Tim Hughes: Holding Nothing Back

[Michael G]

ALBUM REVIEW: HOLDING NOTHING BACK
ARTIST: TIM HUGHES
Get it on ITunes (http://click.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/stat?id=QJ*v0oJgqDc&offerid=78941&type=3&subid=0&tmpid=1826&RD_PARM1=http%253A%252F%252Fphobos.apple.com%252FW ebObjects%252FMZStore.woa%252Fwa%252FviewAlbum%253 Fi%253D219113467%2526id%253D219113204%2526s%253D14 3441%2526partnerId%253D30)

This new recording by Tim Hughes starts off up tempo with the song "Happy Day", a song that is sure to have those feet dancing like the little penguin Happy Feet. Yes it sure was a happy day when Jesus washed our sins away and we will never be the same, forever we are changed!
Tim slows it down a little with the second song "The Highest and the Greatest". This is a song I could see being sung by many congergations in their contemporary service. "You are the highest the greatest, you are the Lord of all".
The third track "Everything" is a good song for your personal worship time. "God in my living,breathing,walking,sleeping,resting,working, thinking,speaking, be my everything".
The number of good songs slows down a little bit till track 7 "God of Justice". I don't see this song being used much but it has a very good message for all of us. "Keep us from just singing, move us into action, we must GO. Fill us up and send us out." Amen. Lord let our worship be worship that comes from servants.
The 9th track, the up beat "Center of it All" is one of those tracks that I can see getting alot of air time on the radio and being a Passion favorite, but I don't see it being used in many congergations or in personal worship time.

This recording is the weakest of Tim's 3 releases. There is definitly no song on here that will make it throughout the church like "Here I Am To Worship" did. All in all I would give it 3 out of 5 stars. Happy Day, The Highest and the Greatest and Everything still make this cd worth giving a listening to.

[fmckinnon]

Thanks, Michael!

I edited/inserted the iTunes link for this album ... I love Tim Hughes, he's a great writer - I'll checkout those songs you mention.

[SaintLewis]

We're actually introducing "Happy Day" at youth group this Wednesday - the band absolutely LOVED IT, so I'm excited to see how the actual youth respond.
I'm also partial to the songs "Clinging to the Cross" and the absolutely beautiful "Living for Your Glory", both of which have wonderful lyrics and memorable, singable choruses. I must admit that I've not heard the entire cd from beginning to end, but I've really appreciated Tim's growth as a songwriter. His debut cd, HERE I AM TO WORSHIP, though it had the excellent title track, and "Day after Day", was - at least to me - too 'me-centered' to be an ideal 'worship album'. Even the chorus of the title track was about us - "Here I AM to worship". It's not that I don't think there is a place for that - the Psalms have a number of examples of it as well - his debut cd was almost entirely about our response to God, rather than a revelation of the God to whom we are then led, by the overwhelming nature of that revelation, to respond. WHEN SILENCE FALLS, however, was a step in the right direction, with deeper, almost hymn-like lyrics, and beautiful minimalist production, however it was so meditative as to be much more ideal for personal worship. What I've heard of this cd seems to be a good step forward from both of those - theologically solid God-centered lyrics, and up-tempo, memorable music & melodies. Anyway, I love Tim's work and am so glad he's got a new cd out!

blessings...

[SozoSoldiers]

Hi Michael,
We introduced Happy Day a couple weeks ago, and the congregation seemed to really get into it. The youth had a blast worshipping to it. It's a great way to celebrate!

Bless you,
Alicia

[Klampert]

Good review...I actually really liked this CD...I think it shows some great writing maturity in him