Kari Jobe

Kari Jobe is the latest artist to join the ranks of those like Kim Walker, Brooke Fraser, and others who have organically rose to prominence within their respective church families. Jobe’s home church, Gateway Church in Dallas, TX, has allowed the artist a solid platform to hone her voice and songwriting on recordings like Living For You and, more recently, Wake Up the World. It’s on these recordings that Jobe has truly stood apart from the crowd, stealing the show with her take on tracks like “Revelation Song” and “The More I Seek You.” But the question remains: Can Jobe make the shift from the worship stage to the solo stage?

Well, before we answer that question, let’s talk about the help Jobe has in crafting this self-titled debut. Big names have come alongside this lovely artist to guide her along. Ed Cash (Chris Tomlin, Steven Curtis Chapman) is in the producer’s chair as well as offering up some hefty songwriting work. Also joining the fray is longtime Cash co-conspirator Chris Tomlin who helps in the songwriting department alongside Hillsong alum, Mia Fieldes. Toss praise and worship legend Paul Baloche into the mix and let a solid backing band play the songs and you’ve got a pretty good base to build from.

What Jobe does with that support is in the ears of the listener. The album overall is a slow burn, showing flashes of something solid and then ebbing back into more lackluster levels. Album opener, “I’m Singing,” is a servicable tune that Jobe sings with conviction. It’s a decent start to the album that was an obvious choice for a first single. For those looking for another solid radio hit, I’d put my money on “Singing Over Me” with it’s mid-tempo beat and singable lyric.

Yet Jobe’s cover of “Healer,” despite some added bells and whistles, does little to enhance the song from what has already been done. “Everyone Needs A Little” gains points for being an original yet the acoustic arrangement and so-so lyrics leave the listener wanting more. “Joyfully” takes the same tack, drawing from a similar well yet seems to fair better. Perhaps it’s simply that the lyric flows better off the tongue?

However, with “Beautiful,” Jobe gives us a flash of brilliance. The song, co-written by Jobe, Paul Baloche, and Mia Fieldes, is a pleasantly still declaration of love to God that makes great use of Jobe’s honest vocals. Add to that a compelling lyric, and you have Jobe doing what she does best:

“Here before your altar
I am letting go of all I’ve held
Of every motive, every burden
Everything that’s of myself

And I just want to wait on You, my God
I just want to dwell on who You are.”

“My Beloved,” co-written with fellow Christ for the Nations alum, Klaus Kuehn, is another track that finds Jobe at her peak, singing plaintively over an earnest lyric. The song suffers from a few CCM cliches yet it’s a good platform for her talent. Tracks like “No Sweeter Name” and “Be Still” carry along in the same vein, keeping things simple. It’s a good formula that finds Jobe in her element.

But, the artist saves the best for last. She offers up first her signature track in “Revelation Song,” and while it doesn’t necessarily exceed what you’ve heard before, it’s still just that good a song. It’s the last track that really sets things apart, however. The original track, “You Are For Me,” stands tall and strong over and against all that has come before and allows Jobe a chance to showcase her heart and her passion for her Savior. It’s impossible to listen to this song and mistake her emotion for anything but honest worship.

So does Kari Jobe make the leap from worship leader to, well, solo worship leader successfully? The answer is, sort of. Jobe’s heart clearly lies in heartfelt worship and this album is saturated with that. Yet, despite a plethora of help in the songwriting department, there are certainly some lyrical elements that could stand some tweaking alongside some nuanced stylistic changes as well. But, all in all, Jobe is a worshipper and this album lets you hear the depths of her heart. And that’s a listen I’m fortunate to have had.

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