The Lost Archives Surfacing the reviews of our forgotten youth
    Back to The Lost Archives
    The Phantom Tollbooth 2004/Rita Springer
    Rita Springer — Rise Up: Live Worship cover

    Rita Springer

    Rise Up: Live Worship

    (2003)

    Reviewed by Barry Nothstine

    DiscogsApple MusicAmazon MusicSpotifyYouTube Music
    Label Floodgate RecordsThe Phantom Tollbooth2004
    ccmgospelworship

    Reviewer Confession: Can I say without getting bricks thrown at me that there is a lot of praise and worship type music out there that I just can't get into? My wife listens to a lot of the current praise crop, but I have found precious few that have grabbed me. Give me Rock 'n' Roll Worship Circus, Waterdeep, Keith Green, or Kemper Crabb medieval praise all day long to fulfill my worship and I am a happy camper.

    Occasionally a worship project comes along that causes me to take notice. Rita Springer's latest Rise Up has done just that...causing me to "rise up" and hit the repeat button multiple times on the CD player. Ms. Springer is one of the strongest female worship vocalists today, and her distinctive vocals are the centerpiece of this project. The musical backdrop is tasty--with moments of jazz, rock, and some funky bits thrown in for good measure. The production is clean for a live project, and the band is tight but not flashy or distracting. Rita's vocals and piano prowess provide a welcome entryway to a satisfying time of worship. Highlights include "Rise Up" and "Deep Calls to Deep"--the latter with a rousing vocal performance from Rita.

    I think I may have found a worship CD that my wife and I can both agree on!

    Other coverage for this album

    The Phantom Tollbooth 2004Reviewed by Josh MarihughOne word sums up this CD: inspiring. Now come some words of explanation to round out that one word. Rita Springer has a heart for worship, and it's always shown through in her recordings. For her latest project, she decided to take a bit of a different path. Rather than take her songs into the studio and put together a CD, she decided the time was right for a rough and ready, raw and unpolished,…

    Similar sounding releases

    2005Kristin ChenowethAs I Am2005Mark SchultzMark Schultz Live . . . A Night of Stories & Songs2004Vienna TengWarm Strangers2002Sara GrovesAll Right Here2004Dan MacaulayCaptured Again1997Kim HillThe Fire Again

    More from Rita Springer

    2000All I Have2005I Have to Believe

    Also in The Phantom Tollbooth 2004

    2004David KittThe Black and Red Notebook2003DuvallVolume & Density2004Behold ZoeRoquentin!2004Officer NegativeThe Death Campaign Project2006RadiantThe Sound of Splitting Atoms2004Kate CampbellThe Portable Kate Campbell