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

JFH Music Review


Jesus Culture, Come Away
CLICK COVER TO ENLARGE

Jesus Culture
Come Away



Artist Info: Discography
Album length: 10 tracks: 77 minutes, 30 seconds
Street Date: November 22, 2010


It was in 1999 when the inaugural Jesus Culture conference was held by Redding, California's Bethel Church. Soon after, the conference became a nationwide event, reaching big cities like Dallas/Fort Worth and Atlanta, and even spreading to other continents. The worship band, simply named Jesus Culture Band, formed from the youth worship band of Bethel Church, and is fronted by Kim Walker-Smith and Chris Quilala. Their latest and sixth live worship album as a band is entitled Come Away.

It was interesting to me to find out that the bass player for Jesus Culture is a Come&Live! artist, Ian McIntosh. McIntosh's C&L! album, Alive, is a fairly solid album musically, combining worship with skillful instrumentation. So those familiar with his music would probably anticipate Jesus Culture albums to be just as good, if not better. Sadly, Come Away features little to be desired in the music. It has its moments, but they rarely last. For example, "My Soul Longs For You" has a pretty cool, southern rock-style guitar line. But it just repeats over and over again with the deadly, repetitive bass drum (it was only a matter of time, right?). The drummer does add some high hat, but it doesn't help much as the bass drum thumps on for about two and a half minutes before being joined by the snare. It comes back in album closer "One Thing Remains." It's quiet and subtle, but it's there. And it's not just the drums - all of the music sounds like it was plucked from the recycling bin and rearranged a little with new lyrics. I have a hard time seeing how one can start a revolution when pretty much nothing is different.

I understand that everyone worships God in their own way, but I also understand that I'm not alone in how I worship. For worshippers like myself, albums like this always have things that are more distracting than anything. Distracting or aggravating. The spontaneous prayers, for one. I am in no way saying that prayer isn't beautiful, but I couldn't listen to these songs and stay in worship when I have to hear the same, charismatic prayers each time I listened. The same can be said for the cheers and woo's from the audience in between songs, making it sound more like a rock concert, and Kim Walker's intermittent, short spurts of laughter that can distract those with short attention spans. This may all seem rather trivial, but if the point of the album is to create an atmosphere of worship, and I find myself constantly being taken out of worship, then maybe it was something that worked wonders live for those in attendance, but doesn't translate quite as well when captured on a recording. Of course, this is why the live worship album is something that needs a break. Hillsong has been doing it for years beyond years, so we probably don't need Jesus Culture to do it too. I'd love to hear what they could do if they spent some time in a recording studio.

One thing I hear often about Jesus Culture Band is how different they are: "Don't like Hillsong United? Give Jesus Culture a try." But one listen (or even half a listen) to an album like Come Away, and it's just not the case. Admittedly, portions of Jesus Culture's songs seem to be written better, so they deserve some credit there. And I'm sure many, many lives are touched at their conferences, so their hearts are in the right place, and they're using music for what it was originally created for. But as the quality of the music is the focal point here, Come Away just doesn't do much for the ears of listeners. If you're just looking for worship songs to sing along to, this album wouldn't be a bad choice. If the music's quality is important to you, though, pass this one up.

- Review date: 12/2/10, written by Scott Fryberger of Jesusfreakhideout.com



(JFH Sponsor Spot)

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

 

. Record Label: Kingsway Music
. Album length: 10 tracks: 77 minutes, 30 seconds
. Street Date: November 22, 2010
. Buy It: iTunes
. Buy It: iTunes (Deluxe Edition)
. Buy It: Amazon.com

  1. Come Away / Let Me In (Feat. Chris Quilala) (7:46)
  2. Rooftops (Feat. Kim Walker-Smith) (7:51)
  3. You Are My Passion (Feat. Kim Walker-Smith) (6:59)
  4. I Want To Know You (Feat. Chris Quilala) (9:05)
  5. My Soul Longs For You (Feat. Kim Walker - Smith And Chris Quilala) (7:49)
  6. Freedom Reigns (Feat. Kim Walker - Smith) (7:52)
  7. Let It Rain (Feat. Chris Quilala) (7:00)
  8. Mighty Breath Of God (Feat. Chris Quilala) (6:34)
  9. Show Me Your Glory (Feat. Kim Walker - Smith) (7:54)
  10. One Thing Remains (Feat. Chris Quilala) (8:40)

 

 

go to main Album review page
go to Album review archive

 


(JFH Sponsor Spot)

 

 

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

Search JFH




This Wednesday, December 4, 2024
VINYL
Russ Taff A Christmas Song Vinyl [Girder]

This Friday, December 6, 2024
ALBUMS
Blessing Offor Covers - EP [Capitol CMG]
Colony House Every Christmas - EP [Roon]
Jonava Heaven Empyreal EP [The Charon Collective]
Brandon Lake Hard Fought Hallelujah: Heavyweight Edition - EP [Provident]
Ronnie Martin Holiday Fable - Instrumentals [Velvet Blue]
Poor Bishop Hooper As Foretold: Part 1 EP (independent)
Various Artists DREAM Christmas Vol. 8 [DREAM]
Within Silence The Eclipse of Worlds [Ulterium]

SINGLES
Cory Asbury Iris - Single [BEC]
Adriel Cruz Falling For You - Single [Syntax]
Bethel Music He Has Done Great Things (feat. Brian Johnson) [Live] - Single [Bethel]
Calvary MSC Hail the King (ft. Stefan Green) - Single (independent)
Chainstay Re;gret, Re;gress, Re;cover - Single [Small Step Records]
Jon Foreman Stay Wild Wildflower (feat. Kyndal Inskeep) - Single (independent)
Forfeit Thee Untrue It’s Colder Now - Single [Rottweiler]
Mat Kearney Christmas Chevrolet (Jingle Bells) - Single (independent)
Steven Malcolm Stick And Move (feat. Mike Teezy) - Single [Curb]
Michael Monroe Hiding - Single [Provident]
Sheets Nelson I Need You - Single [Church Boy]
No Vain Glory Praise (ft. Mapalo the Girl) - Single [Syntax]
Pulpit Vomit Jingle, Jingle, Jingle (Redux) - Single [Rottweiler / Broken Curfew]
Sidewalk Prophets I Apologize - Single [Curb]
TobyMac a lil church - Single [Capitol CMG]
Bay Turner Praise the Lord (Sunday Prelud) - Single [Centricity]
Weeping Hour Misael - Single (independent)
Wind and Sail I’ll Be Home For Christmas - a live postcard - Single (independent)

VINYL
Flyleaf Flyleaf Vinyl [Smartpunk]

Next Monday, December 9, 2024
ALBUMS
Relentless Pursuit Ascension (independent)

Next Wednesday, December 11, 2024
ALBUMS
Alex Henry Foster A Whispering Moment - EP [Hopeless Tragedy]

Next Friday, December 13, 2024
ALBUMS
Shaun P Live at the Jesus Dome [DREAM]

SINGLES
Leslie Jordan Golden Thread (for Jess) - Single (independent)
Leigh Nash Cry (feat. Villiers) [Fear of Tigers Remix] - Single [Visionary]
Stars Go Dim Mama Don't Lie (Alright) - Single [Curb]



For all release dates, click here!
 



Check out the new album from Taylor Holland Armstrong!



Listen to the new album from Within Silence!

Check out depositphotos for royalty free images