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Indie
Rock Show Review Get ready to be “taken” by the captivating new release “Taken” by singer/songwriter Jason McKinnis. Here you’ll experience some of the best modern worship for the 21st Century with an industrial electronic rock flare. With a voice that takes you back to the early reminiscings of The Choir/Deri Daugherty, Jason adds a whole new spin to modern worship. With the combination of industrial elements and ambient overtones that bleed one song into the other, you’ll enjoy this non-stop worship experience. For those who appreciate the well-crafted music by creative types like Kevin Max or Moby with a pop/rock edge, this CD is a must. Produced by Freshmade Worship’s Caleb Couch, “Taken” adds texture with both guitars and industrial programming that is one of a kind. The songwriting is excellent and Jason proves himself as a pro songwriter with pop hooks that unite insightful lyrics and intense pop groove. Although the CD starts out with some energy, most of the tunes fade one into the other and settle on a more reflective mood. Among the smorgasbord of yummy treats are the very pop/rock worthy openers “Hero For All Time” and my personal fave, “Higher” – but beware of this song! I was so enthralled by the groove while driving down the road one day, that I didn’t realize I had been driving on the rim of my flat tire for over a half mile! This one will definitely make you turn up the volume knob! By this time in the listening experience, you realize this is something truly different and worthy of your attention. The third cut “All Is Well” continues to take the listener deeper into the worship journey by giving a whole new take on the concept of the old hymn “It Is Well”: “All is well with me, you speak to the wind on the raging sea…though the storm will swell and the wind will blow, you are protecting me…when the thunder rolls it is this I know, you are the strength within me…” – it’s like when you read a well known verse again and receive a whole new inspiration. This takes me back to my early Nazarene hymn singing days restating the concept in a whole new refreshing way. The programming elements are simply inspiring and creative to the maximum on this entire project. The intro to “Lord Over All (Be the Reason) has a bit of an ambient dance vibe to it before kicking into the rhythm of the chorus. Adding to the pop hit flavah, “Only You” has an awesome industrial jazz fusion feel to the programming adding some crafty piano which then kicks into a great rock groove of this incredibly hooky song. The familiar worship chorus by Hillsong’s Reuben Morgan “I Give You My Heart” is probably the strongest worship offering on the CD and one of the most creative versions of a well-known worship chorus I’ve heard yet. The jazz fusion style intro is followed by a rhythmic ambient feel which then joins in with some kickin’ guitars. Jason’s voice is sincere and strong and the combination of the music and expression are a match made in heaven. The title track “Taken” has a U2 vibe opening and adds to the stockpile of awesomely crafted tunes with its contemporary lyrics. Overall, “Taken’s” strongest suit is creativity followed by a close songwriting second. A little suggestion: listen to this on a long drive so you can get the full effect of the songs looping one into the other. There are so many hidden gems nestled in-between the junctions that you might miss otherwise! Just make sure you have your tires checked first to avoid road hazard!
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