Shelly E. Johnson “Christ Be Everything Live” EP Review

Prime Cuts:  Christ Be Everything, Every Breath, You Deserve Our Hallelujahs

Fans of Shelly E. Johnson are not complaining.  While many have to wait for years before their favorite artist drops a new release, "Christ Be Everything LIVE" arrives only a few months after her preceding EP "Measureless."  Such an accelerated pace of releases does not mean that "Christ Be Everything LIVE" is a shoddy affair.  Rather, this six-song EP is packed with soundtracks for not only our own devotional lives but it is also the vocabulary of our churches' worship.  Penned with the congregation in mind with words vertically directed, all of these songs could easily be anthems of worship. 

Known for writing the powerful worship anthem "Power of the Cross", which has been recorded by Natalie Grant, Steve Green and is being used in churches worldwide, Johnson has served as worship leader alongside Beth Moore, Tony Nolan and Andy Stanley, and has toured North America with renowned Irish hymn writers Keith and Kristyn Getty. "Christ Be Everything LIVE" follows on the heels of the aforementioned "Measureless," which was released in January of this year.

Just like her tour mates Keith and Kristyn Getty, Johnson also adopts a hymn-like palette when she writes her songs.  "My Redeemer's Love" further gels Johnson's connection with the Gettys as the song has a Irish marching beat not dissimilar to the Getty's "Christ is Risen, He is Risen Indeed." Turn up the volume for "Our God Alone." This is a power anthem where all switches are turned on to the max for this thundering proclamation of worship which is truly awe-inspiring.  

The rest of the tracks are ballads.  Definitely destined to be a congregational favorite is the title cut "Christ Be Everything."  With lyrics that crowns Jesus as Lord and with a melody that does endless spins in your head after the song's over, the hymn-like "Christ Be Everything" checkmarks everything a Christ-exalting song ought to be. Set in a warm template for the Johnson's vocals to soar to majestic heights is the keyboard-driven "You Deserve Our Hallelujahs."  "Every Breath" and "Let It Be Worship" continue to provide more contemplative worship moments availing opportunities for us to worship along with Johnson.

However, the album is presented with a perplexing knot:  this project is touted as a live recording, but there's essentially nothing that differentiates this EP from a studio recording.  Johnson hardly interacts with her audience; you can hardly hear her audience singing with her; and the recording sounds so squeakily clean that you would have never expected this to be a live album.  If she truly wants this to a live recording, shouldn't there be some "live" elements present?

Other than this mysterious enigma, "Christ Be Everything Live" is way ahead of the curve as far as worship projects are concerned.  Johnson does not just lead us in worship, she inspires us to worship.  One listen to this EP and you can't help but worship. 

 

 

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