Christie Chong “Songs for the Journey” Album Review

If the Christian life is compared to a journey, then it would be dangerous to leave home without a two way ticket.  Treacherous is the path for anyone who makes the journey outward without ever attempting to make the journey inward.  It is equally disastrous for anyone who makes the journey inward into the soul without ever journeying outwards into the world.  What is most valuable about Christie Chong's "Songs for the Journey" is that it's a two-way ticketed affair.  On some of these songs, we'll get to pilgrim with her into the deepest recesses of the soul, where she deals with issues of God, worship, faith and regeneration.  Yet, on other songs she takes the outward bound flight in tackling isssues that has to do with how such a faith revolutionizes our thought life, our lifestyle and how we incorporate God's holiness into ours.         

Christie Chong who resides in Los Angeles comes to us with a wealth of musical experiences.  Trained classically, she had been part of an a cappella and gospel choirs while growing up.  Even for a short time, she fronted a rock band.  Finally, she has been blessed with the opportunity of recording her debut album "Songs for the Journey." On this record, Chong wears various hats:  not only does she sings, but she writes each of these 11 entries from bar one.  On top of that, she plays the bulk of the instruments and she even oversees these songs as the album's sole producer.  Musically, the album leans towards a 90s-styled AC keyboard/piano-driven balladry pop where in her softer moments she calls to mind Sara Groves and Nicole Nordeman.  Thankfully, she doesn't always hover around the sedate; rather, when her songs step on the accelerator, you can feel our toes tapping to some sultry R&B grooves.

Her note-precise, poetic and crystal-clear voice leads us into "Jesus, Name Above All Names."  This is a worship ballad styled with the older Hillsong sing along quality backed by a refreshing drum beat.  One has to tip our hats to Chong for her ability to interweave erudite theological truths into her songs yet without making them sound sonically turbid.   "Meditation of My Heart," for instance, is a sublime example of how Chong packs in the doctrine of how the Bible changes our lives without sounding like we have just stepped into a seminary lecture.  For more songs that address our inner journey towards God, take a listen to cello-laden "God Alone."  Here Chong exhibits her fleet-footed ability to run into God's presence with such utter honesty that it is quietly alluring.  "Even If I Can't" continues to find Chong emptying her soul before God with lots of heart tugging lines such as: "Even if I never seem to understand/Even if I can't see the road ahead/Let me at least see you."  

Yet, Chong is never just content with songs that deal with our inner journey towards God.  Faith that doesn't have any impact on our lives is as useful as used toilet paper. "Phil. 4:8" speaks of how God's truth cleanses our thought life; a must hear in our pornographic saturated world.  While "Making Me Holy" is a rare find these days.  The line: "In discipline I rejoice/For you are making me complete" ought to give pause to the way we pray.  When was the last time, in the midst of our suffering, have we rejoiced in God's discipline?  At the end of the day, "Songs for the Journey" is not just a two way journey.  It's a journey with lots of meditative stopovers.  These songs allow us to take recesses from our hurriedness to re-access again how we pray, the quality of our love for God and how we need to respond to Him.   This is album full of food for the soul.  For the benefit of the health of your own soul, grab your copy of Chong's "Songs for the Journey" today.

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