Rebecca St. James delivers a powerful message with the release of her most recent album, I Will Praise You. This awe-inspiring collection leads the listener through a time of worship. Delivering a lesson in theology, I Will Praise You clearly states the glory and majesty of God, His omniscience, His power and His amazing grace.

No matter where you are in your personal journey of faith, I Will Praise You is relevant; whether praising God from the mountain top or crying out to Him from the depths of the valley, your heart is can’t help but worship God for all He does and can do in your life. This is a masterful collection presented by St. James.

What a beautiful collection of songs delivered by St. James’ smooth yet obviously powerful voice! I truly enjoy how the songs vary in tempo and message. This album is recommended to all and acceptable listening for all ages. Don’t be surprised if your children suddenly break out with the up-beat chorus of “You Never Let Go” while traveling in the car. Yes, it’s that catchy.

Would you like to listen in on I Will Praise You before you decide to purchase your own copy? Here’s where you can join St. James’ Listening Party!

CD provided by publisher. Thank you!

Disclosure of Material Connection: Reviewer received one or more of the product mentioned above for free in the hope that it would be mentioned on CWAHM.com. Regardless, CWAHM only recommends products we would use personally and believe to be good for CWAHM’s audience. Disclosed in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255:  “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

I was excited when I received a copy of After The Chase‘s new CD, Make Me New. I’d read a about them and was really looking forward to checking out their music. I certainly wasn’t disappointed. I love the CD – the music is awesome and the lyrics are meaningful and heartfelt.

The husband-wife team released their first CD in 2004 and their sophmore release was signed and released by RPI, a subsidary of Campus Crusade for Christ.

A little more about the album:

Their recently released sophomore album “Make Me New” captures in song their emotions and journeys of the last few years. Just like the book of Psalms, it is filled with fervent prayers, heartfelt worship, and anguished questions… their songwriting is skillful, beautiful, gritty, and winsome all at once. Produced by veteran producer Nate Sabin (Jason Gray, Dove Award nominated Sara Groves), this album takes ATC’s music to a new level.

Leah Martensen is a talented artist. Her newest CD, Still… , is a great example of her talent. It contains 10 tracks including songs like Ten Thousand Angels, Something Beautiful and The Beauty Of It All. I did have one small complaint in that the CD seems really soft compared to other CDs I own. Overall, though, I enjoyed listening.

Sample tracks can be listened to on Amazon and more information can be found on Martensen’s website.

I’ve loved Cindy Morgan’s music for years, so I was very excited to hear that she has a new album out. I’m even more thrilled to have the opportunity to review it!

The CD is gorgeous. I don’t know if music can be ‘gorgeous,’ but that’s the word I’d use to describe it. Morgan’s voice is strong and rich and the songs are full of deep, meaningful lyrics.

The CD has 11 brand-new songs (which you can hear snippets of on Morgan’s website) and each is delightful. My personal favorite is number five, The Sun Shines Through. The title track, Beautiful Bird, is another of my favorites. Each track has a little different feel and it makes for a wonderful listening experience.

A little more information about the album from Morgan’s website:

Cindy Morgan’s latest project ‘Beautiful Bird’ is her first official venture into producing her own record. “I have produced my own demos for years and spent the better part of my adult life in a studio, but until now haven’t felt completely ready for such a task. I have been very fortunate to work with so many great producers over the years. The last couple of years, there has been a little voice in my head telling me to step out and stand on my own two creative feet. So that is what I decided to do. I am heading up the production of this record, but certainly not without a lot of help on the technical side of things with my engineer and co-producer Stephen Leiweke.” (Jars Of Clay, Margaret Becker, Kids In The Way) “My weaknesses are Stephen’s strengths. Among other things he is so good about allowing me take all the time I need to explore an idea and figure out how to get it onto tape.”

The CD can be purchased from iTunes or CindyMorganMusic.com.

I was thrilled to get the new Rush Of Fools CD, Wonder Of The World, this past week. Their sophomore release finds them stronger than ever and I think their music, while wonderful before, has matured.

The new CD releases September 16th and features 10 new tracks. My favorite track is Holy One, a beautiful song with a beautiful message.

On their website, the band talks about their new CD:

“It doesn’t matter what aspect of life you’re working on, you always have to learn how to recreate something,” says Wes Willis, lead vocalist/songwriter. “You always have to learn how to grow and change and from a musical aspect, that’s definitely what we’ve done with this album. There was a lot of growth, I think, but not too far away from worship, because that’s who we are.”

I truly love this CD. It’s fresh and meaningful. Ginger Millermon’s own story is a beautiful one and it shines through in her music.

I love to listen to this music as I drive around town running errands with my kids. It always puts me in a good mood and reminds me how truly blessed we each are to be loved by such an amazing God.

If you want to learn more about Ginger check out her book, Grace Thus Far, which tells her story:

Grace Thus Far is a story of hope and healing, tragedy and triumph, and Ginger Millermon’s journey of extreme faith. This book chronicles the premature birth of her twins, and the ensuing medical struggles of her son Jarrott. “Grace Thus Far” will make you laugh, cry, and feel the pain of the Millermon’s daily struggle as Ginger shares excerpts from the personal journal she kept during this journey. You will be encouraged, moved, and strengthened in your faith.  (From GingerMillermon.com)

Legacy…Hymns of Our Heritage

David Klinkenberg

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More About David Klinkenberg from the Press Release:

(NASHVILLE, Tenn.) September 25, 2007 – Accomplished violinist David Klinkenberg, best known for his touring and performing with highly regarded artist, Jim Brickman, Mark Schultz and as an artist in his own right, delivers his unique style of worship with the release of his latest project, Legacy…Hymns of Our Heritage…Hymns of Our Heritage, exclusive to Family Christian Stores. On this record, which was made available on September 18, Klinkenberg delivers an array of classic hymns tinged with gospel, bluegrass, jazz, pop and old world; played in unique worship only Klinkenberg’s "fiddle" can convey.

From the ethereal strains of "Holy, Holy, Holy," to the Celtic-influenced cadence of "Be Thou My Vision," Klinkenberg takes the familiar melodies on a journey not heard before. On the project, Klinkenberg even offers up a bluegrassy version of "A Mighty Fortress Is Our God" and easily transitions to a moving rendition of the world’s most famous hymn, "Amazing Grace." David Klinkenberg’s artistry continuously points you past the performer and toward the Creator.

Klinkenberg has been developing his artistry as a violin player since the age of four. As his talent developed, he began playing churches and local concert halls leading to his current relationship with Brickman and achieving success with his tours of solo performances. But for Klinkenberg, the feeling he gets playing his "fiddle" is nothing short of a powerful worship experience, rather than a mere performance.

"My first memories are of playing the violin," Klinkenberg notes. "And I started playing the violin in church at a very early age, so the concept of worshipping with the violin was ingrained in me as a child. Now it is hard for me to worship without the violin. It was just such an integral part of my spiritual development."

Legacy…Hymns of Our Heritage…Hymns of Our Heritage follows Klinkenberg’s well received Christmas CD, The Carol of Emmanuel, which released last year as his debut Family Christian Stores exclusive. The project has sold in excess of 150,000 units to date and will be re-released this season as well. For more information, visit www.davidklinkenberg.com.

For more information on David Klinkenberg , visit his website.

(provided by L.A.B. Media)

Review by:

Jill Hart, CWAHM.com

I love upbeat, snappy music and I fell in love with this album right away. Britt’s voice is beautiful and the music itself draws you in. I think we’ll be hearing a lot more from this new artist!

Be sure to listen in above to hear my interview with Britt! 

~ Jill

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More about Britt Nicole from her Press Release:

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (May 9, 2007) – Up and coming recording artist Britt Nicole will release her highly-anticipated debut project, Say It, on May 22, 2007 through Sparrow Records/EMI CMG Distribution.

The first single, "You," from Say It recently debuted at #30 on R&R’s AC Monitored chart and has already hit # 17 on R&R’s CHR chart and #22 on CRW’s CHR chart.

Through her upcoming release, on which all songs were written or co-written by Britt, the newly-signed Sparrow artist reveals her heart for this generation as it resonates on the album with her edgy sound and timeless message. "Say It is basically my answer to God’s call to be real and share who I am with others – imperfections and all," says Britt.

Say It features a fresh, high-energy blend of hip-hop, reggae, pop and rock mixed with Britt’s impeccable vocals and compelling lyrics. From the upbeat tunes, "Holiday" or "Good Day," which uncover Britt’s energetic side and breath of fresh air message, to the deep and challenging lyrics of "Set The World On Fire" and "When She Cries," Say It boasts an impressive, solid musical and lyrical quality.

"We are incredibly excited to have Britt Nicole as a part of the Sparrow Records family," states Peter York, president, EMI CMG Label Group. "With her depth of ministry, heart for young people and through her own life experiences, Britt has a great deal to say. We’re honored as her label family, to be the vehicle to help communicate her message through this amazing new project. I believe Say It will be a welcomed addition to many record collections and iPods as fans embrace her unique brand of pop music. We have high goals for Britt and her career, as we’ve already seen the impact her music is having in America and around the world."

Co-produced by Double Dutch (Josiah Bell & Robert Marvin) and Tedd T, Say It features 11-tracks that are packed with Natasha Bedingfield and Gwen Stefani-like anthems brought to life by Britt’s satisfyingly soulful vocals.

The first radio single, "You," which is quickly climbing multiple radio charts with its catchy-unforgettable melody, encourages listeners to look no further than to God for all their needs.

With precise craftsmanship and a mature depth, Britt, who regularly works with her own church youth group, tackles issues plaguing this generation, such as divorce and insecurity; giving her listeners a deep yet fresh perspective on life. "It’s about different issues…it’s about writing things that really mean something to me, many from personal experience, in order to bring hope and change to others in their own lives," Britt said.

In addition to her upcoming release, Britt was recently a featured artist on the 2007 WinterJam Tour, sharing the stage with a number of highly respected Christian artists such as Jeremy Camp, Hawk Nelson, Sanctus Real, Newsong, and Steven Curtis Chapman. The tour garnered a strong audience response and a great deal of attention from fans being drawn quickly to Britt and songs from the new project.

A sneak-peak preview of Britt’s song "Indestructible" can also be heard on the WOW Next 2007CD, available at Christian bookstores nationwide.

For more information about Britt Nicole, please visit myspace.com/brittnicole, www.brittnicole.com/ and http://www.sparrowrecords.com/.

Review by:

Jill Hart, CWAHM.com