Customer Reviews

Open

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This release by Jason Morant is truly a unique worship experience! Jason takes styles from his first album and melds in more folk, british pop as well some rock and experimental sounds all to lyrics filled with worship! The album has a very ambient sound to it and sometimes sounds almost dreamy and full of air, but that all adds to the huge amount of worship that is displayed. It sounds like it just flows into a room.

Jason's lyrics have a real depth to them on this album. Take the songs Veils which says, "What will it take to be closer to You? Show me what stands in my way. Strip away all of the veils on my heart Lord. You know that I want just to look at Your face." Many of the songs display this passion to be face to face with Jesus including, 'I Will Run', 'Offering' and the intimate 'Abba'.

Jason also has a couple of songs that point the Church toward opening the doors for the poor and needy. Check out the words of the title track 'Open': "It's time for something more real than all these words. While the least of these are broken and dying. It's time to live in love. Open up your doors, let the Son shine out into the night you're hiding from, let your hearts bleed with love. Love's the only voice that's heard, so let your love be heard." Wow! 'Come Let Us Return' is also another call to return to Him so the world will hear and realize who the King is!

Not only are is their so much lyrical depth of worship in this album but the arrangements of the songs are beautiful. Jason mixes in not just guitars and piano, but also dobro, banjo and accordion. The unique mix of the flavors of music and instruments give it that unique sound.

He also adds very unique melodies to each of the songs. The songs are not written to be sung by a congregation since they do soar at many points, but the unfamiliarity of the melodies really grows on you. This adds just one more depth of uniqueness to the album. There is a definite similarity between the melodies on this CD and that of Phil Wickham (and you can hear the Coldplay influence as well), but Jason stretches the boundaries even more!

The music is soothing to listen to and the presence of God can be felt as you soak in and join the worship Jason offers to the throne of God. This album has everything and with 16 songs on it, it is more than worth the purchase! I cannot recommend this CD enough. The style may not fit everyone but this is truly one of the best albums of the year!

Essentially, BELONG is a mini-collection of rekindled, reinterpreted tracks from OPEN. I first fell in love with OPEN while listening to samples of the album when it was featured as a staff pick on iTunes some time ago. It is a rare occurrence when I purchase a whole album on a whim without any prior exposure to an artist, but, this was a complete impulse buy based on my first listen to a couple of 30-second song snippets. More than a year later, it is still a favorite on my ipod and in my car.

In trying to characterize the style and mood of OPEN, I can say that it is not pop, but, does feature layered melodies amongst more solitary undertones in a manner slightly reminiscent of Coldplay, but, with a New Orleans tint. Infectious and addictive? Yes, but, thanks to the lyrics, the listener's thoughts are effectively focused on the substantive, yet basic, foundation that Christ laid out and that Christians should be known for, throughout the album: servitude through Love. In the title track, Open, Morant sings:

Its time for something more real than all these words
While the least of these are broken and dying
We count the pearls in our purse
It's time to live in love
So open up your doors
Let the Son shine out into the night you're hiding from
Let your hearts bleed with love because when all is said and done
Love's the only voice that's heard

Like in Open, the lyrics throughout the album do a tremendous job of focusing the listener's attention on non-denominational, Christ-centered issues that cut to the chase of what Christ really wants from us. The songs aren't about sentimentality, or overused, lifeless Christian wordplay. Morant sincerely sings about seeking in desperation, finding, and displaying gratitude to God through service to "the least of these."

The 2007 release of the BELONG EP brought fresh versions of a few of OPEN's tracks, namely Open, Offering, Belong, and Display My Love. In comparison to the original versions found on the OPEN LP, each of the reworked tracks exude more solitary tones, but, in a manner that amplifies the power of each song. Each of the EP's tracks were appropriately seasoned with time since their original release.

I think that, for me, it is the wondrous marriage of articulate, focused lyrics with music that bleeds artistic integrity in a Christian music market that too often showcases so much less. Morant, is relatively under the radar of popular Christian music, but, that is the fault of the Christian music market machine and a testament to the substance of Morant's music. I would find it hard to believ that he's out there to sell T-shirts and become another ironic Christian celebrity. His music is less like the fast food snack-style of music so predominant in contemporary music and more like a gourmet meal meant to be savored and enjoyed.

This is the 4th album I've bought by Jason Morant. He never ceases to amaze me with his contemporary style of worship and originality. I didn't even know this album was coming out and bought it immediately without even listening to it first.

Great buy!

It's not very often that I buy music, but this CD was definitely worth it. It's absolutely beautiful. I usually tire of Christian CDs unless the music really turns my heart toward God. I listened to this CD every morning for about 2 months and never got tired of it. The lyrics are complex and worshipful, and the melodies simply take you in. I liked the CD so much, that I bought another copy for my mother. She found it to be beautiful and moving as well. It says a lot that a CD can appeal so much to both 20-something and 50-something women (we usually have very different music tastes).

I may not be head over heels for all of the tracks on here, but overall this is a great Christian album. The tracks "Hosanna" and "Holy" truly stand out for me and make the album as good as I rated it...especially the first track mentioned. "Hosanna" is strikingly beautiful.

jason morant delivers with open! every track is excellent, so if you are pretty music savvy and want a good return on your money, then this is an amazing investment! musically/vocally it has a huge range. superb writing and arranging!!! a very anoited/talented young man (and team of course), some of my favorites are:
1.open
3.i will run
5.Holy
6.offering
8.belong
9.Abba
11.veils
12.display my love
13.all of me
14.at Your feet
15.Hosanna
you will not be disappointed i love this whole album! bravo jason! bravo!

Awesome!!! Jason, you are my son's best friend(Kevin Kelley) Not only did you do a marvelous job ministering at his wedding with Bliss, but this CD is by far YOUR VERY BEST!!!
Connie Lou Arcemont