Vineyard Music dubs the compilation Breathe as "following the success of Come, Now is the Time to Worship." Well, that particular compilation is one of only two projects for which I have given a full five-star tock review, and Breathe comes close. Very close.
Why? The title track is perhaps the best praise and worship song written in the twentieth century, right up there with Pastor Jack Hayford's "Majesty," Darlene Zschech's "Shout to the Lord," Rich Mullins' "Awesome God," and (should I go on?)... and it is certainly right to name a collection after this track. There have been many excellent versions of this song, but I feel the version here -- from Hungry (Falling On My Knees) -- is definitely the best.
The flow of this compilation is wonderful! The title track segues into the title track from Your Love Reaches Me, from my favorite Touching the Father's Heart recording from Ryan Delmore, Darren Clarke, and Jessie Lane. Vineyard obviously went to great pains and/or prayer to ensure that this compilation sounds like a worship experience that moves from one moment to another. Among other projects represented are, in no particular order, I Love Your Presence: Live from the U.K., Never Looking Back, The Burn Service, Surrender, and An Evening from the Nashville Vineyard.
This compilation falls short of perfection only because it could have been sharper, in the same vein as the WoW collections which sneak-preview "the hits" before they're released. I would have liked to have seen Dean Salyn's "He is Yahweh" (from All I Need) here, as well as Brenton Brown's live "I Lift My Eyes Up" (from I Love Your Presence) in place of "All Who Are Thirsty" or "Unspoken Truth." One of Vineyard's new classics from Live from the Nashville Vineyard, "Sons and Daughters," is conspicuously absent. Also from that project, "Be Found Ready" could have complemented The Burn Service's "Set Me On Fire" nicely.
It's all in the ear of the beholder/worshipper, however. I recommend that the listener lend a discerning ear to this compilation to deem for him/herself whether it's the perfect worship set. This project is nearly as razor-sharp as Come, Now is the Time to Worship, and it's a pleasure to hear from start to finish, by the way, ending with another huge classic, "Draw Me Close."
Ready for worship? Stop right here.
4.5 tocks
