Check out the new concept album from Rusty Shipp!
Check out the new concept album from Rusty Shipp!

JFH Music Review


The City Harmonic, Benediction (Live)
CLICK COVER TO ENLARGE

The City Harmonic
Benediction (Live)



Artist Info: Discography
Genre(s): Pop Rock / Worship / Live
Album length: 14 tracks: 61 minutes, 0 seconds
Street Date: June 23, 2017


READER RATING:   


Throughout their eight-year run, The City Harmonic has provided a much-needed antidote to the shallow simplicity that all too often suffocates the worship genre. From the soaring anthems of I Have a Dream (It Feels Like Home), the artistically brilliant Heart, and even the more commercially friendly We Are, a contagious passion for God and His people, coupled with theologically rich lyricism, saturates these songs. This brings us to Benediction (Live), the band's swan song and quite possibly the best worship release of the year.

Releasing independently after a long time collaboration with Integrity Music, Benediction (Live) is not merely a beautifully strung together collection of their greatest hits but a devoted farewell, a love letter to the church written to inspire and encourage. It's easy to draw comparisons between the band's farewell and the message Jesus left before His ascension. These aren't meant to be sad sendoffs but calls to pursue further works for the Kingdom of God. The songs played here, whether deliberately chosen or not, carry a theme of Christ's work and our response. The eschatological "Maranatha" sings of the hope we have for Christ's future coming as it calls us to "Rise and sing," while "Praise The Lord" encourages us to worship with gratitude in every moment because, whether it is good or bad, "Jesus Christ is Lord." Fans will be delighted with the inclusion of a new song called "Honestly," a powerful ballad about being broken before the feet of Jesus, realizing that He is all we ever need. "Could I sit at your feet, forget about me, and remember what I'm here for? / Honestly I need to be broken / Honestly I need to fall down / Go ahead and shake my foundation because honestly I'm figuring out that of all that I have all that I need is you."

Moments of worship are in no shortage here also. "Yours" is a wonderful anthem that's only made better in its live setting. "A City On a Hill" is a stripped-down reimagining of the fantastic pop tune in the middle of Heart and serves as a highlight here as well. Elias Dummer's vocals really shine as he sings behind a sole keyboard and the voices of the church. "Holy (Wedding Day)" is already one of the band's most splendid offerings, but its live version is simply glorious. The majority of songs here actually improve upon their studio counterparts, an achievement few live albums manage to pull off. "What I Want" may be the only exception as it does run on a little too long.

It's hard to shake off the skeptical dread of a live worship album. How long will we hear the same refrains repeated over and over? How long are we going to hear the vocalist shout praises over vanilla background music? I often find myself asking questions such as these before popping in a live worship album, but The City Harmonic's Benediction is anything but monotonous or mundane. This is a beautiful and emotionally potent release that finds its strength in the passionate praises of the church. In the end, what we're left with is a thoughtful and inspiring goodbye that's worth repeating many times over. Fans of worship music should listen to this immediately.

- Review date: 6/20/17, written by Lucas Munachen of Jesusfreakhideout.com



(JFH Sponsor Spot)

Check out JFH's Lloyd in his first-ever childrens book!

 

. Record Label: The Fuel Music
. Album length: 14 tracks: 61 minutes, 0 seconds
. Street Date: June 23, 2017
. Buy It: Amazon Music (MP3)

  1. My God (Live) (4:46)
  2. Maranatha (Live) (4:26)
  3. Yours (Live) (5:50)
  4. Praise The Lord (Live) (3:44)
  5. Honestly (Live) (4:50)
  6. A City On A Hill (Live) (4:49)
  7. I Am (Live) (4:56)
  8. Mountaintop (Live) (5:29)
  9. Holy (Wedding Day) (Live) (4:52)
  10. What I Want (Live) (5:50)
  11. Let There Be Light (Live) (3:32)
  12. Manifesto (Live) (4:34)
  13. Doxology (Live) (1:18)
  14. Benediction (Live) (2:13)

 



Leave a Comment

 

 

go to main Album review page
go to Album review archive

 

 

                 
Check out JFH's Lloyd in his first-ever childrens book!

Search JFH



This Friday, June 27, 2025
ALBUMS
7eventh Time Down We Praise You [BEC]
The Browns 25th Anniversary: Better Days Ahead [StowTown]
Franni Cash Wild Child - EP [Capitol CMG]
Matt Crocker interlude [Anotherland]
Jimmy Fortune Songs of an American Dreamer [Gaither]
Roxanne Grace Road Trip - EP [DREAM]
JJ Hairston & Youthful Praise The Live Reunion: Washington, DC [James Town]
Kutless The Seventh Seal - EP [BEC]
Evvie McKinney It Ain't Over - EP (independent)
Rusty Shipp Capsized Empire (independent)
SEU Worship A Forgiving God [Provident]
The Shimmering Carnelians The Doorway (Version 2.0) (independent)
We Are Messengers A Thousand Times - EP [Curb]

SINGLES
Anchor & Braille Rattlesnake - Single [Equal Vision]
ANTHNY imposter syndrome - Single [Provident]
Blanca Right On Time - Single [Curb]
Landry Cantrell & Elenee sunshine & rainbows - Single [DREAM]
Eddie Clark Never Content - Single [Syntax]
Colony House Atomic - Single [Roon]
Megan Danielle Preachin' To The Choir - Single [Provident]
Drea LP & OnBeatMusic Don't Try Me (DTM) - Single [Syntax]
Joseph Habedank Running to Me - Single [Daywind]
Lonnie Hunter Flow (Like A River) - Single [Uncle G]
Kashh Kade HELP - Single [Syntax]
KB x KEANU Keanu's Song - Single [Provident]
Tasha Layton Singing In the Dark - Single [BEC]
Tasha Cobbs Leonard The Hand That Keeps Holding - Single [Motown Gospel]
Tim Lovelace Celebration of America Medley (feat. Charlie McCoy) - Single [StowTown]
Lecrae Tell No Lie (feat. Jackie Hill Perry) - Single [Reach]
LO Worship The Perfect Love of Jesus - Single [Integrity]
Patrick Mayberry Thank The Lord - Single [Provident]
Michael Monroe John The Baptist (feat. Chris Renzema) - Single [Provident]
Alexander Pappas A Great Awakening / Un Nuevo Despertar - Single [Integrity]
PEABOD Summer in Seattle - Single [RMG Amplify]
Rave Jesus Walk On The Water Remix (From The Chosen) - Single [Provident]
The Rocky Valentines Nat Song - Single [Velvet Blue]
Saints In Exile & Cutright My Dead End (ft. Jeannie Ortega, Luc DiMarzio, Jericko) - Single [Syntax]
Emilie Weiss Take Care (Studio Sessions) - Single [BEC]

DVD
Jimmy Fortune Songs Of An American Dreamer DVD [Gaither]

Next Friday, July 4, 2025
ALBUMS
Chad Cory America [DREAM]
Tenielle Neda The Way Of Love [Wings]

SINGLES
Christian Back Now - Single [DREAM]



For all release dates, click here!
 

Check out depositphotos for royalty free images