Recorded live at Passion 2010, “Passion: Awakening,” released Tuesday by sixsteprecords, is the latest installment of the Passion series of albums featuring eight brand new songs from artist favorites like Chris Tomlin and the David Crowder Band.
The series is propelled by the desire to reflect the creative capacities that God has given to his human creation so that he can be seen clearly and worshiped in “vibrant color.” After a thorough listening, my conclusion is that “Passion: Awakening” delivers, but not in a way one might expect.
Described as an album filled with “emotionally charged” anthems by artists such as Hillsong United and FEE, one cannot go wrong. Kristian Stanfill’s recording of “Say” is an upbeat power anthem heavy with electric guitar while FEE’s “Rise and Sing” features a quick paced tempo of grunge contrasted with shrill and vibrant electric guitar solos which help to make “Passion” feel a little more rough around the edges.
Yet “Passion: Awakening” delivers more than grunge and vibrancy. David Crowder Band’s “How He Loves,” opens with a slow acoustic guitar accompanied by twinkling triangles and followed by brightly spirited guitars and a 22,000-voice chorus supplied by the audience. The delivery is celestial-like. Imagine yourself floating above the earth among the stars with a God who desires to show you all of what he has created. The song’s desire above all is to show you that nothing within the universe compares to you in God’s mind as Crowder croones, “He loves us / Oh how He loves us / Oh how He loves us / How He loves us so.”
Slow but strong melodies flow from the piano in Christy Nockels’ “Healing Is In Your Hands.” Singing over and over again “In all things / we know that we are more than conquerors / You keep us by Your love,” the repetition reminds the listener of healing in the midst of sorrow or trouble and of the importance of repeatedly reminding ourselves of the promise that no matter who or where we are, healing is in his hands.
“Passion: Awakening” also features the beautiful and powerful duet “Where the Spirit of the Lord Is.” Performed by Chris Tomlin and Christy Nockels, the song testifies to the beauty and goodness found in searching for and serving the Lord as number one. Together, Tomlin and Nockel’s singing compliments each other with great pitch during the verses and together in harmony during the pre-chorus. Yet Tomlin leads the chorus whereas Nockels’ follows through with an echo, finally joining him in harmony at the end. The strength of the duet reminds the listener that the Lord should be the central focus of any relationship as the source of all desires and needs. “Where the Spirit of the Lord Is” helps showcase that the search and desire for the Holy Spirit can be a team effort too.
The only downside to “Passion: Awakening” is that the music and lyrics can become somewhat cyclic. Almost each and every song has a 4/4 beat with the same vibrant guitar solos, the same peppy tempo, filled with similarly easy listening lyrics.
The album requires no deep, contemplative thought process. Yet this can also be its strength as lyrics spell out the truths of God’s character as greater, stronger and “higher than any other / Our God is healer / awesome in power” in songs like “Our God” and “You Alone Can Rescue.”
Glorifying and praising God does not always need to take effort and should come naturally. So sit back, relax and enjoy as “Passion: Awakening” will be sure to awaken a passion in you to glorify God.
