CD Reviews
November 5, 2002

Jeremy Camp: "Stay"
Before you read this review, keep in mind I’m not the type of person to run out and buy a “newcomers” CD despite how good I’ve heard it may be. But something struck me upside the head by the newly released “Stay” by Jeremy Camp. We had been playing the song “Understand” quite a bit after its late September release. Even before reading Camp’s story, the sense of “true, un-adulterated worship” was evident in the words of the song. The 24-year old Indiana native has been through more than many can imagine as Camp’s wife was diagnosed with cancer and died just months after the two were married. Camp explains through this amazingly diverse album God’s calling for us to worship, and seek him even when we can’t see light through the consuming darkness. For more on Jeremy Camp and the album STAY visit Camp’s website at www.jeremycamp.net

Move Over Punky…Here’s Lincoln!
OK dumb byline, I know…but as far as an amazing CD that highlights one mans desire to truly grow closer to God, you won’t find a better album than Lincoln Brewster’s “Amazed”. His third solo project with Vertical Music, “Amazed” focuses on how unworthy we are to be in God’s presence, yet how sufficient He is of picking us up off our faces when stumble and collapse in sin. The best part of the disc (in this DJ’s opinion) is the simple, yet amazingly produced “All I Really Want.” This song has been one my favorites list since I first time I heard it. Brewster’s simple melodic harmonies and hip R&B style has been mixed with a flair of contemporary worship to make an “amazing” song directed straight to God. Brewster uses the lyrics to illustrate God’s love, as he looks past our insufficient ness. For more on Lincoln Brewster and the album AMAZED visit Brewster’s website at www.lincolnbrewster.com

The Barrier: Has It Been Broken??
Only a few years ago it was the common standard that songs in the Contemporary Christian world were somehow separated, by an unscathed boundary, from the music that worship teams would perform from Sunday-to-Sunday. This “line” between “industry and ministry” has seemed to have disappeared within the last couple of years. Artists like Rich Mullins and Michael W. Smith set the way with songs commonly used in worship like “Awesome God”, “Step By Step” and “Agnus Dei”. The two albums I reviewed this week add to the plethora of artists who have made their albums more directed TO GOD instead of ABOUT GOD…a true definition of worship(vertical worship for all you worship leaders J). The CCM industry as a whole has responded well to the growing love of worship music, but more importantly the burning desire that people have to fall in love with Jesus, and worship him through music. I think the recent songs that have been so strongly directed STRAIGHT to God, reiterates the point the rather Martin Luther or Audio A, our purpose is to Glorify the name of GOD! Peace, and God Bless-Gary

Gary McElyea is a radio personality at Positive Hit Radio-KADI in Springfield, MO gary@kadi.com