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

JFH Music Review


Israel Houghton, The Power Of One
Israel Houghton
The Power Of One



Artist Info: Discography
Album length: 14 tracks: 68 minutes, 6 seconds
Street Date: March 24, 2009


Worship albums can be curious things: they can either be amazing and groundbreaking, or they can be unoriginal and irritatingly dull. Israel Houghton's The Power of One, however, doesn't seem to want to fit into either category, leaving listeners with a mixed result.

Mr. Houghton makes it obvious that he wanted to make something different than a normal worship record, and with some tracks, he succeeds. Tracks like the relentlessly upbeat "Just Wanna Say," the reggae influenced "Surely Goodness," the all-around unique "U R Loved," the epic "You Found Me" featuring tobyMac, plus others, make for great originals, and help make The Power of One stand out. I applaud this man for his willingness to create something different in this genre that is mostly flooded with mediocrity.

If only this uniqueness was a common theme throughout the entire work; but alas, this isn't the case. Israel Houghton makes a good effort most of the time, but there are a few times when he puts the creativity on hold. "The Power of One (Change the World)," for example, sounds far too much like U2's own hit, "One." Houghton has gone on to say that it was merely inspired by U2's song, but unfortunately it didn't work out as an inspired song but rather as a near blatant copy. And speaking of blatant copies, there's a little boy who appears periodically in the record with little comments, just like tobyMac's albums with TruDog. But instead of using this for cuteness/humorous effect, it interrupts the album's fluidity and concept, especially with the unnecessary intro track "My Name Iz."

As with many albums in the worship genre, most of the problematic tracks seem to suffer further from their lengthy durations, and cutting down the time of these tracks would have made them more bearable. The last song, "My Tribute Medley," also proved to be a track that should have gotten the axe, as it ends up as an unneeded instrumental stream that most listeners will want to skip in future hearings.

Israel Houghton had a good thing going, but the entire album could have been improved if he majored on the uniqueness factor and made it a constant theme. For what he has produced, though, it's slightly better than some worship records today, and some will come to find much to like here, but The Power of One turns out to be a merely average effort that doesn't warrant too much extra attention.

- Review date: 3/29/09, written by Roger Gelwicks of Jesusfreakhideout.com



(JFH Sponsor Spot)

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

 

. Record Label: Integrity Music
. Album length: 14 tracks: 68 minutes, 6 seconds
. Street Date: March 24, 2009
. Buy It: Amazon.com
. Buy It: iTunes

  1. My Name Iz (0:40)
  2. Everywhere That I Go (4:39)
  3. Just Wanna Say (3:47)
  4. Surely Goodness (4:34)
  5. The Power of One (Change the World) (5:48)
  6. U R Loved (4:54)
  7. Moving Forward (4:50)
  8. I Receive (6:43)
  9. Saved By Grace (7:01)
  10. Every Prayer (5:11)
  11. Sing Redemption's Song (5:37)
  12. Better to Believe (2:59)
  13. You Found Me (5:21)
  14. My Tribute Medley (4:14)
spacer     Click For Song Lyrics
    Click For Song Lyrics
    Click For Song Lyrics
    Click For Song Lyrics
    Click For Song Lyrics
    Click For Song Lyrics
    Click For Song Lyrics
    Click For Song Lyrics
    Click For Song Lyrics
    Click For Song Lyrics
    Click For Song Lyrics
    Click For Song Lyrics
    Click For Song Lyrics
    Click For Song Lyrics

 

 

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