Review

The words “Delirious has a new album” are met with a few different sentiments. One, they invoke an adrenalin rush, akin to what we used to feel, back in the day, when the Beatles came out with a new album. We couldn’t wait to hear it! We couldn’t wait to see what it! We couldn’t wait to see where the lads had evolved to, musically and philosophically.

But there is another sentiment that greets the arrival of a new Delirious album. It’s one of “Well, their last album was quite a departure from their early stuff, which I really liked a lot.” And so there is a bit of skepticism about it; a bit of wondering if it will be worth the money to try it out and see if you like it.

I remember back when the Beatles started changing direction. I had loved all the fun early songs… the ’62 to ’66 stuff. She loves you, ya, ya, ya, and I wanted to hold her hand! Those songs were for me. And then they started to change. I will confess, with some trepidation, that I was not one of those who loved “Sgt. Peppers” (I can hear the gasps!). No, I thought, I would just as soon they play “Eight Days a Week” again. And of course now “Sgt Peppers” is the standard by which all band evolutions are measured.

I won’t be the one to utter the cliché, but Delirious is like that. They grow, they evolve. This album isn’t like Cutting Edge. It’s not like King of Fools. I can’t say it’s not like Mezzamorphis because I, too, heard that album and complained that it wasn’t like Cutting Edge and I put it on the shelf after all too few listens.

But this album may very well be their best one yet. I have a feeling that their next one will be even better, because this band is a growing band. They continue to stay true to their vision of reaching a dying generation.

Listen to this album. Don’t put it on as background music. Don’t even judge it by the samples you can hear on the net. It isn’t like that. These songs aren’t crafted so much for our listening pleasure as they are to reach out to people. Theirs is a voice crying in the wilderness. They are Peter standing in front of a crowd, telling them about Jesus. They are Paul as he gives witness in Athens.

The musicianship on this album, for those who want to know, exceeds all their earlier efforts. Sometimes it’s hard to capture energy in a studio, even though you know the band is smokin’ on stage. But they manage that on Glo. The production is top notch.

As you read the lyrics you see a couple of things. You see an unabashed declaration of the One who saves. Martin Smith and Stuart Garrard bring their experience of the living God to their songs. And they bring Him worship and praise with their words, too.

For those who are looking for some songs to do in church, it’s unlikely that you will find another “I Could Sing of Your Love Forever” on this album. There are worship songs, like “Intimate Stranger” and “Everything”. If you want an older flavored song, “Awaken the Dawn” might be what you’re looking for, since it was written in 1994 (must not have made the cut back then).

But the arrangements on this album are hard edged. They will appeal to a young crowd. For us boomers who thought we were so hip to be on the Delirious bandwagon because we liked the folksy stuff we heard originally, we will have to look elsewhere for Sunday morning material. But that isn’t what this album is about. It is a message album.

It begins by saying “God, you are my God… you satisfy my soul.” It follows with “We’ve found Jesus, he’s our great romance.” It testifies “What would I have done without you, Jesus?” It cries out to investigate one’s life. A generation is here that needs to see people passionate about what they believe in. The lie that truth is relative is exploding in the faces of those who a sickened by an empty, passionless life. They are looking for models, for people who have found life. And Delirious shouts it from the rooftop that they’ve found life in Jesus. And the music makes people want to dance!

Some of you will buy this because you will love the music. Some of you will buy it because you’ve bought everything else by them. Some of you will buy it to give it to someone who needs the life of Jesus. I hope most of you do the latter….

Review by John Ausmus