album review   

“Open Up The Earth” – by Jason Upton – CD & DVD Review (Peter Byon)

(Note: This is a two-CD plus one-DVD set. MP3 samples can be downloaded at the link* provided at the end of this review.)

At the top of a hill in Harrisburg, PA lies a wonderful little church called Life Center Ministries. Remember Charles and Anne Stock? Yep, it’s their church. And it’s Jason Upton (Freedom Reigns, Glory Come Down and I Will Wait for You) who held a spontaneous worship session at Life Center Ministries that’s wonderfully captured on the first disc and corresponding DVD. The second disc records more spontaneous worship over in Holland that continues with the tone and theme of the Harrisburg event.

As the sun was setting, Abram fell into a deep sleep,
and a thick and dreadful darkness came over him. (Genesis 15:12)

I first heard the Harrisburg disc at a small prayer meeting, where it was used as ‘soaking’ music to prepare ourselves for entering into and sensing His presence before moving into prayer. I remember not being in a praying mood at all that day, but when the Open up the Earth track started playing, I was plunged into what I can only describe as terrifying yet awe-inspiring blackness. There was a holy, reverential fear of the Lord, and an overwhelming sense of Him enveloping me and purging me of all sin and impurity. It was like I was in the middle of that dreadful furnace-like smoke that billowed from Mt. Sinai. Unforgettable.

For the remainder of the discs it was more of the same – intense, yearning, at times gently brooding, surging and swelling at others. This was not easy listening, but a holy meditation where “deep calleth unto deep.” Both are a clarion call to transparency, holiness and wholehearted intimacy with the Father. I have yet to listen to them without being deeply moved in my spirit.

Jason Upton has been called the Keith Green of our generation. Like Keith, Jason brings the same fierce reverence of a prophet-warrior, although in this release I liken him to Keith Green on spiritual steroids. His vocal range is sufficiently broad to encompass the wide range and intensity of feeling in his music, especially his soaring, gravelly top range with its thrilling, heroic ring (shades of Chris Doughtry for you American Idol fans).

Again, this is not exactly comfortable music. And it’s broodingly atmospheric, with generous amounts of reverb and your typical keyboard, guitar, bass and drums, often using woodwind and even a conch for more sophisticated moods. (On the DVD they daringly but successfully toe the cheesiness line with a dry ice machine to convey God’s descending Glory). But none of this is for effects’ sake. It’s all completely at the service of the high seriousness and import of the underlying message. And being live spontaneous worship, it’s highly organic. In the Harrisburg disc, one track often leads directly to the next. Unlike most live relays, however, the sound quality is excellent. Some favorite tracks, if forced to choose, would include Open up the Earth, Secrets and Peace.

A resource like this is beyond price if it helps broker more intimacy with our Heavenly Father. So if you’re seeking to personally connect with Him in deeper, more varied ways, I really encourage you to buy this set, lock your door, unhook the phone, dim the lights and press “Play” with an open Bible before you. Then sit back and let this anointed music just wash over you and usher you into His Presence.

I must point out that the DVD has two tracks not on the CD. The first is an extremely powerful rendition of “Glory Come Down”. The second is the end credits: As the music winds down there is an extremely poignant moment that aptly softens the searing intensity that preceded it. Its incredible spiritual significance can easily be overlooked, despite being fathoms deep to those with eyes to see and ears to hear. Without giving it away, I summarize it with Psalms 8:2:

From the lips of children and infants you have ordained praise
because of your enemies, to silence the foe and the avenger.

* www.jasonupton.net/com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=256&Itemid=447