Hillsong UNITED “Are We There Yet?” Album Review

Prime Cuts: Delightful (The Sower Never Wastes a Tear), Sure Thing, Days Like These (TRUST U)
Overall Grade: 3.25/5
Stranded amid the countless scandals, it's understandable that Hillsong UNITED has decided to ditch the moniker "Hillsong." Therefore, the word "Hillsong" is conspicuously missing from their album cover and all their press releases. Besides dropping their "brand," the band has also become more Joel Houston focused. This is the first UNITED album where Houston has had a hand in crafting or co-crafting all the 15 songs here. In fact, a third of the record comprises of Houston's solo compositions. Other than sharing the vocals with his band bands, this is more or less a Joel Houston album.
Like many singer-songwriters' records, there is a prevailing same-ness that pervades right through the record. Many of the songs utilize the same tried-and-true template of commencing softly with Houston or one of his cohorts mysteriously whispering the lyrics before giving way to an explosive chorus and extended bridge(s). Rather than singling out the most repeated word in the chorus as the song's title, the titular is often an interesting term of phrase somewhere in the lyrics.
This is not to say there are no good songs on the record. "Sure Thing," which warns against trusting the idols of this world has some gorgeous lines, such as "'Cause I don't wanna build this life/On Babylons of bricks and pride/Sitting on a fault line bound to quake/I'd rather be a bedrock fool/Who trusts in nothing less than You." Meanwhile, "Delightful (The Sower Never Wastes a Tear)" is a creative reading of the Parable of the Sower. Unfolding with a cinematic anticipation is "Days Like These (TRUST U)."
However, is there a song of the calibre of "Oceans (Where Feet May Fail)" or "So Will I (100 Billion X)"? Unfortunately, the answer is no. In their heydays, many of these cuts would have been their album fillers. They are by no means ropey; it's just that it's quite draining to listen to them all the way through. "Blown Away" has so much potential in terms of the build-up of passion from the verses to the chorus, but the melody just isn't there. When UNITED ditched the "Hillsong" label, they have, in the words of Hillsong co-founder Brian Houston, "lost their soul."
Tags : Hillsong UNITED “Are We There Yet?” Album Review Hillsong United hillsong united new album #united joel houston Hillsong hillsong church
Hot Trends
-
Michael Tait Accused of Watching Woman Raped During Newsboys Tour
-
Newsboys Dropped From Label Amid Michael Tait Scandal
-
Michael Tait Faces Additional Allegations from 6 More Men, Including Two Minors
-
TobyMac Accused of Dabbling with Satanic Occult
-
Newsboys' Michael Tait Joins Capital Chuch for their 37th Annual Easter Sunrise Service at the Lincoln Memorial
-
Steven Curtis Chapman, Michael Tait, Ashley Smith & Others to Appear at 2015 K-LOVE Fan Awards
-
Jimmy Swaggart in Critical Condition Following Cardiac Arrest
-
Big Freedia Announces Debut Gospel Album, "Pressing Onward," Out Aug. 8th
-
Cory Asbury Speaks Out: "Everyone Knew" About Michael Tait Allegations
-
Joy Williams Reveals the Real Reason Behind Civil War's Breakup
-
Kevin Max Explains Audio Adrenaline Departure in Open Letter (Read Here)
-
Third Day “Lead Us Back: Songs of Worship” Album Review
-
Lysa TerKeurst Remarries Two Years After Divorce
-
Chrissy Metz to Star in Upcoming Film "Faith in the Flames: The Nichole Jolly Story"
-
Anne Wilson Releases Powerful New Single “God Story”
Most Popular
-
Michael Tait Accused of Watching Woman Raped During Newsboys Tour
-
Newsboys Dropped From Label Amid Michael Tait Scandal
-
Michael Tait Faces Additional Allegations from 6 More Men, Including Two Minors
-
TobyMac Accused of Dabbling with Satanic Occult
-
Newsboys' Michael Tait Joins Capital Chuch for their 37th Annual Easter Sunrise Service at the Lincoln Memorial
-
Steven Curtis Chapman, Michael Tait, Ashley Smith & Others to Appear at 2015 K-LOVE Fan Awards
-
Jimmy Swaggart in Critical Condition Following Cardiac Arrest
-
Big Freedia Announces Debut Gospel Album, "Pressing Onward," Out Aug. 8th
-
Cory Asbury Speaks Out: "Everyone Knew" About Michael Tait Allegations
-
Joy Williams Reveals the Real Reason Behind Civil War's Breakup
-
Kevin Max Explains Audio Adrenaline Departure in Open Letter (Read Here)
-
Third Day “Lead Us Back: Songs of Worship” Album Review
-
Lysa TerKeurst Remarries Two Years After Divorce
-
Chrissy Metz to Star in Upcoming Film "Faith in the Flames: The Nichole Jolly Story"
-
Anne Wilson Releases Powerful New Single “God Story”