Get Your Music on Amazon!
Get Your Music - and everything else - on Amazon! All purchases made on Amazon through this link earn a commission for Jesusfreakhideout.com!

JFH Music Review


Middle River Hymnal, Holy Week, Vol. 1 - EP
CLICK COVER TO ENLARGE

Middle River Hymnal
Holy Week, Vol. 1 - EP



Genre(s): Worship / Hymns / Folk
Album length: 5 tracks: 22 minutes, 43 seconds
Street Date: March 26, 2021


READER RATING:   


We are seeing a resurgence of hymns in the church today. While the exact definition of a hymn is up for debate (and no, it doesn't simply mean an old church song), bands like Sovereign Grace and CityAlight are proving that this battle-worn vessel, which has been the go-to in the church since nigh its existence, can more then survive the modern age of backing tracks and mile-long bridges.

Enter Middle River Hymnal, formed by worship-leading duo Josh Diaz and Laura Creel, who recorded their spin on five classic hymns for their church in Fort Lauderdale during last year’s social distancing. Providentially, the hymns patterned nicely into a playlist for this year's “Holy Week.”

The duo's tapered bluegrass style is fairly unique, combining back-porch plucked guitar, worn-down spinets, banjo, and swelling harmonies, along with some surprising trumpets to add stateliness to the sound. Josh’s voice reminded me of Tenth Avenue North’s Mike Donehey, while Laura’s whispered, reverberated head voice brought to mind Brandi Carlile, and the voices play off each other nicely throughout the live recording.

The duo does well to let the songs “sit” when needed, then layering in dynamic verse upon verse, a necessity seeing the rather simplistic format of hymns. These hymns are well-known to congregants, so opting for a minimalist approach is wise, yet perhaps a bit too unassuming. In other words, go into this playlist ready to sing along to classic hymns with subtle changes, such as the 6/8 time signatures in “Great Is Thy Faithfulness” and “How Great Thou Art,” but don't expect a massive reworking. In fact, the biggest change is the duo’s southern style itself. The 19th century closer “Were You There” proved to be the highlight here, both by being the most “on the nose” in regards to Good Friday and Easter, as well as building the strongest by rotating lead singers between verses, and a sparkling horn interlude.

This little playlist is a good introduction to Middle River Hymnal. The sound is in place, and they clearly have chemistry formed by almost a decade of leading worship together. I'll be looking forward to some original content in the future to help springboard them into the center of the modern hymn movement.

- Review date: 4/13/21, written by Joel Zaloum of Jesusfreakhideout.com



(JFH Sponsor Spot)

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

 

. Record Label: Gospel Song Records
. Album length: 5 tracks: 22 minutes, 43 seconds
. Street Date: March 26, 2021
. Buy It: Apple Music
. Buy It: Amazon Music (MP3)

  1. Great Is Thy Faithfulness (4:16)
  2. Jesus, I My Cross Have Taken (4:58)
  3. Give Me Jesus (3:57)
  4. How Great Thou Art (5:51)
  5. Were You There (3:39)

 

 JFH Album Sample Player

 



Leave a Comment

 

 

go to main Album review page
go to Album review archive

 

 

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

Search JFH



This Friday, July 25, 2025
ALBUMS
Anchor & Braille New Mexico [Equal Vision]
B. Tee Told You [Syntax]
Bride Scarecrow Messiah CD Re-Release [Girder]
Empowered SALT - EP (independent)
Homesick Prodigals Different Good (independent)
KDNS After Eden [Syntax]
Olivia Lane Songs About Jesus (Deluxe Edition) [BEC]
Tasha Cobbs Leonard TASHA [Motown Gospel]
Kevi Morse Kingston We Winning [Syntax]
Pulpit Vomit Hospital Lens [Rottweiler]
Anthony & Tiffany Salerno Dance for Jesus - EP (independent)
Taylor & Co Worship Breakthrough - EP (independent)
Josh Wright LEAD (independent)

SINGLES
abenezer i was lost - Single [Gotee]
Joe L Barnes Good Shepherd (Studio Version) - Single [Provident]
Sho Baraka Still Got Faith (ft. L3xdivine) - Single [Syntax]
Gracie Binion Easy To Please - Single [BEC]
Katty Camargo Shine Upon Me - Single (independent)
The CCC Collective Thankful - Single (independent)
C4 Crotona Mr. Gritty - Single [Syntax]
CXMMXNS Trust and Obey (feat. CAIN) - Single [Provident]
EJ Swavv & Nickwit2Ks Growth - Single [Syntax]
Forrest Frank GOD'S GOT MY BACK - Single [River House / 10K]
Andrew Gonoude Closer To You - Single (independent)
Noah Paul Harrison Oh Lord My God (Live) - Single [Bethel]
J.Solo All I Have (ft. Kaboose & MotionPlus) - Single [Syntax]
Kings Kaleidoscope + Kings Kaleidoscope Hymns Amazing Grace - Single [BEC]
Tasha Layton Life In Me - Single [BEC]
Lecrae Bless You (feat. Torey D'Shaun) - Single [Reach]
TobyMac God Did It (feat. Jamie MacDonald) - Single [Capitol CMG]
Matt Maher Wait (Radio Version) - Single [Provident]
Hunter Plake Down to Earth - Single [BEC]
QEW JOYXFIX (ft. Stevie Rizo) - Single [Syntax]
Naomi Raine God Will Work It Out - Single [Tribl]
Rave Jesus Runnin' - Single [Provident]
Saints in Exile Bad Vibes - Single [Syntax]
Xander Sallows infinite - Single [DREAM]
Silent Reflection Left Me for Dead - Single [Syntax]
Michael W. Smith Your Love Is A Flood - Single [The Fuel]
John Stratton The Body and the Blood - Single [Pure Mosaic Services]
Regina Vandereijk You're the Light - Single (independent)
Joel Vaughn Feel It - Single [DREAM]
Zach Williams Killed A Man - Single [Provident]
Zauntee Jesus Down In Florida - Single [BEC]

VINYL
Bride Scarecrow Messiah Vinyl [Girder]

DVD
Jordan Smith The People's Hymnal DVD [Gaither]

This Saturday, July 26, 2025
SINGLES
Anthony & Tiffany Salerno What Would You Do? - Single (independent)

Next Friday, August 1, 2025
ALBUMS
Crash Rickshaw Big Sir - EP [Velvet Blue]
McKamey Legacy Holding to Truth [Horizon]
Ordained Thunder Roar [Girder]
V1 Worship Archives [DREAM Worship]

SINGLES
Dan Bremnes Human - Single [Curb]
Lauren Daigle Let It Be A Hallelujah - Single [Centricity]
Sleeping At Last Believe - Single (independent)

VINYL
Disciple Attack! (Limited Run Vinyl) Vinyl [Girder]



For all release dates, click here!
 

Join honey and save on online purchases!
Get all of JFH's indie compilation now totally free!
Check out depositphotos for royalty free images