Review

Hillsong United has come a long way, baby. Gone are the days of being a youth ministry band. Long forgotten are the times where the only names that came to mind when you mentioned Hillsong were Darlene Zsczech or Reuben Morgan. I would venture that today more people are waiting for new songs from Hillsong the "younger" than Hillsong the "elder".

Joel Houston, Marty Sampson, et al, have been leading worship for a long time now. Where once everything they recorded was new and fresh, they now, as veterans, no doubt discover what all musicians who record music for people discover. Starting fresh and staying fresh are two different things.

"All of the Above", United's newest, is tasked with following a successful string of albums. It is definitely a worthy next step, with well-written songs and excellent musicianship. It has a good balance of vertical songs (You, Oh Lord, are.... type songs) and horizontal songs (Listen everybody, let me tell you about God... type songs).

My main issue here is that, while good, this album doesn't open any new doors or step outside what has become a nice little box for this band. And they are too good for that to happen. The best of the best re-invent themselves every so often. This is the challenge for United. As good as this album is, it's not too distinguished from most of their other work.

While the band is tight and exuberant on "Break Free", "Solution", "My Future Decided" and even "Point of Difference", they really hit the mark on the songs where they take a more intimate track. They are able to blend softness with power chords, like on "Devotion" to bring a majesty that is their hallmark. And, as on other albums, they can bring it down into a "selah". There are a couple of moments on this hour and 15 minutes of music where spontaneity reigns and repeats.

"Hosanna", written and sung by Brooke Fraser, stands apart on the album and will probably be done in churches world-wide on Sunday mornings. It, too, breaks off into a riff that gives time and space to the worshiper. I like these moments that are off the printed page.

The final track is "Saviour King", and it, too, is one of my favorites. United is very good at creating songs that can jar you and then melt you, all in the same song. This one crescendos and then falls away.

All in all, "All of the Above" succeeds in that it is well-done. I, for one, would love to see them step out on their next album and hear something that's more "None of the Above".

Review By John Ausmus