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CompassionArt: This is an interesting project put together by Martin Smith of the now-defunct worship band Delirious? Essentially, he put a whole bunch of CCM writers and artists together in Scotland over a week or so, and they wrote songs together, purely to raise money for Compassion International – the artists all gave up their publishing claims to these songs. There are some good songs here (and some not-so-good ones too), but really I’m including this as a recommendation because it’s such a great idea.
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Ryan Delmore, The Spirit, the Water and the Blood: I’ve been saying that if Ryan Adams (a recent favorite) ever made a worship record, it would sound like this. The record is a great mix of worship and Americana/folkie influences, and much of the lyric content is straight from scripture. We’ve already played “The World Can’t Take It Away” a good bit, but if I had to pick my favorite, it would be “Teach Me All Your Ways.”
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Glory Revealed: Mac Powell from Third Day got together with a bunch of pals to write and record these songs, specifically an effort to compose pieces that were straight from scripture. An admirable idea and effort, and there are several great songs as a result.
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Redeemer Presbyterian Church of New Orleans, Signs Amid the Rubble: I’m a big believer that the music of churches should sound like the communities where they live – we’re in Austin, so we should sound like Austin. This is a church in New Orleans, and boy, do they ever sound like New Orleans. Very fun arrangements of some relatively familiar songs (they even make Twila Paris sound hip! No easy task there.).Sorry, this one isn't available on iTunes.
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Robbie Seay Band, Miracle: We’ve already done a couple of songs from this record, and each of the songs on this album is really strong. I’m a big fan of Robbie’s anyway, but I especially love the breadth of the work on this record – songs of praise to songs of lament to songs of action.
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Sojourn, Before the Throne: Sojourn Community Church is in Louisville, KY, and they are putting out music that completely eclipses all other worship music I could possible name. No one else is even close. I even made a mix CD of some of their stuff. Friends, I have never, EVER, done this with a worship artist. That’s how good these songs are. The title track is the first decent version of that song that I had ever heard. And “Lead Us Back” is about the most appropriate song for the American Church I could ever imagine. |
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Sojourn, Over the Grave: The most recent Sojourn album, this is a collection of rearrangements of writings and poetry from the great Isaac Watts. Amazing songs, amazing production, great, great vocalists. I could name particular favorites from this record, but it would take too long. Please get this record.
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