Lincoln Brewster “God of the Impossible” Album Review

Prime Cuts: Deep Down (Walk Through Fire), While I Wait, Here I Am

Overall Grade: 4.25/5

The electric guitar takes on a life of its own in the hands of Lincoln Brewster.  In the tradition of virtuosos such as Mark Knopfler and Phil Keaggy, one of distinctive characteristics that elevates this record to greatness is Brewster's wizardry around the six-string instrument.  On one hand, he doesn't treat the electric guitar as just an innocuous piece in his ensemble.  On the other hand, he doesn't go the other extreme in maxing out the volume of the gadget by vending out all his frustrations on the poor gittern as many trash metal bands from 80s used to do.  Rather, Brewster treats his guitar as his conversational partner: sometimes echoing the emotive pulses Brewster is trying to express vocally and sometimes supplementing the worship act in areas inexpressible by the human voice. 

With "God of the Impossible," Brewster's first album in four years, he doesn't disappoint when it comes to his prized instrument.  The big elongated guitar loops of "Deep Down (Walk Through Fire)" sound like the cushions God wraps around Brewster as he sings about how God protects us even when we walk through fire.  The plaintive guitar wails on the moving ballad "While I Wait" sounds like Brewster's sympathetic companion as he worships in the midst of God's silence. Moreover, "While I Wait" is choke full of heart-hitting lines with the favourite being: "I live by faith and not by sight/Sometimes miracle takes time."

More congregational in its orientation is the current single "Here I Am." Featuring an explosive as well as an engaging chorus with some dynamic serpentine guitar lines, "Here I Am" is a bold anthem of surrender that is made for the church to sing. "No One Like Our God" is more predictable in terms of its melodic progression and lyrical radius.  The same can be said about "Everything" and "Higher."  Much better is the power ballad "Loyal," an ode of thanks to God's faithfulness. This divine attribute is celebrated with a joyous abandonment by Brewster's extended guitar solo instrumental bridge.  

Just as there's often an instrumental cut on each of Brewster's albums, "Relativity" is this album's contribution.  Here we get to experience the full array of the electric guitar's conversing prowess: from its brooding uncertainties to its joyous explosions to its steely meditations.  For those who have the cash to download the deluxe version, three of the aforementioned better songs ("Deep Down," "While I Wait" and "Loyal") get acoustic treatments.  These renditions are vital for smaller churches who are not equipped with an A+ musician but still want to utilize these songs in worship.  The simpler backing demonstrate how versatile these songs are; and they are definitely worth checking out. 

 

 

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