Tim Hughes

Item: When Silence Falls
Author: Burton Wray

When Silence Falls

(2004)

Reviewed by Burton Wray

Discogs Apple Music TIDAL Spotify

Label Worship TogetherThe Phantom Tollbooth2004

ccm worship

Tim Hughes is one of the most prolific and popular worship leaders in Christian contemporary music today, the writer of such songs as "Here I am to Worship." Unfortunately, being as prolific as Hughes is both a blessing and a curse. Praise and worship leaders such as Hughes have a unique difficulty when they release new CDs. Listeners and fans expect songs from each CD to make their way into worship services across the country. If each CD doesn't have several songs of the quality and popularity of "Shout to the Lord" or "I Could Sing of Your Love Forever," then the CD is considered a failure. Smart listeners, though, will know that even without a certified hit to transcend the ages, a CD can still be a fine CD.

While When Silence Falls does have some rocking numbers, most of the songs on the CD are fairly slow. Some of the songs, such as the beginning track, "Beautiful One," "Giver of Life," and "Name Among All Names," start off slow but pick up to become fairly rocking songs. "You," the second song on the album, starts off slow, picks up some steam but still manages to stay in the range of a slow rock ballad. "Consuming Fire," the third track of the CD is one of the slowest songs on the entire project.

Which songs on the CD are most likely to find their way into worship services across the country? "Joy is in This Place," one of the more rocking numbers on the project; and "Holy, Holy" are both simple enough that churches will be able to learn them quickly.

This is a good sophomore release from Hughes but the album never seems to get going. Too many numbers start off slow and don't really pick up steam until the chorus and then they lose it for the verses again. These songs are followed by slow songs and the CD, while trying to be a rock CD in spots, doesn't feature two rock songs back-to-back until almost the very end of the CD. The CD features some good numbers but as an overall project, it just doesn't have the cohesiveness or flow that many would expect from such an experienced praise and worship leader as Hughes.

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