Customer Reviews

In Christ Alone: Modern Hymns Of Worship

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n Christ Alone: Modern Hymns Of Worship is a brand new album by Bethany Dillon and Matt Hammitt (whom you may know as the lead vocalist of the band Sanctus Real). The album offers exactly what you'd expect if judging by the title: a selection of modern hymns. These are not just straightforward recitations of the songs, though, but are what could best be described as alt-pop adaptations. The artists come through with several different musical styles and each takes turns singing lead. Somehow it combines to make a great album. A reviewer at Christianity Today says, "those looking for more originality and lyrical depth in modern worship might enjoy this unusually crafted collection of modern hymns set to alternative pop arrangements and sung by Bethany Dillon and Matt Hammitt."

You are probably familiar with most of the songs. The album features several tracks by Keith Getty and Stuart Townend (including, of course, the title track) along with selections by Martin Smith (of Delirious fame), Tim Hughes, Vicky Beeching and a couple of others. The songs focus primarily on the person and work of Jesus Christ, making this an ideal selection for listening to this week as we prepare for Easter.

Here is the song list:

1. Clinging to the Cross

2. In Christ Alone

3. Jesus Is Lord

4. Joy Has Dawned

5. O Church Arise

6. God Of Justice

7. On The Third Day

8. The Power Of The Cross

9. Adoration

10. How Deep The Father's Love For Us

11. In The Cross Alone I Glory

12. The Wonder Of The Cross

I quickly fell for their arrangements of "Jesus is Lord," "Joy Has Dawned," "On the Third Day" and "In the Cross Alone I Glory." But truly, there isn't a rotten selection among them. I hadn't anticipated enjoying this album but was glad I picked it up. It was a very pleasant surprise.

I have very much enjoyed this Cd. it is everything they advertised it would be! Thank you!

This album is unique. I think that's why some people don't like it. I can honestly say that I've never heard anything quite like it. It's got an acoustic/pop worship album feel that is unique unto itself. I was unsure the first time I heard it. The more I listed to this album, though, I discovered the beauty of the lyrics and duets of Matt and Bethany. This album is a powerful worship experience. I have been blessed by the songs on it. I would say that this album is not as much for the Sanctus Real fan as it is for the Bethany Dillon fan. If you like both (as I do) I think you will find this album a welcome addition to your music collection.

I think it's pretty pointless to say whether or not I enjoyed a worship disc since the point of worship isn't my enjoyment. That being said, incidentally I did enjoy the disc. On first listen the tracks are a bit funky to get used to, over time they grow on you. I hope that regardless of intent, mood, or enjoyment we look at worship for what it is; due credit to our Father in Heaven.

I can't imagine a CD this beautiful and unique going for such a low price. I was totally surprised. Awesome!

This is an amazing and very inspirational CD. The fact that it is called modern hymns might turn some people away though. These aren't hymns like many people hear at church on Sundays. These are folky pop songs that speak to the soul. Bethany Dillon and Matt Hammitt each preform brilliantly and there blend together is simply amazing. The songs themselves stick with you even when you are not listening to them. They are also incredibly uplifting and hopeful. These songs also don't shy away from the message of Christ and that is the most important thing to consider.

So, I picked this disc up without sampling it, because I thought, how could I go wrong with these two artists. I'd always liked everything Bethany Dillon and Mike Hammit, (Sanctus Real), had done, but this fell short. These two are very gifted, and the songs themselves are beautiful modern hymns, but the arrangements are utterly goofy. They sound unauthentic. For example, why would you do "O Church Arise" in a minor key? Nothing about this beautiful song lends itself to this. In a lot of songs, by changing a song from a major key to a minor key, or vice versa, helps to bring out a depth to the song that may generally go unnoticed. It did not work for this song.

I appreciate new arrangements of songs, but with worship songs, we've seen it a lot where it sounds like the goal of the recording was not to worship God in a fresh way, but to make it to the Christian "Top 40". This disc is not at that point, but is down the same path. They tried too hard to make these songs fresh. These songs didn't need any help.