Featured Album Review

THE BENJAMIN GATE
Contact

Few albums come along that really seem to spark something inside that goes deeper than just surface emotion, but that really penetrates to something that is a part of you; the way you think, feel and express your heart to God. And I'm not just talking lyrically but also musically. Contact, the latest release from The Benjamin Gate is one such album for me. Probably best described musically as cyber-punk/trip-hop/alternative (with obvious influences by artists such as The Cranberries, Garbage, Plumb, and U2), these guys totally rock and have a strong message that will mess you up (in a good way - grin)!

After purchasing Gate's first CD I must confess that I wasn't so impressed with that album. The songs were high energy, had great lyrics, great vocals by lead singer Adrienne Liesching, the cover was cool and there were two songs I liked, but the disappointing feature was that pretty much all the songs sounded the same, didn't real have any adictive "hooks" that just grab you and stick in your head (except for "All Over Me" and "How Long") and, for lack of a better way to put it, it just didn't have "it." When I saw the new CD was out, for some reason I just bought it, knowing that I wasn't that impressed with the first (but I did like the band's energy and passionate lyrics, so I hoped maybe this one would be an improvement). That was more than two months ago now and I haven't stopped listening to it since!

Contact probably won't make the list as being a "worship album" but I love crankin' this CD and singing to the Lord from my heart. It just expresses so well the emotion and desire within that longs for God and to be led by Him wherever and however He wills. With songs like "Violently" that talk about passionately pressing through, no matter the blood, sweat and tears that we might have to battle through in this journey to leave behind everything that hinders and get intimately close to God and answer the call of His Spirit and "Fall Away" which talks about drawing so close to Him that all the things of the flesh just start to fall away, it's almost hard to describe this CD as anything less than a worship album! Then there's other great songs like "Tonight" which talks about enduring through hardships, holding fast to God, and pulling together with our brothers and sisters in Christ as we move together in sincere faith until we see the light of day again. "Gratitude" talks about the grace of God, His love and faithfulness, the joy and freedom He brings and how He has purified our hearts from sin and we respond with intense graditude. That's just scratching the surface of the themes of worship this album encompases!

The music has the same intense energy that marked the first release but there is actually some nice variety that distinguishes the songs apart from each other. There are some really cool melodies! The cool thing about the music on this CD is that it continues to grow on me. I love albums like that! Songs that I wasn't really crazy about when I first got it are now some of my favorites.

The lyrics on this album are great. When you just plainly read them they may not seem so profound, but their impact and meaning just comes alive and nails you when Adrienne Liesching is singing with that clear, powerful voice and you hear those awesome drums and jamming guitars (full of effects) wailing in the background. This CD has attitude and also powerfully voices some deep things; especially themes of hope through suffering and longing to be close, intimately close, to Jesus. Musically, I will admit it is probably not my favorite album on planet earth but it has that "something." That something keeps me playing it over and over.

Below are the lyrics to three of my favorite songs on the album. The first is called "This Is Not" and seems to talk about how religion keeps us hindered from what God wants us to really be. In the song Adrienne talks about how she tried to fit the role of being good but all it did was keep her far away from where she needed to be. In this song, which is a totally rockin' song, religion is expressed as "a useless fantasy." Be sure to check out the sample sound clips along with each set of lyrics and BUY THIS CD!!! It rocks! Note: Sample MP3 files are encoded in low quality 64k bitrates for quicker downloading - if you like what you hear in low fi quality, wait 'till you get the CD and hear what these songs are really meant to sound like!

The next song I love is called "Need." It talks about the longing to be transformed by God's power, endure through suffering and it exclaimes the truth that God is faithful to reveal His truth to us when we just passionately desire to be lost in Him and not bound by or led about by the opinions of others. The chorus sums it up by saying that everything I'm needing and whatever I'm feeling, I just give up to Him! This song just strikes that passionate, intimate cord in me that wants God on His terms and to leave everything relgious, artificial and distracting behind. Very cool song.

"Do What You Say" is another rockin' song with some cool lyrics (though musically it is not quite as cool as the two previous, but I still totally love it). This song deffinitely has attitude! It talks about those who just flap their lips and follow their religious routines to be recognized by others as being "spiritually elite" as opposed to those who really desire to live out their faith without hypocrisy and phoniness. My favorite line is when Adreienne shouts out that if she tries to live according to the religious expectations of others she'll die! The whole reason why we're here, the song says, is to LOVE and not be manipulated. This song is full-on anti-religion and total sell-out to sincere and radical relationship with God. On a scale of 1 to 10, I give this CD a strong 8!

The rest of the songs on the CD are just as hot (believe me, they are), but these are three of my current favorites. To buy the CD, just CLICK HERE NOW!!!

"THIS IS NOT"
The Benjamin Gate
CLICK TO HEAR MP3

I tried to make myself fit inside your world
My time's been spent on being the right girl
How far away I am from where I need to be
I'm so tired of this useless fantasy

Oh! Oh!
This is not what I need to be
Oh! Oh!
This is not what You mean to me

I'm not losing hope, I'm not laying blame
I know we we both want love, we both feel the same
I'm moving forward to where I need to be
My life is spinning in this mystery

I tried to be so perfect...

"NEED"
The Benjamin Gate
CLICK TO HEAR MP3

The fear I carry in my heart, the things that change and turn around me
What is it that I become? When is it that it's all undone?
I long to be close to You, so close I disappear into You
Doesn't matter what I try and do, You show me what is real and true;
The person that I hope to be, not bound by anyone's opinion
A person with history, moving to my destiny!

Whatever I'm needing, whatever I'm feeling
I give up to You, I give up to You!

You hold me tight in Your hand, that's when I feel the peace that I crave
You make brave to withstand, You take me through this barren land
God I hear You speak so clear, Your words melt away my fear
Even when I'm far, You're near
Your love will never disappear

That's when I lose myself in You!

"DO WHAT YOU SAY"
The Benjamin Gate
CLICK TO HEAR MP3

You come to me with your look of superiority
Have you asked yourself today how real is what you believe?
In one moment He will make me complete
Do I talk about it to be a part of the elite?

Oh! Do what you say!
Oh! Do what you do!

You try to draw the words out of my mouth
Show me what to do, but then I'll die if I live through you!
We're here to love and not to be manipulated
To each his own and that should never be understated!

Let's see what we've got here, let's take it on!

Click here to read "What About God?" This is an article/review by Dave Y. (that's me) based on a beautiful song by Rita Springer called "About God." The article simply offers some of my own thoughts on the importance of making Christ central in our lives above all things. Lyrics to Rita's song and a sample MP3 download is also posted. God bless!

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