Reviewed by Tony Cummings

In an age when worship music is often marketed like sausages, it is increasingly difficult for the sincere reviewer to discern whether or not worship albums genuinely contain that elusive anointing of the living God. And to the jaded observer of Christian music marketing 'Blessed Be Your Name' might appear an unimaginative release. After all, live recordings of an artist's best known songs are released by the bushel load. Yet 'Blessed Be Your Name' is a huge creative and spiritual success and offers conclusive proof that Redman is the most important worship songwriter of his generation while as a singer he carries that rare ability to take even CD worshippers into a place of intimate worship. Though live, this is far from raw. Recorded at the songwriters' gathering at North Point Community Church in Atlanta, Georgia, producer Nathan Nockels has added embellishments at studios in Franklin, Tennessee and Brighton, England with strings overdubbed in Prague. Amazingly, despite all this tampering, freshness and sensitivity shine through. For a start the arrangements are fresh - listen to that delightful piano motif added to "Holy Moment" or the way Matt improvises in the Spirit at the climax of "The Heart Of Worship". In fact, wherever you look you'll find something musically inventive while you wonder just how this unassuming songsmith could have penned such a mighty cannon of songs. Those who've been following Matt's ministry since 1994'2 'Wake Up My Soul' and those who've just entered the Kingdom of God and were wondering what album could best express the worship in their heart will want this album.

The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms. Any expressed views were accurate at the time of publishing but may or may not reflect the views of the individuals concerned at a later date.

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