MEDIOCRE DEBUT DISC FROM BELFAST-BASED WORSHIP BAND

Though the American music scene has long benefited from a European influence, when it comes to the praise & worship genre, aside from a few exceptions (i.e. Hillsong, Delirious), our transatlantic neighbors lack the commercial edge necessary to really compete in the already over-saturated worship music market here in the United States.

With that said, Belfast-based modern worship band Bluetree makes its stateside debut under the influence of strong industry ties and an already familiar worship hit, affording the foursome marketing advantages not typically accessible to a band new to the national marketplace. 

For starters, the title track was hand selected by Chris Tomlin for his Hello Love CD and became the banner name for the latest Passion tour and recording project. Written during a mission trip to the Red Light district of Pattaya, Thailand, the internationally-minded anthem boldly declares, “You’re the God of this city/You’re the King of these people/You’re the Lord of this nation/You are.”

Cuts like “Each Day” and “For You” utilize loads of edgy rock to communicate the ins and outs of enduring faith in God.

And “When I Survey” sets the historic hymn text to an exquisite traditional English tune, melding the two different sources with a delayed climax to produce the record’s most impressive track.

But even with the band’s tight connections and years of worship experience, God of This City suffers from mundane lyrics (if it’s OK to label words directed in praise to God as uninspired) and an overused modern rock sound, proving the aforementioned overseas assumptions to be true. 

Bluetree has their work cut out for them if they truly want to create a distinct niche in today’s worship music arena. —Andrew Greer