All About Worship Award 2010 Winners Announced

Back in October we announced the first annual All About Worship Awards and asked you to vote. We announced the winners on Episode 58 of the All About Worship Awards. In case you missed it, here are the winners of All About Worship Awards 2010:

Artist of the Year: Vicky Beeching

Band of the Year: Hillsong United

Album of the Year: Eternity Invades by Vicky Beeching

Song of the Year: ”Our God” by Chris Tomlin, Matt Redman, Jonas Myrin, Jesse Reeves

Twitterer of the Year: @vickybeeching

Interview of the Year: Kari Jobe (read the interview)

Embarrassing Moment of the Year: Carlos Whittaker (Episode 34)

From the All About Worship Team, HUGE congrats to all the winners! Big thanks to hundreds of you that participated and made this a very fun first year for the AAW Awards!

Hillsong UNITED “Aftermath” – CD Review & Preview

(Review by Barry Westman)

After a long wait of over two years, Hillsong UNITED has released its eleventh full-length and second studio album, entitled Aftermath. After their last release, Hillsong UNITED took some time for a season of rest in their local church. The band members took the time to challenge themselves musically and lyrically. Their efforts have paid off, because Aftermath offers a very fresh, creative collection of 12 new songs that explore the life-changes that occur in the “aftermath” of an encounter with Christ. The only song I already knew on this album was “Awakening”, from the recent Passion album, but that made sense when I realized the song was co-written by Chris Tomlin and Hillsong writer Reuben Morgan.

“I think we just wanted to create an album that didn’t follow all the rules and that we ourselves would want to worship to, whether we’re in the car driving home, on the train on the way to work or wherever we happen to be. We didn’t want to rely on what feels familiar,” says Hillsong UNITED’s Joel Houston.

“Normally ‘aftermath’ has a negative, even traumatic, connotation,” Houston says. “At the same time, when I look at the Crucifixion as an event, it paints an extraordinarily negative and horrific picture. But the aftermath of the Cross is hope for all mankind. It’s grace, freedom, peace, life and everything that is good about God. I absolutely love that picture.”

This album definitely has a unique sound for Hillsong UNITED, especially since it’s only the second studio album by the group. As much as I enjoy listening to a live worship album, there is something about a studio album like this that is really appealing. On the whole, I would say it is a more contemplative, reflective album compared to other UNITED albums. Many of the songs are very artistic, ranging in style from rock, to orchestral ballad, to all electronic music.

Some of the songs that stood out to me:

Track 1 – Take Heart (Joel Houston) This is not what I expected for the opening track of the album, and I think that’s what caught my attention. With its pounding, driving tom rhythms, this song sets the tone for the rest of the album – “Hold on to Hope, and take courage again”. Hope in the aftermath is a recurring theme on this album.

Track 3 – Like An Avalanche (Joel Houston) This is a beautiful song that speaks of the paradox of Jesus, the King, becoming a servant for us, and of His humbling, amazing grace. “And I find myself here on my knees again, caught up in grace like an avalanche”. Again, the driving, syncopated rhythms, especially on the bridge, and the outstanding vocal duet make this a standout track!

Track 4 – Rhythms of Grace (Chris Davenport, Dean Ussher) I really enjoyed the progression of this song from a nice, lilting 6/8 song to a driving, syncopated, rhythmic, multi-layered offering of exuberant worship!

Track 7 – Bones (Jill McCloghry, Joel Houston) When this song started, I thought I was back in the ‘80s with the heavy synth pads, which continued to be the driving sound of the whole song. But, as the song went on, the sounds seemed to fit perfectly with the lyrics “You can take my dry bones, breathe life into this skin”. It actually became a fresh sounding, driving anthem of crying out for the Holy Spirit to revive us again!

Bonus Track – Search My Heart (Radio version) ( Joel Houston, Matt Crocker) This radio version of “Search My Heart” (Track 11), is one that will surely catch on in many churches! It is a cry of commitment and dedication “With all my heart, and all my soul, with all I am, Lord I will follow You”. An inspiring anthem that is easy to sing, and one that I can’t wait to use!

Check out the album montage along with 30 second samples of every song:

Hillsong United – Aftermath Samples by factor7agency

Album Releases on February 15, 2011. You will be able to purchase it on iTunes on that date:

(Streaming courtesy of EMI. Please do not stream the music on your own site without the express consent of EMI; it is forbidden. Feel free to direct your friends to this site to take a listen.)

Episode 45: Interview with Hillsong United

Recently Hillsong United came through Kansas City on their tour through the states. Wisdom was able to meet up with Joel Houston and J.D. from Hillsong United for an interview before the worship began. Of course, stay tuned for their most embarrassing moment leading worship. We also catch up with two attenders of our recent retreat back in May. Listen in as they share what the Lord did in their lives during the retreat.

Quick Links
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All About Worship Retreat – HUGE thanks to our friends Joe Brookhouse and Todd Barton for stopping by the show! Click Joe and Todd on Twitter.

HillsongUnited.com – Visit the official website.

Joel Houston on Twitter – Follow Joel’s tweets.

Hillsong United on Twitter – Follow the official tweets of Hillsong United.

Hillsong United on iTunes – Check out their music catalog online.

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Giveaway

We want to hear from you. Call us at 913.735.4229 by July 1 with your answer to this question: What are the top 5 songs your church is currently connecting with this year. If you leave an answer, we will enter your name into a drawing for Paul Baloche’s latest CD “Glorious” along with the worship tools set with instructional DVD and song charts. Make sure you leave your name, the name of your church, the songs and the authors of the songs. Call us at 913.735.4229  (please note, Darth Tater and Spud Trooper are NOT a part of the giveaway)

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Thanks

We want to say a BIG thanks to WorshipPlanning.com for sponsoring this episode. Start your 30 day free trial today. Check out their new uploading feature allowing you to upload multiple files simultaneously! Be sure and follow them on Twitter at @wpupdates right here.

Thanks to Joel and JD for stopping by the show!  Stay tuned for our next episode with Miriam Webster.

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We’re All In This Together – Teaser (Hillsong United)

THE I HEART REVOLUTION is a movement of people seeking to help people, showing Gods love in a practical way with no strings attached.

In 2009, Hillsong United will globally release Were All in This Together, a feature-length documentary. It will tell some of these stories, illustrating the inseparable union of worship and justice – aimed at inspiring people to see injustice, think creatively and act in response.