Paul Baloche - A Greater Song
Released April 2006
reviewed by Andree Farias


Sounds like … Brian Doerksen, Chris Tomlin, Brenton Brown, Matt Redman, and other pioneering songwriters from the modern worship movement.

At a glance … co-writes with several noted songwriters allow Paul Baloche to finally strike the perfect balance between modern and contemporary worship styles.

Worship songwriter Paul Baloche is one of those artists who should not need an introduction. Responsible for such modern church standards as "Open the Eyes of My Heart" and "Above All," Baloche writes with congregations in mind, not radio. Yet for whatever reason, few know him by name, and that may unfortunately continue despite the strength of his latest album, A Greater Song.

Recorded live at his home church, this project is much better than the average worship effort—and not your typical Baloche recording. Though prolific at writing songs single-handedly, A Greater Song finds Baloche collaborating with an array of noted worship songwriters, many of them respected penmen in their own right. People like Matt Redman, Brenton Brown, Graham Kendrick, and Sara Groves all teamed up with Baloche to compose songs that the worshiping church will use, a communal affair that's large on melody and congregational value.

Universality isn't this collection's only asset. Here Baloche breaks free of the safe, inspo-contemporary mold of his earlier ventures and sets foot in modern worship territory, evidenced in the stronger pop/rock motifs and aggressive rhythmic patterns. The driving anthem "Hosanna," for example, sounds like a stadium-sized U2 leftover, a stirring call to worship in the vein of "Come Now Is the Time to Worship" or Baloche's own "Open the Eyes of My Heart." From there on out, the set alternates between high energy ("Because of Your Love," "I Will Boast") and reverential tone, particularly during spot-on duets with Kathryn Scott ("Your Name," "Here and Now") and Groves ("You Have Been So Good").

Though A Greater Song is unlikely to make Baloche a household name, it will at least, more importantly, provide the church more reasons to keep singing his praises to the Lord.

Above all powers, above all kings
Above all nature, and all created things
Above all wisdom, and all the ways of man
You were here before the world began

Above all kingdoms, above all thrones
Above all wonders, the world has ever known
Above all wealth, and treasures of the earth
There's no way to measure what You're worth

Crucified, laid behind the stone
You lived to die rejected and alone
Like a rose, trampled on the ground
You took the fall and thought of me
Above all

I do not live anymore–it is Christ who lives in me.

Galations 2:20

You have leaves to rake. A steering wheel to grip. A neighbor's hand to shake. Simply put, you have things to do.

So does God. Babies need hugs. Children need good-night tucks. AIDS orphans need homes. Stressed-out executives need hope. God has work to do. And he uses our hands to do it.

What the hand is to the glove, the Spirit is to the Christian.... God gets into us. At times, imperceptibly. Other times, disruptively. God gets his fingers into our lives, inch by inch reclaiming the territory that is rightfully his.

Your tongue. He claims it for his message.

Your feet. He requisitions them for his purpose.

Your mind? He made it and intends to use it for his glory.

Your eyes, face, and hands? Through them he will weep, smile, and touch.