Review

The first thing youll notice about the Everyone CD is the cover. It grabs you right off. Four guys sitting in this nightmare of a 70s living room, replete with light wood paneling, gold corduroy couch, burl wood table, clock radio (and not digital, either), shag carpeting, swag lamp. Its incredibly bad. The guys are Jeff Searles, Darren Clarke, Phil Siems and Dan Whittington, and they are Everyone.

Ive listened to this album over and over and I want you to know that it is a sonic blast! Its got a little of everything, from straight ahead rock, to touching love songs. The guitar work by Darren Clarke is, alone, worth the price of admission.

I first heard Jeff Searles back in 1996 on Vineyards Touching the Fathers Heart #27. I loved Holy is the Lord, I Have come to Worship and Passion For Jesus. And I got a taste of Delirious, at the time becoming legendary for their songs as well as their scarcity here in the States. I Could Sing of Your Love Forever, which Jeff recorded on that album, helped chart my own course towards the burgeoning British worship scene.

Jeffs connection with Martin Smith and Furious? records goes further than that. They teamed up to help Jeff do a solo album Inside Out a few years ago, on which the Delirious lads kindly play. And Everyone is the first American band to be signed to the Furious? label that includes Graham Kendricks and All Star United. The union is very simpatico, as all parties seem to share the same mind with regards to music and worship.

Among the many fine songs, Im going to review Hold On as one example to convey the depth and quality of the lyrics. It sings of someone who is marching through his life, using the ways and means that the world models to show us how to get ahead. I take the day straight ahead, living by a thread, with everything thats in my head. I take a walk down the street, everyone I meet seems to live the things Ive said. But the guy has a friend who constantly reminds him to check his line. What are you going to hold on to, when the world comes crashing down on you? Where are you going to lay your head, when theres nothing more that can be said? Slip and slide down your silly lies and the things that make your fragile life. What are you going to hold on to? I can hear the cross is calling you.

Searles strikes a fine balance between accessible lyrics and honest experiences. You dont get the idea that everything is all rose-colored glasses for him. His songs, then and now, are passionate and particular. This album cant be categorized as a typical worship album. Most of the songs could get radio play all over the dial. I think that was the intention of the band. My sense is that they are first followers of Jesus, second musicians, leaving it to the rest of us to decide if the songs they play lead us into worship.

Will you worship leaders be able to do these songs in church? Maybe. Jesus Savior is a good vehicle for acoustic guitar, and perhaps Love That You Give. For those of you who lead at, shall we say, younger churches, and who have accomplished musicians, you will find some gems for your congregation.

But you dont have to be a young worship leader to enjoy Everyone.

Oh, by the way, when you open the CD and pull out the jacket it opens up to reveal more of the living room. It turns out to be a set backdrop thats set up with the historic Church of the Open Door in the background. Thats the building in L.A. with JESUS SAVES in neon. Original home of BIOLA, graced over the years by R.A. Torrey, J. Vernon McGee, and (gulp) Gene Scott, its now defunct. I have to wonder just what in the world these guys were thinking when they said yes to this album cover artwork.

Review by John Ausmus