Album length: 2 CDs, 30 tracks Street Date: March 2, 2010
Anyone who grew up with Christian music knows the WOW Hits series. The best Christian music of the year in a double disk? Yes, please! The WOW Worship component was added to the WOW family in 1999. They were released every couple of years or so for a while, but now it's been a few years since the last offering in the series, which came out in 2006. Finally, March 2010 brings WOW Worship Purple. Was it worth the wait? And is anyone waiting?
Because there hasn't been a WOW Worship album released in the last four years, the compilers felt they could go back to 2006 and pick the most popular worship songs since that time. It's a good mix of the biggest names in worship music, spanning Hillsong United to Chris Tomlin, Matt Redman to David Crowder Band. There's also a nice variety between popular Christian bands who just recorded a single worship album to worship leaders and songwriters who are known for their worship music. I was pleased to see newer folks on the album, like Francesca Battistelli, and favorites such as Leeland and Charlie Hall. Of course, our good friend Chris Tomlin makes a nice showing on the album, with his voice taking center stage on two songs and other bands covering songs he either wrote or made famous.
There are no surprises on this album. On my own first listen-through, I knew 27 of the 30 songs, just from various church services and chapels. Again, it's a nice mix of the softer songs, such as "Desert Song" and "Lead Me to the Cross," to the uptempo "I am Free" and "Happy Day." But because most of these are common songs, almost all of which are on bands' own albums, the listener may have them already in their collections. This WOW compilation does not even seem to be a great place to find new bands, because most of the songs chosen are the most popular of the popular worship songs, which doesn't give a listener much of a taste of who the performers are as bands. Added to this is the fact the songs span the last four years. While I love "Amazing Grace (My Chains are Gone)," I got the song five years ago with the Amazing Grace soundtrack and could have downloaded it multiple times from multiple releases since then, including Tomlin's own See the Morning. So is another option necessary? Compilations these days can be somewhat passé, with the ease of iTunes and $1.29 songs. It's not too difficult to find your favorite worship songs and make your own compilations.
I cannot say I know too many people who have been eagerly anticipating this release. Not because it is a bad album, or is not well thought out or represented, but just that it is not anything special. The songs are good, the singers are good, but what would make you buy this album instead of picking and choosing your favorites from a music downloading apparatus? Maybe the sticker price will entice you, and if you don't already own many of these songs from the last four years, go out and snatch this album up. Otherwise, carry on as you were, buying a track or two as you feel led.
- Review date: 3/18/10, written by Sara Kelm of Jesusfreakhideout.com
(JFH Sponsor Spot)
Record Label: Word Records
Album length: 2 CDs, 30 tracks
Street Date: March 2, 2010
Buy It:Amazon.com
Disc One
Your Grace Is Enough – Matt Maher
Everlasting God – Lincoln Brewster
Shout Unto God – Michael W. Smith
You Never Let Go – Matt Redman
Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone) – Chris Tomlin
Mighty To Save – Hillsong United
Revelation Song – Kari Jobe
Lead Me To The Cross – Francesca Battistelli
Hosanna (Praise Is Rising) – Brenton Brown
All Because Of Jesus – Casting Crowns
The Wonderful Cross – Matthew West
Your Name – Paul Baloche
You Reign – MercyMe
New Song We Sing – Meredith Andrews
Beautiful Jesus – Kristian Stanfill
Disc Two
I Am Free – Newsboys
Everything Glorious – David Crowder*Band
How Great Is Our God – Hillsong London
God Of This City – Passion
Majesty (Here I Am) – Leeland
Give Us Clean Hands – Kutless
Hosanna – Selah
Marvelous Light – Charlie Hall
Song Of Hope (Heaven Come Down) – Robbie Seay Band
Desert Song – Natalie Grant
You're Worthy Of My Praise – Big Daddy Weave/BarlowGirl
This Friday, October 3, 2025
ALBUMS BASECAMP Beautiful Like the Truth [Polished Arrow] Pat Barrett I've Got A Fire [Capitol CMG] Elan Brio Millennium Funk (independent) Kristene DiMarco MEMORADUM - EP [Bethel] Heath McNease Autumn Sessions, Vol. 2 (independent) Mystical Death Carnation EP (Remastered) [Rottweiler Records] Matt Redman Life & Breath [Integrity] Thrive Worship Jesus Song - EP [Integrity Music] Bay Turner Better Days - EP [Centricity Music] John Van Deusen As Long As I Am In The Tent of This Body I Will Make a Joyful Noise Pt. 1 [Anotherland]
SINGLES Gabby Barrett Ain't Supposed To Be - Single [Warner Music Nashville] Mark Bishop Time To Let Go and Let God - Single [Sonlite] Franni Cash Church Clothes - Single [Capitol CMG] ChristianXXII & Futuristic Already Won - Single [DREAM] Damian Back To You - Single [DREAM] Dex the nerd who loves Jesus Salvation - Single [Syntax] Drenae To the Cross - Single [Syntax] Emerson Day This House Won't Fall - Single [Fair Trade] Chris Ekiss Life's Biggest Questions - Single [Provident] The Forerunner Manifesto (independent) for KING + COUNTRY World on Fire (feat. Taylor Hill) - Single [Curb Records] Forrest Frank JESUS IS COMING BACK SOON (feat. Josiah Queen) - Single [River House] Vic Lucas Make a Way - Single [Syntax] No Vain Glory MOVE YOUR BODY - Single [Syntax] Nathan Oswalt MAKE UP YOUR MIND - Single (independent) Drew Parker Blame Jesus - Single [Warner Music Nashville] Razzie SHORTCUTS - Single [Syntax] Shamash The Gulf Between Us - Single [Rottweiler] Anne Wilson Carry Me - Single [Capitol CMG] Zahriya Zachary Stay - Single [Bethel]
VINYL Bleach Live/The Lost Show Vinyl (independent)
Next Friday, October 10, 2025
ALBUMS Citizens m us eum [Anotherland Records] Jesus Culture Send The Fire: Live From London [Capitol CMG] Tasha Layton Life in Me [BEC]
SINGLES Holly Brand One Thing He Wouldn't Do - Single [Integrity] Chosen Road Daddy Was a Navy Man - Single [Thoroughbred] Drakeford Writing on the Wall - Single (independent) Amy Jay Back to What's Natural - Single (independent) Run51 Song Of My Soul - Single [DREAM] Zane Vickery Name (Live at Greenbriar) - Single (independent) Vineyard Worship & Dreaming The Impossible Praise You For Eternity - Single [Vineyard]