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

JFH Music Review


Various Artists, Rejoice: Live From Seattle
CLICK COVER TO ENLARGE

Various Artists
Rejoice: Live From Seattle



Genre(s): Live / Worship / Alternative
Album length: 11 tracks: 45 minutes, 42 seconds
Street Date: May 12, 2015


READER RATING:   


Live worship albums are a bit of a rarity these days, right? Well...no. From yearly Passion albums to what now seems like monthly offerings from various Hillsong and Jesus Culture entities, you could probably fill up an iPod classic with what's been released in the last five years. Exaggerations aside, they really are extremely common, and sometimes, you get one that's actually not bad. In this case, I'm referring to BEC's new sampler-of-sorts Rejoice: Live From Seattle. Featuring former Mars Hill bands in a live setting, it's a solid line-up, but the end result is a bit of a mixed bag.

Rejoice starts off with the energetic title track, which comes from Dustin Kensrue's The Water and the Blood; it's also led by Kensrue himself. In fact, he actually leads three songs from the first half of the twelve-track album, which makes sense given that most of them are on the aforementioned Kensrue album. He can also be heard on background vocals on the second track and fourth tracks, "Jesus!" and "Rock of Ages," respectively, both of which are lead by a singer named Hannah Garvey (who appeared on the recent BEC compilation Christ Is Risen). His popular modern hymn "Grace Alone" makes an appearance here, though something about this particular version is less appealing than any of the previously-recorded versions.

At the halfway point, the tides are shifted from Kensrue's performance to a few songs I tend to associate with Citizens & Saints. Garvey comes back in for a more southern-esque rendition of "Made Alive," and then it slows down dramatically for "In Tenderness." This is when The Sing Team's Brian Eichelberger comes in with just a guitar and his voice; and, of course, since this is a live album, the audience is present with their vocals as they all come together to worship Jesus. Eichelberger moves into The Sing Team's rendition of "Oh! Great Is Our God!" which is a version to which I needed a long time to warm up. I may like it more than Citizens & Saints' rendition at this point, but regardless, it's a solid song either way, and it can provide for a sweet moment of unabashed praise toward our Savior. The pace picks up for the last couple of songs, as Ghost Ship's Cam Huxford comes in with the upbeat "Mediator," which doesn't differ too greatly from the album version. A quick interlude then leads us into the album's final track, "Christ Is Risen," which also bears a striking resemblance to its previously-released version, which was also live.

Now, as I mentioned in my very recent Christ Is Risen review around Easter, the Tooth & Nail family, including BEC, is infamous for re-releasing songs until sometimes you just can't stand it. While the former Mars Hill groups make an excellent addition to BEC's roster, Rejoice is, unfortunately, just another example of this, albeit in live format. In fact, a few of these songs were on Christ Is Risen as well. That being said, it is nice to hear live renditions of these songs and to get a feel for what these bands would sound like if getting a chance to worship with them in person. Though it does sound, at times, like the bands were focused on putting on a show, which I feel shouldn't be incorporated into worship, I can't really say for sure that they were; it may go without saying that I was not in attendance at this event.

Since Mars Hill Music teamed with BEC, their bands have released consistently good music; from Citizens & Saints' self-titled debut as Citizens to Dustin Kensrue's first worship album, I've enjoyed just about all of it. If you feel the same way, then Rejoice: Live From Seattle is something you'll want to invest some time in. Don't expect any new material, but it may give you an itch to see these bands in a live setting.

- Review date: 4/24/15, written by Scott Fryberger of Jesusfreakhideout.com



(JFH Sponsor Spot)

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

 

. Record Label: BEC Recordings
. Album length: 11 tracks: 45 minutes, 42 seconds
. Street Date: May 12, 2015
. Buy It: Amazon Music (MP3)

  1. Rejoice (Live) - Northwest Collective & Dustin Kensrue
  2. Jesus! (Live) - Northwest Collective & Hannah Garvey
  3. Grace Alone (Live) - Northwest Collective & Dustin Kensrue
  4. Rock of Ages (Live) - Northwest Collective & Hannah Garvey
  5. The Solid Rock (Live) - Northwest Collective & Nick Lathe
  6. Oh God (Live) - Northwest Collective & Dustin Kensrue
  7. Made Alive (Live) - Northwest Collective & Hannah Garvey
  8. In Tenderness (Live) - Northwest Collective & Brian Eichelberger
  9. Oh! Great Is Our God! - Northwest Collective & Brian Eichelberger
  10. Mediator (Live) - Northwest Collective & Cam Huxford Iv
  11. Christ Is Risen (Live) - Northwest Collective & Cam Huxford Iv

 



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