Jon Bauer “The Light in Us” Album Review

Prime Cuts: You Are My Everything, Say Something, You Just Want My Heart

Jon Bauer doesn't have to resort to trendy beats or glitzy polytechnics to jolt our attention. With his latest release, "The Light in Us, this Canadian singer-songwriter culls us in right from the get-go with well-developed melodies and Christ-exalting lyrics. If you want to escape from the cares of the world, let the soothing and warm tenor of Bauer lead us into worship with these freshly written ten new tunes. Though hues of country, 70s-sounding rock, and easy listening pop can be traced to this vintage worship record, it doesn't yield itself to much electronic bells and whistles. "The Light in Us" is Bauer's seventh recording and his first since 2013's "Roots of Worship."  While "Roots of Worship" finds Bauer offering his renditions of mostly familiar worship covers, "The Light in Us" boosts 10 original songs, all of which were co-written by Bauer himself.

Known for songs such as "Come and Save Us," "Chasing After Me," "Forevermore," and "Awaken," Bauer is a full-time touring artist. Nevertheless, in the months when he's home in Alberta, he functions as a worship leader in his home church, the St. Albert Alliance. Many of the songs on this record could easily have fitted into his worship set list.  While most expect worship albums to open on the highest decibel, Bauer opens the proceedings with the gentle "Your Love is Beautiful."  Brimming with an acoustic warmth that recalls the guitar strums of the Eagles is the country-tinged "Your Love is Beautiful."  The title track, "The Light in Us," adds greater heft in the percussion department on what is a catchy worship tune that comes with a captivating bassline.

With his breathy tenor and some delightful keyboard chimes, "You Just Want My Heart" gets at the heart of God's desire from us:  nothing less than our hearts.  "You Are My Everything" is definitely this album's buzz track.  With a melody that can do marathons in your mind way after the song is over, "You Are Everything" is a well-written love song to God with lyrics that pushes us to abandon to Him in faith.  Given the right exposure, this is going to be a classic worship song across the globe.  Current single "Say Something" addresses a lacuna in worship music today.  Too often our songs are not as bold as "Say Something," which is a prayerful plea to God to speak into our lives. 

"Great is Your Faithfulness," not the hymn but a Bauer original, is more in line with Passion Worship and Bethel Music with its anthemic worship feel that is passable without being exceptional.  Yet, the value of worship could be deprecated if worship doesn't compel us to be more loving towards others. "Where the Sidewalk Ends" and "Starts with Us" address such transformations with the latter (having a modern dance feel) being extremely charming.  At the end of the day, the selling point of "The Light in Us" is this:  this is an album that doesn't feel manufactured.  Rather, crafted with care, each song is dressed in its own uniqueness; and the album overflows with great God-exalting songs. 

 

 

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