Chris Nesbitt Liquid Worship Praise & Worship 10-16-2007

SCORE 90%

One measure of the sincerity behind Chris Nesbitt’s second album, Liquid Worship, is his willingness to offer it as a free download because he wanted to “make it easier for worship leaders and worshippers to get the songs” because he believes “they’re for the Church, and for now.” A second measure is found when you listen to the album itself. Produced by Phillip LaRue, Liquid Worship is loaded with sensitively written, Biblically-oriented worship songs that are both congregation-ready and artfully delivered, a combination more unusual than you’d think.

Edgy rocker “Living Water” kicks things off, its power guitar chords and low vocals bringing Third Day to mind. Nesbitt cries out for an outpouring of the Spirit in this image-rich plea. Gentle strings underscore the atmospheric passion of pop-rocker “Your Ways Are Higher,” and Nesbitt’s soaring vocals call to worship on “The Sustainer,” a pop-rock track built on the glorious truth of Acts 17:28: “In Him we live and move and have our being.”

The album’s first standout, the straightforward worship track “Thousand Praises,” climbs up a soaring melody line into free-flowing declarations of the Lord’s great faithfulness. The anthemic, intuitive “Saturate Me” begins sensitively and moves into a rockin’ mid-section, seeped in passion; the track is seriously Sunday morning-ready. Nesbitt’s soft, expressive vocals lead right into the Throne Room on the melodic “Anywhere You Are,” quietly prayerful until  leading again into free-flow worship.

Things turn a bit upbeat with “Heaven Overflows,” but an artful ambience still prevails, right into the twangy, sweet “Only Child.” Guest vocalist Charee Balm duets with Nesbitt on the gentle “Psalm 148:13,14,” and soft guitars shine over the strong piano chords of the nuanced, outstanding “Covenant with Mercy (Remembering You Broken),” perfect for Communion.

The album closes well with the passionately-delivered and lovingly arranged “Speak the Name,” honoring the name above all names. I hadn’t heard of Chris Nesbitt before this album, but I think it’s a name we’ll be hearing much more of. Worshippers, this one is can’t-miss.