SAVIOR: Celebrating the Mystery of God Become Man
Sovereign Grace Music
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| Name | Artist | Time | Price | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Christ the Lord Is Born Today | Sovereign Grace Music | 4:09 | $0.99 | View In iTunes |
| 2 | Hope Has Come | Sovereign Grace Music | 3:26 | $0.99 | View In iTunes |
| 3 | Emmanuel, Emmanuel | Sovereign Grace Music | 3:57 | $0.99 | View In iTunes |
| 4 | How Sweet the Day | Sovereign Grace Music | 4:19 | $0.99 | View In iTunes |
| 5 | Salvation Is Born | Sovereign Grace Music | 3:34 | $0.99 | View In iTunes |
| 6 | Glory Be to God | Sovereign Grace Music | 3:17 | $0.99 | View In iTunes |
| 7 | Rejoice | Sovereign Grace Music | 3:29 | $0.99 | View In iTunes |
| 8 | We Will Seek You | Sovereign Grace Music | 3:58 | $0.99 | View In iTunes |
| 9 | Glory to God In the Highest | Sovereign Grace Music | 3:36 | $0.99 | View In iTunes |
| 10 | Wonderful Counselor | Sovereign Grace Music | 5:10 | $0.99 | View In iTunes |
| 11 | The Son of God Came Down | Sovereign Grace Music | 5:02 | $0.99 | View In iTunes |
| 12 | Sleep, Jesus, Sleep | Sovereign Grace Music | 4:06 | $0.99 | View In iTunes |
| Total: 12 Songs |
Recent Customer Reviews
Celebrating the first advent, anticipating the second
by Charismatic PuritanDo I need another Christmas album? I have Frank and Ella and Tony, Sarah McLachlan, The Mormons and Hillsong, and about 2 dozen Christian artists I've downloaded off of iTunes, so, no, I really don't. But, as we listen to the "Christmas muzak" being played in stores and on the radio we all hear the paucity of Christ in what is being sung. Even Christians singing hymns will often change words to remove some of the more important lyrics. It was after 3 tries that Johnny Mathis finally gave the lyric in "What Child is This" that I was looking for - "Nails, spear shall pierce Him through; the cross be borne for me, for you." And that's a really important concept. Yes, Jesus is the "Reason for the Season," but the real core of the reason He made this season is so He could become incarnate in order to someday be our atoning sacrifice and bear our sins on the cross. The "Savior" album captures that reason in all its before, during and after redemptive wonder.
Although several of the songs don't have that musically "Christmas" feel to them, whether that is arrangement of instruments or the song itself I'm not sufficiently articulate in the language of music to describe, but I think the use of choral voices may have helped. The instruments, also, are those of typical contemporary music and not the strings and horns that more traditional Christmas music might have. However, there are several particular standouts that highlight this exceptionally well crafted and deliberately scripted album.
The first song, "Christ the Lord is Born Today" will be one of my favorite Christmas hymns, in fact, just one of my favorite hymns, for the foreseeable future. The promises of Genesis are wrapped into the birth narrative as well as the anticipated realization of the redemptive promises that began their fulfillment at the Savior's incarnation. Musically it is lively, energetic and festive and smacks of what I think of when I think of when I think of Christmas music.
"Emmanuel, Emmanuel," the third song is similar in its energy as well as its broad scope of redemptive history. It begins in the poverty of the virgin's lap, describes our brokenness that Christ came into and the recounts the promised redemption and its consequences as paid for by the cross. As I'm shuffling through the songs now, the second song, "Hope Has Come" also has the joyous warmth of a soul satisfied in the Savior and desirous of adoring Him.
The last song, "Sleep, Jesus, Sleep" has that very simple elegant sound of a meditative traditional hymn. It is also a favorite because of the magnificent vocals of Shannon Harris that turn what is almost a lullaby into a profoundly worshipful recounting of Christ's supreme authority, the anticipation of His full redemptive work and the truly personal and intimate way we should experience and celebrate it. The fact that it was written by my friend Rich Dalmas makes it that much more cherished.
I've used the word group "anticipate" twice in this review and I think that is an appropriate singular description of the effect of this work; it develops in me a deeper appreciation of Christ and His work and a hungrier anticipation for His return. I can think of no better result of celebrating the first advent than a jealousy for the second.
Refreshing, Comforting and Convicting
by Glory in the CrossMy wife and I have been truly blessed by this album. Praise the Lord for the incarnation of Christ! The texts are Christ-exalting and music is uplifting and inspiring!
Refreshing, Original, and BEAUTIFUL new Christmas music
by SetOnEdgeI’ll have to be honest with you: I’m not a really big fan of Christmas music. There are a few artists/albums which I enjoy, such as Over the Rhine’s Snow Angels, Jars of Clay’s Christmas Songs, and Bruce Cockburn’s Christmas, but generally I find Christmas music either stale and overused, or just ridiculous and annoying. In light of those critiques, Savior: Celebrating the Mystery of God become Man - though not a spotless gem - is indeed a breath of fresh air, and has been spinning almost continually since I received it over a week ago.
Savior begins strong, with what will probably be the most broadly useful song here-in for most congregations - the hymn-like “Christ the Lord is born Today”. From an engineering standpoint it is excellent: a brilliant use of stereo and panning - at times the song is driven by ‘dueling’ acoustic guitars - at times, guitar and piano - and instruments seem to slip in and out of the sound-scape seamlessly. Scott Dente of Out of the Grey lends his guitar skills, and his lead-work is reminiscent of Bruce Cockburn: bright, passionate, and precise. Best of all, the lyrics are Biblical, the song’s sound is a unique combination of ancient and modern and therefore accessible to multiple generations, and the melody is easy to remember - everything a worship pastor is looking for in that ’special’ to introduce around Christmas-time.
Although there were a plethora of solid tunes here, there were a few that really stood out. I was captured by the abundance of 7th chords in the beautiful “How Sweet the Day”, making the otherwise folky-pop number feel somehow both jazzy and beatle-esque at the same time.
“Wonderful Counselor” is an absolute gem - of the caliber that should be used year-round - majoring on what Sovereign Grace Music does at its best: singable, doctrinally astute, and melodically gorgeous! I could easily make an mix of just those two songs and listen to them non-stop for a week, and if I didn’t feel obligated to listen to the rest of the c.d. for this review, I may have done just that.
Also of note, “Glory be to God” - though not as immediately catching as the fore-mentioned songs, is a driving folk-country-rock praise song, and has all the characteristics that make Caedmon’s Call great. In fact, I’d hope that they would consider recording this, if they ever follow Jars of Clay into “Christmas Songs” territory.
That doesn’t mean the c.d. is flawless, however. “Emmanuel, Emmanuel”, which begins very strong, with mellow-yet-driving verses and very tastefully placed Hammond B3 parts, loses steam moving into the chorus, which is - in comparison - both repetitive and drawn out. Something about singing”E-ma-a-a-an-u-e-el” just doesn’t ‘work’ for me, even though the content of the lyrics themselves is fine. Honestly, the song is not BAD, but the verses were so good that I got my hopes up, and the chorus didn’t seem to live up to where the verses seemed to be heading. Also, though the female-led songs in and of themselves aren’t bad, the production on those numbers left something to be desired. Though the songs have potential, they end up sounding a bit too predicable, and even dated at times.
Overall, Savior is refreshing: a new collection of all original Christmas worship material, with solid lyrics, good production, and memorable melodies. This is indeed the Christmas c.d. which this year’s seasonal memories will be set to. Thank you, Sovereign Grace Music - keep them coming, please!
Top Albums and Songs by Sovereign Grace Music
| Name | Album | Time | Price | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jesus, Thank You | Worship God Live | 7:43 | $0.99 | View In iTunes |
| 2 | I Will Glory In My Redeemer | Songs for the Cross Centered Life | 4:49 | $0.99 | View In iTunes |
| 3 | The Glories of Calvary | Songs for the Cross Centered Life | 4:40 | $0.99 | View In iTunes |
| 4 | Grace Unmeasured | Worship God Live | 4:44 | $0.99 | View In iTunes |
| 5 | Let Your Kingdom Come | Valley of Vision | 4:59 | $0.99 | View In iTunes |
- $9.99
- Genres: Christian & Gospel, Music, Pop
- Released: Nov 27, 2006
- ℗ 2006 Sovereign Grace Music
