Capitol CMG / Sparrow Records
Release Date: October 20th 2023
Reviewed by: Jonathan Andre
Brooke Ligertwood – EIGHT (Amazon mp3/iTunes)
Capitol CMG / Sparrow Records
Release Date: October 20th 2023
Reviewed by: Jonathan Andre
Brooke Ligertwood – EIGHT (Amazon mp3/iTunes)
Hey everyone… guess what! It’s the middle of July in 2023 already! But I’ve just found out that within our last ‘best of 2022’ post about our top 30 albums of 2022 (5-star reviews!) [the list of other top albums of 2022 is coming very. very soon!]; we have not included some albums! Perhaps you’ve noticed, perhaps you haven’t! Anyway, the reality is that last year, we created a brand new category- and that’s for deluxe edition and best-of compilation albums. Pitting them in our list again all original albums… isn’t fair at all- because it’s like comparing different kinds of albums! And so, as we rectified this issue last year, and explored our favourite 15 deluxe albums of 2021; this year we’ve increased the list to 25! So… without further ado, let me present to you all our favourite 25 deluxe edition albums as a site for the entire of 2022! Impacting and inspiring songs are special, but a re-release with added tracks confirming the timelessness of the original album in question? They’re even more special! So sit back, be inspired, and let these deluxe edition projects minister to you during this time of uncertainty!
Continue reading BEST OF 2022- PART 5: TOP 25 DELUXE EDITION AND BEST-OF COMPILATION ALBUMS OF 2022
Hey everyone… guess what! It’s July 2023… and totally unacceptable that we haven’t posted many ‘best of lists’ from 2022 thus far. There are lots and lots of albums to honour though, and it’s time to rectify this issue right away! So without further ado, let me present to you all our favourite 30 albums as a site for the entire of 2022… the albums that scored 5/5! Impacting and inspiring songs are special, but whole album masterpieces? They’re even more special! So sit back, be inspired, and let these full length projects minister to you during this time of uncertainty!
Continue reading BEST OF 2022- PART 4: TOP 30 ALBUMS OF 2022 (all of them 5 stars!)
Capitol CMG / Hillsong Music Australia / Sparrow Records
Release Date: November 18th 2022
Reviewed by: Jonathan Andre
Brooke Ligertwood – SEVEN (Deluxe) (Amazon mp3/iTunes)
Capitol CMG / Hillsong Music Australia / Sparrow Records
Release Date: February 25th 2022
Reviewed by: Jonathan Andre
Brooke Ligertwood – SEVEN (Amazon mp3/iTunes)
I think I’ve confidently asserted this statement many times throughout the years, but I think I will say it again. The year of 2021, like the year of 2020, has delivered time and time again, in terms of presenting to us some pretty inspiring and thought-provoking albums and songs. Though hectic, chaotic, seemingly out of control and messy; 2021, more than 2020, was the year in which I have grown the most in my musical tastes, and it’s the year that I have found more albums and songs that has resonated with me. But maybe that’s because I was more aware of releases this year than any other year. Partly because of me branching out into different types of music because of my own accord due to me being more at home due to COVID-19, and also partly because of me and Jon writing our blog series about influential artists of all time- and us being exposed to more different types of music that way.
Continue reading BEST OF 2021- PART 3: TOP 25 ANTICIPATED ALBUMS OF 2022
I don’t know what your stance is, on this conglomerate of a megachurch called Hillsong. Everyone would have their own opinion. Including me. People may feel like Hillsong have harmed the community and society in general more so than they have wanted, more so than the good that they profess they want to do, and so, Hillsong is a word that brings up a lot of guilt, shame, hurt, anger and disappointment in some people. Others may swear by it, declare that Hillsong in all its music and sermons, are the best they’ve heard and seen in years, and may only listen to Hillsong Music (Worship, UNITED and Y&F) and will only listen to Brian and Bobbie Houston preach, alongside their ministry team. Again others would also think of Hillsong as a decent worship band, but in the grand scheme of things, they may think of their sermons as being too structured and ‘religious’, too leaning on prosperity doctrine that they may still listen to music from Hillsong, but just listen to someone else for their sermon ‘fill’- besides there are many pastors and international speakers out there, from Louie Giglio, Andy Stanley, Francis Chan and Levi Lusko, to Ravi Zacharias, Brad Jones, Erwin McManus, Beth Moore, Christine Caine and Nick Vujicic, to name a few. And so herein, lies the point: that Hillsong in all its facets and nuances, in all its attempts to do right, and how at many times there’s been instances and occurrences where people may think they’re intentionally doing wrong; in all of that, Hillsong have continued to plough through, at least musically, to create a catalogue of musical albums across three different distinct outlets to create a worship ministry that has been delivering powerful songs and heartfelt melodies all the way from the start with songs like ‘Shout to the Lord’ and ‘The Power of Your Love’, to the most recent with ‘King of Kings’, ‘Good Grace’ and ‘Another in the Fire’. We may all have opinions as to their validity in society today, and whether they are truly as important, influential and impactful as what people also say as well. And regardless where we all stand on the ‘love for Hillsong’ spectrum, one thing cannot be denied- their songs nevertheless, have an emotion and heartfelt poignancy about them that, for me personally, rivals only that of Chris Tomlin and Casting Crowns, as they (Hillsong Worship, Hillsong UNITED and Hillsong Young & Free (Y&F)) give to us songs that can touch and move our spirits, especially in this time and place in the world today. Say all we want about Brian and his Hillsong ministry, but much of the discographies of these three incarnations of Hillsong, are touching people’s lives around the world. Just maybe, it’s only going to be a matter of time before the songs touch yours as well.