I’ll be honest: I don’t really like Christian music—and I really don’t like a lot of modern “worship” music. Some songs have very God-centered lyrics and theology being espoused, but there’s far too much that (to borrow a phrase) is Christless expounding on nothing.

But I really like old hymns. I enjoy them more every time I listen. This is, in part, because of my theological bend in addition to never having heard them (beyond Amazing Grace in Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan). I don’t know what it is, but classic hymns like Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing bring joy to my spirit like nothing else.

So when Re:Sound released Rain City Hymnal last week, I was exceedingly pleased.

The album is a collection of 12 classic hymns from centuries past with updated music to better communicate “an ancient message of truth in music for a particular people, time, and place, ” says Pastor Tim Smith of Mars Hill Church.

So how’d they do?

In short, outstanding.

The Christ-exalting message of every song shines through in a whole new way on Rain City Hymnal. While every track is extremely well done, I want to highlight just a few: Continue Reading…