Reviewed by Mike Rimmer

In the '90s, America's Rick Altizer was responsible for making some of the most creative albums in Christian music. Powerfully produced, wonderfully written and excellently performed, the albums even featured King Crimson and former Bowie guitarist Adrian Belew. And yet Rick remained obscure, unloved by the CCM suits and his albums remained in their cardboard boxes in the warehouse. It was a travesty! In recent years Rick has, at last, found the road to success - though ironically not as an artist. He has quietly produced the most successful series of children's albums in the USA selling hundreds of thousands of copies mainly through TV mail order. Now comes this album which, despite the anonymous front sleeve credit, is an Altizer project. Rick calls it his most significant album ever because it is getting the word of God into the hearts and minds of those who hear the album. So, if like me you hate Scripture memory albums because all the ones Integrity have put out have been cheesy music and terrible songs, you can approach this with no fear! This is a full on Rick Altizer production. Imagine Beatles and Beach Boys and Britpop styles, mega production, stacked vocals and a symphonic approach. Imagine pop melodies that stick in the brain and everything that is great about Rick's solo work and then marry that to words straight from Scripture, this is a great way of learning Bible verses and enjoying some great music. I say so what if "Turn My Eyes Away" sounds like a mid '70s ELO song and so what if sometimes verses from the Bible are sort of shoe horned into the melodies, that's the nature of this type of album. This is the Sergeant Pepper of Scripture memory verse albums. Beautifully and lovingly recorded, I particularly love "The Beatitudes" and "Lover Never Fails" but really it all works. You'll want to play it over and over again and your Scripture knowledge will soar as a result!

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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