Get the new FREE JFH MP3 compilation -- Vol. 13!
Get the new FREE JFH MP3 compilation -- Vol. 13!

JFH Indie Review

JFH Indie Music Spotlight Review

MJ Birch
CLICK COVER TO ENLARGE


MJ Birch
Great is Your Name O God

Street Date: May 31, 2023
Style: Indie / Alternative / Rock / Worship
Buy It: Apple Music
Buy It: Amazon




Back in April of 2022, Australian artist MJ Birch released the title track of his new album, Great is Your Name O God. After this, he released four additional singles all while battling chronic tinnitus. MJ was finally able to release his full-length debut album in May of 2023. Great is Your Name O God is a rocking worship album that lifts up the name of Jesus at every turn. Musically, the album hearkens back to the early 2000's era worship music where bands weren't afraid to rock, and it was long before the reverb and delay drenched the sounds of today. I miss the days when lyrics could be worshipful, but the music sounded like any other artist that you'd listen to outside of the worship context.

Birch opens the album with the last single from 2022 -- the rollicking "Great and Glorious." This one is a solid choice for the opener and sets up the album on a wonderful upbeat note. This would easily be my pick as the favorite to put on and jam with. A couple of tracks later comes the Lifehouse-esque title track (discussed in greater detail here). The track still holds up extremely well after more than a year, and that guitar solo is still phenomenal! The tag here leads directly into the next track, "All of the Praise, All of the Glory." A soft piano part playing over an acoustic guitar carries the beginning of the song as a palm muted electric guitar joins in to build for the chorus. Birch sings, "All of the praise, all of the glory goes to You. All of my days I'm going to praise you; I'm not going to stop." It's a simple refrain and follows up with praises of "holy" before going into another big guitar solo. Birch does this without feeling performative or showy and it allows time for the lyrics to really resonate.

"This I Know (You Are Beautiful)" is a nice softer song, but "You Are the Answer / Sweetest Name" really steals the show. The softly picked acoustic guitar is the perfect vehicle to drive this one. The lyrics, "This world has nothing to turn my head, so I turn to face the One who raised the dead. Any by faith I see our loved ones turning too, as the light shines in us now shines in you" highlights the second verse. It's a great tune about turning to Jesus as the answer to any of our questions and struggles. The album closes out with the two-part "Open Up the Wells." "Open Up the Wells (Prologue)" is a slow moving number with a lightly overdriven guitar guiding things along initially before taking on a more driving rock feel as things slowly build throughout. "(Epilogue)," however, has a much different feel. It almost has a Santana type of vibe musically -- especially with the Latin inspired electric and acoustic guitar leads. The two tracks juxtapose nicely and lead to a rather entertaining finish to the album.

Great is Your Name O God is an enjoyable listen from front to back. There are great moments musically, fantastic guitar solos, and lyrics to move the listener to worship God, our Creator. The production here is top notch along with the vocals and musicianship. MJ Birch was able to fight through a medical condition that directly affects his hearing to put something like this together. This just shows us all that God is in control and we can overcome anything by His power and grace. Fans of pop/rock and worship music should undoubtedly give this debut album a listen.

- Review date: 6/30/22, written by Michael Weaver of Jesusfreakhideout.com



(JFH Sponsor Spot)

Get the new FREE JFH MP3 compilation -- Vol. 13!

 

. Record Label: None
. Album length: 8 tracks: 44 minutes, 36 seconds
. Street Date: May 31, 2023
. Buy It: Ditto (Various Retailers)

  1. Great and Glorious (6:34)
  2. Better Than Life (feat. White, Dan) (5:22)
  3. Great Is Your Name O God (8:23)
  4. All of the Praise, All of the Glory (6:14)
  5. This I Know (You Are Beautiful) (7:00)
  6. You Are the Answer / Sweetest Name (3:44)
  7. Open Up the Wells (Prologue) (4:31)
  8. Open Up the Wells (Epilogue) (2:44)

 

 

 

 

go to main Indie review page
go to Indie Review Index

 

                 
Get the new FREE JFH MP3 compilation -- Vol. 13!

Search JFH




This Friday, November 15, 2024
ALBUMS
Aaron Cole OMARI - EP [RCA Inspiration]
The Dan Damon Quartet I Saw Three Ships (independent)
Dolly Parton & Family Smoky Mountain DNA – Family, Faith & Fables [Owepar Entertainment]
The Lore Family Faith Over Fear [Horizon]
Jameson McGregor A Terrible Gift (independent)
Fernando Ortega For All the Saints - EP (independent)
Earnest Pugh Worth is the Lamb
Matt Redman In Excelsis - EP [Integrity]
We Are Messengers Rejoice! (A Celtic Christmas) - EP [Curb]
Paul Wright III Reverie [United Alliance]

SINGLES
Big Dismal Here In My Heart - Single (independent)
Blanca Worthy (Spanish + Spanglish Versions) - Double Single [Curb]
Hannah Kerr It Came Upon A Midnight Clear - Single [Curb]
Olivia Lane Silent Night - Single [BEC]
Tasha Layton Wake Up It's Christmas - Single [BEC]
Jamie MacDonald A Million Chances - Single [Capitol CMG]
Ronnie Martin On Christmas Morning - Single [Velvet Blue]
Jeannie Ortega Letting Go - Single [Syntax]
Hunter Plake Daylight - Single [BEC]
PRXM & Mell Omii Gangway - Single [Syntax]
Rapzilla Freshmen Faithful (ft. JusRzd, Solachi Voz, Will Kellum, & Opto Music) - Single [Syntax]
Jordan St. Cyr Christ is Here - Single [BEC]
Zippy, EJ Swavv, & OnBeatMusic Image - Single [Syntax]

VINYL
Sixpence None the Richer Divine Discontent Vinyl [Word]

Next Friday, November 22, 2024
ALBUMS
Coqui I'll Still Have Christmas Day - EP [DREAM]
for KING & COUNTRY A Drummer Boy Christmas (LIVE) [Curb]
The Kingsmen Decades: Vol. 3 & 4 [Horizon]
Jonathan McReynolds Red & Green - EP [Capitol CMG/Motown]
NEEDTOBREATHE Acoustic Live Vol. 1 (CD Reissue) [Omnivore]
NEEDTOBREATHE Live From The Woods (CD Reissue) [Omnivore]
Run51 Let's Celebrate - EP [DREAM]
Van Zant Always Look Up [Frontiers Music]

SINGLES
7eventh Time Down I Speak Jesus - Single [BEC]
Cory Asbury Still The One - Single [BEC]
Ashes Remain Don't Let Go - Single [BEC]
Paul Baloche Angels We Have Heard On High/Glorious (feat. Sarah Kroger) - Single [Integrity]
Amy Jay And So It Goes - Single (independent)
Cliff & Antoinette Murray O Emanuel - Single [DREAM]
Vineyard Worship Royal Son - Single [Integrity]

VINYL
NEEDTOBREATHE Acoustic Live Vol. 1 (Vinyl Reissue) [Omnivore]
NEEDTOBREATHE Live From The Woods (Vinyl Reissue) [Omnivore]



For all release dates, click here!
 



Check out the new album from Taylor Holland Armstrong!



Listen to the new Single from Second Adam and the New Creations!

Check out depositphotos for royalty free images