First full length
from the creators of “Surrounded (Fight My Battles)”
To The One
Artist: UPPERROOM
Label: Independent
Length: One hour,
five minutes
To The
One by UPPERROOM reminds me of what C. S. Lewis wrote in The
Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe:
“Aslan is a lion⸺the Lion, the great Lion." "Ooh" said Susan. "I'd thought he was a man. Is he-quite safe? I shall feel rather nervous about meeting a lion"..."Safe?" said Mr Beaver ..."Who said anything about safe? 'Course he isn't safe. But he's good. He's the King, I tell you.”
Those who favor
conservative, quiet worship might be nervous about listening to this.
Is it safe? It’s not safe if you want to avoid guitars that
roar, bass that pounds and drums that herald.
Moments of
spontaneity are found throughout this live recording, mostly at the
end of songs or as a brief interlude. Sometimes they fall flat but
it’s part of being a less polished, less tame experience.
This is not to say
that it’s all wild and loud. It’s modern rock applied in a
worship setting. Crescendos are balanced by quieter moments. Songs
ebb and flow for five minutes and upwards. It does make for some
repetition that can be a little monotonous. The opening track at over
10 minutes is a prime example.
There is, however,
some depth to the lyrics, which are intimate expressions that are
traceable to this collective’s prayer room. Though they are not
necessarily the best songs on this release, I give them credit for
touching on themes that may not be addressed as often like gratitude,
the Holy Spirit and healing.
The promotional
material boasts that “Surrounded (Fight My Battles)” includes new
verses. Michael W. Smith includes the song on his new live recording,
Awaken: The Surrounded Experience. It’s a highlight with
verses that reference Psalm 23 while making connections with New
Testament practices. It’s beautifully sung here by a female lead.
One application I
make is that being in Christ is the foundation on which we take our
stand. Scripture makes it clear that we don’t fight as those in the
world do. Our weapons are spiritual, even praise and worship. It’s
thoughts like this combined with captivating music that make this
appealing.
Another personal
favorite is “Washed,” an anthem with a simple, steady rhythm that
boldly declares, “I am washed by the blood of the lamb.”
Appropriately the guitars are anything but passive on the chorus.
It’s a celebration of a prodigal being made clean. The Lamb who is
also a Lion makes the difference. Is He safe? No, but He is good. He
makes it as though one had never sinned!
This has a loose
slightly Charismatic feel, which may appeal to those who like
something more fluid.
The technical
prowess is evident in the instrumentation. In particular, I enjoy the
guitar work but all of the playing is competent and well-produced.
You can clearly hear the audience participating and responding with
enthusiasm, which makes it more exciting.
I put this in the
forefront of modern worship recordings even though I favor something
less given to excess. Even though it might not be safe for some like
me, it is benevolent in heart like the object of its worship. It’s
worth checking out for those who like something on the edges of the
frontier.
UPPERROOM is a
church founded in 2010 in the creative Design District of Dallas.
More than 100 vocalists, songwriters and musicians are involved in
leading worship three times a day, six days a week. This is their
first full length release, which follows their Moments (2018)
EP.
