Review: Beautiful Things by Gungor
February 16, 2010
The Live Experience
Every once in a while a person gets to experience what will soon be known as a pivotal moment in the history of music and art. I believe that I have experienced this. It might never happen again in my lifetime, but as I sat mesmerized by the haunting and beautiful lyrical artistry painted by Michael and Lisa Gungor, I knew in my heart of hearts that this was something greater than I had ever experienced before.
Few times in my life have I ever been blown away, let alone engaged by, a performance that was so masterfully crafted and at the same time an offering of worship so pure and “right.” I’m not one of those guys who thinks performance and worship have to live in separate worlds. I’ve always held to the notion that performance CAN be worship and that we as performers should offer our performances as acts of worship. There is a fine line, though. A lot of times performances fall short of the heart of worship and leave us empty.
Not so with the live performance of Beautiful Things. In a room of about 150, there was not one person that wasn’t captivated by the musical journey that Gungor laid before us and invited us to travel. Throughout the performance, the energy in the room was tangible.
Using everything from classical guitar to banjo to keytar to a live string section to screaming rock guitars, Gungor used the familiar to weave together a musical tapestry that displayed a landscape of musical artistry that has not been traveled by many, if any at all. Elements that we’ve all seen and heard most of our lives and wouldn’t consider new were interwoven into a beautiful, new kind of worship music that captured the hearts and minds of those in the room.
When the last song had concluded the glory of God filled the room. There was a weight, almost like a cloud in the room. We all knew that it was a great performance, but above and beyond that God was with us in a manifest way. The standing ovation lasted for almost 5 minutes. And although we were applauding Gungor, ultimately we were applauding God for allowing us to be a part of His brilliant shining in and through Gungor that day.
Never before have I, as a trained composer and musician, been mesmerized by a performance as such. If you get a chance to experience this performance live, don’t miss out on the opportunity.
The CD: Beautiful Things
Most worship leaders are familiar with Michael Gungor. Even if you’ve never heard any of his recordings, you’ve probably sung a song of his the last decade. He co-wrote “Friend of God” with Israel Houghton (who makes a guest appearance on Beautiful things) and has more songwriting credit under his belt at age 29 than most of us would know what to do with in a lifetime.
If I could describe this recording with one word it would be “journey.” Michael writes, arranges, performs, gathers musicians, and ultimately records a journey. Beautiful Things is indeed an album of beautiful things.
The cd opens with a beautiful, classical guitar intro that builds to a driving rock anthem that ebbs and flows creating a wonderful tension as the song moves through. You’ll want to sit back and crank the volume on this one. The lyrics draw the listener in from the first word sung.
Each song paints a mesmerizing picture and carries the listener to a place of reverent and thoughtful contemplation.
What I am amazed by is the simple, repetitive nature of most of the songs. We’re not talking about extremely wordy songs here. Michael captures depth and beauty in a phrase and weaves it into a musical tapestry that sweeps the lyric straight to the heart of the listener.
Lyrically, each song is amazing. There is no “weak” song on this album. Songs that stand out: Dry Bones, Beautiful Things, You Have Me, Cannot Keep You, Please Be My Strength, Late Have I Loved You.
This is definitely a turning point in “worship” music. A pivotal moment in the way that worship artists express worship. The only thing that I’m having a hard time with is how this fits into the whole of worship music for the church. There is NO doubt in my mind that this was indeed a CORPORATE worship experience when I saw them live. There was not a person in the room who wasn’t engaging God throughout this performance.
However, the average church might have a hard time integrating this into “normal” worship. I definitely feel like a youth or college worship band could easily integrate any song from this recording into their corporate worship gatherings.
That being said, there is something here. Something new. Something fresh. Something that could shake the foundations of “normal” and push us into a new movement. I’m there. I recognize a new thing springing forth in a landscape of dry routine and status quo. Gungor has burst onto the “worship” scene with this album. Not in a commercial sense, but in a genuine “WHAT IN THE WORLD IS THIS?” kind of way.
Inspiration
I do believe this recording is a generation gap bridger. Young and old will connect to the masterful performance captured on this cd. Gungor moves through classical stylings to in your face rock to lilting folk to gritty blues and does them all well. This is no cheesy variety show though, it’s a fusion of familiar resulting in a rebirth of sorts. A new offering of worship that will engage the listener and draw them into the journey.
Even if you’re not able to integrate any of the songs from this recording into your repertoire, you MUST HAVE this album personally. It will inspire you to greater leadership, greater creativity, greater expression, greater contemplation, and ultimately just greater things.
GungorMusic.com | itunes: Beautiful Things
Related posts:
- Review: Klaus – Glory: An Evening of Worship with Klaus
- [Review] Can’t Be Silent: Youth For The Nations
- Album Review: Israel Houghton’s ‘The Power of One’
- [Review] Perfect Love by Christ for the Nations
- [Review] Relentless: A Worship Project
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Russ,
Thanks for the awesome review. I was blessed to experience this performance with you. I sat at a table of "dudes" ... and we all wept. I've said many times that it was perhaps one of the (if not THE MOST) inspiring moments of my life.
Indeed. This is probably my top music experience in my life so far. Hopefully this will be the first in many more (especially from folks here at TWC!)
Great review Russ - helps me feel even more jealous of those who were there
Really hope he brings this experience to the UK, though I'm guessing that's not overly likely. I'll just have to keep living it vicariously through friends, and remembering his & Lisa's amazing previews of what was to come at Hillsong 2008 (they'd started conceiving some of this album by then, but I don't think they could have imagined it would be as amazing as it is)
I do wish I'd caught this with ya'll. Listening to the c.d., I do like it, but it does remind me instrumentally a bit of Future of Forestry's "TRAVEL" e.p.'s and vocally, and as regards song structures, to Echolyn's "MEI". I have to say that I am at the same time both disappointment, and encouraged: I don't yet hear much I could imagine using corporately, but I love the over-all production style (it sounds a lot like what I am aspiring to). Anyway, I'm looking forward to listening to it more, maybe during an upcoming road-trip!
Therein lies the quandary. Any song in and of itself would be tough to insert into a corporate gathering, but as a whole, the live experience surpassed ANY live worship performance I've ever been a part of.
That's why I think we're all so blown away by it. It's not that it's the next greatest "normal" corporate worship collection. As much as it's a defining moment in musical worship expressions. Not even sure how to describe it.
What I loved about it was the non-normal nature of it (in comparison to what the majority of us do in worship music environments). There were no lyrics on screens, no hymnals, no "cheesy" mini sermons by the WL. It was just us, Gungor, and God. And the songs DO lend themselves to corporate singing. There was a room of about 150 people joining in (and joining in quickly) without onscreen lyrics.
The structure (simplicity and repetitive nature?) of the songs draws you in and draws you in fast. You can't help but worship along.
Like I said, it's hard to describe. I think the majority of us that are "seeing" (not just hearing) this recording differently are the ones who have the live experience to enhance/supplement our perspectives. If you can make it to a live show, do so! You won't be disappointed.
However, if you're looking at this from a "cd" standpoint and even on a how can this individual song be carried over into a "normal" worship service...I can see how you would be disappointed.
Russ,
I think you summarized my thoughts perfectly. What is so refreshing was the sound of the music, the artistry of the lyrics .. .but beyond that ... the multi-sensory approach of the whole thing being done "live". As Gary (our bass player) said when I described it to him, "it was a presentation".
Nevertheless, I'm sure that if you got a chance to hear Gungor, even with their smaller 5-piece tour, it would be amazing.
I found myself saying the same thing as the above comments. GREAT musically but a bit discouraged as a Worship album. I think the title track "Beautiful Things" could be woven in corporately somewhere, but not much else.
That said, when sampling this album on I-tunes nothing stuck out. Yet I purchased anyways and was beyond glad I did. This album is like a great story and you need to listen to it from beginning to end. There is such a good flow and so many different styles that come into effect. If taken out of context you can easily miss it!
Well worth the money, a great album to just sit back and study and listen to God...