` Jesusfreakhideout.com: Chris Ritchie, "Release the Dreamers - EP" Review
Get Your Music on Amazon!
Get Your Music on Amazon!

JFH Indie Review

JFH Indie Music Spotlight Review

Chris Ritchie, 'Release the Dreamers - EP'
CLICK COVER TO ENLARGE


Chris Ritchie
Release the Dreamers - EP

Street Date: December 18, 2023
Style: Worship
Buy It: AmazonMP3
Buy It: iTunes



Chris Ritchie is a musician, worship leader, and pastor out of Las Vegas, Nevada. Chris was in an alt/rock band (Salt the Band) in the late 90s and early 00s before submitting his life as a worship leader. Chris is now the lead pastor at Encounter Church Vegas, but has not lost his passion for making music. His new EP, Release the Dreamers, is an acoustic-based worship set featuring five tracks of God's goodness, grace, mercy, and power.

The EP starts strong with "In This City." The subtle overdriven electric guitar that joins the mix in the turnaround before the second verse is a nice touch and adds to the depth musically. Ritchie proclaims, "I see it; I hear it. I feel the trembling under feet. Revival's not coming; revival is already here," in the bridge as he sings about Christ's work. This opening number is definitely in consideration for top track on the EP. "The Sound of Yahweh" follows up and is another solid worship tune. The female vocals that take lead in the back half of the song are wonderful and give a nice tonal shift. "So Good" starts a little softer than the first two songs (even dropping to only piano at one point), but, like those before it, builds to a crescendo on the back half before going into "Amazing Grace" -- which works nicely with the bridge: "Your grace is still amazing; Your mercy's never ending. Your love is like an ocean I'm drowning in…" "Your Burning Ones" is the first track that moves away from the slow-to-big-build formula and stays pretty level throughout. The song has a more laid back feel in general -- including the "la-la-la's" repeated throughout -- and brings back the female vocals for some nice harmonies. The title track is the closer for the EP and brings something new to the table. "Release the Dreamers" has an electronic element that moves from an undertone to more of the feature. This one stands out as a little more unique than the first four, but it still fits in and works well as the closer.

Chris Ritchie has written a very solid worship EP, and any of these songs could be added into most church's worship sets immediately. His inspiration from Bethel Church can be heard, but the EP doesn't feel like a Bethel B-sides album or anything like that. This is a wonderful set of songs that features "In This City" and "So Good" as the clear standouts. Oh yeah, did I mention that the artwork is super cool as well? Fans of modern worship music and acoustic-based CCM should find a lot to enjoy in these five tracks. It's nice to see Ritchie get the opportunity to continue his first passion while still following in what the Lord laid out for him as lead pastor.

- Review date: 12/14/23, written by Michael Weaver of Jesusfreakhideout.com



(JFH Sponsor Spot)

Purchase Original Art Prints, Drawings, Buttons, Stickers, Bookmarks and more from JFH's own John DiBiase!






JFH Indie Spotlight Review . Record Label: DreamMaker Music & Film
. Album length: 5 tracks: 26 minutes, 42 seconds
. Street Date: December 18, 2023

  1. In This City (5:03)
  2. The Sound of Yahweh (feat. Sarah Renee Lopez) (6:57)
  3. So Good (6:26)
  4. Your Burning Ones (4:36)
  5. Release The Dreamers (Radio Edit) (3:41)

 

 

 

go to main Indie review page
go to Indie Review Index

 

                 
Purchase Original Art Prints, Drawings, Buttons, Stickers, Bookmarks and more from JFH's own John DiBiase!

Search JFH




This Thursday, July 25, 2024
SINGLES
Drew Holcomb & The Neighbors Burn (feat. Ellie Holcomb) - Single [Tone Tree]

This Friday, July 26, 2024
ALBUMS
Pat Barrett Happily Hidden [Capitol CMG]
Before There Was Rosalyn Hypocrites EP [The Charon Collective]
Bloodlines Holiness Cries EP [Facedown]
The Collingsworth Family Classics & Hymns [Gaither]
Dex the Nerd Who Loves Jesus Pixelated Virtues Online - EP (independent)
Danny Gokey Sound of Heaven [Sparrow]
The Hillbilly Thomists Marigold (independent)
Kestrel Vessel EP (independent)
Ken Tamplin Stand Up And Shout (4 CD Box Set) [Girder]
Swingin Hammers Blood in the Sand EP (independent)
Thrive Worship Praises & Prayers [Integrity]
Tyraels Ascension Hell Walker [Rottweiler]
Phil Wickham The Jesus Way Collection - EP [Fair Trade]
Thousand Foot Krutch The End Is Where We Begin (Reignited) [The Fuel]
Young Noah A Positive Sign EP (independent)

SINGLES
2 Minute Minor & Dave LeBlanc Golden Calf - Single (independent)
Tina Boonstra Can People Ever Really Change? (at Old Chapel) - Single [7Core]
Chad Cory Love Forward - Single [DREAM]
Dreamers Make A Move (Live) - Single [DREAM]
Fit For A King TECHNIUM - Single [Solid State]
Keith & Kristyn Getty Scarlet Thread (feat. Zach Williams) - Single [Getty]
Good Weather Forecast Let's Build A House (feat. Real Life Guys) - Single [DREAM]
Heal the Hurt RUIN - Single (independent)
Hyper Fenton Show Me What You’re Working With feat. Peabod - Single (independent)
Lauren, Amber & Kenna Every Praise - Single [Horizon]
Claire Leslie Original - Single [Capitol CMG]
Mission House Faith More Precious Than Gold, Everything In Your Hands + Suscipe - Triple Single [Integrity]
MotionPlus Kings Grace - Single (independent)
OM53 Letting Go of Yesterday - Single (independent)
The Riverside Blade of the King’s Tongue - Single (independent)
Sean Rodriguez Jesus Will - Single [WieRok]
Sidewalk Prophets Come To Jesus - Single [Curb]
Souljornerz The Lamb - Single [Polished Arrow]
The Spirituals Be Thou My Vision - Single [Integrity]
Uche Agu, Revival Today Worship The Whole Earth Will See (A.K.A America Will See) - Single [DREAM]
Verses Philippians 2:5-11 (feat. The Sing Team) - Single (independent)
Village KNG Turn'E Up (ft. Monty G) - Single [Soldier Sound]
We Are Messengers God Be The Glory (Remix) [feat. KB] - Single [Curb]

VINYL
Disciple By God Vinyl [Girder]
Disciple What Was I Thinking? Vinyl [Girder]
Element 101 Stereo Girl Vinyl [Burnt Toast Vinyl]

Next Friday, August 2, 2024
ALBUMS
Anberlin Vega [Equal Vision]
Brandon Heath The Ache [Centricity]
Chandler Moore Live in Los Angeles [Tribl]
Rock Springs Worship Hymns Vol. 2 [StowTown]

SINGLES
AWZY Shadow - Single [DREAM]
FYR FYTR, Make Sure I Took the World on My Shoulders - Single (independent)
Mainstream Worship, Melanie Rivera Praise You - Single [DREAM]
Ian Yates My World Is On Fire - Single [7Core]

VINYL
Anberlin Vega [Equal Vision]



For all release dates, click here!
 



Check out Ninties Worship Night!



Listen to the new Album From Millennial Reign!

Check out depositphotos for royalty free images