Review

As you consider this release, "In The Secret", Vineyard's second in the "Vineyard Voices" series, understand who Andy Park is in relation to Vineyard's movement, and the Church on the whole. Very few have shaped the landscape of contemporary worship as he has (Don Moen of Integrity comes to mind). Here is a man who has been with the Vineyard for 27 years, who has penned over 70 songs, pastored several churches, written a book, and been a mentor to so many of us through conferences, seminars and personal engagement through the years. His songs are sung all over the world, in churches of every denomination. As with the earlier Vineyard Voices release by David Ruis, here is a worship leader who has done it all, and has earned the respect of other worship leaders world-wide. When he speaks, people listen. Or should I say, when he writes and sing, people sing along. Am I painting the picture well enough? Andy is a founding father of the contemporary worship music scene.

The difficult part must have been deciding on which 12 songs would make the cut and appear on this album. Which five-dozen do you leave off? At any rate, the songs that were selected are among both his most widely recognized and his most thoughtful worship songs.

Just like the Ruis album (in this same series), the songs are all re-recorded and, in most cases, rearranged. So, it is not a "greatest hits" album, per se. It is a new album of Andy Park songs.

The thing about Andy Park is that he is so down to earth. In a way, I want to contrast him to David Ruis, whose album I also had the pleasure to review. Producer Jason Halbert produced both albums (with the exception of three cuts on Park's that were produced by Phillip Janz). And while Halbert successfully took Ruis' work to the edge, complementing David's passionate expressionism, he wisely accented the strength of Andy's work with very few fills and frills. The production is crisp and clear, with the anointing of the songs the focal point. And it should be that way. These are songs that work with an acoustic guitar in a living room as well as on stage in front of thousands a conference.

Having said that, understand that these songs are re-worked enough to bring a freshness to them that will delight you and even spur you to rethink your own Sunday morning arrangements. It's so helpful to hear a song done a little different, stirring the creative juices. On "Blessed Be the Name", for example, he begins in the key of D, rather than E, and modulates up on the second verse. It's just a little thing, but worship leaders need to look at the songs they've played hundreds of times in a new light. It makes the song new, and, as the Scriptures say, sing a new song to the Lord!

The album opens with "Come and Follow Me", first heard on "Name Above All" from the Touching the Father's Heart series. Honestly, I've had very little exposure to this song. It's a great opening song, an anthem that sounds like the sequel to Andy's "We Will Ride" (now there's a song I wish he'd included). At any rate, it's an excellent song to consider adding to your repertoire for Sunday morning. It's a bit wordy, but the refrain is worth it all. Imagine your whole congregation on their feet singing "I will follow You".

I liked "The River is Here" with it's great drumming and slide guitar. I wasn't so sure I was in the groove with "In the Secret" during my first couple of listens, as the drum loop was a bit arrhythmic during the first verse, but it all came together with an interesting arrangement using power guitar chords. Ironically, it's one of the songs that Jason Halbert didn't produce. The ironic part is that he already re-made this song years ago as part of Sonic Flood which, by the way, gave the song immense popularity.

There are many other highlights on this album, most of which occur during slow, thoughtful songs. "Only You", "Precious Child", "Yet I Will Praise" and "Have Your Way In Me" all reflect the beauty of Andy's work. They are soft, intimate cries that tug at the Father's heart.

I'm happy that this album is out to remind us whom Andy Park is and let us appreciate what he's done to bless the Church and bring glory to God. He'd probably shrug off any accolades with an "Aw, shucks" response, but he has truly been used by God to further His Kingdom. I will also remind all of you of his excellent book, "To Know You More". If you haven't already got it, it is a must read for anyone who is in worship ministry.

Review by John Ausmus