Nate & James

Item: Nate & James
Author: Lisa Reid

(2000)

Reviewed by Lisa Reid

Discogs Apple Music TIDAL Spotify YouTube Music

Label True Tunes RecordsThe Phantom Tollbooth2001

acoustic ccm worship

Fortunately for listeners, Rhythm House, which recently purchased the True Tunes label, has carried on John Thompson's time-honored practice of signing brilliant young unknown talent. Such is the case with Nate & James, aka Nate Miller and James Vitray.

Picture, if you will, two fresh-faced college guys with hearts for God. Add an acoustic guitar to the picture. Have them use their emotive voices to blend in flawless harmony. Bring along a few of their talented friends for electric guitar, bass, drums, keys, organ, the works.

If you do this, you get the head-bobbing optimism of "Hardalee," the heartfelt praise of "Psalm 57" and "Deep," and the mellower thoughtfulness of "Soon Comes Morning":

All I want, all I need's, to be in His plan
His mercy helps me see, I need to love each man
When He sees through mistakes in my life
When He loves through the darkness of night
Soon comes morning, I know that our love will survive.

There's just not a throwaway track on this CD. And amazingly enough, most every track qualifies as gen-u-ine worship to the living God. What - meaningful worship and fun to listen to? Amazing but true. These guys have the talent and rootsy feel of a Caedmon's Call and the harmonies of a Chasing Furies, Heart, or Yes.

As a reviewer who has never bestowed a perfect rating on any album (until now), I'm in awe of these guys and their freshman CD. It has quickly made its way into my pile of most-loved CDs. I cannot help but pay the highest possible compliment: Nate & James shows me the face of God in a fresh new way. I suspect this was their intent all along.

5 tocks