Get the new FREE JFH MP3 compilation -- Vol. 13!
Get the new FREE JFH MP3 compilation -- Vol. 13!

JFH Music Review


Aaron Keyes, Dwell
CLICK COVER TO ENLARGE

Aaron Keyes
Dwell



Artist Info: Discography
Album length: 13 tracks: 58 minutes, 47 seconds
Street Date: June 21, 2011


The best way to capitalize on the success of a debut album is undoubtedly a follow-up record, as has been the rule of thumb in the music industry for quite some time. After worship leader Aaron Keyes' Not Guilty Anymore made a splash in the worship circle, a second album was inevitable; but not even a full year later, Kingsway has released Dwell to mixed results.

Dwell's overall sound rests on comfortable ground familiar to most worship albums, but enough stylistic differences are apparent. Keyes incorporates creative percussion and keyboards, but for the most part, they are minimally placed for the best effect. While some songs are more inventive than others, this record is expertly composed instrumentally, a trait too many worship albums cannot boast. "I Am Not the Same" is the best example of Dwell's atmosphere: standard guitars with a dose of synthesizers added in for good measure. "Lavish" is almost entirely a synthpop worship song, which, compared to better accomplished synth worship artists like Danyew and Phil Wickham, pales in comparison, but it's a welcome change from most worship sounds. On one hand, the overall feel of Dwell is hard to call a truly revolutionary sound for the worship genre, but on the other, casting it aside as the same-old would be uninformed.

Keyes has a knack for his trade, as Dwell has some of the more thoughtful worship songs to come around this year. He makes it a point to use scriptural lyrics throughout the album, and these tend to be the most powerful. A perfect example is "Every Knee Will Bow Down," which implements aspects of the famous second chapter of Philippians ("One with the Father/Being in very nature God/You made yourself nothing just like us/Holy and humble/Obedient to death on a bitter cross/Therefore the Father/Has exalted You on high"). Similarly, the title track uses Psalm 91 to hold onto God's promises with certainty ("You have set me securely on high/You've delivered me out of darkness/And when evil surrounds my life/You've commanded your angels to guard me"). Lyrics such as these are especially encouraging, revealing Keyes' heart for worship solely rooted in biblical truth.

The pacing of Dwell is a bit on the slow side most of the way through, and while that's not really a humongous problem by itself, it does show the album's lack of variety. As a result, Keyes' vocals don't ever seem to change much, giving the album a "flat" feel (though all the material presented here is meant for congregational worship, more challenging vocals wouldn't have hurt either). "I Am Not the Same," "Only Just Begun," "Raised Me Up," and "Lavish" all are refreshing breaks from the trend, but on the face, Dwell borders on uninteresting when heard in one sitting. There's value in each individual song, but it all blurs together on one album, and this hurts the replay value in the long run.

Aaron Keyes has a better-focused worship approach since not even a year ago, and Dwell is proof. While it is more adventurous than most other worship albums, it's still hard to call it anything more than an average project, mostly because of its dreary atmosphere. The somewhat astounding fact is that despite its missteps, it's still one of the better worship albums to come out this year, so most fans of the worship genre will want to get their hands on this release.

- Review date: 6/30/11, written by Roger Gelwicks of Jesusfreakhideout.com



(JFH Sponsor Spot)

Purchase Original Art Prints, Drawings, Buttons, Stickers, Bookmarks and more from JFH's own John DiBiase! Save for the holidays with code JFH20 at checkout!

 

. Record Label: Kingsway Music
. Album length: 13 tracks: 58 minutes, 47 seconds
. Street Date: June 21, 2011
. Buy It: iTunes
. Buy It: Amazon.com

  1. O My Soul (4:56)
  2. I Am Not The Same (4:15)
  3. Sovereign Over Us (4:42)
  4. Song of Moses (4:17)
  5. Dwell (4:26)
  6. In The Name of God (6:01)
  7. Only Just Begun (4:47)
  8. Sinless Savior (5:41)
  9. Life Without My God (3:09)
  10. Raised Me Up (3:41)
  11. Every Knee Will Bow Down (4:20)
  12. Hope Is Dawning (3:20)
  13. Lavish (5:18)

 

Leave a Comment

 

 

go to main Album review page
go to Album review archive

 


(JFH Sponsor Spot)

 

 

                 
Purchase Original Art Prints, Drawings, Buttons, Stickers, Bookmarks and more from JFH's own John DiBiase! Save for the holidays with code JFH20 at checkout!

Search JFH




This Tuesday, October 29, 2024
SINGLES
Pipe Bomb Hate Club - Single [The Charon Collective]

This Thursday, October 31, 2024
ALBUMS
Neon Horse Habit of Creature - EP [Velvet Blue Music]

This Friday, November 1, 2024
ALBUMS
AWZY Sinners and Saints - EP [DREAM]
Forrest Frank Child of God (Deluxe) [river house]
Future of Forestry Symphonic Christmas (Live) (independent)
Influence Music It's All About You (independent)
The Kingdom Heirs No Better Time [Sonlite]
Limoblaze Young & Chosen (Power Pack) - EP [Reach]
Paul & Hannah McClure Christmas Morning (Re-Release) [Bethel]
Planetshakers Winning Team: Songs For Church (Live) [Venture3Media]
Skillet Revolution [Atlantic]
Sam's the Hero Charlie Cox - EP [Small Step]
Jim "Soni" Sonefeld Light of Joy - EP [Vere]
Ivan Theva Waiting Here for You - EP [Descendent/Provident]
John Van Deusen Anthem Sprinter [Tooth & Nail]
Phil Wickham Hallelujah! It's Christmas! [Fair Trade]
YWAM Kona Music Missionary Anthem - EP [Integrity]

SINGLES
Ayo Shamir, YP aka Young Paul Aaron Judge - Single (independent)
Gabby Barrett O Come, O Come Emmanuel (feat. The Piano Guys) - Single [Warner Music Nashville]
Brennley Brown Mary, Did You Know? - Single [Provident]
Lauren Daigle Then I Will - Single [Centricity]
Dreamers The Reason - Multi-Single [DREAM]
EJ Swavv I Hate Lucy - Single [Syntax]
Jess Ford This is My Jesus - Single (independent)
FYR FYTR So Simple - Single (independent)
Michael Monroe Pour It Out - Single [Provident]
Seph Schlueter We Sing (Joy To The World) [feat. Leanna Crawford] - Single [Provident]
Skye Peterson, Ben Shive Keep the Feast - Single [Getty]
SNT. VINCENT Confession - Single [Syntax]
Cyndi Thompson Silent Night - Single [County Line]
Thrive Worship Hark - Single [Integrity]
Tauren Wells Making Room - Single [Capitol CMG]

VINYL
Skillet Revolution Vinyl [Atlantic]

Next Friday, November 8, 2024
ALBUMS
Gabby Barrett Carols and Candlelight [Warner Music Nashville]
CXMMXNS CXMMXNS Chapter 1 - EP [Essential Worship]
New Hope Oahu There Is One - EP [DREAM]
Neal Morse & The Resonance No Hill For A Climber [InsideOut]
TAKE Time Bomb [Resuscitation Records]
Lauren Talley A Lauren Talley Christmas [Horizon]

SINGLES
Cory Asbury I Hope You Dance - Single [BEC]
Jordan Kauflin, Laura Story Approach, My Soul - Single [Getty]
Sam Bowman & GLADDEN Misfit Toys - Single [DREAM]
Wavorly Enemies - Single (independent)

VINYL
Michael W. Smith Every Christmas Vinyl [Rocketown]
Stryper To Hell with the Amps Vinyl [Frontiers]
TAKE Time Bomb Vinyl [Resuscitation Records]

DVD
Stryper To Hell with the Amps Blu-Ray [Frontiers]



For all release dates, click here!
 



Check out the new album from Taylor Holland Armstrong!



Listen to the new Single from Second Adam and the New Creations!

Check out depositphotos for royalty free images