Review

I was just talking with someone the other day and they asked the question, "Have you heard anything lately from Lincoln Brewster, does he have any new music out?" You don't hear that kind of a question unless there was quality in the last project that the artist did. Which is why this person was asking me, as if to say, "The last CD was so incredible, when are we going to hear something new!" Well the wait is over and Lincoln's brand new LIVE CD entitled, "All To You" is out. Lincoln has done it yet again, providing us with some really great new music with a lot of passion and energy. The first Lincoln Brewster tune that our worship team ever did was "Everybody Praise The Lord" which has definitely become one of the great standby tunes for our church. Another tune that we have done for quite a while is "Let The Praises Ring" which appears on this new CD with an updated arrangement. There are many really solid songs on the CD. Before I get into that, I should let you know that this is a 2-CD set. The first disc contains the "live" recording of the thirteen tunes. The second disc contains studio versions "All To You", "Love The Lord", and "Majestic" as well as four downloadable charts in PDF format, a basic video tutorial for acoustic guitar, piano, and drums on the new song "Majestic" and finally an overview video montage of some of the concert footage and some interviews with Lincoln and band members. As you pick up the CD, my recommendation is to first listen to and watch the overview video clip as Lincoln really sets the tone of what the "live" recording is about. It gives you a glimpse into his heart attitude and the reason that they put the project together. The other impressive thing for me is that he recorded the project in his home church, with the people that he leads in worship on the weekends. This really adds a great touch of authenticity for me in the day and age when lots of folks are just crankin' out CD after CD.

With all that said, the CD absolutely stands on its own musically from the opening tune "Majestic" which is taken from the opening line of the 8th Psalm, "Oh Lord, our Lord how majestic is Your name in all the earth." One of the great things that Lincoln has learned to do, as well as many of the other really good songwriters, is to keep it simple. This song is definitely one of those simple, very hooky, catchy songs. The next tune "Everyday" is probably my favorite up-tempo song on the disc. I can't remember where I first heard this song, but Lincoln does a very energetic arrangement of the tune and still leaves room for it to breathe a bit. The message of the song is one that our churches really need to be singing about: "Everyday, it's You I live for, everyday, I'll follow after You, everyday, I'll walk with You my Lord." There is also a very slick bridge when the band breaks down and the singers repeat, "It's You I live for everyday". The third song is basically just a chorus repeated over and over, "Love the Lord Your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind and with all your strength." That is the entire song, with a cool little guitar break and an section where the congregation echoes the proclamations to God of, "I will love You, praise You, serve You, and trust You." as I said earlier very simple songs, but very effective. One of the things that God keeps impressing upon me as I introduce new songs to our congregation is to keep them simple. There are places for wordy, deep songs but there is also something refreshing about crying out a simple sentiment to the Lord over and over.

The title track "All To You" is the song that I have been hearing a lot lately on Christian radio. It kicks off and revolves around a kickin' guitar riff and if you love Lincoln's lead playing there is a 2-minute solo on this track that is signature Lincoln, but I do hear a little Stevie Ray influence towards the end of the solo. It is definitely the highest energy song on the disc and the folks in the congregation are certainly letting it be known that they love the song. The strongest ballad on the disc in my opinion is "You Are The One" which Lincoln co-wrote with Paul Baloche. The opening lines of the verse are very poetic and have a wonderful flow with the melody: "You're the One who made the heavens, You're the One who shaped the earth, You're the One who formed my heart, long before my birth, I believe You'll always lead me, all my days have been ordained, all Your thoughts toward me are holy, full of love and grace." After singing these words the chorus goes onto to proclaim the greatness of God with statements of You Are the One... It is really a wonderful song and one that I am confident that we will be putting into our rotation.

"Amazed" is yet another song that has a quiet, gentle strength. It is one of those songs that is has a built in "peace" to it. One of those songs that you can just get lost in. It has a couple of verses that paint some great word pictures and then a simple, simple chorus that is broken up by a bridge that speaks of how deep, how wide, how great is the love of God. The chorus then kicks back in and it feels as if you could sing it over and over. It somehow reminds me of the old Martin Smith tune, "I Could Sing Of Your Love Forever" which was another one of those simple yet amazingly powerful songs. There are also covers of the hymn "Great Is Thy Faithfulness" and the great song "You Are Good" by Israel Houghton. The song "Son Of God" also bears mentioning as a solid anthem that is a powerful "vertical" song sung to Jesus.

If you are a Lincoln Brewster fan, you will love this CD, and if you are new to Lincoln's music, you will find plenty in here that will make a fan out of you. I highly recommend "All To You" to all of you.

Review by Bryan Bloom