Matt Redman

Item: Blessed Be Your Name: Songs of Matt Redman Volume I
Author: Joe Montague

Blessed Be Your Name: Songs of Matt Redman Volume I

(2005)

Reviewed by Joe Montague

Apple Music TIDAL Amazon Music Spotify YouTube Music

Label sixstepsrecordsThe Phantom Tollbooth2005

ccm worship

When you are in the midst of an era that is defined by greatness you often do not recognize the magnitude of certain accomplishments or successes achieved by individuals. I believe history will record that we are living in a renaissance of great modern day hymn writers, with contributions by Reuben Morgan, Chris Tomlin, Matt and Beth Redman. Matt Redman's recent CD release Blessed Be Your Name: Songs of Matt Redman Volume I on sixstepsrecords is a compilation of some of the greatest worship tunes written in our day.

The sheer number of artists who have recorded the title track "Blessed Be Your Name" (co-written with wife Beth) reads like a who's who of the music industry; Rebecca St. James, Tree63, and Newsboys. How many times have we stood in church and raised our voices and hands toward heaven singing; "Every blessing You pour out I'll turn back to praise / And when the darkness closes in, Lord, still I will say / Blessed be the name of the Lord / Blessed be Your name / Blessed be the name of the Lord / Blessed be Your glorious name." Earlier this year "Blessed Be Your Name" and co-writers Matt and Beth Redman were honored with the Dove Award for Worship Song of the Year.

My personal favorite "The Heart of Worship" inspired by Colossians 1:15-20 is a timeless song that speaks to the heart of unconditional surrender on our part and God's freely offered grace that asks for no more than that complete surrender.

There are so many talented singer / songwriters that you may have overlooked Matt Redman when you've browsed the music department in your local Christian bookstore but most stores will provide you with headphones and the ability to listen without obligation to their CDs. I encourage you to give this album a listen and I guarantee you it will be added to your shopping basket.

Songs such as "Better is One Day" (co-written with Charlie Hall) and "Let Everything that Has Breath" have already become old favorites in many churches. Seven of the songs from this album appear on CCLI's top 200 list. (CCLI records royalties paid to the artists when their songs are sung in settings such as churches).

Beth Redman has written and released a companion book also entitled Blessed Be Your Name.

As compilation albums go this one doesn't have a weak spot. As worship CDs are concerned Blessed Be Your Name: Songs of Matt Redman Volume I is a collector's item.