Review

Charlie Hall can certainly turn a phrase and capture the human condition. Consider this one: "Cut the things that slow me down, 'cause I'm tired of sinking down. Take the rope now off my neck; swim away from this shipwreck". Such are the opening lyrics to "Swimming From the Shipwreck". Words like that could be sung as easily in secular pop-radio as a sanctuary- amazingly applicable lyrics that we can all connect with. Hall sings his revelation back to Jesus, going on in the next verse to proclaim: "Simplify my life by letting go, I want to yield and burn with truths I know. I'm learning how to lose myself again Swimming back to You".

That's just one of 12 songs that Charlie Hall has written for his latest album, "On the Road to Beautiful". Teaming with Nathan Nockels (fast becoming my favorite producer), here is worship music that begins by bowing low at the throne of God, testifying that everything is weak and vain except for Him. Charlie's writing is teeming with the tension between sin and solution. "I can see that my hands are trembling, I can see that my legs are weak, I can see that my head is spinning, but I will overcome". The first track, "I Will Overcome" would be a great Sunday morning confessional song. It starts with a beautiful piano riff from Nockels, adding guitar and drums to a crescendo before leveling off for these poignant words.

You may have never heard of Charlie Hall, but you might have heard of a little thing called "Passion". Charlie has been a worship leader for that movement, along with the likes of Chris Tomlin, Jami Smith, David Crowder, Matt Redman, etc He also has several solo projects, notably last year's "Porch and Altar".

So many of the songs give us another way to sing about the mystery and miracle of Jesus. "My Drink (I Remember You) has communion as its theme. The title track is another poetic heart cry, capturing the pilgrim's journey and again acknowledging our great need for God to be means as well as end. "Chasing" conjures up an image of running unfettered from captivity towards freedom, and the sheer exuberance of it all. "Beautiful of Heaven" will surprise you with its simplicity and honesty. Here I am reminded of Kevin Prosch's best work.

As I said, the album began bowing low before the Lord, in humbleness and awe. My favorite track is the final one, "Sending". Co-written with Stuart Townend, this song hits me where I live. Whereas the other songs are greatly centered on God's blessing us with His magnificent Presence, this song is about our response to that blessing. Echoing the Abrahamic covenant that we are blessed so that we will be a blessing to all the nations of the world, this song resonates "Send us with fire to go love the world". I LOVE the phrasing! It doesn't say go and make disciples, which tends to trigger a paradigm in each one of us. Instead it exhorts God to send us to love the world. The chorus "You're our greatest desire, Jesus, Your name is our greatest song" is a dangerous declaration. Is it true in our lives? I can only answer amen to it, and pray God would increase it in us.

I heartily recommend this album, both for Charlie Hall fans and those who haven't discovered him yet. It will net a couple of Sunday worship songs, and several more special songs, and it will be a great personal worship CD as well.

I want to take a moment and praise the work of Nathan Nockels as producer. He, along with his wife Christy, forms the band Watermark, which is noteworthy on its own merits. But his body of production work is leaving quite a legacy. He has worked with CCM artists like Point of Grace and Phillips, Craig and Dean, as well as the Passion projects and Charlie Hall. His musical sensibilities are incredible and he transforms each song into far more than it was before. On this album his mark is unmistakable.

Review by John Ausmus