the joint review » Fee http://thejointreview.com Just another WordPress weblog Mon, 09 Aug 2010 03:10:29 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 Fee: Hope Rising http://thejointreview.com/2009/10/02/fee-hope-rising/ http://thejointreview.com/2009/10/02/fee-hope-rising/#comments Fri, 02 Oct 2009 17:16:06 +0000 klampert http://thejointreview.com/?p=249

Purchase Fee: Hope Rising –
Artist official site

SYNOPSIS
KLAMPERT: I have been a Fee fan since hearing him with Passion. Then I got to see him lead worship live in Nashville at the Re:create Conference 2009. I absolutely love his work and his heart. So I was very excited to hear this new CD. Let me start off by saying I was not paid to do this review…ok here we go.
PRAISE GOD for Fee! This CD is brilliant. It is flippin’ amazing and I can’t say enough good about it. It rivals Sojourn Music Over the Grave for best CD of the year.
I honestly expected more of what was on Burn for You, but what we get here is something so much better and larger in scale. There are so many great songs on this one that I am floored. It’s very rare to get a CD where every song grabs you. Add Hope Rising to that small exclusive list.
Fee is a great singer, with what seems to be a small yet high range, and evokes a ton of passion for God in every breath. There are so many nuances and interesting hooks. Lyrically it isnt abstract, but at the same time doesn’t fall into the cliche worship trap. I really wish guys like Fee would become more of a household name because what Fee offers us on this CD is one of the best modern worship CD’s I have ever heard.
BYRD: Hope is Rising has been a LONG TIME COMING! What a ridiculous release by Steve Fee and company. Steve Fee and Amena Brown’s voices got me prepared for Passion’s One Day with an “in the car prep CD” and I’ve been captivated by both of them actually since then. For Steve’s 3rd release, but most likely the official first real introduction to many this CD just kills! KILLS! I don’t think there’s a weak spot in the lineup of songs and contrary to my other absolute favorite CD out right now, any of these stand alone by themselves. Why not just put on shuffle after the 3rd listen or so and change things up?
Fee and company keep things very modern in the musical sense but there are some throwbacks to that sound that I fell in love with back with Sacred Space. It’s admirable to hear an artist continue to push himself and not lose an identity.
MAHONEY: I’m  a pretty new convert to the Fee camp, although I did enjoy some songs on We Shine. So it is from this viewpoint I can say: This is one of the best worship albums I have ever heard.The record draws you right in with the fun worship anthem “Rise and Sing.”  I am totally convinced this will be the next song I suggest for our church.  The mood keeps going with “Great to Be Praised.” and “Glory to God Forever” – and doesn’t let up.  Steve Fee’s vocals, while not especially “amazing”, are very dynamic.  The album is full of interesting phrases, unexpected notes, and clever melodies.  And while his falsetto might be hard for some worship teams to emulate, I have no doubt that keying down will make most of these songs very attainable (and popular).I think my favorite (and it’s hard to pick just one) track is “Arms That Hold the Universe.”  It’s not a worship song per se, but it is a beautiful tune, very encouraging and uplifting, with a great hook and feel.   Either that or “Rise and Sing.” Or “God is Alive”  Or…
VANCE: My first introduction to Fee was when we started singing “All Because Of Jesus” at church.  What an amazing song that is.  As time went on, more Fee songs began to grab my attention.  However, it was when Fee played to small crowd at Recreate 2009 that I was completely blown away.  These guys have talent and love to worship God.You can see that for me the new album Hope Rising had a lot to live up to.  It was at the concert I first heard “Glory To God Forever”, which they announced was to be an upcoming song on the album.  Fantastic!  When they recorded an acoustic version on YouTube a while later I was all over it.  Anticipation for the album was even higher now.I can tell you that this album does not disappoint, not one bit.  It is brilliant.
BOTTOM LINE
KLAMPERT: Can’t say enough about this CD. If you don’t buy it then you have issues. If you do get it and don’t like it then you most likely need your hearing checked or some type of surgery.
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
BYRD: The songs are just so dang singable and they sound INCREDIBLE. There are camp songs, worship songs, church songs, praise songs, crank loudest in your car songs! I know Steve was talking on Twitter about grief over the autotune on his voice on “Promised Land” but again, I love it when Praise & Worship artists aren’t afraid to push the limits and do something different. Have I said that this CD kills already? IT KILLS!
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
MAHONEY: Amazing album.  Best I’ve heard in a while, with some songs that should become congregational staples. Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
VANCE: 11 absolute stellar worship songs! Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
MUST HAVE SONGS
KLAMPERT:

  • Rise and Sing
  • Great to Be Praised
  • Glory to God Forever
  • God is Alive
  • Everything Falls (this should be the radio single)
  • We Crown You
  • Arms that Hold the Univers (should be radio single #2)

    OK! so simply put This entire CD is a must have

     
BYRD: I don’t think there’s really any weakness here so if you wanted a brief intro of the mix:

  • Rise and Sing
  • Everything Falls
  • We Crown You (Kristy Nockels? Beautiful!)
  • Hands of the Healer (vintage Fee sound)
  • Promised Land
  • Arms that Hold the Universe

…that ended up not being as short as list as I expected :) but this CD KILLS! It kills!
MAHONEY:

  • Rise and Sing
  • Great to Be Praised
  • Glory to God Forever
  • God is Alive
  • Arms that Hold the Universe
VANCE:

  • Rise and Sing
    Love this song – a great start to the album.
  • Great To Be Praised
    This song is first class!
  • Glory To God Forever
    You already know I love this one!
  • Everything Falls
    This does the same thing to me as Delirious’ Every Little Thing.  It reassures me God is in control.
  • We Crown You
    This is a really nice worship song.
  • Hands of the Healer
    I like the lyrics a lot here.
  • Arms That Hold The Universe
    Another great song of comfort.
  • Your Love Is Better Than Life
    Totally rocks.
  • Send Me Out
    Finally, one of my favourite songs on the album.
SONGS FOR CHURCH
KLAMPERT: Almost every song can be done here so I guess I will just list what I plan on introducing.

  • Rise and Sing
  • Great to Be Praised
  • Glory to God Forever (I have been doing this one since March and LOVE IT!)
  • God is Alive
  • Send Me Out
  • We Crown You (next one I will introduce)OK FINE!! I guess at this point I’m having a hard time deciding. They are all so good! Can’t we do all of them? 

BYRD:

  • Rise and Sing (those coming to camp will here me do this song! HA)
  • Great to be Praised
  • Glory to God Forever
  • We Crown You
  • Your Love is Better than Life
MAHONEY: Fee has a tendency to do songs in B and C, so some may have to be stepped down a bit, depending on the worship team and congregation.  But hey, that’s what capos are for!

  • Rise and Sing. (I really want to do this one)
  • God is Alive. (…and this one)
  • Great to Be Praised
  • Glory to God Forever
  • Arms That Hold the Universe (Will make a great special/message accompaniment)
VANCE:  The following songs are energetic and will liven up any set list.

  • Rise and Sing
  • Great To Be Praised
  • Glory To God Forever
  • God Is Alive
  • Your Love Is Better Than Life

These next songs slow things down.  I want to describe them as “worshipful”, but I’m sure we will get some smart @ss in the comments telling me, “Well, actually, all the songs are used to worship”.  I know.

  • We Crown You
  • Hands Of The Healer

I think these will make good special songs (sermon related, offering, etc.)

  • Everything Falls
  • Arms That Hold The Universe
  • Send Me Out

“Send Me Out” would also be a good congregational song.  It would be great to get a congregation singing this and believing every word.  That would be awesome.

The Joint Review gives Fee: Hope Rising Overall Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

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