Worship GOD (CD - 2002)

Personnel: Rebecca St. James (vocals); Matt Bronleewe (guitar, piano, keyboards, bass, drums); Randall Waller, Justin York (guitar); John Catching (cello); James Gregory (bass); Aaron Redfield (drums).

Personnel: Matt Bronleewe (guitar, piano, keyboards, mini-Moog synthesizer, drum programming); Randall Waller, Justin York (guitar); John Catchings (cello); Aaron Redfield (drums).

Audio Mixers: Matt Bronleewe; Skye McCaskey.

Recording information: Pentavarit.

Photographer: Kristin Barlowe.

Long before recording her February 2002 release, Worship God, Grammy award-winning artist Rebecca St. James displayed a fervent passion for worship. With each prior album, from her 1994 self-titled debut to her 2000 release Transform, St. James' focus and purpose have been clear: to honor, glorify, and worship God. In this respect, Worship God is merely an extension of her past work. It is an album expressing her desire to grow into a deeper love relationship with Jesus. In addition, it is an invitation to listeners, beckoning them to seek intimacy and connection with God through adoration and love. In an interview with http://www.familychristian.com, St. James described Worship God as "passionate, edgy pop/rock with half of the album full of songs people would be familiar with from church and then half brand new, fresh worship songs." Included in the category of well-known songs are the album's first radio single, "Breathe," Matt Redman's "Better Is One Day," and "God of Wonders," a song popularized by the album City on a Hill. New songs include "Song of Love," "Lamb of God," and the project's definite highlight, "You," a track written solely by St. James. The album also features the remix version of her 1998 song "Omega." Many Christian music listeners may ask, "Why another worship album in 2002? Haven't we heard enough in 1999, 2000, and 2001?" Yet, Worship God is not just another album latching onto the genre's popularity. It is a reflection of Rebecca St. James' lifestyle of worship and one that will not quickly leave CD players. ~ Ashleigh Kittle

WORSHIP GOD, whose title leaves little to the imagination as to the album's lyrical content, finds Rebecca St. James leaving behind the seemingly Madonna-influenced bubbly electronic trappings of her 2000 effort TRANSFORM for a return to a more organic sound. The production aesthetic is still a grand one, as rock/pop rhythms are surrounded by epic sonic vistas shaded with shimmering strings, but there's a greater warmth here. On the opening cut "Let My Words Be Few," there's even a string arrangement that will leave you wondering whether producer Matt Bronleewe sampled Led Zeppelin's exotic classic "Kashmir." Nevertheless, there are twinkling pop gems aplenty here, and as usual, they're deepened by the spiritual (though never overbearing or didactic) nature of the lyrics. minimize