Review

Paul Baloche - Our God Saves
Integrity's Hosanna! Music, releases September 18

Integrity Music's poster-boy Paul Baloche is back with a brand new album of 13 worship tunes. "Our God Saves" comes in relative proximity to Baloche's "A Greater Song." Historically, Paul's releases have been pretty spaced out, but not this year. "Our God Saves" is an amazing collection of songs that, while staying true to what makes Baloche's tunes so powerful, ventures into new territory with regard to melody and song structure.

It sounds as if Integrity allowed Baloche to take a similiar approach to this record as with "Greater Song" - the record sounds like a mix of studio tracking with live sessions. The new record is excellent and reclaims some of Baloche's previously renowned ability for hooky, immediately listenable tunes. "Greater Song" was an excellent record, but personally, those songs took awhile to connect. I ended up loving that record, but it didn't grab me right at first. "Our God Saves" will grab you, slap you a few times, sit you in a chair and fill the room with pure joy and adoration.

1. Our God Saves
This Brenton Brown/Baloche opener kicks off with an engaging drop-D electric guitar with a slight touch of delay along with a kick-drum pounding out "4 on the floor." Who doesn't like dropped D, right? The opening track is a slow-burn, building to a bigness but exploring a more straight ahead, jangly style of playing that's seems new for Baloche. Lyrically, the song goes a couple of different directions, which I wasn't crazy about. Perhaps its "opening" nature will allow it to work without being hurt by it's rather random lyrical approach. Where the song struggles with linearity, it sails with melody. Paul and Brenton have managed to take a song built with pretty much the same 4 chords and still make it interesting. I think a lot of churches will gravitate to this tune, although I think it's odd Americana-meets-U2 flavor might present problems for groups who are used to songs that rock easily. This one doesn't, but it's still a strong piece.

2. Kingdom of God
This minor-chord rocker is outstanding. Come on, it's a worship song that cries that God is "training these hands for war / showing me how to fight" set against a musical backdrop that sounds like a musical bed for a final climatic fight-seen in a movie. (As a matter of fact, when I brought the CD home and popped into the CD player, my daughter and I danced around the room as my son immediately staged some sort of imaginary fight in the living room.) It's an epic tune, complete with a large "Hey!" and some great guitar voicings. Here we get some melody variation that is a complete surprise but perfectly designed for this aggressive tune. The open hi-hat/wah solo section is pretty tasty, too. Churches with skilled electric players are gonna' dig this song. Come on, give that shredder a little of the spotlight, worship leaders!

3. Rock of Ages Will Stand
Mandolin, acoustic guitar and a nice comping bass line accompany this modern take on "Rock of Ages." Essentially, Paul takes the lyrics of the old hymn and sings them with a new, but simple melody. The chorus section is nice, not too wordy...it might sound a bit too sparse for my taste, but I would imagine that it's awesome with a congregation singing along. Thematically, the song is perfect. Baloche sticks with his original idea and each line supports it.

4. Beyond Us (Only True God)
Nice augmented acoustic chords and big drums make this anthemic 6/8 tune the new hymn for 2008. Led by female vocal, the tune is awesome. The melody is tricky in the verses; it can be done, but worship leaders should be prepared for this one to take awhile to catch on congregationally. Another thing working for this tune is the fact that it's a worship song about the Trinity. There aren't a lot of those around, and this one would be perfect for any service focusing on themes of God's nature and identity.

5. Prayer
This isn't a song, but rather a passionate prayer from what sounds like a Sunday morning service at Paul's church. Paul's band builds perfectly, using synth and electric swells to transition from this corporate cry into the standout track on the record, "Hallelujah To My King."

6. Hallelujah To My King
A Brown/Baloche collaboration that could (and should) replace "Open the Eyes of My Heart" as The Baloche Song Every Church Knows. I'm not kidding here - Baloche and Brown have outdone themselves. Great hook in the introduction, fantastic melody and a chorus that must be shouted. If anointing can truly be captured on a CD, this is where it happens. The lyrics on this one are pretty broad, but I don't care. It's an awesome song.

7. I Cling To The Cross
Matt Redman and Paul teamed up to write this one and sing it together. Here we see a new approach to song form. It's essentially a one-chorus song with a "bridge" section performed just once. The extended spontaneous singing toward the end of the track is well done, not overplayed, but honest. Personally, I love the idea of songs about the cross. I think it's something we've lost as hymns have slowly disappeared from our catalogs. Lyrics are perfect here - simple and centered on Christ's sacrifice as our only hope of redemption.

8. You Gave Your Life Away
Led by electric guitar (w/ quite a recognizable tone: think Snow Patrol) and Rhodes, the song is a simple tune with a nice repeating "You gave, You gave Your life away." I like that the tune never gets "big." Electric guitar, Rhodes, Hammond along with a little crowd mic and the song is a nice break in the overall production value on the record. My only problem is that the tune comes after we've heard quite a few songs saying the same things. It's a great song, maybe not the most original idea. I'm not considering this as necessarily a bad thing, as a given church may find this tune so much more applicable than other tunes.

9. Praise
I find it funny that Baloche, a dude from the East Coast, ended up in East Texas and digs country music. On "Praise," he finally nails it. I think he captures just enough country-shuffle to fit his style to make this song work. I can see congregations where I live getting all up in this song. I'm not nuts about the creation-theme as the song starts. The 2nd verse is way better, but when all is said and done, folks are going to remember the sliding melody of the chorus, the nice Nashville guitar and the large "WE WILL WAIT ON YOU!"

10. The Way
"The Way" was one of the most creative songs on Paul's "God of Wonders" live record, but never really got the justice it deserves. It gets a makeover on the record and is aided by the wailing vocals on Mr. Lincoln Brewster and his smoldering lead-work. I think this tune is one of the most original takes on the concept of seeing God in our everyday lives.

11. God Most High
Co-writer Glen Packiam takes a verse on the tune, and while Packiam's voice lacks a little of Paul's luster, the tune is a nice, orchestral pop worship tune. The tune sounds really "modern," the overall minor-begun chorus and the drum and orchestra work. Not sure how this one will play in the local church; might be too big for most of us. But it's fun to listen to!

12. How Great Thou Art
I can't help think that this must have started out as a jam. I love the song's Keith Urban-feel and was most impressed with where Paul and the band place their energy. Rather than exploding on the chorus, the song remains nice and consistent until the end of every chorus where it takes off with a nice two-chord change. (Also a very "country" move, now that I think of it.) Yes, there's plenty of Edge-like electric work. Sorry, I'm a sucker for the U2 stuff, guys. I know, I know - it's old hat. My blog, my review! Delay is awesome!

13. Great Redeemer
This piano ballad might just be too complex for congregational use. I like the Beatles influence. (Is that a Rickenbacker I hear?) This is probably my least favorite on the record, but for what its worth, it sounds totally at home in a culture that's embracing piano-pop again.

14. Your Love Come Down
I don't know if Paul Baloche is trying to become a CCM pop star with this tune, but it might happen regardless. This bluesy, loop-filled rocker is a completley produced "studio" work. It's a blast to listen to, although I'm not sure it would work in a church. (Not my church, at least!)

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Here's my theory: long-time Baloche fans are going to listen to the record and think, "Holy cow, this guy actually keeps getting better!" New listeners are going to find interesting songs that appeal to a number of musical preferences without sounding trite.

And churches are going to be blessed by these tunes.

You need this record.