Although the names Kevin Prosch and Bryn Haworth are probably not familiar to most followers of Christian music, both have been pursued professionally for years. Prosch has declined contract offers with several mainstream labels, including Geffen, Virgin, and Warner Brothers. Haworth's musical genius has given him the opportunity to work with Eric Clapton's band and to write for several other popular artists. So where do these men meet within the Christian music genre? Their synergy forces a new connotation with the musical style we know as praise and worship.
The Finer Things In Life is the first collaborative effort offered by Prosch and Haworth. The themes of this project seem to run the gamut; from admiration to judgment, hope to frustration, wisdom to confusion, this album finds one common thread in the most important theme of all: honesty. Prosch's lyrics, sung to his wife or his four children, himself or his God, are all intertwined with a passionate sincerity that thoroughly saturates the entire album. Prosch penned five of the eight lyrical tracks on the album, ranging from the prophetic title track to the heart-wrenching confession "Haley's Song," a love letter to his daughter. The title track was well chosen; it sums up the message of the album the best, the "finer things" being the riches and blessings of a God in Whom Prosch confirms a childlike belief:
I lay in bed and contemplate the miracles You have performed inside of me. And to think that some people say there is no God; Well, I beg to differ.
Haworth's contributions include the folksy instrumental track "Blue Jumper" as well as my favorite of the album, "Water From the Rock," a somehow sarcastic, yet encouraging, view of the modern-day Israelite wandering in a desert:
Seek God, learn how to wait, Live right, don't forget to pray, Have faith, don't listen to the fear, Or you could be here for 40 years.
The only other song penned by Haworth on the album is the haunting "I Weep For You Now," a warning to the atheist and a wake-up call to the church. This track adds a completely different tone to the album; although remaining hopeful, the lyrics ask thought-provoking questions not often found on a generic contemporary Christian album, with the exception of artists like Keith Green and Rich Mullins. The Finer Things In Life easily compares to an early Mullins album with the track "So Much Grace" with meditative words forming a prayer that Prosch sings more to himself than to anyone else. The song involves little instrumentation, featuring Prosch's high string guitar and Haworth's mandolin, making the Mullins comparison even more believable.
Any fault that one could find with this album would boil down to a matter of opinion. Prosch and Haworth don't seem to be infatuated with catchy tunes or platitudes. If you're looking for an easy listening album, keep looking. This music attacks a two-dimensional outlook on life and demands something more. Even the sweetest song on the record, "Haley's Song," is filled with honest confessions that protect itself from becoming little more than musical saccharine. At first glance, The Finer Things In Life may appear to be nothing more than another attempt to mingle praise music with a contemporary image. But the music speaks for itself and the title says it all. Kevin Prosch and Bryn Haworth have combined life's finer things with simple melodies from a humble and honest perspective of their walks with the Lord, and the result is beautiful.
Other coverage for this album
The Phantom Tollbooth 1998Reviewed by James StewartVery few Americans have been as influential on British Christian music in the past decade as Kevin Prosch. An important influence and mentor for Matt Redman and Martin Smith (delirious?), his own passion-drenched records have sold well but never really clicked with this reviewer...the emotion was rather overpowering. Here, teaming up with guitar virtuoso Bryn Haworth, he presents a more relaxed…
