You are the light of the world
A city on a hill cannot be hidden
Shine your light before all men
That they might see your works and then
Praise your Father up in heaven.
(Matthew 5:14-16)
Chorus from the title track by Third Day
Standing side stage at the Gene Eugene Tribute at Cornerstone 2000, a stranger passed by and handed me a CD. At that moment it was too dark to see, so when I got back to my motel room and discovered what was in my possession, I was very pleased to find an exclusive advance release copy of City on a Hill, a praise and worship album I'd read about. Upon first hearing this album, I was not that impressed. However, after several complete spins and sensing the positive effect it had on me, my final analysis is different than it was at the beginning. Christians are instructed throughout Scripture to praise and worship the Lord in everything, and this collection of songs helps us to do just that.
Producer Steve Hindalong brings together a group of top-notch artists including Caedmon's Call, The Choir, Sixpence None the Richer, FFH, Third Day, Jars of Clay, Sonicflood and Peter Furler of the Newsboys, to create this very powerful praise and worship album. A number of the songs are collaborations containing beautiful vocal harmonies, such as "Precious Jesus," "God of Wonders," and "With Every Breath." As one might expect, most of the music is quite soothing and worshipful, but the tempo picks up a bit on songs like "Merciful Rain" and the rock gospel title track. Listen carefully and you will hear hymn melodies in "God of Wonders" (Holy, Holy, Holy) and "This Road" (For the Beauty of the Earth). Lyrically, those who are familiar with Scripture will find verses/phrases taken directly from the Bible. In addition, the visual imagery the music and lyrics create is wonderful.
Also included on City on a Hill are two songs featuring the artistry of the late Gene Eugene that were recorded shortly before his death. Those two songs ("I Remember You" and "Marvelous Light") along with "Precious Jesus," offered by The Choir and Sixpence's Leigh Nash, are the most gripping songs for me. Accompanied only by an acoustic guitar as "Precious Jesus" begins, Derri Daugherty sings each word deliberately, which is quite effective in making listeners really pay attention to what is being said. Following are the lyrics:
I remember You, precious Jesus, I remember You
Healer of my heart, Lover of my soul
On Your sacred head
A crown of thorns pressed on Your sacred head
Mighty King of the Universe, Merciful Lamb
For my sin You suffered and bled
Still, 'Father forgive them. They don't understand.'
Sweet Savior, I heard what you said.
I remember You, precious Jesus, I remember You
Healer of my heart, Lover of my soul
Jesus, we remember
As we drink from the cup of salvation, Your blood
We remember Your sacrifice for us
We remember the way that You suffered for us.
Risen from the grave
Christ immortal risen from the grave
At Jerusalem's gate how You wept for the lost
Even as palm branches waved
Then You proved how You loved us on Calvary's cross
And rose up on the third day, so all who believe might be saved.
Yes, we remember You, precious Jesus, we remember You
Jesus, we love You
Precious Jesus, we love You
Jesus, we love You
Healer of our hearts, Lover of our souls...
Undoubtedly some of these songs will be sung as praise and worship choruses in churches around the world, and others will become radio hits. The lead-off track, "God of Wonders," has just been released as the first radio single. Following is the chorus, which praises our truly awesome, holy God:
God of wonders beyond our galaxy
You are holy
The universe declares Your majesty
You are holy
Lord of heaven and earth
Hallelujah to the Lord of heaven and earth.
Release date is August 22, 2000, for both the album and companion book, City on a Hill - Reflections on Our Spiritual Journeys. (The book features selected artists' and authors' perspectives on their faith.) This album will appeal to Christians who are or want to be in love with Jesus Christ, and to all those who are weary and heavy laden needing to focus on Him and away from their circumstances. It's balm for the soul.
4.5 tocks
Other coverage for this album
The Phantom Tollbooth 2001Reviewed by James StewartIt's been quite a while since the last installment of our ongoing coverage of worship music releases, so without any ado here's an overview of a dozen or so releases from the latter half of 2000. Sitting somewhere between the recordings mentioned earlier and that last one is City On a Hill. Widely noted as the final project to include work of the late Gene Eugene, the album is in a way a more…ReAL Magazine 2000Reviewed by John M. De MarcoI am normally not a fan of worship and praise albums. Too often the songs are cheesy and the sound is sappy. An album like this has a difficult task, it needs to be more than a collection of praise songs, it must create an atmosphere of worship. City on a Hill - Songs of Worship and Praise is an amazing album. Not only does it build an atmosphere of worship, it sets a new standard for Christian…The Phantom Tollbooth 2000Reviewed by Mike L. EhretLately worship music has become a more recognized genre within the contemporary Christian music market. Everyone is releasing music and putting the "worship" label on it. Some of it is truly worship music and some isn't. Essential Records will soon release (Aug. 22) City on a Hill. Of all of the worship music produced so far this year this project is the finest. From the opening song "God of…The Phantom Tollbooth 2000Reviewed by Michial FarmerCynic that I am, there aren't a large number of worship albums that I enjoy. I tend to see the genre as a whole as opportunistic, and I believe that a lot of bands aren't in it for the right reasons. Even given that, though, I've been looking forward to City on a Hill, the genre's latest effort, for quite some time now. Why? Because Steve Hindalong, drummer/lyricist for The Choir and mastermind…
