We Believe - Brian and Jenn Johnson

[twc_admin]

Hey Ya'll,

Well my friends around here have been telling me about this record for a while now. I even heard the title song on SongDISCovery, I think. It wasn't until this week that I made the connection - this "Brian Johnson (http://www.brianandjennjohnson.com)" is the son of Bill Johnson, the pastor of Bethel (http://www.ibethel.org) in Redding, CA. I love Bill, I love Bethel, I love what they teach, and the spirit they have. That made this album more desirable.

Shannon (http://www.myspace.com/setonedgeband), the Associate Worship Director of SSCC is leading worship this Sunday and he's introducing "O Taste and See" as the walk-in song. As soon as I heard it I said "Man, what is that song!?". When he told me, I thought "OK, that's too many people talking about this album and these worship leaders". Travis (the Tech Director) and I immediately opened iTunes (http://www.brianandjennjohnson.com) in the sound booth and bought the CD.

I can't review the entire album because I can't get away from two songs.

http://www.brianandjennjohnson.com/Library/images/store/large/brianJohnson_weBelieve_LG.jpg (http://click.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/stat?id=QJ*v0oJgqDc&offerid=78941&type=3&subid=0&t mpid=1826&RD_PARM1=http%253A%252F%252Fphobos.apple .com%252FWebObjects%252FMZStore.woa%252Fwa%252Fvie wAlbum%253Fi%253D198866422%2526id%253D198866038%25 26s%253D143441%2526partnerId%253D30)

"O Taste and See" (http://click.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/stat?id=QJ*v0oJgqDc&offerid=78941&type=3&subid=0&t mpid=1826&RD_PARM1=http%253A%252F%252Fphobos.apple .com%252FWebObjects%252FMZStore.woa%252Fwa%252Fvie wAlbum%253Fi%253D198866422%2526id%253D198866038%25 26s%253D143441%2526partnerId%253D30) - a more pop, british-sounding, driving song of praise - I love it, and I'm already considering it for Worship Under the Stars.

"Where You Go, I'll Go" (http://click.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/stat?id=QJ*v0oJgqDc&offerid=78941&type=3&subid=0&t mpid=1826&RD_PARM1=http%253A%252F%252Fphobos.apple .com%252FWebObjects%252FMZStore.woa%252Fwa%252Fvie wAlbum%253Fi%253D198866422%2526id%253D198866038%25 26s%253D143441%2526partnerId%253D30) - OK, this is the song that made me blog (http://www.fredmckinnon.com/myblog/index.php). OH MY! SWEEP ME AWAY. Unless your congregation is a bit more acclimated to a more prophetic, open worship style, this may be more applicable for your personal time of prayer and worship. I can't turn this up loud enough. I can't listen to it enough. This has a very strong "Don Potter" touch on it ... I dunno if Brian and Jenn would agree, but I wouldn't be surprised if they've been influenced by Don, as I know he's done a good bit of teaching in their school of worship at Bethel.

The beginning of the song is OK - interesting, unique ... but it's the explosion of spontaneous, open praise and worship that bursts forth later into this 10-minute track that leaves me lost in a place of an incredible captivity.

If you only have $.99 to spend - get "Where You Go, I'll Go" ... if you can shell out $1.98 - get the other song. $9.99 gets you the entire album on iTunes. (this link (http://click.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/stat?id=QJ*v0oJgqDc&offerid=78941&type=3&subid=0&t mpid=1826&RD_PARM1=http%253A%252F%252Fphobos.apple .com%252FWebObjects%252FMZStore.woa%252Fwa%252Fvie wAlbum%253Fi%253D198866422%2526id%253D198866038%25 26s%253D143441%2526partnerId%253D30) will open iTunes, assuming you have it installed, and will take you straight to this album in the music store)

Hope it stirs you the same way it moved me!

For the Kingdom,
Fred

[SozoSoldiers]

Hi Fred,
Yes, I was actually sitting at the keyboard today at lunch, playing "Where You go, I'll go" It's an awesome song. - Actually it's the reason I purchased the CD; I heard the song on Brian and Jenn's myspace. I think it would work great during a night of worship or soaking also.

And FYI, all of their chord charts/lyrics are available on www.brianandjennjohnson.com

Bless ya,
Alicia

[Michael G]

Hi Fred. I'm also a big fan of "O taste and See" and absoulutely love "Where You Go I'll Go", but I have confidence that you can pull away from those 2 songs long enough to check out "I Will Bless Your Name", "I Was Created To Worship" and "More Of You And Less Of Me" on this CD.... AWESOME SONGS! This whole CD is really worth purchising. Go Ahead and break the piggy bank open folks and download all the songs! You will be glad you did! God bless you!

[El Ben]

I made sure to watch you @ the Christian Renewal Brunswick night of worship to see the look on your face when we did "Where You Go, I'll Go."

I hope you enjoyed it as much as you look like you did.

[SaintLewis]

My personal fav's on the c.d. are "Greatly to be Praised" and "Isn't He Great", but I think it would take a very particular group of folks to really grab hold of those corporately...
sad, because when those songs come on my ITunes/IPod I practically have to pull over (if I'm driving) - the lyrics and the music are like a 1-2 punch to the head for me.

[El Ben]

Bethany, your sis-in-law, has gotten me hooked on "A Little Longer." Jenn is kind of Alanis-ish in this song. Takes me back to high school days, lol. It's a beautiful, if a little haunting little ditty.

[Guitarman Warrior]

This CD is awesome. My pastor's wife is Bill Johnson's sister and we have had Bill, Bob (her other brother) and Brain an Jenn at our church many times. Fire always came down in those services. One thing that is cool is that we heard Taste and See when Jenn first wrote it. That song is kickin'

I played "Where You Go I Go" for a service and man God just moved in my heart. It was next to the last Sunday at my church before I moved. I think I listen to this song almost everyday and never get tired of it.

[chipshot0701]

Once again I say thank you to all of you for pointing out great worship music for me!
I hardly have time to listen to new music as well as any older music so I rely on all of you to do my research for me.

Peace and love
mike

[rkweblog]

Good stuff this album is. Like I commented on your blog, I know the producer, too.

[twc_admin]

Hey -
I heard somewhere that Don Potter produced it ... is that true? Don Potter is like the king to me (small "k") ... incredible! I dunno if he really produced it, or if just has a lot of influence on it.

[Bjastein]

My brother got the CD from an American friend who's been at Bethel church several times. He showed it to me and when I heard "Where You go" I was blown away! We're gonna play it at our next youthmeeting. That song is awesome. The entire album is awesome!

Actually a lot of faroese christians that I know are planning on going to that bibleschool in Bethel. What's it called? "School of supernatural"?

[twc_admin]

Yeah - it's an awesome school - I've got friends that have been out there .. I'd love to go myself!

[SaintLewis]

Hey Fred - take me when you go.
I've been reading Johnson's "Supernatural Power of a Transformed Mind" and - when I'm not furious at him for somethinge he's written that I absolutely disagree with - it's one of the most powerful books I've read in a long time. Some very good stuff there, even if I am continually wanted to correct him on minor issues of doctrine (yep - I'm an idiot). Highly suggested, in spite of myself, and my issues.

[SaintLewis]

I just got news that Brian & Jenn will be back in the area (Brunswick, GA) sometime in January... ;-)

[Klampert]

This is an amazing worship CD and should be in every worship leaders bag or shelf or MP3 player...a must have for sure.

[russhutto]

So, we're finally introducing O Taste And See, in our worship set this December. I'm excited about rocking it out and seeing how it goes!

[IanMcIntosh]

haha the Don Potter rumor!!! :-D

Brian basically heard Don do the chord progression (Bm F#m/A Em) and immediately knew he had a song for it. Don didn't even really think anything of the progression at the time actually haha. All the songs on the record are produced by first Brian, then second a guy name Jeremy Edwardson who helped us out with the album.

Fun times. Good recording session. We learned a lot with that one.

Also, Brian is working on a new project that is just like acoustic, pad and falsetto stuff... very angelic sounding. I think he's titling it "Heaven"... so look for that... it's gonna be ridiculous... I'm super excited for it

[El Ben]

I was checking out their blog the other day and he said something about a CD with Jenn "going for it." I tremble with anticipation.

[twc_admin]

Ian,

Thanks for the clarification ... and hey ... tell Brian and Jenn to come visit us here on TWC!

Also ... are you coming w/ them to "Warship Conference" @ Bethel East here in our hometown in Feb?

FM

[SaintLewis]

haha the Don Potter rumor!!! :-D

Brian basically heard Don do the chord progression (Bm F#m/A Em) and immediately knew he had a song for it. Don didn't even really think anything of the progression at the time actually haha. All the songs on the record are produced by first Brian, then second a guy name Jeremy Edwardson who helped us out with the album.

Fun times. Good recording session. We learned a lot with that one.


Odd. So Don didn't do any work on the c.d.? I must've misunderstood him on that, as I am pretty sure we discussed the Johnson's recording when we met last year.

[IanMcIntosh]

Don's been a father figure in worship to Brian now for quite a few years, he gave LOTS of advice to him, and I guess played an executive role in the album... there wasn't any direct contact however from whenever we recorded. Don really has given us all a lot of amazing input and we value him a lot. He's brilliant. I think his role helped produce the album in an indirect way tho, if that makes any sense :-). Doesn't really matter tho I suppose haha

[uh-oh16]

love this song. Heard it live at the call last year. These guys are definately refreshing...this song was amazing live. it actually goes over better than i had thought it would in a song list for college service. catchy song that can't find it's way out of my head.