Customer Reviews

God Is Able (Live)

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

please note that while this is wonderful, terrific and worth it. the DVD portion from Amazon at this price is not the full concert/recording but only a 'BONUS DVD'. The full DVD is available,also in blu ray from them at [...] Perhaps I should have realized this from Amazon when it was priced so low.
Please understand, I am not bashing Amazon, they're great. I just didnt get the full DVD with the CD that I'm used to

Prime Cuts: Cry of the Broken, Alive in Us, God is Able

"God is Able" is Hillsong Live's 20th release. After the odyssey of 20 albums, many things have changed. Most noticeably is the huge turnover rate of lead worship singers/songwriters. Gone are such former contributors such as Geoff Bullock, Miriam Webster, Russell Fragar, Marty Sampson, Steve McPherson and even the recent favourite Brooke Fraser (Ligertwood). Nevertheless, this Aussie mega church has kept a few pivotal mainstays: First, they have wisely stuck on to former worship pastor Darlene Zschech. Incubus to the success of Hillsong Music, Zschech's leadership has made Hillsong Music such a phenomenon today. This is because she has the God-given ability to instill the awe of God's presence in the way she moves the church to worship. And even to this day, no worship leader can fill Zschech's shoes. Thankfully Zschech is back again on this 20th release leading two songs and single-handedly wrote "Cry of the Broken." However, her substantial subdued role relative to their earlier albums is certainly the church's greatest misstep. Second, Hillsong has never been reticent in their proclamation of their praise of God from an evangelical confessional stance. Over the years, they have been bold in dressing such a lofty message in anthemic crescendo building stadium-filling numbers. Again "God is Able" is choke full of such Godly endeavours.

Easily the best tracks here are the ones led by Darlene Zschech. While the other lead worship singers have a tendency to treat each track as though it is a concert performance, it is only Zschech who truly functions as a worship leader when she leads the congregation to be engaged in the worship of the Almighty. This is most evident on "Alive in Us"--a bold proclamation of the transforming power of Christ's resurrection. Not since 2008's "Savior King" have we heard Zschech lead an uptempo anthemic song, so "Alive in Us" is a refreshing listen. Zschech single-handedly wrote and sang "Cry of the Broken." Without the regular bevy chorus of singers, "Cry of the Broken" features just the voice of Zschech beautifully sung over a soft sonic bed of strings and keyboard. Taking comfort from Psalm 91, Zschech pours out her heart to God assuring us that our God hears the contrite. Tender, heart warming and so worshipful--"Cry of the Broken" is more than a song, it ought to be the daily prayer of every child of God.

Zschech can be heard quite prominently as she offers companion vocals to Ben Fielding on the mid-tempo "My Heart is Overwhelmed." While many worship songs today are more testimonial in nature, "My Heart is Overwhelmed" has God at its cynosure and how that changes us. Zschech's harmony vocals on the latter half of the song add so much more dimension and depth to the song. Another Ben Fielding-led song "The Lost Are Found" is also worthy of mention. A chorus building simmering rocker that explodes with a powerful bridge. The title cut "God is Able," led by current worship pastor Rueben Morgan, is this album's "Mighty to Save." Stately, bombastic and extremely catchy, "God is Able" is destined to be a future worship classic. Conspicuously missing is Brooke Fraser, and so in place of her is Annie Garratt who sings lead with Jad Gillies on the song on the somehow average ballad "Unending Love."

Over the last couple of albums, their music has moved closer and closer to that of their sister band Hillsong United. This means that they have moved closer to a rock based template with a lesser emphasis on corporate worship. Joel Houston lends his muffled voice on the Coldplay influence soft rocker "Rise," Jonathan Douglass gives a rousing shout out on the firey "The Difference" and "Narrow Road" receives a mediative read by Dave Ware. Though these are all average worship songs there is not much that sets each of these lead vocalists apart. And these songs could easily be thrown on a United disc. In short, let Darlene Zschech lead more of the songs--she is and has been the face of Hillsong Live. More importantly, she is not just a singer, she is an anointed worship leader who not only feels the songs deeply and she inspires us to worship too.

With more than 11 million albums sold worldwide, Hillsong LIVE returns with 11 new songs for its 20th recording, God Is Able, set to release July 26th on Sparrow Records. The album was recorded live along with thousands of worshippers gathered together in Sydney Australia and features new songs by worship leaders Reuben Morgan, Joel Houston, Darlene Zschech and others. Hillsong is known for such worldwide worship anthems as "Shout To The Lord," "Mighty To Save," "Hosanna," "Desert Song," and many more modern worship anthems sung by tens of millions every week in worship services around the world. I eagerly await each new Hillsong release and God Is Able is truly stellar and is now my top overall album by Hillsong LIVE. In my opinion, Hillsong has managed to release their newest best album with each release since Mighty To Save.

God Is Able opens with a new song written and sung by Joel Houston called "Rise." Right from the opening drum beat and Coldplay-style guitar riffs, I was hooked immediately. If you are looking for new worship songs to sing with fellow believers, this album is chock-full of congregational songs, especially the next pair of songs, the Brit-Rock style worship anthem "With Us," and "Unending Love," which features gorgeous female vocals that remind me of UNITED's "Like An Avalanche." The anthemic "With Us" has an instantly sing-able chorus, "O God, there's no end to Your Love, there's no end to Your Love, You're with us, You're with us, there's nothing in this world that could take You away, You're with us." Amen to that! The lyrics are excellent and worshipful and for me, this track order is the best of all of the Hillsong LIVE collections and sounds the most like a Hillsong UNITED collection. The musical styles blend perfectly.

Nashville-based artists have been covering Hillsong to much acclaim and radio success, most recently Laura Story's recording of "Mighty To Save," Chris And Conrad's recording of "Lead Me To The Cross," Kari Jobe's recording of "Healer" and Natalie Grant's recording of "Greatness Of Our God." For me, the stand-out song on this collection is the title track "God Is Able." I can't get enough of this song and the extremely catchy and worshipful lyrics, "Lifted up, He defeated the grave, Raised to Life, Our God is Able, In His Name, We overcome, for the Lord, our God is Able." You'll be singing along at the top of your lungs with the crowd and then at some point hopefully with your church congregation. It is an amazing song and this album's "Stronger" in my opinion. "The Difference" has a UNITED rock style, like "Break Free." "Alive In Us" is another catchy song featuring Darlene Zschech singing her heart out and reminds me of "Hosanna" musically. "You Are More" has another excellent female vocal and reminds me of "Desert Song" both in music and message. "My Heart Is Overwhelmed" features a sincere prayer, "I'm found in grace, In love's embrace, My heart is overwhelmed." This standard-bearing worship album ends with a gorgeous ballad sung by Darlene Zschech, "The Cry Of The Broken." It is wonderful to hear Darlene singing great new worship anthems as her songs "Shout To The Lord" and "The Potter's Hand" all but started the female worship leader genre.

CLOSING THOUGHTS (Staff Review, NewReleaseTuesday.com)
I'm impressed by the consistent quality and fresh worshipful songs from Hillsong. I've been singing "The Stand," "From The Inside Out," "Mighty To Save," "Stronger" and many other Hillsong classics at my church for many years and I expect there will be several more worship classics from this album.This album is chock-full of congregational songs, especially "Rise," "With Us," "Unending Love," "God Is Able," "Alive In Us," "My Heart Is Overwhelmed" and the gorgeous ballad "The Cry Of The Broken." I eagerly await each new Hillsong release. God Is Able is truly stellar, my top overall album by Hillsong LIVE and my top worship album of the year. Every single song could be added to your Sunday morning worship set.

I was very disappointed to find out after buying the MP3 download that it did not include all of the songs on the CD. Awakening, which is a great song is missing as well as Go. Other than feeling cheated, this is a good CD, but I'm giving it a rating of 1 so others hopefully see this and can make a more informed decision regarding buying the MP3 download vs. the CD+DVD.

This is a wonderful CD of Hillsong's newest songs written by some of their best song writers that we are so familiar with. It has the kind of bouncy spirit filled music we all love from Hillsong and the artists are truly singing for the love of God and sharing this love with the world. The only problem with the CD is the recording. The vocals just aren't clear enough in places for the words to be clearly distinguished unless you are reading them from the CD insert. This is typical of many "live" recordings and can be quickly ignored once the catchy tunes are fully familiar to you. Frequently playing this CD is recommended for full enjoyment and blessings from the worship time with Hillsong.

It always takes a few times of listening to a worship album before you get a good idea if it is the kind of music you like. As will all Hillsong albums, the lyrics are deep and the ballads are building. There are a couple of standout songs for me. The first is, "Unending Love." The lyrics and flow of this song really takes you into a worshipful space. The second song is, "God is Able." This song is a good reminder of God's ability and faithfulness. I highly recommend this album.

Great album lyrical as it is instrumentally. Not a song on here that I would call my less favorite, they are all incredible.
So yeah, Hillsong has done it again :)

Great CD. Love every song on it. I am so able to enter into worship when listening to this. I highly suggest this CD.

I love shopping online & Amazon is by far my favorite wedsite I even have an app. I love it, its definitely a satisfaction guaranteed. I bought my God is able cd there one of my favorite CDs from Hillsong United.God bless.

At this point in my life I feel like I needed the songs on this album! As always, the crew at Hillsong Church delivered and I can't wait to praise God with them at their up coming U.S. tour. My favourites are Rise, With Us, The Lost are Found, Narrow Road ( Braden's voice is to die for!), Go ( I love the "a-way away away away" before the bridge - makes me wanna go to a football game - that's soccer for all you Americans) and Cry of the Broken. I know many people say their music is starting to sound the same, but I say look at the heart behind the songs and the message within the songs. The Lord's truth is always right, fresh, and relevant no matter how many times it is repeated because we serve THE living God who always moves with the times!!! GOD IS ABLE!