STYLE: Pop RATING OUR PRODUCT CODE: 126977-19301 LABEL: Independent FORMAT: CD Album ITEMS: 1
Reviewed by Tony Cummings
Eleven22 were originally formed as a worship team at Beach United Methodist Church in Jacksonville, Florida. The worship pastor said, "What kept coming into our hearts was that we needed our songs to be a conversation to God - not about him," and that's what they deliver here. The opener is a gem. "God Alone" features singer Gretchen Martin over a tender-hearted confessional at first accompanied by a rich string section and then moving into wall-of-noise crescendos that echo the best of Jesus Culture. There are more top rate tracks here. "Burning Hearts" is a moving call to intimate worship, "I Found A Love" is a triumphant celebration of those who have made their way through life's storms and the lovely hymn "It Is Well With My Soul" is given a modern rendition without losing any of the song's poignant grandeur. Production by Jeremy Edwardson of The Myriad is sonically wonderful and the soundscapes throughout are so rich and enveloping that it's hard to believe this is a live recording despite the congregation noises between songs. But however much overdubbing took place nothing can obscure the fact that this is one of the finest albums of modern worship I've heard in the last couple of years.
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