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Various Artists
Glory Revealed II: The Word of God in Worship
Album length: 12 tracks: 44 minutes, 20 seconds
Street Date: July 14, 2009
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In 2007, Mac Powell of Third Day and author and minister David Nasser collaborated with some of the biggest names
in Christian music for Glory Revealed: The Word of God in Worship, the first installment of a new worship collection
like the City on a Hill series. The multiple Dove Award winning album featured a mix of Americana musical influences
and lyrics lifted straight from Scripture. Two years later, they have teamed up again with returning favorites and a few new
artists for the sequel Glory Revealed II.
From start to finish, it's clear that this is not the average worship music. Glory Revealed II is the creative
result of artists living and writing and playing music together, and that sense of community is evident in all of the songs.
Most tracks feature two or three artists sharing vocal duties. The music has a rootsy folk and bluegrass feel that evokes a
relaxed front porch atmosphere, a sound that is the charm of the Glory Revealed series.
The album starts with the energetic opener "How Great." Mac Powell's voice is unmistakable from the start, and the song
sounds like it could be a lost track from Third Day's Offerings sessions, until Shane Everett (Shane & Shane),
Jonathan Shelton, and Brian Littrell join in. Another fun highlight is "Wake Up, Oh Sleeper" featuring Jason Crabb and Shelton
with an appearance by Needtobreathe frontman Bear Rinehart. It's the most traditional bluegrass/Southern gospel track, a
sound that was off-putting at first, but soon won me over through the sheer fun of it. The lead single "Since the World Began"
leans more toward radio-friendly pop, but it's a reverent and beautiful piece that reminds me of earlier folk-driven CCM,
like Bebo Norman's debut.
The style works well at first, but loses steam after a while, settling into a uniform, mellow sound somewhere toward
the middle. "There is a City" by Sara Evans and Bethany Olds stands out and wakes the playlist up a bit with a traditional
country sound, but for the most part Glory Revealed II could have used a little variety to keep the 44 minute runtime
interesting. The closing track "To You be the Glory" is pretty, but forgettable compared to the album's best moments.
It's tricky to summarize a project like this. Glory Revealed II is art for art's sake, a group of musician
friends getting together to write and share as an act of worship, and fans of the series or those looking for some relaxed and
different worship music might want to add this to their collection. Still, as much as I wanted to love it, the style was so
comfortable and the lyrics had such an easy familiarity that I found myself wishing for something more. Except for a few
standout tracks, it's easy for the casual listener to let this one slide by as background music.
- Review date: 7/8/09, written by Jen Rose of Jesusfreakhideout.com
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Mac Powell gathered many of his musical pals together again for the second installment of
Glory Revealed. The album takes the same challenge as the previous one: to take Scripture and put it to music.
The result is a powerful blend of traditional worship and bluegrass. The lyrics are strong, though the songwriters cannot
take too much credit for that. The Scriptures used range from less common psalms to very popular ones, such as Psalm 23.
Musically, the album boasts an acoustic/bluegrass feeling, helped along by the presence of fiddle and banjo on a good number of
the songs. The partnerships are strong, particularly the song "Since the World Began," with Matt Maher taking the first verse,
Amy Grant in the background, Ed Cash singing the chorus, and Powell taking the second verse. This is fine musical
collaboration. Other notable duets are Evans and Bethany Olds on "There is a City" and Shawn Lewis and Bethany Dillon on
"Never" - both pairs boast voices that complement each other in unexpected and wonderfully melodic ways.
"Wake Up Oh Sleeper" is another highlight, a track with strong southern gospel roots thanks to Jason Crabb, Jonathan Shelton,
Bear Rinehart, a raucous gospel choir, and a driving rhythm that makes foot-tapping necessary.
The album is not anything terribly musically novel but instead is a rollicking good time.
The songs are strong and the collaborations are great to hear, as familiar voices are mixed together to a background of
southern gospel goodness.
- Sara Kelm for Jesusfreakhideout.com
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 Record Label: Reunion Records
Album length: 12 tracks: 44 minutes, 20 seconds
Street Date: July 14, 2009
Buy It: Amazon.com
- How Great (2:52) – Mac Powell, Shane Everett, Jonathon Shelton, Brian Littrell
- Rejoice In The Lord (3:17) – Trevor Morgan, Mark Hall
- Wake Up, Oh Sleeper (3:08) – Jason Crabb, Jonathan Shelton, Bear Rinehart
- Since The World Began (3:52) – Matt Maher, Amy Grant, Ed Cash, Mac Powell
- Psalm 23 (3:56) – Trevor Morgan, Geoff Moore
- Praise The Lord (3:46) – Natalie Grant, Laura Story
- What We Proclaim (4:17) – Brandon Heath, Mike Donehey, Aaron Shust
- Blessed Hope (3:39) – Mac Powell, Shawn Lewis
- There Is A City (3:35) – Sara Evans, Bethany Olds
- Cup Of Salvation (4:26) – Shane & Shane
- Never (3:38) – Shawn Lewis, Bethany Dillon
- To You Be The Glory (3:38) – Matt Maher, Kari Jobe
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