Paul Baloche - Live In Asia
Artist:
Title:
Live In Asia
Type:
Album
Released:
25 Aug 2009 (US), 01 Sep 2009 (UK)
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Review
I have to say I like to think I know a bit about Christian music and when the latest albums are released, but this album seemed to slip me by. I was told about this album by LTTM mate Dave Wood, when he saw it on the Integrity music website, he went on to ask me "Did you know this was released?", "No" was my reply but I knew I wanted to review the album. For all who don't know Paul Baloche is an American worship leader from Community Christian Fellowship in Texas and has been recording albums since 1992....
Read More I have to say I like to think I know a bit about Christian music and when the latest albums are released, but this album seemed to slip me by. I was told about this album by LTTM mate Dave Wood, when he saw it on the Integrity music website, he went on to ask me "Did you know this was released?", "No" was my reply but I knew I wanted to review the album. For all who don't know Paul Baloche is an American worship leader from Community Christian Fellowship in Texas and has been recording albums since 1992. He was nominated for Song of the Year in both the 2002 and 2003 Dove Awards and nominated for Songwriter of the Year in 2002. He was also involved in the amazing Compassionart project with Martin Smith.
This album is called "Live in Asia" and was recorded live in Seoul, Korea and goes through Paul Baloche's back catalog of songs which he has written over the years. Let me start by saying how the album as a whole sounds. Overall it has a raw feel, which is a great thing. It sounds like someone just decided to press record at the start of a church service and see what came out. Don't panic, the quality of the music has not been compromised, it's just the feel of the album. It's raw, aggressive and passionate and that's what I love in my worship albums, no frills passion-led God glorifying worship.
Live in Asia starts with "O Come Let Us Adore Him" which is the one chorus which honestly could have had more made of it. This track starts by building up and even repeating the chorus, we are then led straight into "Hosanna" which I think is one of Paul's biggest and best tracks. With his excellent vocals and worship leading this track is in your face and you will be singing the chorus "Hosanna, you are the God that saves me, worth of all our praises" all day and night. For the next two tracks "Rock of Ages" and "Open The Eyes of My Heart" we have to head back to 1997. The ways these songs are played and recorded have not really changed much since the original records, and if anything "Open The Eyes of My Heart" sounds very similar to the Sonicflood version of the song.
In between the songs Paul leads us into times of prayer and verses of encouragement which makes you feel you're there with everyone else worshiping The Lord. On this CD "Above All" sounds amazing with Paul stepping back and letting the congregation lead the singing. We end with probably the most well know Hymn "How Great Thou Art" which is always a great way to end a time of worship, just read the lyrics, Amen.
The album comes with a DVD of the event, which is fantastic, it isn't your Hillsong production with big flashing lights but is a true film of what happened and how it happened. This is a fantastic live collection of songs by Paul Baloche, all of his biggest and most well known songs are on it. Buy this album, worship God, that's what this album aims to achieve and that is what it does do, and it does it well.
Review by Jono Davies
LTTM Rating 4.5 out of 5 Stars
Standout Tracks
Above All
Hosanna
How Great thou Art
