Hillsong United's CD, Look To You, lacks creativity. The first three songs on the album sound like different versions of the same tunes--only with altered lyrics. By the end of the third song, the listener may feel a massive headache coming on from the repetitious beat.
"All For Love" bears the signature by which listeners will certainly recognize Hillsong from the past, whether from United or their senior colleague Darlene Zschech. "All For Love" is a worship song with music and lyrics flowing together as a prayer to God:
Everything I need is You
My beginning and forever
Everything I need is You
Let me sing all for love.
I will join the angel song.
Ever Holy is the Lord, King of Glory, King of All.
The sixth track, "Shout Unto God," sounds like a slower version of the first three tracks on the album.
For the most part, the tunes on this album remind me of navy beans--they all look the same. The only exceptions are a cover of the late Rich Mullins' "Awesome God," and the fourth track, "All I Need Is You," which is a very good song which does show us something different.
"All I Need Is You" has a bit of a rasp to it, but in a prayerful petition to God, with beautiful backup vocals. Sonically, this song is distinct from the rest of the tracks on the CD, and that is a good thing. The lyrics are--well, how can you criticize lyrics that are worshipping God? It is a shame, however, that the songwriters and artists did not learn from their contemporaries who are writing some splendid worship songs today with cutting edge lyrics. People do need to hear songs that lead us in adoration of God, but they also need to have missives that point to the struggles we all experience from time to time.
It is kind of odd that an Australian production fell victim to what Nashville is so often accused of these days--formula writing.
2.5 tocks
Other coverage for this album
The Phantom Tollbooth 2005Reviewed by Brian A. SmithAnother week, another new worship CD from Hillsong. Hillsong United is the modern worship branch of the stable, becoming the best selling "modern worship" band in Australia. Look to You follows the same blueprint as their previous releases: verse/chorus/verse/repeated chorus songs that are easy to learn, vary in the depth of spirituality, border on "vain repetition" at times, and demonstrate a…Similar sounding releases
2005Delirious?Mission Bell
2005The Evan AnthemSens
2000Sunny Day Real EstateThe Rising Tide
2003Blue Shade WitnessBlue Shade Witness
2003CopelandBeneath Medicine Tree
2005PassionHow Great Is Our God
