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Artist: Reuben Morgan
Label: Rocketown
Length: 11/42:37
Occasionally, you run into a modern worship album that makes you think the movement is starting to "get it." Generally, this involves a genuinely talented singer who is willing to put his own spin on things, original songs, and a band that can play rock and roll without giving in to the impulse of appealing to the adult contemporary crowd that makes of much of the CCM audience. Meet Reuben Morgan – he gets it.
Formerly of Hillsongs United, Morgan uses a few songs he originally penned for that organization, but his raspy vocals (think Shawn Mullins or Jars of Clay) give them a freshness that makes you give them a second listen, even if you've heard them a hundred times before. This is most apparent on songs like "My Redeemer Lives," and "Hear Our Praises," which is more in line with Coldplay or Keane.
There is something to be said for an artist who can take simple poetry and make a song memorable by the sheer talent of his vocals. "Gloria" is a prime example of this:
Bright is the sun"Waterfall," sung in a breathy, Jars of Clay style vocal, is another highlight, while "The Fear" is a plea to God for help in weathering rocky situations. Morgan uses a theme of surrender to God throughout the entire disc, and that is most obvious on the latter.
That wakens my heart
To sing of all you've done
Beautiful song
You've sung over me
That draws me in your love.
My expectation of this album? A couple of radio hits, a lot of these songs being performed in churches nationwide, and widespread acclaim for Reuben Morgan. Twenty- and thirty-something fans of John Mayer, Coldplay, and Jars of Clay will be drawn to World Through Your Eyes.
Brian A. Smith 8/1/2005
While World Through Your Eyes is his debut album for Rocketown, Reuben Morgan is still a name that many praise and worship fans recognize and love. Morgan has worked with Hillsong for a number of years writing some of the most popular praise and worship choruses. According to his website he has songs on the top 25 Worship songs chart in six different countries and 17 songs on Top 500 in the US.
World Through Your Eyes features not only some of his best loved songs but also some new songs from Morgan. One of the best aspects of this project is that he has decided to focus on more of a stripped down, simpler feel for many of the songs, including some of his previous hits. This adds a newness not only to these songs but also to the album as a whole which makes this project stand out from many other praise and worship albums that feature all the bells and whistles and full bands and everything.
Highlights of the album include "My Redeemer Lives," the opening track; a beautiful version of his popular hit "I Give You My Heart," "Waterfall," and "Waiting Here," a slow song that ends the album on a subdued and peaceful note.
This is easily one of the freshest praise and worship albums in years.
Burton Wray August 27, 2005
