Harvest “Preachers” Album Review

Prime Cuts: Deep and Wide, Costly, Song of the Lamb
Overall Grade: 4/5
Harvest or Harvest Parker is a worship artist who colors outside the lines. Her songs are messy, eclectic, unpredictable, and genre-bending but they certainly feed a lacuna in worship music today. For those who are tired of those stadium-filling sounds with those trite "I love you Jesus" platitudes, will find "Preachers" a much needed breath of fresh air. Calling to mind a post "wrecking ball" Emmylou Harris and a more introspective Rend Collective, Harvest incorporates hues of grunge rock, string orchestration, folk-balladry, country, pop, and deep Southern Gospel into her sonic palette. The resulting sound is definitely messy but it's artful, poetic, raw, honest, and most importantly, it gets into our psyche challenging us to greater holiness through her piercing lyrics.
Harvest brings in her brother and worship leader Daniel Bashta (known for his hit "Like a Lion") to handle the production chores. While Bashta's own records adopts a more aggressive rock demeanour, her sister's effort is more subdued. Title cut "Preachers" sounds like a track submitted for the "O Brother Where Art Thou?" soundtrack. Mysterious, penetrating and drenched in the muddy waters of New Orleans mash, "Preachers" is a haunting cry for men and women to step up for our faith. Featuring strings and piano by the Brilliance, "Anchor" is a slow and pensive ballad of prayer for God's abiding presence in the midst of our storms.
"Deep and Wide" has a sepia-tone gloss to it. In a creative collage of both the past and the present, Harvest deftly integrates the lyrics of the hymn "There is a Fountain" into this self-composed hymn-like reflection of God's forgiveness and mercy. "Song of the Lamb" is a lyrical masterpiece. Few, if any songwriter, ever pay attention to the passages from Revelation of how sufferings and worship interact. Moreover, this is one of Harvest's most emotionally intense pieces where she lets her emotions out in affecting proportions. "Costly" is a somber reflection of Christ's sacrifice and how our sacrifices pales in comparison to Jesus'.
While Harvest has a hand in co-writing or writing 7 out of the 8 cuts, she saves one spot for her beloved brother. "Pursuit," written by Daniel Bashta, is more in line with most of the worship songs out there. Though Harvest is a careful and thoughtful writer, perhaps the only drawback for this record is its utility. If Harvest has the church in mind, many of these songs may be too nebulous in its melodic structures for the average congregant to catch on. And if you do not want to take the time to invest in listening, these songs may not be as accessible or as engaging. In short, this is a deep and meaningful record that requires time for the listener to ruminate and digest.
Tags : harvest harvest parker Daniel Bashta harvest preachers album review harvest new album harvest album review the brilliance the brilliance christian duo
Hot Trends
-
Hulvey Declares Bold Faith in New Single “Jesus Is Lord”
-
New Documentary “J. D. Greear Unmasked” Exposes Power Struggles Within the Southern Baptist Convention
-
Jillian Warman's Debut EP "Free" is a Bold and Soulful Declaration of Faith
-
Tasha Cobbs Leonard Celebrates One Billion Streams on Pandora
-
Jesus Culture Releases Deluxe Edition of "Worthy of Hallelujah"
-
American Idol's Breanna Nix’s Debut Single “Higher” Soars to No. 1
-
Here Are the Winners of the 2024 K-LOVE Fan Awards
-
New Trailer for "Testament," a Series Bringing to Life the Acts of the Apostles, is Out Now!
-
Christy Nockels Announces "King Who Never Sleeps," a Spirit-Led Invitation into Peace and Worship
-
Hillsong's Marty Sampson Finalizes His Decision to Leave Christianity in Tear-Filled Letter
-
Phil Wickham Releases New Song "Homesick For Heaven"
-
New TV Series "Testament" Tells the Story of Acts with a Modern Twist
-
Former IHOPKC Worship Leader Misty Edwards Accused of Affair with Kevin Prosch
-
Phil Wickham Celebrates His 15th Wedding Anniversary with "Just Too Good"
-
New Film "The Firing Squad" Speaks of How to Find Hope on Death Row
Most Popular
-
Hulvey Declares Bold Faith in New Single “Jesus Is Lord”
-
New Documentary “J. D. Greear Unmasked” Exposes Power Struggles Within the Southern Baptist Convention
-
Jillian Warman's Debut EP "Free" is a Bold and Soulful Declaration of Faith
-
Tasha Cobbs Leonard Celebrates One Billion Streams on Pandora
-
Jesus Culture Releases Deluxe Edition of "Worthy of Hallelujah"
-
American Idol's Breanna Nix’s Debut Single “Higher” Soars to No. 1
-
Here Are the Winners of the 2024 K-LOVE Fan Awards
-
New Trailer for "Testament," a Series Bringing to Life the Acts of the Apostles, is Out Now!
-
Christy Nockels Announces "King Who Never Sleeps," a Spirit-Led Invitation into Peace and Worship
-
Hillsong's Marty Sampson Finalizes His Decision to Leave Christianity in Tear-Filled Letter
-
Phil Wickham Releases New Song "Homesick For Heaven"
-
New TV Series "Testament" Tells the Story of Acts with a Modern Twist
-
Former IHOPKC Worship Leader Misty Edwards Accused of Affair with Kevin Prosch
-
Phil Wickham Celebrates His 15th Wedding Anniversary with "Just Too Good"
-
New Film "The Firing Squad" Speaks of How to Find Hope on Death Row