ChristianDance

"The Bottom of Myself" by Mike Janzen is a spiritual journey with an Americana-pop groove. The song invites you into a space where the dark moments of life meet light.  Have you ever felt as if you were lost in a desert storm? Then you're not alone. Janzen also knows that feeling. He beautifully captures the struggle of losing your way with the following lyrics: "Fell down in the middle of the darkness // Woke up and the world had changed // Stumbling, squinting in the daylight // Wanna run but sometimes you gotta wait." But there is more, because Janzen shows that there is hope.  Instead of running away from the pain, Janzen sings: "sometimes you gotta wait." Why? Because at the end of yourself is God. Your weakness is where His strength begins. "When the clocks tickin twelve it's true // At the bottom of myself is You," this is where truth emerges. You might be trying to find your way home, but real peace comes when you stop striving...

(by Jasper Tan) "The Oldest Lie in the World" by Meagan Tubb & Shady People is a delightful Blues-Rock CCM song, soulful and gleefully blending classic blues and contemporary rock. It's quite rare for me to hear a CCM track that is produced from this type of genre. It offers a different type of reaching out to listeners by its solid foundation of blues-rock, with a groovy, mid-tempo rhythm that also sets a contemplative tone. It entertains as well as reminds us to watch out for fake self-worship, that the Gospel truth only comes from God. Meagan's vocals deliver a soulful and powerful performance. It stands out because of her rich vocal quality that is smoky and complements very well with the song's bluesy tunes. The guitar work is deftly played and impresses, with the tasty riffs and very well executed guitar solo that brings an emotional depth to the song. Coupled with the organ and steady beats of the percussion, this complements the whole song to deliver a...

Jordan West and the Red Letter Society continue their ambitious journey through the Psalms. "Psalm 9 (Thank You)" is a message of thanksgiving to a sovereign, righteous God who defends the oppressed and judges evil with perfect justice.  The song emphasizes the two core promises found in Psalm 9: "The Lord is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble." And, those who know God's name can trust Him, because He "has never forsaken those who seek Him." So, what do you do when depression fills your heart? Do you feel abandoned? Instead of focusing on pain, this song declares that God remains seated through (your) chaos. He is and always will be a stronghold even when "war" draws near. The lyrics ask: "My trials feel unseen // Have you forsaken me?" , and emphasize that you are not unseen.  The chorus invites us to praise through our fears. "I will thank you," because we trust the promise that our God judges...

(by Jasper Tan) After making a review of Action Worship's song "All Praise (Dawn)" early this year (which, by the way, moved me so much), Action Worship is here once more with a beautiful follow-up single called "At The Feet (Midnight)." Continuing their songwriting sessions at a beach house retreat, "At The Feet" is a powerful and once more immersive Christian contemporary worship song that captures a raw and intimate atmosphere of worship. Like their other previously released songs, the track is anchored in a "Beach House" setting, leaning on a warm, organic, and slightly lo-fi feel as compared to the more traditional stadium worship recordings of other Worship songs. This makes the song feel more like a shared spiritual experience rather than a polished studio recording. This has always been Action Worship's greatest strength with their songs. And this creative process has definitely defined the signature sound of the Action Worship te...

(by Jasper Tan) Sister siblings Jessica and Jaida have just released their latest single called "Better", a soulful Gospel R&B track that talks about overcoming our fears and uncertainties as we put our complete trust and faith in God.  The track is beautifully rendered by Sisters Jessica and Jaida, who are seeking to put their imprint on the modern CCM music scene. The opening lines of the song immediately illustrate to us how uncertain this world that we live in is. Using the metaphor of "Waves crashing in, Hear the thunder roaring big." It clearly establishes that there are certain times when our world seems to fall apart, and the noises of this world's false promises confuse and consume us. But these are moments when our faith is just being tested, but if we remain firm and committed to our faith, then God will surely redeem us. As the chorus says, God's way is always better than ours. So there's no cause for worry.  The chorus, "Your way...