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JFH Music Review


Jesus Culture, Love Has A Name
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Jesus Culture
Love Has A Name



Artist Info: Discography
Genre(s): Worship / Live
Album length: 16 tracks: 103 minutes, 47 seconds
Street Date: August 11, 2017


READER RATING:   


The idea of corporate worship has long been a key element in binding those who come together to seek a deeper knowledge of Christ. This was seen throughout the early church, the Reformation, and especially during the rise of Christian radio. There is something beautiful about singing and worshiping together, knowing that other believers who share your faith have sung these songs before, be it anywhere from ten minutes to five hundred years ago. There is also something beautiful about new music; the reality that almost anyone may write and incorporate a new song which could spread like fire throughout dozens of congregations is both stunning and a testament to how God is still very much alive today.

However, it is necessary for us to examine why (and what) we are worshiping. When we sing a worship song, are we doing so in humility and for the purpose of drawing near to God and praising Him for Who He is? Or are we simply looking to encounter an experience of some sort for our own gain? Over recent years, there has been a shift in worship music. Gone are the days in which men and women would toil for years over how to express themselves before God. Gone also are the days in which sound doctrine and theology were on display at the forefront of worship music, regardless of how emotional the song may be.

In light of last year's review of the mediocre Let It Echo, I was hoping that Jesus Culture's 2017 offering, Love Has a Name, would deliver a breath of fresh air. Unfortunately, this album only compounds the issues from last year and highlights most of the problems with contemporary worship in one 16-track package. Love Has a Name opens with "Halls of Heaven," a surprisingly decent (yet average) track. This is also the best track on the album, it would seem. I usually prefer to break down and examine the individual songs on any album, but doing so here would be both depressing and nihilistic.

After listening to this album five times, I'm sorry to say that not one single song stands out. Without listening through as I write, I cannot recall a single melody/lyric pairing other than "can't stop running through the halls of Heaven." Yes, the message of that song is indeed bizarre, but sounds "super spiritual." Too many of these songs follow suit, with lyrics that contain popular Christian catchphrases, but are entirely lacking in any real substance. Nearly all of these songs are in relation to an experiential encounter with some sort of God.

I say "some sort," because there are enough oddities and theological indiscretions to call into question their view of God. Lyrics such as "meet us face to face" and "let glory invade this earth ... our eyes looking heavenward" diminish the true power of God that we see in Scripture, for we cannot yet see His face or look upon His glory. Another oddity is the concept that it is on us to "invite" God to be present ("I invite You, invite You"). In truth, almost all of these songs are about God loving us and about Who He is to us. And only to us. The great I AM seems to be diminished to some sort of personal totem, and even though His power is sung of, it seems hollow and for the purpose of serving humankind.

Theological discrepancies aside, the melodies are simple, but not in a beautiful or competent fashion. As I mentioned earlier, these elementary constructs are somehow entirely predictable and entirely forgettable.

The unfortunate truth is that this album is, at best, entirely unnecessary. Last year's live LP, Let It Echo, already demonstrated a lack of new, quality material. It is always my desire to temper any more critical review with words of grace, but the reality is that Jesus Culture should know better. They need to take a serious step back and look at themselves in the mirror. Good music is not often developed quickly, and worship music especially needs to take time. It must ferment and be reflected upon. The band has a history of producing some excellent work, but any merit they now possess has been cast into a machine that churns out nothing but formula, and one which is quickly growing old.

- Review date: 8/12/17, written by David Craft of Jesusfreakhideout.com



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JFH Staff's Second Opinion




When it comes to today's Christian music world, the worship genre is king. The market is saturated with bands like Jesus Culture that release new albums of material every year. Love Has A Name falls into the live album variety where never-before-released songs find an audience already singing along. The music bounces back and forth between synth-heavy pop and typical rock worship fare. Lyrically, although slightly better than some of their competition, it comes off as average overall.

The challenge is when you move away from more "theological" source material, you're forced to draw from your own emotions, experiences, and metaphors. These can work, as "Halls of Heaven" and "Let Our Faith Become a Mountain" prove, but can also fall short, as seen in "Weight of Heaven" and "Flood the Earth." Jesus Culture's songs are stronger when they leave behind metaphors altogether and focus on simple praise, with standouts being the title track, "My One My All," and the timely "Make Us One." However, given this is 103+ minutes (on the deluxe edition at least), there will be plenty of filler, with "Never Stop" and "Fresh Outpouring" leading the way, the latter of which clocks in at nearly 14 minutes! Such length in a worship song may work when you're physically present at the concert, but listening to it elsewhere comes off as overkill and a shallow attempt to work up emotional buzz.

So is Love Has A Name worth a listen? If you love worship music and enjoy live praise albums, this will sound good in your collection. If you're looking for something innovative and off the beaten path, you may be disappointed. Jesus Culture's latest is fine on its own standing, but it is ultimately an average collection of praise songs. It lacks any real depth of theological merit, but it can be an emotional release for people wanting to revel in God's love for us. - Review date: 8/27/17, written by John Underdown

 

JFH Album Sampler
. Record Label: Jesus Culture / Sparrow Records
. Album length: 16 tracks: 103 minutes, 47 seconds
. Street Date: August 11, 2017
. Buy It: iTunes
. Buy It: iTunes (Deluxe)
. Buy It: Amazon.com (CD)
. Buy It: Amazon Music (MP3)
. Buy It: Amazon Music (MP3) (Deluxe)

  1. Halls of Heaven (feat. Chris Quilala) [Live] (5:06)
  2. Let Our Faith Become a Mountain (feat. Kim Walker-Smith) [Live] (4:46)
  3. Weight of Heaven (feat. Chris Quilala) [Live] (4:23)
  4. Love Has a Name (feat. Kim Walker-Smith) [Live] (9:59)
  5. Flood the Earth (feat. Katie Torwalt) [Live] (5:54)
  6. Make Us One (feat. Chris Quilala) [Live] (6:22)
  7. Sound of Adoration (feat. Bryan Torwalt) [Live] (4:13)
  8. Never Stop (feat. Kim Walker-Smith) [Live] (6:07)
  9. Fresh Outpouring (feat. Kim Walker-Smith) [Live] (13:59)
  10. Love Overcomes (feat. Derek Johnson) [Live] (4:45)
  11. My One My All (feat. Chris McClarney) [Live] (6:02)
  12. However You Want (feat. Chris Quilala) [Live] (9:13)

    Deluxe Edition Bonus Tracks:
  13. Infinite (feat. Kim Walker-Smith) [Live] (5:49)
  14. Love That Saves (feat. Ruthie Ridley) [Live] (5:05)
  15. Make a Way (feat. Jon Egan) [Live] (5:56)
  16. Anything Can Happen (feat. Chris Quilala) [Live] (6:07)

 



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