The Catalyst Music Project is an awesome little album, at least in my mind. The songs are very solid. I think after listening to it I could think of very valid scenarios in which the songs would be relevant and useful, at least as offertory/specials, if not as a song to teach the entire congregation for corporate worship.

In reading the info on their website (and I would suggest that!) they reference this as the “2009 Catalyst Music Project,” which, in my mind, indicates that they will most likely release more albums along the same line. I certainly hope so, because this was a very solid worship album. If their next few albums are as strong as this one the Catalyst Music Projects will begin to line up with Hillsong and Passion CDs on worship leaders shelves all over the the world (okay, my personal opinion…)

Overall the theology seems very solid and the lyrics are very biblical. You need to be sensitive to the specific congregation you serve in to make sure any particular song is relevant to that body and will benefit/bless/challenge them. That said, I’m going to just quickly note a few of the songs and why I liked them (links are to grooveshark.come where you can listen to the individual songs):

Love is the Answer – This is a great opener for an album, and in hearing it I thought about how great it would be to open a service with it. And if it hits it off with your congregation, lyrically, it is also a very solid congregational song. It’s definitely a rockier song (read: electric guitar!) so be mindful of how well your body will respond to a song so wide open (Youth Groups? Absolutely! Contemporary services? Probably… Traditional Service? Not very likely…).

One Who Overcomes – I just love Phil Wickham, and he did an awesome job on this song. It definitely is going on my short list of potential openers and specials. And it would also be great for congregational singing as well. I personally would love to introduce it as part of a series to emphasize a theme of Christ’s overcoming power. Good, good song.

Hallelujah (All I Need) - This is just a great song. I love the lyrics, the line “Christ has come to win” is just awesome. I’m actually going to use this as the opener for a service I’ll be leading next month. And I could see this being used in congregational worship as well.

God of All - This song is another one I really love the lyrics to as well. But, as much as I like the song, I think there are a few things, dynamically, I would change. I’m thinking of using this song as well that service I’ll be leading next month and if I do, then I’m going to do two primary things: first, I’m going to do the first chorus with just acoustic (or maybe electric guitar, I haven’t decided yet…gonna have to test it out with the band), and second, I want to repeat the bridge, building on the quarter notes the second time through. Those lyrics are so awesome I hate to sing them just once…

Won’t You Be My Love – This song was the little jewel hidden in the album. I’m keeping my finger on this song for any service with a missional (or even serving) emphasis. It would not be appropriate for congregational worship (at least in my mind due to the fact that it is sung from the perspective of Christ to the church up until the end). But, wow, what an awesome way to set the tone for a service on serving one’s neighbors or the need to carry the Gospel to the unsaved.