Matt Redman is one of the leading worship leaders in the Contemporary Christian community. He is known for leading worship services and concerts to get people closer to God around the country. He even says that the music is not just about the man or the writer but the experience behind the music and the heart of worship. That is where the joy is. His music brings blessings to what would otherwise would be a dull life. The music celebrates the blessing of having life itself that is more than words could ever describe.
His “10000 Reasons (Bless the Lord) album is the one that put Redman on the map as a Christian songwriter. “We Are Free” is an enthusiastic opener to jumpstart your experience. It is a stomping rhythm that gets people clapping.
“Here For You” is a chant saying that we welcome the Lord God to come into the place where we are and just be here so we can bask in the presence of the omniscient God—the God of all power and love. The production is heavy on the rock and I would go for a more tranquil backdrop in parts of the song compositionally to balance it out more. Composition is a thing of balance and opposition of forces.
“Holy” is a track dedicated to the Lord who is the great “I Am” of all. It is a straight-forward praise song praising God for His holiness. The whole temple sings along with high praise to the Lord God Almighty. It is glorious.
The title track is a fabulous representation of what true praise could possibly be in the this new generation. It is personally my favorite of the whole album. We are to bless the Lord with all our heart, all our mind, and all our soul every hour of everyday in the Christian faith. In the song, it is meant that we are to bless the Lord for all the things that we have been blessed with. The track is piano driven with a memorable harmony lick that would help distinguish it as a CCM gem.
This is followed by the uptempo B-flat “Fires” declaring the Lord is the fire within the congregation’s hearts. One issue I have with this one is it sounds no different than a rock song that could be similarly dressed in the secular world. You do get a vision of fires burning and God being there above them.
The track after this one declares one of the Bible’s greatest promises that if we accept the Lord as our savior, he will never once leave us. It is in fact, us that leave him and come back. When we are in the Lord’s presence, we are breathing in His grace.
Tracks that seem to top the title track are the slow song “Magnificent,” the almost-mid-tempo “O This God,” and the finale “Endless Hallelujah.” The “We will worship, We will worship,” is a notable lyric that will wet someone’s appetite for praise. The other two are the usual worship song, not a throwaway, but the musical texture is the same old, same old. However, one thing important in worship is not just about the musical textures. It is about the worship of God. It is important not to have an idol above God and this album would prove it.
All in all, this is the best album by Matt Redman. It has some very strong points and some weak ones. If I were writing this album, I could not resist putting in some orchestral and organ-driven pieces combined with a toning down of the electric guitars. Having a synthesizer-driven string bed, an organ and a choir with lead singing the words would be perfect to put in the middle of the album as a balance. Also, I don’t find any actual scripture in the music—just faint references to praising God. Putting scripture in the lyrics of the song is appropriate and correct in worship. We need more of this in our worship music!
