Austin City Life Worship

Looking for the diamond in the rough? That little known gem hiding from any mainstream press and yet as good as anything you’ll find on store shelves? Then allow me to help you out. Austin City Life is a missional community in Austin, Texas – the home of many a talented musician. So it should come as no surprise that Austin should also provide some fantastic worship music as well.

One is a new EP from Austin City Life featuring three of their worship leaders – Miranda Dodson, Jordan Whitmore and Nate Navarro – each contributing a track or more to the six-song endeavor. And each possess their own distinct flavor.

Miranda Dodson’s first track is absolutely riveting right out of the gate. “In Your Name” should become a worship staple if justice is truly served. Dodson’s majestic voice reminds one of a stronger Patty Griffin and the lyrics are some of the most refreshing, centered words you’ll ever see projected in a worship setting: “We love because you loved/We pray because you prayed/We give because you gave/We live for your fame/We hope because you save/We believe in your name.” The refrain sounds simple, but trust me that the elements surrounding make this a magical track.

The strong musicianship continues on “What Wondrous Love Is This” which features Dodson’s strong vocal turn on a more somber, acoustic ballad. It’s an appropriately bass-heavy song that merits the strong center of gravity it creates. By track’s end, as Dodson sings “Holy, holy is the Lord,” the listener is moved to the deepest realms of the heart.

Jordan Whitmore’s “Fullness of God” is a Scriptural song of Jesus being the fullness of God and the track ends with an epic rock build before collapsing back to a piano refrain. Navarro’s “Community Song” is a welcome break from the strong feminine beginning and jolts the project’s energy level back up. The song is a description of the church as a community of the broken and those who are seeking reconciliation on this earth.

Dodson and Whitmore collaborate on “Lord, Have Mercy” is a familiar acoustic tune that eventually moves to include electric guitar and swelling percussion as Dodson sings, “It’s your love and your mercy that compels me/You are better than endless treasure/It’s your kindness and mercy that compels me.”

Finally, the album ends with Navarro’s solo acoustic take on “How Great Thou Art” before it breaks into a U2esque ending. It’s the most forgettable take on the EP, but that speaks more to the strength of the original tracks than anything. Austin City Life certainly boasts considerable talent within its community and this project should serve as notice of a new home for worship songs to emerge from.

Tagged as: Austin City Life Worship, One

↓ 3 comments

#1 ACL Worship EP Review « Creation Project on September 1st, 2009 at 5:57 pm

[...] EP Review 2009 September 1 tags: Worship, worship music by Jonathan Dodson Here’s a great review of the ACL One EP. An excerpt: Looking for the diamond in the rough? That little known gem hiding [...]

#2 Miranda on September 1st, 2009 at 6:36 pm

Hey Matt-

Thank you so much for your review of Austin City Life Worship: ONE. I wanted to let you know that the link under the album art has a “.org.com” and the link is therefore broken. I also wanted to see if you wouldn’t mind sharing your review on itunes for us.
http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewAlbum?id=322556189&s=143441

Thanks!

#3 paul on September 1st, 2009 at 11:52 pm

you can get it free at noisetrade.com and the last song is the best song on the disk but i prefer traditional worship as i would rather have a t-bone steak over a hot dog.

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