Hillsong United 'Wonder' Track by Track Review



Hillsong United seems to have been around forever, but their new album Wonder is filled with all the invigoration and excitement of a first outing. The album released on the 9th of June 2017 (Yes this reviews a bit late, but better late than much later) makes you wonder why it was necessary to create the Hillsong variation Young and Free to cater to a younger audience, when Hillsong United still has the verve of teenagers (in a good way) .


Wonder kicks-off with the title track 'Wonder', at first it sounds like you've heard this before, the atmospheric instrumental gives you the vibe of Zion, but the lyrics here cover some new territory for worship songs inviting you to see God's greatness in all the world.


"I see the world in light
I see the world in wonder
I see the world in life
Bursting in living colour
I see the world Your way
And I'm walking in the light"


The following track Shadow Step continues the theme of finding God in the cosmos but doesn't break any new ground sonically, save for the title itself 'Shadow Step'.  It does sound like a Taylor Swift love song though.



"Don't close your eyes because the night is dark. " The third track off Wonder begins, and it grips you from then onward. Beautifully written and beautifully executed. "Future Marches In" does sound futuristic, how Hillsong manages to break new ground in a genre that treats one subject matter is a testament to their talent, but really a revelation of their evolving and deepening relationship with The Subject Matter.



"So Will I (100 Billion X)" is the fourth track on wonder, and with titles like that Hillsong YnF will really have to step up their youth game come next album. "If creation sings your praises so will I" the singer seems to tease bringing expectation that the song will pick up soon, and it does. Hillsong is comfortably in their own lane here, no strand of Bethel Music or Jesus Culture stylings here.



"Splinters and Stones" is in itself a riveting title. The lyrics too are beautifully deep, the imagery is strong.

"...like a river run through my failure. "




The bridge on this 6th track. The composition thereof, is truly unexpected. The use of two different singers makes it even more so. It is tracks like this on Wonder that let's you know United isn't just putting out an album for putting out an albums sake, indeed they have reached a point of great wonder for their God.



"Greatest of These" is a hybrid of songs from Zion and Empires sonically. But again the lyrics and composition are unique enough to make the song riveting nonetheless.



 "There is no fear in love, but there is a cross....I won't waste my breath if it's not for love." Taylor Swift would never tell you that.


"Shape of Your Heart" is yet another track that doesn't intend to please you, or be an "Oceans" styled hit. It's a man singing in his room, worshipping his God and you just happen to be eavesdropping.



"You run deep like the wildest rivers, you run deep like the wild in me, you run wide like...the horizons, you run wide and you cover me. "




"Not Today" manages to stand apart, you won't be thinking of any other United song listening to it. Taya Smiths delivery again is personal and intimate and we just happen to be overhearing. It's a song about spiritual warfare (all you guerilla prayer warriors will be pleased.)

On the next track titled "Life", keys lead you into echoes of God's love and vocals keep you there. The instrumental here stays out of the way, God's love needs no covering it seems to say.



Life as you can imagine gives birth to the next song which starts with a baby singing the instrumental to come. Indeed this is Wonder for never have you heard of such a thing on a worship record? Unfortunately the track does not sustain it's uniqueness.



"Everything starts with you, made to be beautiful."




Things really taper down in the last two tracks, "Water to Wine" doesn't jump at you,would pass for a spontaneous song, but again the vocalists of United evoke wonder in every line, so that your transported away from the technicalities of music, you wander into wonder.





Dsoupkitchen gives wonder a 4/5 for being a genuine record by a group of believers lost in wonder for their God, believers who just so happen to sing.









P. S Hillsong YnF is still very awesome and very necessary.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Tasha Cobbs Feat. Nicki Minaj: Are Xtians Overreacting?

Image
 When 'Break Every Chain' singer Tasha Cobbs Leonard announced that she would be releasing her new album and that it will feature secular artist Nicki Minaj a lot of holy eyebrows were raised.  Now after the songs release many are sceptical, some outright offended, and a handful even have conspiracy theories (Behold The Illuminati is Everywhere!) The song itself titled 'I'm Getting Ready' is more of the usual fare, the "No Frauds" rappers feature though has made it something of an anomaly. But let's not get into the fact that Fred Hammond featured Snoop Dogg, Lecrae featured Ty Dollar Sign and on and on (so it's no surprise really, these Christian /Secular features.) Let's talk about how insecure Christians make themselves look when they communicate the fear that the secular will taint or overwhelm the gospel. Why can't it be the other way around? In the Old Testament God forbade the Israelites from living among and co-existing...
Read more

NF Releases New Track 'Green Lights'

Image
"Three records,  three years I don't like to waste time. " the impassioned rapper spits on his new track "Green Lights." Indeed it's only been two weeks since Nate released the song "Outro" also presumably off his forthcoming album. Whilst "Outro" followed in the style of "Intro 2" and "Intro" before it,  chronicling where NF is at in his life at a given time. "Green Lights" is a song about confidence,  feeling as though there is nothing that stands in one's way. The track is certainly catchy and is classic NF. However with "Motivated" and "Statement" already under his belt and dealing with almost the same subject matter, this might prove to be three songs in three years-three much. Check out the video here  NF-Green Lights (Video) 
Read more

Joel Osteen Under Fire For Allegedly Refusing to Help Hurricane Victims (Reaction)

Image
Hurricane Harvey which swept through the Houston area of America and took lives and displaced families has also placed Lakewood Church head pastor Joel Osteen at the center of a social media crisis. The 54 year old Preacher with the 'perpetual smile' came under fire when he refused to admit displaced persons into his facility which houses 54, 000 persons a week for services. Claims of being unable to do so due to flooding and counter claims of deception began to float through the social mediascape causing the author of Your Best Life Now   to trend on twitter and not in a good way. Even though the  latest reports  say the Church may finally be opening it's doors,  twitter is still not pleased. As one detractor states below It is fascinating to watch how the world (Christians included) pounces on a public figure after he makes a real (or imagined) mistake. The twitter mob was up early today ready to burn the Preacher at the stake,  citing him as a fraud...
Read more

Christian Leaders on The White Supremacists March

Image
Photo by Steve Helber/ AP The United States of America has had a rough couple of days. Things she would rather not think about and all together deny marched through the streets of Charlottesville, Virginia on Saturday the 12th of August. White supremacist are as the name suggest those who believe in the superiority of the Caucasian over other races. It's political implications are that since White is better, White should rule a la slave trade and black subjugation. In recent history the movement was considered dead or ailing, until it marched hundreds of men strong chanting 'Unite the right.' Being the light of the world, some Christian leaders have spoken out against this uprising, whilst some have (surprisingly?) kept mum. Senior Pastor of The Potters House TD Jake's appears not to be living in the same America where this incident took place. He is yet to publicly comment on the issue, but it is expected that when pressed for his opinion it would certainly ...
Read more

Christian Rapper Lecrae Set to Perform Alongside Big Sean and 2Chains

Image
They rappin in a bubble can't nobody see they face' rapped Lecrae in 2015 on former label mate KB's single 'Sideways'. Now two years later its safe to say that the rappers bubble has gone pop as the 'Christian who raps' is set to perform alongside mainstream artistes like Big Sean, 2Chains, Steve Aoki and Gucci Mane at this year's Ubahn festival. The event which is set to take place in a tunnel underground and feature live artwork installations, skateboarding demonstrations, vendors and other interactive delights, is scheduled for September 8 and 9, not long before Lecraes #ATWT tour kicks off. The event is no doubt a landmark for the artiste who has long since shown his desire to break out of the restrictive label of being a 'Christian rapper'. While this will certainly raise a number of eyebrows among die hard Christian fans of his, it is undeniable that Lecras is taking the message where it is most needed. After all, no one lights a ca...
Read more