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Got to say that I get worried about bands who are recording worship albums these days. How can you tell what's real and what's a mighty leap onto a bandwagon? Just about every musician I talk to who's been putting out a worship album this year says something like "Oh well, the first music I ever did was in my church worship band." But isn't that the story for everybody? You just get started there and doing a worship album isn't just about going back to your roots and cashing in on what is happening now. To
make worship music must surely be a calling! 

So where does that leave The Katinas?? From boyhood pop albums to signing to Gotee to Lifestyle, an album of worship songs, it's been quite a journey for these brothers whose soulful vocals have already won them plenty of fans in the pop and soul marketplace. Now Gotee know a thing or two about worship records since Jeff Deyo has his new album out on that label and his former band Sonicflood had one of Gotee's biggest selling albums with a worship record. The man who produced both those albums, Bryan Lenox is sitting in the producer's seat for this one, so what do you get?

You get guys who have been having worship times in their live concerts for a while able to indulge in seventy minutes of pure worship and rather than simply run through a bunch of cover versions, they do lead the listener in worship and without hype too. The gentle soulful opening double whammy of the blissed out "Mighty River" and "Thank You" is the antithesis of a great many worship albums that seem intent in knocking the listener over with the hype and all out power of their opening numbers. Instead this is like gentle oil that soothes the soul and draws the listener closer to God. "Thank You" is such a gorgeous song and if we're told to enter the presence of God with thanksgiving and praise, this will stir up a thankful heart as you reflect on everything that God has done.

The one difficulty that any band faces as they record worship albums these days is how to find some songs that are familiar enough to help a congregation worship and yet not so overdone that we're all bored with them. The Katinas aren't totally successful here so you get yet another version of "Lord I Lift Your Name On High" and "I Love You Lord." Oh dear!  Both are songs that should be put out to pasture. The same could be said for the old Hillsong "I Give You My Heart," known elsewhere as "This is My Desire." Nice rendition but the song is almost up to its sell by date. However they do better with an incredibly funky version of the Darrell Evans song "Trading My Sorrows" which is given a totally new slant and sounds great. This brings us to the even funkier "You Are Good." 

Maybe I'm biased but I love their version of the longing prayer "Breathe" which has been a big song here in the UK. Much soulfulness is added by The Katinas and it isn't long before they start heading into anthemic pop praise territory with "Beauty of Your Grace" and the funky rock'n'soul of "Jesus Chant" which sounds very unlike The Katinas!

There are even a couple of studio recorded worship tracks - the upbeat muscular rock praise of "Rejoice" and the mellower "Eagles' Wings" which sound to me like two singles to satisfy two different radio markets. Overall I think I like this album best when the band is stripped down to some acoustic soulful worship like "Thank You" and "Draw Me Close" because the intimacy is very compelling. Elsewhere there are moments where it feels like this is close to going through the motions and they have one leg up to get on that worship band wagon but they just manage to avoid the accusations and pitfalls of a cash in.

Mike Rimmer 7/28/2002