"The rough feel of the tracks is, in a way, a statement: worship does not have to show up in a nice package. The recent popularity of "worship" music has, I believe, caused a confusion of sorts. A band does not have to rock or be excellent to lead worship. Performance is an added bonus, but should not be a distraction from the intention of a church service. Worship is intimacy with God. And music can be used to faciliate that experience, but if the emphasis is on how the music sounds, all we get is distracted, or at best, emotional. " - Justin McRoberts

Worship music has become one of the biggest movements and trends in Christian music within the past year or two. While this 'movement' has prompted many artists to share their own offerings of praise music, it has caused an inundation of the market with seemingly countless projects and recordings. Justin McRoberts served up his first offering earlier this year with his Untitled EP which had been simply recorded over the span of 2 days this past January. While I agree almost completely with McRoberts above statement, which is printed inside the CD cover, I have found too many worship projects that seem to care so little about the sound that I find it hinders the worship experience. McRoberts has just the right vocal style, just the write song composition. Untitled EP proves that McRoberts is your ideal worship leader.

It's amazing how a CD recorded in 2 days can sound so good. Sure it's musically raw, but it's excellent. Most of the time it's just Justin and his guitar, but on tracks like "I Will Come," "King of Mercy," "I Give You My Life," and "All I Want" which often include background vocals or piano. The only time where the piano seems to hinder a song is during "I Give You My Life" when Justin's upbeat guitar and passionate vocals are interrupted by a spastic piano. In a way, it still fits in the song, but doesn't particularly aid it.

Highlights on the album include the opener "Learning to Need You," McRoberts' amazing, passionate "How Great Thou Art," and the heart felt "More Than Anything." For fans of worship music, Untitled EP by Justin McRoberts is not to be missed. It may be the best worship record you'll hear all year.

- Review date: 9/22/01, written by John DiBiase