STYLE: MOR / Soft Pop RATING OUR PRODUCT CODE: 16900-27872 LABEL: Integrity IMD807 FORMAT: CD Album ITEMS: 1 RRP: £12.99
Reviewed by Tony Cummings
The sleeve to this 'participatory worship musical' produced by Tom Fettke tells us "through moving narration, inspiring testimony, and the best of contemporary praise and worship and traditional hymns, you will be encouraged and drawn into a deeper expression of worship..." to which this reviewer must add the rejoinder, "if you're moved by HUGE MOR choirs and arrangements which make Liberace sound understated". For those of us who like these kind of lush brand of inspirational orchestration/choir arrangements fine though personally I found them an exercise in peculiarly American over-the-topness. Let me offer a few crumbs of comfort, there are some great songs here (Henry Smith's "Give Thanks", Don Moen's "I Want To Be Where You Are", Ron Kenoly's "Jesus Is Alive"). But really this is recommended only to Tom Fettke enthusiasts.
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Product Description
A worship event for all seasons! Be inspired with contemporary worship songs, traditional hymns, and moving narration by Don Moen.
Awarded the Dove Praise And Worship Musical of The Year.
'God With Us 'reminds us that God not far away but is always with us and desires close fellowship with us
On this CD, Don Moen is not so much a worship leader as he
is a kind of worship emcee. He only leads the occasional
song or two, while the majority of the album time is spent
listening to soloists backed by the choir, as well as
listening to extended testimonies. These features are okay,
but they make it less of a worship album and more of a
concert album.
I also must confess that the music production on this album
is much different from other Integrity CD's. On those other
CD's, the majority of the arrangements are done by Tom
Brooks, whose signature musical excellence helped make the
albums as popular as they were. The arrangements on God With
Us are done by other arrangers and composers, and while
they're okay, I found that their work wasn't quite as
masterful as Brooks'.
On this CD, Don Moen is not so much a worship leader as he is a kind of worship emcee. He only leads the occasional song or two, while the majority of the album time is spent listening to soloists backed by the choir, as well as listening to extended testimonies. These features are okay, but they make it less of a worship album and more of a concert album.
I also must confess that the music production on this album is much different from other Integrity CD's. On those other CD's, the majority of the arrangements are done by Tom Brooks, whose signature musical excellence helped make the albums as popular as they were. The arrangements on God With Us are done by other arrangers and composers, and while they're okay, I found that their work wasn't quite as masterful as Brooks'.