Search - Michael Card :: The Word: Recapturing the Imagination

Only one song "recaputres the imagination"...and Spirit

M. Ward | North of Utah, East of Montana, South of Alberta, | 05/25/2005

(3 out of 5 stars)

"Though this is a well produced recording of contemporary Christian music, buy it (used) for the hidden jewel...."Will You Not Listen?" - a wonderfully captivating acapella piece.



While the other songs speak of someone or thing, "Will You Not Listen" speaks to the listener's heart and even draws you in. IMO, the point (ultimately) of Christian/Praise & Worship music is to connect one to the Spirit and/or celebrate the word of God.



Though I appreciate the musicianship and studio recording quality of this CD (and I am speaking as an active professional musician and educator), I so wish the rest of this CD was more like "WYNL" in content, depth and meaning. This is not to say that I think ALL the songs should be acapella. One can knock out powerful contemporary Christian songs (Ex. "Jesus You Alone" by Oakely & Huges or "Shout to the North" by Delirious?) with the same content, depth & meaning.



I bought this CD used for the one song "Will You Not Listen?", and it is for that one song that this CD received its 3 start rating. Buy it; you won't be disappointed and maybe you'll grow to like the other songs as well.

"

Music, Messages and Messengers

Sndsfnny | NYC, USA | 03/27/2008

(4 out of 5 stars)

"The Old Testament is notorious in some Christian circles for depicting a God who presents as fundamentally different (angry, jealous, judgemental, "smite-ey") from the God written about in the Gospels (all about love). This album samples some excerpts from those OT sources which depict God's message as perhaps more...consistent.



In songs like "The Prophet" and "Will You Not Listen?", musician Michael Card (best known, probably, for writing "El Shaddai") expresses the frustration presumably felt by many of the prophets whose messages fill the later half of the Old Testament. "Song of Gomer" is written from the POV of the (idolatrous/wayward) wife of the prophet Hosea ("Hosea, you're a fool"), and "Valley of Dry Bones" recounts a vision of the prophet Ezekiel (with an Appalachian/Celtic musical twist). "Then They Will Know" and "I Will Bring You Home" speak from the presumptive viewpoint of a loving God speaking to, and of, distant children who cannot always hear His voice.



The arrangements vary from soft-rock to ballad-ish to heartrending a capella ("Will You Not Listen?"). Card's musical and studio skills are impressive and solid, and his lyrics are often impassioned, devastatingly honest, and always beautiful."