ReVue: Kari Jobe
March 3, 2009
Welcome to another “ReVue” from TheWorshipCommunity.Com – where we ask several worship leaders to give their thoughts on albums and resources for worshipers.
Kari Jobe: Kari Jobe (Integrity Music)
For over 13 years, Kari Jobe has been involved with worship groups that have ministered around the world. In April 2006, she took a position as a Worship Pastor at Gateway Church in Southlake,Texas, where she serves on a regular basis. As a singer/songwriter Kari has written impactful worship songs that congregations sing weekly. Kari’s debut album includes songs co-written with Chris Tomlin, Ed Cash, Paul Baloche, Klaus Kuehn and Mia Fieldes.
Where To Buy
The ReVue Team
From Kim Bontrager, Director of Worship at First Mennonite Brethren Church, Wichita, KS
I have been a fan of Kari Jobe since first hearing her on live worship recordings from Gateway Church. Her distinctive voice carries some of the most beautiful moments on those projects; her songs focus on the intimate relationship between God and his children. On this solo album, Kari retains these distinctives, but in a context of a studio-produced recording. Of the twelve tracks, four are new arrangements of songs previously released on live worship projects. The new songs retain Kari’s singular focus of creating vehicles of praise; a few would be good to feature as special music in worship, but I don’t see them as great choices for congregational songs. Overall this album is great for personal listening and private worship more than it is a source for corporate worship songs.
From Mike Mahoney, Children’s Network Pastor and worship musician at Gospel Light Community Church, Bridgeport, CT
I don’t have a lot of female artists on my .mp3 player. That’s just how I roll. I sing in the car and can’t hit soprano parts. So I was unsure what I was going to get with this album. What I got was a record that is clearly produced to be listened to, not to inspire congregational worship. In a way, this quiet, thoughtful, contemplative album is the antithesis of Gateway Worship’s big stadium sound – and for the most part, it works. This record would be great to play during devotional time. In fact, I just might. Of course, Kari Jobe could sing a Denny’s menu to the tune of Pachelbel’s Canon and it would be worth listening to. But one thing is clear; Kari Jobe is a worshipper, and lets you hear her heart on this record.
From Joel Klampert, “Music Director, Worship leader, Youth Director, Marketing and Design Guy” at Lifepath Church in Middletown, RI
I have been waiting for this CD for years. Ever since I heard Kari sing with Klaus Kuen and then later with Gateway I have been enthralled with her simple yet powerful voice. The tracks I have from her are some of my most treasured worship songs and I just love sitting with my ipod, volume up to 11, listening and entering into worship with her. So needless to say when I heard that Integrity was signing her as a solo artist I was stoked!
From Chris Vacher, Director of Worship at Orangeville Baptist Church, Orangeville, Ontario, Canada
I’m familiar with Kari from ‘Revelation Song’ and this CD does nothing to sway my opinion that she is one of the most talented singers we have heard in a long, long time. Her voice is featured over and over again on this album with really nice songwriting and instrumentation. The production is top-notch, which is no surprise coming from Ed Cash. While everything about this album is very nice, I found myself a little disappointed with the repetitive nature of the songs and the lack of diversity overall from beginning to end.
Track List
1. I’m Singing
Kim: Good opener, both the tone and the theme of the song. Sets up Kari’s unwavering focus of praise. Seems like a viable choice for a radio single
Mike: Clearly the lynchpin of the record. Bright and airy, and easily listenable.
Joel: This was a major departure from what she has been known to sing, but I love this song. My first listen I wasn’t impressed but I can’t stop singing this song now.
Chris: This song is a nice opener. Really sets the stage for this CD. The production work on this album starts out fantastic. Nice to see that Kari has had some good co-writers on this project – here with Ed Cash and Chris Tomlin.
2. Healer
Kim: First time I’ve heard a studio version of this song. Definitely has a place in congregational worship depending on your church’s view of healing. 
This arrangement seems more accessible for most worship teams than some I’ve heard; it seems to take the emotional edge out of it, but leaves the straight-ahead truth intact.
Mike: I give props to Kari for including this song, given all the controversy it has generated in the past year. I truly love her interpretation of this song, which I think is one of the better ones on the record.
Joel: First off. WOW. I still do this song in my services, but after last year I am surprised they recorded this. I absolutely love her voice on this and it is very close to her Live sound.
Chris: I remember hearing that Kari was doing this song on her album but forgot until it started playing. As soon as it began, all of the memories of the story surrounding this song came back to my mind. It took me a while to just focus on Kari’s performance but once I did I was reminded of how incredible this song is. Her version of this is beautiful and progresses really nicely from beginning to end. If Integrity plans to push this song to radio, it will be a hit.
3. Everyone Needs A Little
Kim: Good hook, a well-produced track. Pulls Kari out of her ‘leader of intimate worship songs’ genre. This is the song that kept playing in my head the day after listening to the entire project.
Mike: Nice groove with approachable vocals. I like this tune.
Joel: Again this was not what I expected, but honestly this is my favorite track on the CD. It has a real Sarah Groves feel to it and I love it.
Chris: Kari’s voice is amazing on this track and is featured so nicely. The melody on the chorus is very sweet and I LOVE the ‘everyone needs a little’ hook. Again, a nice co-write with Ed & Chris.
4. Joyfully
Kim: Not a stand-out track for me.
Mike: Can’t fault a song that echoes Psalm 23. Nice, easy melody, catchy hook.
Joel: This has such a 90’s sixpence or Sarah McLachlan feel to it. It is a great song. I am a real sucker for this kind of sound.
Chris: This is where I really started to notice a similarity with another favourite female singer of mine, Brooke Fraser. Definitely sounds like someone at the label wanted the final product to sound like her. The vocals on this song are way out front – but who am I to argue with Ed Cash?? There were a couple of spots in this song where the lyrics left me a little confused – ‘Your gentle mercy washing over me’ – not sure what that means.
5. Beautiful
Kim: New arrangement of a song previously released on a live worship project. This song (not necessarily this arrangement) might translate to corporate worship with the right vocalist and the right set of music/scripture around it. A great example of Kari’s thematic & stylistic focus.
Mike: Can you co wrong with Paul Baloche as a co-writer? Not on this song. Great lyrics, and some of the most heartfelt vocals on the album.
Joel: This is on the last Gateway DVD that I can’t stop playing. This song actually tears me up. I like the live version better, but this song is so amazing.
Chris: Wow! This is a killer song. This definitely takes the right moment, the right feel, the right voice to pull it off – and Kari does!! I love the production – very airy and dreamy, reflective and worshipful. So layered and so much open space at the same time.
6. My Beloved
Kim: Beautiful blend of lyric, melody, instrumentation, and vocal style. This is an intimate love song from God to his children.
Mike: Tender and sweet. Beautiful arrangement.
Joel: This song is on a CFNI CD. It was good then and it still is. Again I think I like her live on this one better though. A beautiful song.
Chris: If you read my review of Freddy Rogriguez’s album then you know how much I like the romantic lyrics. I gave this song one listen but that was about as much as I could take.
7. Singing Over Me
Kim: Thematically, a brilliant choice to follow ‘My Beloved’. Unusual perspective about God’s songs never stopping as He sings over us, and that being a catalyst to our faith.
Mike: Nice, middle-of-the-road pop ballad.
Joel: This is probably my least favorite on the CD. It just doesn’t work for me. I love the pre-chorus though.
Chris: I love the vibe on this song. The CD was starting to slow down a little bit but she picks it up here. This girl’s voice never gets old!! Wow.
8. No Sweeter Name
Kim: Previously released as a part of a live worship recording (Gateway Worship “Living For You’). A simple, truthful song of praise constructed of two melodic hooks & a bridge. Easily singable for a congregation and allows for flexibility in instrumentation.
Mike: Another Gateway rehash. Simple and repetitive. Nice vocal arrangement.
Joel: Another song from the CFNI days. A very simple worship song. I like this one and it really works with her voice. It is however one of my least favorites on the CD. I think It would sound great as a tag on to another song.
Chris: All I can think of when I hear this song is that it must have come out of a personal worship time for Kari. Definitely has that vibe to it. I wonder if she’s posted song stories online anywhere? I really like this song but some of the little lifts in the melody line get a bit repetitive.
9. Be Still
Kim: A beautiful, sweet song based in scripture; a gentle exhortation to ‘be still’. The quintessential combination of ethereal vocals & writing that is distinct to Kari.
Mike: Practically “a capella,” this song brings Kari’s amazing voice to the forefront. Gentle, intimate guitar ballad.
Joel: The is a great meditative song. It’s great song for your prayer closet. I’ll probably use this one for Holy week. The Cello in it is fantastic.
Chris: I’m starting to want an epic, rocking song right about now. Kari’s voice is amazing, these songs are nice and the production is impeccable but I’m needing something to hang on to and I’m just not getting it.
10. Sweep Me Away
Kim: Not a stand-out song for me, but definitely in keeping with Kari’s signature style.
Mike: Nice little percussion groove. Soaring vocals. I could see myself playing this to accompany someone.
Joel: I really like this song. Something in the production of it though falls flat for me. I’d love to hear this one done live.
Chris: All I wrote for this one was “Same old, kinda.” Yikes. She’s starting to lose me.
11. Revelation Song
Kim: This has become of my favorite corporate worship songs, one that is so powerful it should be used carefully & thoughtfully. This arrangement explores ethereal tones for much of the song, which sets up Kari’s vocals perfectly and makes the eventual full rhythm of the instrumental bridge even more powerful. That’s where I got chills.
Mike: How many times are we going to hear this song? To me, “Revelation Song” is an anthem, meant to be played big with a lot of dynamics. The gentleness of this version’s beginning gives way to a powerful ending far too late in the track for my tastes.
Joel: To me this is the song that got her the solo deal. It’s such a powerful song. I did not like the simulated bag pipes in the song. To me they messed it up. I think everything else is pretty close to the live version. I love this song.
Chris: This is the song that people are most familiar with from Kari. The intro off the top is really nice and let people know that this is going to be a bit different than what they are expecting. I love the really simple piano lines on this record – understated and very tasteful. We haven’t done this song yet at my church but I need to change that. Killer words and beautiful melody! The build to the instrumental is a beautiful moment.
12. You Are For Me
Kim: This might be my favorite song of those new to me. It’s a beautiful, piano-driven proclamation of God’s love for us. Kari’s raw, emotional vocal artistry is amazing on this song. Reminds me of Nichole Nordeman’s early songs.
Mike: Wow. Very heartfelt and powerful. You can really sense the love she feels from God in this song.
Joel: This song is ok. The lyrics are great and so is the beautiful string arrangement, but overall this wasn’t my favorite song on the album.
Chris: Really nice epilogues to the album. Sounds like it’s a personal prayer from Kari straight to God. Really beautiful but, again, more of the same. I’m really wishing there was just one flat out high energy rock song.
Publisher’s Summary
Fred McKinnon, Founder/Publisher of TheWorshipCommunity.Com
As the Publisher of TheWorshipCommunity.Com, I had the privilege of hearing this CD as well. Our “ReVue” team typically gets one, maybe two good listens before they submit their review. I originally planned on being one of the “ReVue” writers but time got the best of me. Honestly, I wasn’t sure how I would review the album after my first couple of listens. One theme that quickly emerged from listening to this new album was one of personal, intimate worship. I found myself relating more to Chris’ review, wondering “is there more”. The laid back, soft, intimate vibe began to lose me.
That was a few weeks ago, yet this CD hasn’t left my player in my car. There’s something sweet, personal, authentic, and intimate in this worship. It brings me to the point that I’ve realized – there is a desperate need for this kind of worship in our lives. In our culture of “lights, camera, action” at church with expensive moving lights, hazers, loud guitars, and rock-star-style performances, we lose sight of that “secret place” where we find an intimate time of soft, tender worship with God.
I would agree that many of the songs featured on Kari’s album are geared to personal worship. I’ve concluded that this is a great thing. What an opportunity for individuals to slip away with their iPod and a warm cup of coffee in the mornings and just “rest” in God. How much stronger would our CORPORATE worship gathering be if our congregants spent some time listening to this music and worshiping along with Kari Jobe in that secret, quiet place of their personal “prayer closets”. That is my prayer and desire – that this album would touch the lives of individual worshipers, igniting a passion in them for more time in that sweet, peaceful Presence of Almighty God.
Have you given it a listen? Share your thoughts on Kari Jobe’s “Kari Jobe” release below.
Related posts:
- We Cry Out – Gateway Music (Kari Jobe)
- Review: Wake Up the World, Gateway Church
- ReVue: Light in the Darkness with Freddy Rodriguez
- ReVue: In This Place
- ReVue – Power of the Cross with Ricardo Sanchez, Live from Free Chapel
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Although I enjoyed a few of the songs on this album, and Kari has a beautiful voice, I feel like she is just going to get lost in the crowd. Although the production of the album is good, none of it jumped out and made me really take notice and want to listen again. The lyrical content is very solid, but, again, I really had no desire to listen again. I also have very few female vocalists in my music collection, and it takes something extra to really grab my attention…again, Kari’s voice is very beautiful, but it lacks the power and energy that usually draws me in to want to listen to a female artist. And, I agree with the above revue about the lack of diversity…I kept waiting for that one rocking song to come along to shake it up a bit…
All that said, I usually listen to music through my worship leader filter…and, I know that this album is doing well in the charts, so I’ll acknowledge that others are buying and probably enjoying this album.
This is an album I have waited for for a long time.
When I first heard Kari on “Healing Waters” with Klaus, you could hear the yearning for Jesus in her voice. She had something we all wanted to hear on an album
Authenticity.
Being a studio vet, I can tell from personal experience that authenticity is extremely difficult to bring to the table in the studio. If you have ever spent time working tirelessly on an album, you know dwelling in the spirit in a studio environment is very hard – and staying there is even harder.
That being said, I don’t think Kari is there yet in the studio – at least I don’t hear it here. She’ll get there – but when she can bring the honesty and passion she possesses from the worship setting into the studio, she’ll break hearts and win souls with the power of the Holy Spirit. She has that kind of potential.
I’d love to go track by track, but that already happened above – So, I’ll make a quick summary.
The first two tracks were great. I really enjoyed the production on both. I am especially proud of her doing “Healer”. That song is still powerful – Praise God!
I loved the peacefulness of the album, but as a producer, I was distracted by a few choices. I love “Beautiful” – but the dry Djembe (or whatever hand drum it is) pulled me out of the emersive feel. Here is this rich, lush song and the hand percussion is hitting me in the face. Sorry, Ed but I say let this song soak. Listen to the effect on the piano – so nice drenched in reverb,,, I guess it is a choice….
Also, moving “No Sweeter Name” to a straight 4 acoustic rhythm, when the lilt is what makes the song? I felt like this ruined a powerful song – This song should have rocked!
It is hard when you listen with a producer’s ear, but all in all this is a nice if unspectacular album.
What makes it good: Easy to listen to. Takes advantage of Kari’s soft gentle voice. Earthy feel matches the look of the album – so you know what you’re getting.
What it lacks: Passion throughout. We who already listen to Kari expect a boundless passion that is deceptively apparent in her soft voice. Don’t bottle her up next time – let her stretch her wings. Don’t sacrifice passion for production – it happens all the time in the studio.
Kari should be proud of this album. It has been a long journey for her and the songs are beautiful. God will work wonders through her. I am only critical because I know what she can be.
I absolutely LOVE Kari Jobe-her voice, her heart for worship, her music. I recently bought the album on iTunes and can’t stop listening to it. As stated above, there are a couple of song that don’t do much for me, but the majority of them I LOVE and love worshipping along with Kari. I think this album was just what I needed to get me back to the heart of worship! Thanks Kari!
Kari, thanks so much for giving HEALER
back to the Church and for singing grace
over a difficult situation. I truly appreciate
the sensitivity, boldness, and compassion
In that decision. I am grateful to you.
Bless you, little one.
I bought the CD on iTunes after Anxiously awaiting it’s release. At first listen, I remember telling our Worship Pastor “It’s more ‘contemporary’ than worshipful, as I thought it’d be, but it’s rocking my socks off!”
I’m getting into songwriting, myself, after a big push most of my life shor tlife thus far, and this album was the “slap I the face” that I really needed. I think we all fall into this “cookie cutter” mentality when it coems to worship music. It has to be big, powerful, and so memorable that the congregation is asking for more. But that’s WAY off. Worship IS an intimate expression between an individual and a loving God.
Even though as worship leaders we carry a huge responsiblity of guiding people into that worshipful experience each week, we can’t get lost in the need for big loud music and totally miss the intimate moments in a simple song.
The whole album is one I can put on and listen to for hours, and feel so connected to God through it, that it helps me in my own songrwriting, because I feel that much more “with it”.
I guess it’s just like any other album in that it depends on your expectations going in, and what you want out of it. But I’ve learned a lot through listening to this album about how intimate worship should be. This is the first time I heard Healer led by a female, and it shook it up for me, becuase I realized I have this image of what worship has to be. And that’s SO wrong.
For that reason alone, I’m SO glad I bought this album. But having a great CD to listen to through my private worship time makes it even better. Thanks SO much!!
Pros: Ed Cash production, Kari’s voice, the song “Beautiful” (probably my favorite song on the album), great single in “I’m Singing”, and Nashville-esque sounds, really solid lyrics on virutally every song, great artwork, mass-appeal production.
Cons: Too many repeats (sounds like struggling for new material a little bit); whoever did the autotune on “Singing Over Me” needs to be slapped….WAY too many little “jumps”…it’s distracting; the lack of Klaus’s EXACT piano part on “My Beloved”…if it doesn’t have that, it’s not working; and lastly (and this is personal opinion), it’s not as powerful as the older stuff because it doesn’t have a prophetic feel to it. Feels too mainstream and “pop”ish. Kari’s strength is in PROPHETIC WORSHIP….she can run, but she can’t hide. That’s her calling. Klaus brought it out in her. I’m not seeing that anymore here, and I’m a little saddened by it to be honest.
I am HUGE Kari Jobe fan. That being said, Kari Jobe should never sing with anything but a guitar and maybe some drums. The best project I’ve ever heard is a CD called “throne room worship” with Rick Pino and Kari Jobe in a house with 150 people. No one’s voice was fixed, nothing was added. It was just pure worship. That was not captured in this album.
I didn’t like the song “sweep me away” until I found a youtube video with Kari sitting on a couch at somebody’s house just playing a guitar and I instantly fell in love with it. I wish I could have a CD of just her and her guitar. I do love the album because I was already a fan but in my opinion it is very over produced robbing Kari of what makes her special- her natural unbelievably pure voice. Also, she has an gift like no other which I think would have been better communicated in a live album. I do not mean to be overly critical because I am so excited for Kari Jobe and I think this is a great start but still I know that she is capable of much more.
I cannot get this album off my ipod.
The anointing and the presence of the Lord that comes EVERY TIME is just amazing! Well done, Kari, band and Ed Cash! I have been spreading the word about this one! Can’t wait for the next!
this album has really been ministering to me, particularly the songs ‘Singing Over Me’, ‘Sweep Me Away’ and ‘You Are For Me’ (oh my gosh yes on that one). Kari, this album is beautiful, and thanks for having such a heart to know God & to minister to others. in reading some of the reviews, I’m glad they’re mostly positive, but I kind of wish people wouldn’t pick things apart so intensely – I think that would bother me a bit if the same level of subjective scrutiny was applied to my artistry. :^) keep following the Lord’s lead, you’re doing AWESOME and thanks again for the blessing!
I have to aggree with some of the others here.
An over-production of “Pure-Worship” get lot a bit in a studiotype atmosmphere.
Though the words and music produce a personal, wonderful listening CD, something is lost in intimacy when Kari is in this mode. JMHO
Kari Jobe has such an annointing. With her voice, lyrics, and God’s grace covering over her… You can’t help but feel him in her music. She is awesome and more than just that… God is awesome in her. Thank you Kari
This album is authentic and genuine. You can guarantee to be overwhelmed by God’s presence in listening to the cd.
I am brought to my knees in worshiping the King when I listen to this wonderful CD. I have heard countless people, including myself say that Kari sings like an angel. I love the upbeat I’m Singing and Everyone Needs A Little and am reaching for the kleenex to wipe my tears on the rest. Thanks Kari for using your beautiful voice to usher so many into a deeper time of worship with our Lord.