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Review: We Cry Out by the Jesus Culture Band
I recently downloaded "We Cry Out" from iTunes (it's sooooo convenient!) by the Jesus Culture band. They are the youth band from Bethel Church, Redding in California (Bill Johnson's church). The album rotates between three worship leaders: Chris Quilaila, Melissa Wise and Kim Walker (whose first solo worship album "Here is my Song" I can also recommend). Together they lead 10 songs which are contemporary, live, well performed but most of all passionate.You can hear it in the vocals as well as from the congregation. They use a lot of home-grown song material (such as the title track) which is all the more powerful for being born out of their own church context.The cover of Delirious' "Rain Down" is a favourite with my nine-year-old son, whilst "See His Love" is a great upbeat rendition of a song we've used at HBC declaring what Jesus accomplished on the cross.
My favourite track is "How He loves". This song blows me away every time I listen to the poetry of the lyrics. "If grace is an ocean we're all sinking"..." heaven meets earth with a sloppy wet kiss and my heart turns violently inside of my chest... when I think about the way He love us...". For me this song encapsulates the heart of the love affair that the Father has for us. So often we strive to muster up the feeling of love towards our God, when our first step is simply to receive the wonder of His great love for us.
I have a fairly eclectic taste in music, but this album (whilst contemporary in style) has become my favourite worship album of the last five years (believe me I've listened to a few!)...perhaps it's just come at the right time; when a lot of UK worship albums are starting to sound a bit samey, or maybe it's because the songs are written for their church rather than for their next album project. If you buy it on CD I know you can get a special edition DVD as well. Also you'll find three or four DVD tracks on You Tube (search "Jesus Culture").
Try it.... preferably with the volume cranked up and a heart ready to respond.