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

JFH Music Review


Hillsong Worship, Awake
CLICK COVER TO ENLARGE

Hillsong Worship
Awake



Artist Info: Discography
Genre(s): Worship / Pop
Album length: 15 tracks: 78 minutes, 1 second
Street Date: October 11, 2019


READER RATING:   


Hillsong Worship is back with its annual offering, the latest of which is titled Awake. However, this time, they forgo their normal practice of live worship recording and return with a studio album for the first time in over two decades. This is now the second main release since Brooke Ligertwood took over leading the band in 2017, and the direct follow-up to 2018’s fantastic live album, There Is More. The studio recording versus live recording yields a shorter, and more focused tracklist and runtime. This is a welcome change, as many of the biggest criticisms levied against their catalog are the multiplicity of songs stretching beyond the five-minute mark, leaving it laborious to return to regularly.

The album eases to a start with the slow-building piano-led instrumental “Dawn,” as it slides directly into the simmering track two, “Awake My Soul.” In fact, I found the entire album to be constructed as if an individual were experiencing worship as a day, with titles like “Dawn,” “Awake My Soul,” “Come Alive,” and “See The Light,” it is hard not to see intent. It’s another welcome nuance to a genre that can at times become stale when it comes to yearly releases. You could also make a case that the twelve tracks are laid out like a church gathering's worship set. This is most clearly seen as we notice the team leading the listener from the upbeat praise offerings, into the slower and more contemplative worship songs. Though I’m sure this is often the goal with releases like this, to my ears, Hillsong nails it better on Awake than on previous releases.

After pumping the energy in the first three songs, the first true highlight unfolds in the tender declaration of “No One But You.” Ahodan King takes lead vocal, and Brooke joins him at the bridge of the song as they all resolutely state again and again, “No one/ no one/ no one/ no one/ no one, Lord but You.” Though, at face value, the simplicity of those lyrics has been heard before, it’s the more poetic verses and the slow build that give it the "oomph" left unexperienced when simply reading the words. You will need the context of hearing the entire song to get the full measure of its gravity, so definitely give it a listen in its entirety. The other previously released single, “King of Kings,” follows and has already taken root in many churches the world over. Refreshingly, there is an abnormal amount of theology stuffed into the song that could run the risk of coming off as clumsy or rushed, but thankfully that is not the case here. My favorite lyrics come from verse one, stating, “In the darkness we were waiting/ Without hope, without light/ Till from heaven You came running/ There was mercy in Your eyes/ To fulfill the law and prophets/ To a virgin came the word/ From a throne of endless glory/ To a cradle in the dirt.” As the songwriters talked about it in an interview, the melody and chorus came to them quickly during a songwriting session with Jason Ingram, but they labored over the verses for almost a year to add, edit, and tweak before coming out with the finished song. This fact is to be commended and celebrated as struggle seems to produce the greatest treasure worth sharing. Other highlights are “From Whom All Blessings Flow (Doxology),” which adds enough of a contemporary spin to keep it interesting; the lyrically rich Joel Houston-penned “Bright As The Sun;” the gentle offering “Upper Room;” and sweet harmony-drenched closer “He Shall Reign.”

All things considered, this might just be the most complete Hillsong Worship album in years. It has a crisply produced, cohesive approach, and enough diversity of worship leader and tone to go along with praiseworthy lyrics and contemporary musicality. In my mind, the only things missing are things like distracting crowd noise from previous live recordings and the propensity for songs to overstay their welcome length-wise. Those missing items only serve to make the album stronger, in my opinion. After over thirty years of making music, and with the Ligertwoods at the helm, I like the freshness of the direction and future of this collective, and look forward to subsequent releases. This is one of the best overall worship albums of the year and certainly worthy of multiple listens.

- Review date: 10/10/19, written by Josh Balogh 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: Hillsong / Capitol CMG
. Album length: 15 tracks: 78 minutes, 1 second
. Street Date: October 11, 2019
. Buy It: Apple Music
. Buy It: iTunes
. Buy It: Amazon.com (CD)
. Buy It: Amazon Music (MP3)

  1. Dawn (1:31)
  2. Awake My Soul (4:24)
  3. Come Alive (4:32)
  4. See The Light (4:07)
  5. No One But You (8:55)
  6. King Of Kings (4:25)
  7. I Will Praise You (5:50)
  8. From Whom All Blessings Flow (Doxology) (4:48)
  9. Every Breath (4:51)
  10. Bright As The Sun (6:18)
  11. Upper Room (4:00)
  12. He Shall Reign (6:37)

    Digital Bonus Tracks:
  13. See The Light (Live) (4:10)
  14. King Of Kings (Live) (4:51)
  15. No One But You (Live) (8:42)

 

 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