Customer Reviews

Press on

5 star:		(37)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I bought this CD a week ago and haven't stopped listening to it every chance I get. It moves me to feel God's presence in my life and "press on" through hard times. My favorites are Press On and Wonderful, Merciful Saviour; they both build from slow and quiet to a joyful, strong ending. The soulful numbers are great too. Nicol has such a range of expression.

The only songs I'm not wild about on the CD are Were You There (the lead singer of this song is someone who isn't a regular part of Selah) and Yezu... (the foreign one). I don't have anything against foreign lyrics, but the overall sound of this song doesn't appeal to me.

Music like this is such a gift. I encourage people to listen to it. It just may touch them -- and you -- to deepen or begin a relationship with Christ. It sure did for me.

Monday, June 11, 2001

I have been privileged to play viola with Selah on both of their "Live from the Lamb's" radio broadcasts, and I cannot recommend this group or their new album highly enough. "Press On" contains an abundance of riches, including classic Selah-style hymn arrangements, stirring praise choruses, soulful, driving gospel numbers, and a powerful guest appearance by Russ Taff on "Were You There?." Concert fans of Selah will also appreciate the inclusion of the joyful Kituba praise chorus "Yesu Azali Awa" that Todd and Nicol learned when they were growing up as missionary children in Africa. This album will encourage and uplift you, while inspiring a spirit of reflection, reverence, and worship. This CD is officially released tomorrow, but place your order today, because Amazon will have trouble keeping an album as good as this one in stock!

Selah's vocals are characterized by emotional projection, rhythmic freedom, power, and impeccable intonation. Their harmonies and arrangements are fresh and original without abandoning or distorting tradition. Allan's piano accompaniment and Paul Mills string arrangements support the vocals in a way that can only be described as genius.

The song order and key scheme is such that each song logically leads to the next, and if you have the CD on endless repeat (and you will), the final string reprise of "Oh Draw Me Lord" leads right back into the a cappella version that opens the album.

Selah attributes their talents, synergy, and success to the grace and power of God. They pray about each song as they work out the arrangements together in the studio. Is it any wonder that each track projects a powerful message that speaks directly to your spirit?

Five stars aren't enough.

Doc Wallace, faculty at the Juilliard School & Sarah Lawrence College

I am a huge fan of Selah, after seeing them on the 700 Club. Immediately after viewing that single television appearance, I got online and ordered "Be Still My Soul". They are, by far, my favorite Christian artists. I have almost worn out that CD and have been anxiously awaiting for "Press On" to be released. I bought it right away after the release and have been working on wearing it out also! My son, who is now 2 (read my review of the Be Still My Soul CD, dated Sept 29, 1999) loves to listen to "Deep (Way Down)" and dance his little heart out. I admit that I do it too! We've got the love of Jesus!

The rendition of "Were You There" makes me cry every time I hear it. First tears of pain and sadness for Jesus' death and then tears of joy and for His resurrection.

This past Saturday, I was blessed to see Selah perfom live at River Valley Ranch in Carroll County, MD. I have been also anxiously awaiting for them to tour close to where I live. As soon as I discovered that they were coming, I bought tickets right away. I was in awe of their powerful voices, they sound even better live! The neatest unplanned thing happened at the concert. Todd and Nicol were talking about growing up in Africa and an entire group of people in one section cheered very loudly. It turned out they were all native to Kenya and had moved to the USA. Later on in the concert, Todd invited the whole group up on stage to sing "Yesu Azali Awa" in their own language (which is Swahili, I think). It was joyous! After that, Selah sang the song in Kituba with the entire group still on stage. By that time, the entire audience was singing along and praising along with them!

At the end of the show, Allan sang "In My Life/If We Never Meet Again", wonderfully! That one also brought tears to my eyes, as my grandmother had passed away a few days before.

Nicol sang a song off of her solo album which proved her powerful voice is as strong as ever. (I think that CD will be my next purchase!)

As I said on my review of "Be Still My Soul", God has blessed us with Selah!

Buy this CD and see them in concert if you can! I'm hoping to see them again!

J. Ward

Hampstead, MD

Selah comes back with even more power in their second CD, 'Press On'. The first CD, 'Be Still My Soul', was a perfect collection of hymns, reamped to fit a very soulful and expressive group of singers. 'Press On' carries the banner on with songs such as 'There Is A Fountain', 'Wonderful, Merciful Savior', and more, including some African renditions (Todd and Nicole Smith were missionary kids living in Africa) of hymns.

Even if you may not like the African songs as much, you still get the same feeling you get as when you listen to the others...chills up the spine! This is one of the very few CD's I've listened to that made me cry and be moved at the same time. This CD's timeless, and is not to be missed.

About a year ago our adult son and his wife heard "Selah" in San Antonio, and told us they wanted to give us a great CD. We listened and loved it. Then a couple of months ago they said, "Hey Mom and Dad...Selah was in San Antonio again, and we have a new CD for you (this time it was "Press On"). Both my husband and I are close to 70 years old, and we can't get enough of this CD! We especially appreciate the title song now, during these days of distress. And nothing can beat the harmony of a brother and sister duet. We want to give this one as a gift to friends. It's beautiful.

You only need to hear the title song, "Press On," and you will buy the CD. You only need to play it through one time to feel the power of God in their music. You will play it the second time to worship God. God is working through Selah and touching lives.

Talk about a blessing. This has got to be the best cd I have listened to in a long time. It always gives me a blessing and encourages my soul everytime I listen to it. Wonderful, Merciful Saviour and Press On are my favorites but the whole cd is great. I can't say enough good things about Selah. God has truly used them to bless me in my life this year. The first time I heard Wonderful Merciful Saviour was the day my husband was admitted to the hospital and they thought he might have cancer. God used that song to let me know he was there no matter circumstances were happening in our life.

Their music is better than the average 'vanilla' Christian music one hears on conservative Christian radio and tv shows like the 700 Club, whose featured artists usually lean more toward the saccharine and the righteously overwrought. (In my humble opinion, a tiresome cliche for Gospel and Christian music). However, Selah's arrangements are pleasingly simple, straightforward, and heartfelt. Their phrasing of traditional arrangements (e.g., their arrangement of "How Great Thou Art"), is very good. Personally, I'd love to hear them take a few more chances/risks like, say, Bobby McFerrin does with his spiritual group Voicestra. However, their cover of Lennon/McCartney's "In My Life" almost nearly pushes the edges of the envelope but, I suppose, this argument is neither hither nor yon here....more like wishful thinking, as in wishing your car had more horsepower than it actually does but contented with the fact that it at least has more than the majority. What you have before you with Selah is an earnest group of singers proving that traditional Christian Music is, thankfully, expanding its all too predictable musical boundaries. I truly look forward to listening to them grow.

This is the most beautiful Christian CD I've heard in a long time. I had seen Selah perform initially on a Christian TV station and knew I had to buy it. I thought I would be purchasing it for 2 or 3 songs without hearing all of the cuts. Without exception every cut on this CD will touch your heart and soul. Your will feel as I do, that each was written specifically for you. The performers are a brother and sister with a friend on the keyboard and on some vocals. They are wonderful and I would recommend this to anyone and each would have their spirits lifted. I guarantee it will put a smile in anyone's heart and soul.

Monday, June 11, 2001

I have been privileged to play viola with Selah on both of their "Live from the Lamb's" radio broadcasts, and I cannot recommend this group or their new album highly enough. "Press On" contains an abundance of riches, including classic Selah-style hymn arrangements, stirring praise choruses, soulful, driving gospel numbers, and a powerful guest appearance by Russ Taff on "Were You There?." Concert fans of Selah will also appreciate the inclusion of the joyful Kituba praise chorus "Yesu Azali Awa" that Todd and Nicol learned when they were growing up as missionary children in Africa. This album will encourage and uplift you, while inspiring a spirit of reflection, reverence, and worship. This CD is officially released tomorrow, but place your order today, because Amazon will have trouble keeping an album as good as this one in stock!

Selah's vocals are characterized by emotional projection, rhythmic freedom, power, and impeccable intonation. Their harmonies and arrangements are fresh and original without abandoning or distorting tradition. Allan's piano accompaniment and Paul Mills string arrangements support the vocals in a way that can only be described as genius.

The song order and key scheme is such that each song logically leads to the next, and if you have the CD on endless repeat (and you will), the final string reprise of "Oh Draw Me Lord" leads right back into the a cappella version that opens the album.

Selah attributes their talents, synergy, and success to the grace and power of God. They pray about each song as they work out the arrangements together in the studio. Is it any wonder that each track projects a powerful message that speaks directly to your spirit?

Five stars aren't enough.

Doc Wallace, faculty at the Juilliard School & Sarah Lawrence College