27th November, 2009
JUSTIN MICHAEL
Album: Kari Jobe
Artist: Kari Jobe
Year: 2009
Label: Integrity Media
"The struggle with this one is that it doesn't really stand out from the crowd very well. There's lots of music like this, but if you know Kari's work and if you know Gateway you'll want to tap into this. Again, it's the conundrum of the praise 'n worship disc; it's not really about whether the artist is entirely amazing, it's about the journey the songs facilitate." |
In A Word: Sweet (not the 'sweet, this is really hip' way, but the close your eyes and think of pretty things way - or something like that!)
Kari Jobe will be known to many as one of the worship pastors at Gateway Church in the US. She has featured on many of their projects and now steps out a solo artist with this debut offering. Produced by Ed Cash (Third Day, Passion, Chris Tomlin) and featuring the amazing Revelation Song you're in for a bit of treat.
Kari brings one of those honest vocals that sounds young, sweet and a offers a timbre that gives the lyric a strong conviction.
It's worth mentioning that amongst the songs you'll find a cover of Mike Guglilemucci's song Healer which took on a whole new meaning for Australian listeners in '08. Here you'll find another version full of conviction that reminds us it's still a great song with a message worth hearing.
Kari says she loves acoustic soft-rock and as a result you won't get the subwoofer rockin' with this disc but you will get songs with simplicity as a key ingredient such as Be Still (My Soul Be Still), No Sweeter Name featuring a squeezebox intro and some tidy mandolin lines and then there's My Beloved and Sweep Me Away which are probably self explanatory.
The little gem in the middle is probably Everyone Needs A Little where Kari taps into a little bit of Bethony Dillon and it's just a bit of extra flavour that makes this record a very chilled and quite a sweet listen.
The struggle with this one is that it doesn't really stand out from the crowd very well. There's lots of music like this, but if you know Kari's work and if you know Gateway you'll want to tap into this. Again, it's the conundrum of the praise 'n worship disc; it's not really about whether the artist is entirely amazing, it's about the journey the songs facilitate.
A good sounding disc with a sweet vocal and an honest delivery; Revelation Song and You Are For Me are the last two tracks and the best. Stick around till the end.
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