Jesusfreakhideout.com: Greg LaFollette, "Holy Week Volume Two" Review

JFH Indie Review

Greg LaFollette
Holy Week Volume Two

Street Date: April 4, 2025
Style: Worship
Official Site: GregLaFollette.com
Buy It: Amazon Music

READER RATING:

� / 5.0 (0 votes)

Greg LaFollette is one of those indie artists who has quietly made a niche for himself in the industry. After spending 20 years in Nashville, he now resides in Kansas City, where he's an artist-in-residence for The Culture House. Along the way, he's worked with veterans like Andrew Peterson and Sara Groves, while finding some radio success across the pond in New Zealand and appearing in numerous Christian magazines. It was at The Culture House, though, where LaFollette recorded his latest record in time for Easter, Holy Week Volume 2. Although Volume 1 released back in 2019, new listeners can still jump in and follow/learn from the story of Jesus in Gethsemane all the way to the cross.

The way this record starts off with "Hosanna in the Highest (Quieted)," listeners might think LaFollette is mirroring the contemplative style of Jon Guerra. By the time the reprise for "Now I Must Trust You" plays, things feel more like Peterson's brand of folk rock. Throughout the middle part of this album, the backing band plays competently and shows some surprises, like a guitar solo on the hymn "O Sacred Head." The closer we get to the crucifixion, however, the darker the music turns. Describing this, it may seem like a musical rollercoaster, but in listening, it blends well. There are a couple times the music distracts from the mood, like "Gethsemane" being too discordant (which seems intentional) or the drums on "Were You There" trying to do too much filler. These things aside, the music makes Holy Week a great Good Friday service soundtrack.

The strength of this album, though, is in its story and application. The opener, "Hosanna in the Highest," hearkens back to Jesus' triumphal entry before "Now I Must Trust You" brings the listener to Jesus' bloody prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane. Here the listener figures out Holy Week isn't just an Easter-themed worship album, or even a retelling of those events. LaFollette also wants to apply these moments to a Christian's daily walk. As the story continues, we follow Jesus' trial and torture ("O Sacred Head," "Psalm 88 (Darkness is My Closest Friend)"), and, finally, his crucifixion with a song from the repentant thief ("The Jesus Prayer") and a reflection on that dark moment of death (a cover of the hymn "Were You There"). Sandwiched in there is the interesting "Lament" of "Jesus Never Fails." Taken out of context, it's a lovely song about resting in Jesus' power when times are tough. Placed in the context of an Easter album, specifically where Jesus is dying, and it's a bold reminder that even at what some may call His "lowest moment," He would still succeed at what the Father sent Him to do. It's a little moment in the grand scheme of the record, but it's brilliant and powerful in its own way.

It's only natural for Christian artists to sing about Jesus' death and resurrection. To do so, however, in an artful way that isn't just a retelling or worshipful response is tricky, but Greg LaFollette pulls it off. Holy Week Volume 2 is a great album to not only get you in the mindset for Good Friday, but also get you to think about how Jesus' experience relates to ours. While at its heart it's a seasonal offering, it carries value for repeated listens all year round.

- Review date: 4/17/25, written by John Underdown of Jesusfreakhideout.com

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JFH Staff's Second Opinion

Greg LaFollette has been quietly releasing high quality, Bible-based music for the better part of a decade now. He's even co-released music with the likes of Leslie Jordan, Tenielle Neda, and Heath McNease, all the while keeping his presence a bit more low-key. His latest offering is Holy Week Volume Two, an Easter-themed album that captures his style perfectly. It's largely acoustic and folksy, but doesn't shy away from electric guitars and post-rock when the song calls for it ("The Jesus Prayer" being a prime example - even with the banjo!). The songs are Christ-centered and do justice to the Scriptures, though you'd be hard-pressed to find them on mainstream Christian radio. The songs deal with the days leading up to Jesus' crucifixion, thus they feel darker, heavier, and almost sad at times, mirroring the feelings Jesus experienced in the garden before His arrest. This can be felt in the quasi-chaotic orchestral interlude "Gethsemane" and the hopeless (but not really) "Psalm 88 (Darkness Is My Closest Friend)." Even the more hopeful message of the final two songs comes with a heavier tone. Opinions may vary on shrouding a hopeful message in a sadder sound, but it feels to me like a light-shines-in-the-dark moment; sometimes life is bleak, but we can trust that Christ will make all things right in the end, which makes the darkness a lot more bearable. Holy Week Volume Two is a treasure trove of great musical moments and reminders of the depths God went to to save us from our sin. If you like The Jonah Project, John Mark McMillan, or even the milder side of My Epic, this may be a good addition to your library. - Review date: 5/7/25, written by Scott Fryberger of Jesusfreakhideout.com

Record Label: None

Album length: 9 tracks: 29 minutes, 6 seconds

Street Date: April 4, 2025

Buy It: Amazon Music

Hosanna In The Highest (Quieted) (1:51)
Now I Must Trust You (3:00)
Now I Must Trust You Reprise (1:03)
Gethsemane (0:36)
O Sacred Head (3:45)
Psalm 88 (Darkness Is My Closest Friend) (4:52)
The Jesus Prayer (3:53)
Jesus Never Fails (Lament) (3:58)
Were You There (6:04)

Jesus Freak Hideout (John Underdown): For those unfamiliar with you and your work, what's a quick rundown of your background?

Greg LaFollette: I'm an artist, worship leader, and spiritual director. With 20 years of experience in the music industry and a long stint in Nashville, I've been involved in more than one hundred records; working with renowned artists like Andrew Peterson, Sandra McCracken, Sara Groves, Leslie Jordan of All Sons and Daughters and many others.

JFH (John): You're currently based in Kansas City, working at The Culture House. What is The Culture House and what do you do there?

Greg: I'm an artist-in-residence at an arts conservatory called The Culture House. I share a building with a professional dance company as well as schools of theatre, music, and art. I manage the recording studio. The mission is to fill the world with beauty, truth, and goodness.

JFH (John): Holy Week Volume One released back in 2019. What caused the delay between Volumes 1 and 2?

Greg: There wasn't an intention to release them in quick succession. Basically, I realized in the making of Volume One that I had only scratched the surface of all the riches that Holy Week holds. I knew there were concepts, prayers, and insights that I still wanted to explore. And that's what I did with Volume Two.

JFH (John): Did you have a different approach when writing/recording Volume 2?

Greg: Yes. Volume Two is a narrative concept record. It starts with the triumphal entry ("Hosanna In The Highest"), journeys through Gethsemane ("Now I Must Trust You"), and ends with the crucifixion ("Were You There").

JFH (John): I appreciated the balance you struck of not only making Holy Week a retelling of the Easter story but finding ways to apply that story today. What caused you to go in this direction in your writing?

Greg: I'm glad you noticed that. Palm Sunday is one of the most powerful Church services of the year, because we rehearse the happenings of Holy Week as if we were there. So we don't read about how the crowds waved palm branches and shouted "Hosanna" as Jesus paraded into town; we do those things. We don't let the ancient mob tell Pilate what to do with Jesus, we ourselves soberly and shamefully say, "Crucify him!" In doing so, we are faced with our own faults and guilt. And as we imagine ourselves being promised Paradise as the man who hung beside Jesus was, the gift of forgiveness means even more.

JFH (John): Were any of these songs originally written for another project or separate from Holy Week? "Jesus Never Fails" feels like it could fit on any other album.

Greg: That's an astute observation! That song is on another record of mine called "I'll Wait For You, My Love." I lead the more upbeat version of the song regularly, so during Lent when we sing this "lament version," the juxtaposition really hits home.

JFH (John): There are a couple hymn covers on this record. There are so many good ones to choose from for Easter, how did you settle on "O Sacred Head" and "Were You There"?

Greg: With "Were You There", I wanted to write a melody that had more gravity than the original tune; something that matched the severity of the lyrics better. And with "O Sacred Head", I wanted a more accessible, contemporary version. New is not always better (and I sing plenty of original hymn melodies), but I took my shot.

JFH (John): You seem to have a knack for making modern songs out of Psalms. You have one on this record as well. What drew you to Psalm 88 to connect to Jesus' suffering?

Greg: I wondered if Jesus remembered this Psalm when the disciples were falling asleep in the Garden of Gethsemane. It feels like such an apt response to that disappointment.

I thought of times that I had felt abandoned by friends�and even God, and channeled that emotion in this song.

JFH (John): How many more Volumes of Holy Week do you see yourself making? How long do you think until Volume 3 comes out?

Greg: That's a good question. Currently, there are no plans for another Holy Week release. I think I'd like to lean into Easter though!

JFH (John): What's the best way for people to connect with and support you?

Greg: greglafollette.com
Spotify
Apple Music

JFH (John): Finally, on a lighter note, KC has many great sports teams (I'm also in the area). If you could sing the national anthem or perform a post-game concert at any ballpark/field/stadium for any team, which would it be?

Greg: Oh man, I don't think I'm a sing-the-national-anthem-kind-of-guy, but I am actively trying to get my yacht rock band, Summer Breeze, to play during halftime of a Chiefs game! I'm also a big Royals fan, so I'd be happy to play at Kauffman Stadium as well.