Alive/Forever Travis Cottrell*


This project opens with a beautiful acoustic guitar intro and flows freely into a power packed worship song standard "God Is Great". Giving God the praise shines through on this song and Travis backed by a full worship choir sings of "living for the Glory of your name" with grace saving style. On the next track "Your Name" the up-tempo call and response arrangement of the chorus really gets you moving and when they take it to the bridge singing "Forever, forever, forever, forever, forever" it moves to a full Holy Ghost filled gospel jam. Just when you think it's over Travis starts the party back up and you can't stop clapping with this tune. Some other standouts are the wonderful ballad "Praise to the Lord the Almighty" which features soloist Tammy Jensen, "Friend of God", a cover of the song made popular by Israel and New Breed and "Search Me Know Me" featuring a lead by Dave Lubben. Jensen's voice backed by the piano and lush strings creates a picture of total beauty and opens "Praise to the Lord..." with a heart-stirring feeling. Travis does "Friend of God" well and brings a full heart for God into each and every note. Finally "Search Me Know Me" opens with the haunting and pleading voice of Lubben and asks God to "come wash away the guilty stain of all my sin...clothe me in robes of righteousness." Travis is best known as the worship leader for the Beth Moore Conferences and he dedicated this album to his father in the memory of his mother who passed away recently. Well Mr. Cottrell I'm sure your mother would be really proud of this project...you did her memory well. To learn more about this talented artist log on to www.traviscottrell.com

Strangely Looking Forward Daniel's Window*

Rocking it strong right from the beginning Daniel's Window opens with "Solid Rock" but don't look for this standard to sound like it usually does. Oh no the groups punches it full with the hard base lines and funky guitar tracks that make this song rock on in full force. The opening rap by Bill Coleman gives this tune a uplifting feeling and he spits out lyrics throughout this jam which takes it to a funky grove. Finally when Heather King, lead vocalist, takes over she lends a pureness to it that is mind blowing. Moving to the next track "I Worship You" the drum line and guitar take the project into high gear and Heather, sounding more like "Gwen Stefani" on this cut, sings the notes with an awesome clarity and sound. Other standouts on the project are "Such a Long Time", "Kick It" and the ballad "He Will Run to You" all worth listening to for sure. The "bluesy-feeling" of "Such a Long Time" which talks about coming back to God when we stray, has a solo guitar and rap flow that sends it to a funk-filled grove. Fun loving "Kick It" is one cut that can put you on the dance floor. With the hard-hitting "DC Talk" feeling soundtrack even the stodgiest Christian will have to get their party praise groove on with this tune. Lastly the smooth ballad "He Will Run to You" speaks so eloquently of the fact that no matter what you've done God will meet you where you are and love you always. A great project to rock out to and well worth the buy if you love a hard rock sound with a funky groove. Find out more about this group at www.danielswindow.com

Broken Vessels Bread of Stone*


This "brother-act" of Bill and Ben Kristijanto turn in an impressive debut project full of original tracks that showcase their talent and their ministry for God. The CD opens with a smooth guitar driven beat on "My Obsession" the guy’s sing of being pleasing unto God and how that is their true calling...their obsession. The beautiful ballad "Show Me" highlights the wonderful guitar talents of the brothers and the smooth vocals raise this song to another level. Singing of God showing us how to live and love they reach that place of wonder that we all come to when we start truly living our lives for God. The title track "Broke Vessels" opens with a haunting piano arrangement that is reminiscent of Mercy-Me's "I Can Only Imagine" but the lyrics take on their own feeling as they sing of the Glory of God shining through broken vessels. They give meaning to the statement that even if we have experienced a life that is full of cracks we can still be used for the Glory of God. Although the project has few up-tempo tracks, it is a great start for these two. To learn more about Bread of Stone log on to www.breadofstone.com