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

JFH Music Review


Elevation Worship, Graves Into Gardens
CLICK COVER TO ENLARGE

Elevation Worship
Graves Into Gardens



Artist Info: Discography
Genre(s): Worship / Live
Album length: 12 tracks: 75 minutes, 42 seconds
Street Date: May 1, 2020 (Digital) / June 12, 2020 (CD)


READER RATING:   


Elevation Worship has grown into almost as big of a name in modern worship music as Hillsong or Bethel. The NC megachurch definitely get their share of criticism, but they've largely managed to stay out of the limelight in a negative way. Their worship team, led by Chris Brown, however, has been writing song after song in recent years that can be heard in any number of churches on a Sunday morning. Hugely popular songs like "Do it Again," "O Come to the Altar," "Resurrecting," "See a Victory," and the very recent "The Blessing" with Kari Jobe and Cody Carnes, are just a few examples. After last year's excellent Midnight EP, the group is back with their newest live worship album, Graves Into Gardens.

The album starts out with "RATTLE!," an extremely fun song about the resurrection of Christ. It may not be the most worshipful song about this blessed event, but it is a super fun listen and really easy to sing along with. The rock vibe of the song is a nice change of pace from the sound that many of these megachurch worship groups are offering up. "My Testimony" follows as another upbeat song about our testimony in Christ. Some may take issue with the "I" and "me" centric focus of the song lyrically, but overall, it's about giving God praise through the things He has done for us. The Brandon Lake-fronted title track is up next. Lake's raspier voice keeps the rock vibes going with "Graves Into Gardens" -- especially when the bridge hits. The song is a reference to the Garden tomb in Jerusalem and sings the praise of things only God can do. Lake sings, "You turn mourning to dancing. You give beauty for ashes. You turn shame into glory. You're the only one who can," and "You turn graves into gardens. You turn bones into armies. You turn seas into highways. You're the only one who can." From here, things slow quite a bit with the aforementioned, and already widely popular, "The Blessing." The song is a direct scriptural reference, but suffers immensely from repetition. The track clocks in at nearly eight and a half minutes and features of chorus of repeated "amen's" and a bridge of repeated "He is for you's."

The next two songs are pretty similar in sound and feel. "Available" and "Authority" both are slower piano-driven numbers that eventually build: the standard worship formula. This isn't to say there aren't positives here, but they get lost in the shuffle a bit -- especially with the Tauren Wells-featured "Never Lost" immediately following. There is no denying the capability of Wells' voice as he sings out, "You can do all things, but fail, cause You've never lost a battle; no, You never lost a battle. And I know, I know You never will." It's a soulful pop song about God's unlimited power.

The slower piano returns for "No One Beside" after Wells' appearance, but this one stands out a bit more than the previous two. After vamping on "You can have my heart," for just over four minutes, the band finally goes into the next song. "There is a King" offers up a very different sound than expected on this type of worship album. The song has very light acoustic guitar, light percussion, keys, and some interesting vocal effects. It's certainly not be the best song to put on for high-energy worship, but it does offer a unique time for personal reflection and worship with its stripped-down feel. After the softest song on the album, the Isaiah Templeton-led "What Would You Do" follows. The song utilizes the softness of the previous to start, but eventually builds into a full-throated gospel number. After the lone gospel song the album comes to close with a reprise of sorts. "GOD SAID LIVE!" isn't an exact reprise of "RATTLE!," but it eventually gets back to the chorus of the opening number after vamping "God said live," for a bit. This brings the album around full-circle and ends things in a different way than what would normally be expected.

Graves Into Gardens isn't the most groundbreaking worship album you will hear, but I appreciate Elevation's attention to detail and their willingness to vary the sound. One major issue with so many modern worship albums is that the songs tend to bleed together to the point that you can't tell them apart. Elevation manages to break things up just by changing vocalists, but also by completely changing styles. The album features rock, contemporary worship, pop, and gospel music. Not many of the major worship groups are swinging for the fences in this way. Elevation Worship definitely has their own sound, but their willingness to bring outside members in to inject a new flavor and change things up keeps them interesting. I'm not sure Graves Into Gardens will win anyone over that didn't like Elevation previously, but it should keep listeners who enjoy them happy while providing several new songs for churches to insert into their services. The overall impact isn't quite the same as the Midnight EP, but Elevation does a nice job here offering worshipful music in varied ways.

- Review date: 5/1/20, written by Michael Weaver 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: Elevation
. Album length: 12 tracks: 75 minutes, 42 seconds
. Street Date: May 1, 2020 (Digital) / June 12, 2020 (CD)
. Buy It: Apple Music
. Buy It: iTunes
. Buy It: Amazon.com (CD)
. Buy It: Amazon Music (MP3)

  1. RATTLE! (Live) (7:12)
  2. My Testimony (Live) (4:51)
  3. Graves Into Gardens (Live) (feat. Brandon Lake) (7:32)
  4. The Blessing (Live) (feat. Kari Jobe, & Cody Carnes) (8:27)
  5. Available (Live) (9:41)
  6. Authority (Live) (5:39)
  7. Never Lost (Live) (feat. Tauren Wells) (6:50)
  8. No One Beside (Live) (5:56)
  9. Have My Heart (Vamp) [Live] (4:04)
  10. There Is A King (Live) (5:00)
  11. What Would You Do (Live) (feat. Isaiah Templeton) (6:52)
  12. GOD SAID LIVE! (Live) (3:38)

 

 JFH Album Sample Player

 



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