Reviewed by Mike Rimmer

Roger Jones has been writing and touring musicals for 20 years, and by all accounts is tremendously popular. This latest project explores the ups and downs of God's people through history in a verity of songs that are basically a stage musical a la Lloyd Webber et al. However this is less 'Les MIs' and more plain old miserable. Though clearly recorded with verity of soloists taking part, the songs themselves have a tweeness lyrically and musically that is unintentionally funny! Corny songs, obvious rhymes and arrangements that would better suit a cheesy kids album. Actually what the songs reminded me of were those terrible kids' TV programmes where the presenter would suddenly grab a guitar and sing grinningly some excruciating ditty into the cameras. If these songs had been written in the early 70's, they would have been cutting edge but things have moved on and it sounds dated, out of touch and cringy. I know that fellow reviewer Trevor Kirk points out that this stuff is tremendously popular but I wonder, is popularity a good yardstick for the musical merit of the project? In this case, I'd argue not, it is just an indication of how the church continues to be addicted to mediocrity. Defiantly more a snake than a ladder.

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