Well, it's been about a year since Hillsong released This Is Our God, which means it's time for two things. First, it's time for them to release a new live worship album. Second, it's time for Hillsong to continue to further the watering down of great worship music. In 2009, it comes in the form of Faith+Hope+Love. While I admit, I do like the album title a little better than usual, what's contained on the album is just classic Hillsong. Or maybe "typical" would be a better adjective. Because really, once again, what you get is nothing new. They've taken songs they've written and perfoemed before, and based new songs on them in order to create a new setlist for the concert that they put on for the recording of Faith+Hope+Love. And even in doing that, they still didn't create an all new setlist, as they borrowed two songs from United's latest disc Across The Earth: Tear Down The Walls. The pop/punk-fused "No Reason To Hide" and the drawn out "You Hold Me Now" make their second appearances on a Hillsong-based album with this new one (a trend I've noticed as of late from Hillsong, as Across The Earth did the same thing, borrowing two songs from This Is Our God). I know it's common in worship music for a worship team to use another worship team's song during a time of praise, but reusing songs on an album that people have to pay money for seems a little unfair. Especially when you don't even change them up at all.

The only positive here, as usual, is the substance carried within the lyrics. The lyrics themselves may not be that well-written, but aside from that, Hillsong's Faith+Hope+Love is another set of songs that are designed to worship God and to encourage His people. And regardless of the lyrical artistry, or lack thereof, they accomplished their goal to worship and encourage. Another accomplishment with this album is that they wrote eleven more songs, all of which will find their way into the repertoire of some worship teams all over the world. So props to the worship team who inspire millions of people everyday with their lyrics. Now, please, work on the music, Hillsong. I know that the musicians in the group are talented, and sometimes it even seems like they're trying to write something better than the formulaic music that they're stuck within the confines of. But as of right now, it appears that it's still something that they're struggling with. Granted, that's not important to everyone who enjoys the songs of Hillsong. But for some people, the music is a major part, and it's hard to enjoy anything the group does. Even more when you hear Faith+Hope+Love, which is fairly dry even for Hillsong. For these, I recommend groups like The Glorious Unseen, Lovelite or The Ember Days (some groups who may usher in an era of musical growth for worship music). For those who don't care what the music sounds like, here's another treat for you.

- Review date: 8/23/09, written by Scott Fryberger of Jesusfreakhideout.com