Reviewed by Doug Holland

This album of songs designed for children to sing (note to Integrity Music - young adult human beings are not to be confused with young goats) offers a dozen short, up-tempo numbers (total music time just under 30 minutes) led by a choir of young-ish children, with all tracks then provided again in split trax form so that the vocals can be isolated and replaced by a live church/home/school sing-a-long. The quality of the arrangements, performance and production is beyond reproach, and the element of fun that has clearly been aimed for is achieved. However, there is a negative here. The use of the word "ultimate" in the CD's title is questionable, as most of the popular children's songs this reviewer has been aware of speak the language of the target audience (simple and/or outrageous and/or comical ideas and imagery through which the vast ideas being conveyed can begin to make sense) and this one does not. How old do you need to be to appreciate the meaning of lyrics such as "As far as the east is from the west/So far has he taken our sins from us" or "Your word is faithful/Mighty with power/God will deliver me"; answer - probably considerably older than the children singing here. This collection works mainly, therefore, as a teaching-by-rote aid of the faith rather than a real-time expression by children of how they feel about Jesus.

The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms. Any expressed views were accurate at the time of publishing but may or may not reflect the views of the individuals concerned at a later date.

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