Besides being an incubator for songwriters and worship leaders, Hillsong Church in Australia has also produced some good worship albums both with their main band, Hillsong Live, and their youth band, Hillsong United. What I appreciate about these albums, including the new Hillsong Live A Beautiful Exchange, is that they play bombastic rock pop. They do not skimp on drums, they do not turn down the guitars, and they do not play schmaltzy keyboards. While not everyone may like Christian worship rock, Hillsong Live shows how a band can do it well. (Of course, there are also tracks here that don’t rock, but more on that in a moment).
Of course, Hillsong is a mega-mega, 25,000 member church with multiple satellite locations around the world, so they set the standard pretty high for any church thinking they can “bring it” in the same way. Yet, why should Christians and churches sell themselves short? Thinking of indie rock ‘n’ roll where plenty of unsigned bands write and play great music without much support, why can’t “indie churches” cultivate that same thing?
Why can’t “indie churches” develop artists who are creative and independent? Why can’t those church artists be confident in their God-given ability to lead powerful, rock ‘n’ worship that doesn’t have to copy a mega church but instead create their own vision? Why can’t worship be as strong as an indie rock show that’s incredible even though the room is only half full?
That said, A Beautiful Exchange, has its share of worship balladry that probably will not appeal to a rock ‘n’ roller. But check out the higher energy tracks which praise God with a rock ‘n’ roll spirit: “Our God is Love,” “Open My Eyes,” “The Father’s Heart,” and “You.”
I know that Hillsong wants to capture worship on record so that others can experience it. Worship leader Reuben Morgan has said, “This is not about an album.” Yet, what I have in my hands is a CD produced to go in my stereo as a work of art. And for a rock ‘n’ roller, the album suffers from too many candle lighter/arm-swaying ballads. Hillsong Live’s upbeat songs set you up for that energy to continue—not dissipate on what feel like obligatory, less original worship ballads.
Hillsong Live
Worship Together
Sparrow Records
