Track Listing

1. Lift The Name
2. Never Be Shaken
3. Prepare The Way
4. Fill Me Up
5. How He Loves
6. God Be In My Head
7. Inside
8. Glory Of God
9. Carrier
10. Glorified
11. We Will Be Changed

Score: 88%/B+

I must be honest in saying that this album was my first exposure to Jared Anderson and that reviewing live albums always gives me pause.  Pause because live albums are (by nature) less refined than studio albums, more spontaneous, and key aspects of the actual performance are inherently absent on the album: stage and crowd dynamics.  It’s highly difficult, if not near impossible to truly capture the raw energy of a live performance on record.  In fact, I’d liken it to trying to retell a great joke delivered by a comedian – somehow it’s never as funny as it was the first time.  This explanation often describes the difference between a studio version and a live version of a song.

But sometimes, live albums can go right, and when they do, they can represent one of the more significant records in the artist’s catalog.  Hearing old songs covered in fresh new ways, or rare performances that convey the sound of primed musicians motivated by a great crowd on a great night, can offer a unique and intimate listening experience.  When a consumer can pick up the record and step back into that kind of special moment again and again, a live record turns into the “must-have” title versus the easily forgotten, “for die hard fans only” release.

For his part, Jared Anderson’s latest release, “Live From My Church” gets it right.  The album captures Jared and the band performing flawlessly with great soul, precision and praise.  Jared’s organic piano style is much akin to the popular group, The Fray and he leads the church audience in “Live From My Church” like a veteran Michael W. Smith.  The worship experience we’re dropped into is ripe with listener-friendly hooks and choruses.  Jared seamlessly mixes popular favorites with new standouts, all the while ensuring that the mood of the album is never compromised and the momentum never lost.

Highlights on the album include Inside containing the lyrics: “No eye has seen, no ear has heard how the glory of God is gonna cover the world.  It will silence the tongues of men; give our children freedom to dance again…they will dance again.  I will be clay in the potter’s hand.  I will be light in a darkened land.  I will be love lit on fire; Holy Spirit burn on the inside.” Glorified, a hit song from Jared’s album “Where Faith Comes From” is even better as it’s performed live with a church choir and crowd echoes.  Finally, I have to stop and take note of Jared’s signature cover of How He Loves.  Next to Jared’s version, this song has been simultaneously released in recent weeks by Jeremy Riddle and the David Crowder Band.  Nevertheless, Jared’s take is very much his own.  While Jeremy Riddle’s soars and David Crowder’s paces, Jared Anderson’s How He Loves is much more subtle, introspective and emotive.  A magnificent take.

Overall, “Live From My Church” is a career triumph for Jared.  Fans (of which I am now one) will love him in the live format.  Go out and buy this one, I highly recommend it!

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CLOSING THOUGHTS:
With great inspiration from a hometown crowd, Jared’s talent is forefront and on display on “Live From My Church”.  This record captures Jared at his very best. This is a great live album you’ll want to listen to over and over again.