The popular worship compilation series continues with this misleadingly titled issue; 'WOW Essentials' can hardly be described as 'essential', and you are highly unlikely to exclaim 'WOW!' when you listen to it. In summary, this is a lacklustre collection of what seem to be randomly selected songs. They aren't bad songs. They're pretty good songs. In fact, one or two are downright classic songs! However, the package itself comes across as a lazy effort.
One of the biggest flaws of the album is the way that the genres seem to clash. It opens with Chris Tomlin's excellent worship anthem 'Indescribable',... Read More The popular worship compilation series continues with this misleadingly titled issue; 'WOW Essentials' can hardly be described as 'essential', and you are highly unlikely to exclaim 'WOW!' when you listen to it. In summary, this is a lacklustre collection of what seem to be randomly selected songs. They aren't bad songs. They're pretty good songs. In fact, one or two are downright classic songs! However, the package itself comes across as a lazy effort.
One of the biggest flaws of the album is the way that the genres seem to clash. It opens with Chris Tomlin's excellent worship anthem 'Indescribable', but later continues with 'Dare You To Move' by alternative rockers Switchfoot. There's also some bluesy Third Day interjected in between for good measure. These differing styles never seem to gel, and 'Essentials' often feels erratic as a result. The track arrangement is also poor. Soon after Tomlin's final chords have ebbed away, 'Essentials' slips into a long string of ballads, and this causes the pace of the album to feel uneven.
By some unfortunate coincidence, the two tracks originally by British artists appear here as cover versions. It's a pity to think that the producers of the album believed that the mass-market would rather hear a Jeremy Camp cover of 'Here I Am To Worship' ahead of the Tim Hughes original. Although the CD case claims that Matt Redman appears singing 'Blessed Be Your Name', the version on the album is a Tree63 cover.
On the whole, if the uninitiated wish to discover the mastery of Switchfoot, Third Day or newsboys, they would do far better to listen to their respective albums rather than the bizarre collection of samples showcased here. That said, the album is practically guaranteed to sell many copies.
Review by J Alexander.
J rating 1 out of 5 Stars Stand Out Tracks
Dare You To Move
Blessed Be Your Name
He Reigns
