Louder Than The Music

The new Jesus Culture album 'Come Away' hasn't left my iPod since its release. I loved it from the moment I heard it and still love it. It has to be one of my favorite albums this year and there have been a lot of good albums released over these last twelve months. If you want to read my thoughts about the album, please head over to my review which feature on the LTTM site a few weeks ago.

Part of the package of the new live album from Jesus Culture is a bonus DVD to go alongside the album, an added extra if you wish. Fundamentally the DVD is the live footage of the event that Come Away was recorded at. Filmed at the Jesus Culture Encounter Conference in Redding, California earlier this year in front of a full house of passionate youth and young adults this DVD accompanies the CD very well.

The 'Come Away' CD and DVD both contain 10 tracks. The DVD, which was recorded in High Definition with 5.1 audio, also features additional content and extended versions of select songs. The album was mixed by Sam Gibson (Delirious?, Pearl Jam, Crowded House) with audio production by Jeremy Edwards (The Myriad) and video direction by Nathan Grubbs.

The DVD starts off very dark until the opening track Come Away bursts into life. This DVD is one that lets the music do the talking. Saying that the production of the DVD is very good and the lights and the way it's recorded tries not to distract from the primary point of the DVD, it's there as a tool for worship and that's what it is.

The stage is darkly light with a back drop of lights, which light up in different patterns at different times of songs. This simplistic use of light and stage setup seems to not let people get distracted when worshiping. The stage lighting is either very dark or very bright in different songs, with a particularly brightly lit stage during the amazing My Soul Longs.

The large crowd packed into the venue are so engrossed in the worship from the off that they spend a large majority of the DVD with their arms in praise to the almighty God. 

In regards to the filming of the DVD, again a simple yet effective approach has been taken, there is no sudden movements from the camera work, no quick back and forward shots, yet in this simple and steady approach, there are some amazing moments captured, with great overall shots of the event, showing people worshiping. Directed and filmed with a cinematic approach without loosing and distracting from the amazing worship music of Jesus Culture. There are some great overhead shots of the crowd throughout the DVD and especially during the song Let It Rain.

The DVD has some tracks that are a bit longer compared to the CD and also an extra track, 'Kingdom', that doesn't appear on the track listing of the CD. This bonus DVD to the album is a wonderful extra to have and one that shows the band worshiping with heart and passion.

You should already know by now that my view is that Come Away is a fantastic release, and one that is worth checking out. Jesus Culture have had a fantastic last few years and long may it continue.

Review by Jono Davies

LTTM Rating 5 out of 5 Stars