The City Harmonic's HEART {Album Review}

ALBUM TITLE: Heart

ALBUM ARTIST: The City Harmonic

FAVORITE TRACKS: Here & There, Praise the Lord, Alive, Alive, Glory

RATING: 4.8/5

Multiple-award winning Canadian Band The City Harmonic recently released their highly anticipated sophomore album Heart. After the release of their debut album I have a Dream (Feels Like Home), The City Harmonic became the subject of Christian forums, garnering numerous nominations including their recent four GMA Canada Covenant Awards (happening Nov. 6 at Burlington, Ontario) as the Artist and Group of the Year, Praise and Worship Song of the Year and Music Video of the Year for their epic song Holy (Wedding Day). Reflecting life lived by the band members since their full-length debut, the new album shifts from the dream of what could and should be to the complexities of how to follow the true humanity of Christ’s example in the world.

HEART starts with an elegant piano orchestration Here & There. You can feel a heavy and very thick emotion, then in a sudden drop Elias Dummer entered in a soft voice. Its poetically-written lyrics will amuse you with its depth: “The heart is like Pandora’s box with just a crack it’s opened up to beat anew when all is lost to run, crawl, come home,” it describes a new life in Christ—who brought us into light, having a heart that is broken & contrite in repentance.There’s a grace for today so Praise the Lord; a song that reminds us to praise the Lord, rain or shine, whether you’re in darkness or light, in good times & bad—in every circumstances, because Jesus Christ is Lord. Its excellent packaging has been their signature along with their radio single City on a Hill; a clear exhortation of the Beatitudes/ Sermon on the Mount found in the book of Matthew chapter five. The piano-oriented Strong is birthed in the middle of Eric Fussilier’s battle with cancer he co-penned this anthem with Elias. The theme of God’s light shining in the darkness is one of the noticeable attributes of the songs throughout the album.

We all live in a fallen world; full of sorrow, pain and desperation, and no one is exempted to this. We can feel it all and sometimes we’re being discouraged and in doubt of God’s power. But Jesus said in John 16:33:”Take heart, for I have overcome the world!” it is the reminder of the song Take Heart, to re-affirm our trust and faith in Him. With the same message comes the upbeat Alive, Alive; an assurance in Him that though we walk through the valley (Psalm 23), He’ll never leave us for He’s alive that’s why we’re alive. Acoustic-based Love, Heal Me is a humble prayer for healing, honest and straight from the heart of the bassist Eric. Its instrumentation is somehow parallel to NeedToBreathe’s Lay ‘Em Down. The 28-second rhyme Songs of Longing, Joy and Peace is a prelude to Glory; an excellent expression of worship to Jesus the glory of God. The synths and lively beats will excite you

Love is highlighted with the songs Live Love& the rarely titled 1+1. Respectively, the one conveys the message of the extravagant love of Jesus, to make it the foundation of our lives, and the other one is about marital love. Long Walk Home is gorgeously presented in an acoustic plus maracas ensemble. It describes the journey of the prodigal son home to his father. Another acoustic-based song Brand New is a message of need of a Savior and Redeemer that He alone can make us brand new. To conclude the album, there’s their harmonious & ethereal cover of the classic hymn My Jesus I Love Thee; any listener would love to join the chorus together with the choir on proclaiming our love to Him our Savior.

Heart is simply honest and raw. This jam-packed 14-track album is a rousing journey of faith, hope, love, healing and grace found in Jesus. Breathed upon by God, all of the songs are straight from the heart. A wonderful reminder and help for us to imitate Jesus. No wonder why The City Harmonic garnered lots of nominations and awards from various giving bodies! Open you heart and listen to the beat of the Heart!

ABOUT THE CITY HARMONIC

2011 Breakout Artist of the Year The City Harmonic barreled its way from Hamilton, Ontario, Canada onto the music scene with Introducing The City Harmonic, an EP featuring “Manifesto,” which soared to No. 5 on iTunes and captivated over a million viewers on YouTube. Top that with becoming the best selling new artist on Billboard’s Top Current Digital Sales Chart (over 80K downloads), and it’s enough, among life’s crazy distractions, to get your attention.

But this band—vocalist/songwriter and pianist Elias Dummer, bassist Eric Fusilier, guitarist Aaron Powell and drummer Josh Vanderlaan— isn’t content to feed the machine or build a fan base so much as to build upon a dream. And not a dream as in a fairy tale. But THE Dream. These four guys grapple with the tension of this world, crafting it into anthems of longing, hope, and love—songs of light for ‘seeing through a glass darkly.’ The City Harmonic makes music that makes you reconsider what you really believe… about yourself, your world and your God.

Follow him on social media sites:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thecityharmonic

Twitter: @TheCityHarmonic

See more at: http://www.thecityharmonic.com/

ABOUT INTEGRITY MUSIC

Integrity Music is a division of David C Cook, a leading nonprofit global resource provider serving the Church with life-transforming materials. Headquartered in Colorado Springs, Colorado, Integrity’s resources are distributed in more than 160 countries and sold worldwide. Originally founded as a direct-to-consumer music club in 1987, Integrity grew into one of Christian music’s biggest success stories and in the process helped ignite the widespread popularity of contemporary praise and worship music. Integrity Music’s roster includes: Lincoln Brewster, Paul Baloche, Rend Collective Experiment, All Sons & Daughters, Brothers McClurg, Daniel Bashta, Gateway Worship, New Life Worship, Christine D’Clario, ALM:uk, Planetshakers, Worship Central, Brian Doerksen and GRAMMY Award winners the Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir and Israel Houghton.

See more at: http://integritymusic.com/

Disclosure: I received free review copy of the album in exchange of my honest review and opinion. Special thanks to Ms.S.Walker

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Dustin Smith's Rushing Waters {Album Review}

ALBUM TITLE: Rushing Waters

ALBUM ARTIST: Dustin Smith

ALBUM LABEL: Integrity Music

BEST TRACKS: Yahweh, Let Justice Roll, Lord of All, Rushing Waters, You Are the Fire

RATING: 4.8/5

Any believer would agree that the most anticipated day of all Christians is the second coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The day when all tears will be wiped away, every sorrow, pain, grieving and loss will be replaced with joy, love and pure peace; when everything will be made brand new, and everyone will just worship Him throughout eternity. Apostle John made a clear account and description of that coming day in the book of Revelation. On the 19^th chapter, verse six, he declares: “Then I heard what sounded like a great multitude, like the roar of rushing waters and like loud peals of thunder, shouting: Hallelujah,for our Lord God Almighty reigns!” Inspired by these passages, the song Rushing Waters was born through the heart of Dustin Smith. Serving as the worship leader at World Revival Church in Kansas City, Missouri, this song has already made a very powerful impact across the world. The songs that are captured in this 14-cut latest live worship album from Smith are reflection of how will worship look like there in heaven.

Starting with the song Yahweh, its high level of musicianship gives an excitement to the entire song. It describes the power, greatness and the kingdom of God. The pre-chorus encourages us to open up the gates and prepare the way for our King (Psalm 24:7). Accompanied by electric guitar, the people’s participation is well manifested as they sing-out and clap, shouting out Yahweh! With more intensified energy, Let Justice Roll reflects the passages found in Amos 5:24, and as the song ends, Dustin prays in a loud voice a prayer for healing, hope and restoration.

Drum rolls that started the prayerful song Let Justice Roll are still present in Never Ending Flood. Dustin describes Jesus’ love, grace and mercy with the depth & waves of a never ending flood. Before the track ends, in an atmospheric moment, he loudly exhorted the Lordship of Jesus Christ in Philippians 2:10-11, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow and every tongue confess that Jesus is Lord to the glory of the Father—preparing for Jennifer Basler’s singing of the short & ethereal version of the classical hymn All Hail the Power of Jesus’ Name, a prelude to the overwhelming Lord of All. Both are exhortations of Christ’s Lordship.

Piano-laced To You Alone and Reign Over Me(co-written with Michael Farren) are perfect songs for devotional/ quiet moments, both are moving and heartwarming; a song of praise and exaltation, and a song of total surrender, respectively. Breathless declares the wonders of our perfect, matchless and indescribable God; it is well expressed by Basler’s strong and powerful voice. Co-written by Dustin and Dove Award winning songwriter Jennie Lee-Riddle, The One That Really Matters (Chaotic Love) is a worshipful ballad, the refrain is extremely powerful & soul-stirring.

With the atmospheric title track Rushing Waters and poetic Never Ending Flood, it’s noticeable in this album that there are some nature elements present to describe some songs. There’s the epic chorus Let It Rain composed & sung by Farren and Rain Down on Us, both are songs of thirst & hunger for God’s presence, perfect for soaking sessions. Fan the Flames is a prelude to You are the Fire which encourages us to ablaze for God—our consuming fire. Each of these songs is beautifully crafted and meaningful indeed.

I commend Dustin Smith’s passion for writing biblically-sound and theologically-rich songs. You can see his heart, not just to write “good”, “melodious” and “attractive”ones, but he wants to bring up pieces that will stir up people’s lives through their biblically founded meanings.Captured in this album is just a glimpse of what we’ll be doing for eternity. Empty your heart as you listen to this album and let God pour out His spirit like rushing waters! Shalom!

ABOUT DUSTIN SMITH

Dustin is an Integrity Music Artist, Song Writer and Worship leader, who has a desire to see the nations ignited with a passion for worship. With an unyielding love for God and His people, Dustin has been able to cross denominational lines with his music. He has an attitude that gives God all the glory, and that attitude transcends age, race, color and creed.

Dustin is a husband and father of three, who grew up in a Pastor’s home and has been in church his whole life. He has seen the joys and challenges of working and growing up in the church, but his dedication to seek the face of the God has caused him to rise as a voice to the nations that increases the value of God in other people’s eyes.

Follow him on social media sites:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dustin.smith.94043

Twitter: @dustinwrc

See more at: http://www.dustinsmith.com/

ABOUT INTEGRITY MUSIC

Integrity Music is a division of David C Cook, a leading nonprofit global resource provider serving the Church with life-transforming materials. Headquartered in Colorado Springs, Colorado, Integrity’s resources are distributed in more than 160 countries and sold worldwide. Originally founded as a direct-to-consumer music club in 1987, Integrity grew into one of Christian music’s biggest success stories and in the process helped ignite the widespread popularity of contemporary praise and worship music. Integrity Music’s roster includes: Lincoln Brewster, Paul Baloche, Rend Collective Experiment, All Sons & Daughters, Brothers McClurg, Daniel Bashta, Gateway Worship, New Life Worship, Christine D’Clario, ALM:uk, Planetshakers, Worship Central, Brian Doerksen and GRAMMY Award winners the Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir and Israel Houghton.

See more at: http://integritymusic.com/

Disclosure: I received free review copy of the album in exchange of my honest review and opinion. Special thanks to Ms.S.Walker

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Integrity Music Artists, Albums Honored With GMA Canada Covenant Awards Nominations

NEWS SOURCE: Integrity Music

September 25, 2013

The 35th Annual GMA Canada Covenant Awards nominations were recently announced, with Integrity Music artists The City Harmonic, Ben Cantelon, All Sons and Daughters and Paul Baloche all receiving honors. Founded by the Gospel Music Association of Canada, the Covenant Awards honor artists, songwriters and producers who are contributing to Christian music arts in Canada.

Named New Artist of the Year in 2011, receiving Praise & Worship Song of the Year last year and gathering four GMA Canada Covenant Awards nominations this year, The City Harmonic add their first nods for both Artist and Group of the Year. Natives of Hamilton, Ontario, The City Harmonic have won four Covenants so far. And in addition to their Group and Artist nominations this year, the band is also nominated for Praise & Worship Song of the Year and Music Video of the Year for "Holy (Wedding Day)" from the band's internationally acclaimed debut album, I Have A Dream (It Feels Like Home).

Ben Cantelon, a Langley (Vancouver) native who is now working with London's Worship Central, was honored last year with a Covenant Award for Modern Worship Album of the Year for his full-length debut Everything In Color. This year, Cantelon's song "Savior of the World," from that same album received a nomination for Modern Worship Song.

New to the Covenant Awards and receiving nominations for International Album of the Year are Tennessee-based worshipers All Sons & Daughters and Texas-based worship leader and Dove Award winning songwriter Paul Baloche. All Sons & Daughters were honored for their CD/DVD Live while Baloche was honored for his French album Glorieux.

In addition, Integrity's album Brian Doerksen: Ultimate Collection was honored with a nomination for Special Event/Compilation of the Year.

The 35th Annual Covenant Awards ceremony will be held in Burlington, Ontario on November 6. Additional information is available at www.gmacanada.ca.

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