Search - Matt Redman :: We Shall Not Be Shaken

Matt Redman [We Shall Not Be Shaken]

Kevin R. Davis | Perkasie, PA | 08/25/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Matt Redman may be the premier songwriter in Christian music over the past decade as the writer of worship classics "The Heart of Worship", "Better Is One Day", "Blessed Be Your Name" and "You Never Let Go". He is also part of the Passion conferences and most recently his hit song "Shine" was part of the Passion: God Of This City album. One of my favorite stories about Matt Redman, a native of England, is that in response to his church having too much focus on music he suggested they take a break from singing which led to his writing "The Heart of Worship". The lyrics "I'm coming back to the heart of worship, it's all about You" sums up Matt's ministry and focus on vertical worship. His sincere singing and songwriting style and biblical inspired lyrics have made me a huge fan of Matt Redman.



"We Shall Not Be Shaken" sticks to the style that fans have come to admire and respect about Matt, starting off with "Through It All", which includes an upbeat melody and a soaring anthem in the chorus, declaring: "Through it all You are strong. As we walk through the shadows still You shine on." The goal of spiritual confidence points to the other key focus on We Shall Not Be Shaken, the centrality of Jesus and the cross. First single "This Is How We Know," co-written with Redman's wife, Beth, seamlessly blends the message of John 3:16 and 1 John 3:16. This is how we know what love is; just one look at Your cross... For You so loved the world that You gave Your only Son. Love amazing, so divine, we will love You in return.



Prior to the shaping of the album there was one extremely notable shakeup: in July of 2008, Matt and Beth Redman and their three young children at the time, moved from England to the United States, and in November they welcomed their fourth child. They had never envisioned themselves calling America "home," but clearly God had another idea in mind. They recorded We Shall Not Be Shaken in Nashville, TN and now reside in Atlanta. He and his wife will help plant the Passion City Church in Atlanta, GA alongside Passion Conferences founder Louie Giglio, Chris Tomlin and Christy Nockels.



We Shall Not Be Shaken is intentionally Psalm-like, using simple poetic lyrics to express unbreakable truth in an age of utter brokenness. "This album praises God's steadiness," says Redman. "We're being reminded how shakable earthly things are--job losses, home foreclosures. Among Matt's favorite tracks on the new album is "Remembrance (Communion Song)", which fulfills his long-held desire to write specifically for the ceremonial Lord's Supper.



Matt co-wrote "The More We See" with Chris Tomlin and the album closes with an excellent soft song of praise and worship "My Hope", combining words from 1834's "On Christ the Solid Rock" with Redman's lyrics: Though every kingdom be shaken, still I will rest in You. I've been collecting Matt Redman since 1999's "The Heart Of Worship" and he is my favorite overall worship leader in all of Christian music.



"Through It All", "This Is How We Know", "We Shall Not Be Shaken", "Remembrance" and "My Hope" are my favorite songs on the album. If you like Delirious?, Jeremy Riddle, Chris Tomlin, David Crowder and Lincoln Brewster, then you must get "We Shall Not Be Shaken", which is one of my top albums of 2009 and the best overall album by Matt Redman in my opinion."

Redman Delivers What You Expect From Him

Matthew Robbins | Ohio | 08/25/2009

(3 out of 5 stars)

"Matt Redman needs no introduction. He's been a mainstay in the worship music scene for so long, fans of his will be lining up for We Will Not Be Shaken to hear the latest installment of his congregation-ready, God-exalting songs. At this point, most people have made up their mind about his music. You either enjoy this style of worship or you don't. Some adore the modern hymns Redman produces; some find it shallow and musically uninteresting. Redman is unlikely to win over very many in the second category with this album, but he delivers what we expect: a Christ-centered album, full of praise to God, and U2-flavored music that can be sung corporately and doesn't distract from the biblically-based lyrics.



The collection kicks off with "This Is How We Know," a solid song on which Redman sings, "This is how we know what love is, just one look at your cross." Vintage Redman. The more up-tempo title track follows, and the theme of faith in God's character is explored against the backdrop of uncertainty that exists in the world today. Redman sings, "When everything's tumbling down, You're the solid ground. Nation's could be quaking. Economy's failing. When fear is found all around, You're the solid ground."



Another standout is the song, "Remembrance," which was written specifically for the Lord's Supper. This song will no doubt be used by churches everywhere. The song creates the perfect mood of contemplation on the sacrament with lyrics such as, "By Your mercy we come to Your table. By Your grace, You are making us faithful. Lord, we remember You." The song crescendos with Redman begging, "Lord Jesus, come in glory!" This is a fantastic song, and it breaks the mold of most worship songs. The album closes with the reflective "My Hope," combining some lyrics from "On Christ the Solid Rock" with new ones. Again, the theme is echoed that despite our conditions or circumstances, Christ is the foundation upon which believers can depend. That never changes.



The rest of the album is pretty typical worship, and there aren't any songs at the level of "Better Is One Day" or "Blessed Be Your Name" here. Some will pick at the simplicity of the lyrics on some songs, and I certainly wish he would expand things musically occasionally, but Redman is clearly writing with the congregational setting of the Church in mind. His love for the church is evident in this, and he recently moved his family to the U.S. from England to help plant a church with Louie Giglio and Chris Tomlin in Atlanta. He's not writing for critical acclaim. He's writing for Christ's bride.



These are, for the most part, songs that are easy to learn and each song focuses on one aspect of God's character. Redman is adept at maintaining that balance, using the music to serve the lyrics, while allowing enough room in the songs for contemplation about the themes being sung. Repetition allows people to sing without having to focus too hard on where the melody is going or the next lyrics. Some may disagree with this philosophy of worship, but Redman does it better than most. As I said, he's not going to win over those in the opposing camp in the "worship war," but his fans will likely not be disappointed with this effort.

"

Matt Redman Continues to Provide the Church with Solid Songs

Bob Kauflin | Gaithersburg, MD | 11/04/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I first met Matt Redman in 1997 when I was over in England for a worship conference. In a few minutes of conversation a few things stood out to me. He was a young man passionate about impacting his generation with worship songs that communicated biblical truth about God and not simply emotional responses. He was theologically aware and gospel-focused. He was articulate. And he was humble.



After listening to his latest album, We Shall Not Be Shaken, I found myself thanking God once again for Matt's faithfulness to serve the church with his songwriting gift.



We Shall Not Be Shaken contains 12 songs, many expressing confident trust in a sovereign, wise, and loving God. The melodies are creative but singable, the harmonies are fresh, and Matt's voice is as solid as ever. Here's my take on the individual songs.



1. This is How We Know reflects on the fact that we know God's love through the cross, and then translates that thought into loving those around us. There's an awareness as well that we love God because He loved us first.

2. We Shall Not Be Shaken is a rocker that proclaims with unabashed courage, "Nations could be quaking, economies failing; When fear is found all around You're the solid ground." The chorus melody is contagious and filled with heart-strengthening truth: "Our God, You are all that You say You are; You never change, You never fail, You never fade."

3. Through it All is an anthemic meditation on God's immutability. "Through it all, You are faithful; Through it all, You are strong; As we walk through the shadows, Still You shine on."

4. You Alone Can Rescue reminds us of our inability to save ourselves, a much needed emphasis in our self-promoting, self-sufficient culture.

5. The Glory of Our King jubilantly celebrates the privilege of being worshipers of God. "The rocks are going to cry out if we don't; Now's the time to raise a song; Hear creation shout loud; We will join our voices to that sound; Stand up, stand up -- the time has come." But rather than remain focused on our priase, the lyrics remind us of the joy we have to "take Heaven to a broken world." This is another song with a musical hook that's hard to forget.

6. How Great Is Your Faithfulness is another anthem extolling God's unchanging character, only this time in a vibrant 6/8. Like other songs Matt has penned, the lyrics encourage us with the truth that "from generation to generation You never fail us, O God."

7. Remembrance is a beautiful communion song that reminds us there are "none too lost to be saved; None too broken or ashamed; All are welcome in this place." I wondered about one line that seems at face value to be referring to transubstantiation ("now the simple made divine"). When I read in the liner notes that the words were taken from the Roman Missal, I realized it was more than an implication. That being said, a case could be made that the song is talking about acknowledging God's divine activity in the simple act of taking the bread and cup together. I'd want to make sure people knew what was meant by that line.

8. The More We See helps us meditate on the unending circle of worship -- the more we see of God, the more we want to sing about His glory in creation and in the mercy of the cross. Not one of the strongest songs for me, but still solid.

9. For Your Glory sounds a lot like a remake of Matt's song, Dancing Generation. Drawing from Ps. 24:7-10, we're invited to dance and shout for God's glory. But Matt includes two familiar themes -- the cross and evangelism --that educate us as to why we're so excited, thereby rescuing the song from mere emotionalism.

10. Gloria is a song I could hear being belted out by a massive crowd that's reveling in God's glory in creation (vs. 1) and the cross (vs. 2). Another effective anthem.

11. All That Really Matters is a mid-tempo song of commitment, expressing a desire to live for the One who is "the Way, the Life, the Truth." The chorus reminds us that "All that really matters, all that really counts is found in You."

12. The album closes with My Hope, a song that adds a chorus to two verses borrowed from Edward Mote's On Christ the Solid Rock. It's a hauntingly beautiful rewrite, perhaps better suited for a soloist than a congregation. Very moving.



After a quick listen, one might easily dismiss this album as just one more of the hundreds of modern worship offerings released each year. Don't do it. While Matt's lyrics may not always contain the breadth, precision, and theological depth of some modern writers (think the Getty's and Stuart Townend), his songs are biblically faithful, cross-centered, poetically fresh, and God-glorifying. In addition, his melodies and harmonic progressions are consistently above standard fare."