becoming particularly highly rated across the Atlantic. Neither of these trends could have been imagined even a few years ago. My one gripe is that, ironically, SOF 2's compilers have chosen to completely ignore all the newer writers like Tim Hughes, and Russ Hughes of Detling. Such a glaring omission makes me wonder how highly Kingsway rate younger writers. Surely that can't bode well for the future of contemporary worship music in this country. But, in all other respects this is a super compilation.
8 squares
Chris Tozer

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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