Sunday, March 1, 2015

#25: Chris Tomlin: Arriving

Details: Chris Tomlin (b. 1972). Arriving. Sparrow, 2004. Total time: 45:59.

CCM, or contemporary Christian music,  has been around for decades (think Amy Grant) but last decade it seemed to take flight in terms of number of records, sales, tours, media (including seeping into secular airplay), and quite frankly from this listener's perspective, the quality of songwriting, performance and production. 

Gone is the often clunky sound from past decades.  If you don't listen to the words this could be U2 or Coldplay, for example. Chris Tomlin has been consistently good for years now and this is one of his earlier offerings.  The first 5 or 6 tracks are infectious and uplifting with the first three (Indescribable,  Holy is the Lord, and How Great is Our God) real standout songs in terms of his career.

As the album progresses Tomlin's earnest vocals continue but the song quality slips a bit. Still these are all in all very good songs by a talented singer-songwriter who is also a worship leader.  The production is clean and his band is made up of great supporting talent. 


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