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Tuesday, September 23, 2008

Planetshakers - Always And Forever

Reviewed by Jeremy Chalmers

"Ever-growing!" is a good way to describe the impact and influence of the house band who minister at the annual Melbourne youth culture event. Previously compared to the raw, passionate sounds of the worshipful stadium rockers Sonicflood, the musicians here have produced another truly passionate reflection. Kicking off with the punk rock declaration "Always And Forever", an exciting and up-beat song, this album starts as it means to go on with honest and hungry lyrics (written mainly by Henry Seeley and Mike Guglielmucci) backed by a heavy electric guitar sound and loud, pulsating and victorious sounding drum beat. As well as "Always And Forever" this album is full of songs that suit the stadium, with tracks like "See You", "Not Ashamed" and "Great And Mighty". However, recognising there is a time for everything this album also offers slower, more intimate sounding songs, with vocals sounding much like Hillsong United's Marty Sampson's in songs like "Don't Pass Me By". One striking feature of this album however is how it ends, having been led through the loud and quiet times of worship with this album I found it up-lifting and inspiring to finish on a song as cross-focused as "Cry Holy"....

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Planetshakers - Free

Crunchy, punk-oriented praise songs ala-Tooth and Nail bands and big worship anthems have long been the forte and majority of output from Planetshakers, and that’s what you get on Free, the first album from the Melbourne-based church (as opposed to the conference albums).

Songs like “Salvation”, “Free” and “ Saved The Day” rock the high-energy riff-based sound, while “I Need You” and “Glory to God” are a heart-cry of desperate worship. Sure, there are some unexceptional songs on here, as will be the case for every worship album, and yes, the musical intro may have similarities to another Aussie worship heavyweight, but the positives are aplenty: I played the title track every morning for about a month and it set my day on fire! Of notable significance too is a changing of the guard in songwriters, with youngsters Joth Hunt, Mike Nikkerud and Mike Pilmer in particular coming to the fore....

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Planetshakers - Arise

Reviewed by Dave Griffiths

I was impressed before I even put the CD into my player as the graphics for the CD package is excellent. But, we're here to talk about the musical content. What we have in 'Arise' is a collection of 13 punchy, guitar-driven worship songs carried on the wind of youthful gusto and pop-chorus sensibilities and production. This combo can mean, however, that the content is a little too shallow in places. It's probably great throughout for teenagers, but for me personally it's a little too glossy. Stylistically this is very, very similar to their fellow Aussies, Hillsong United. This music is crafted specifically for large gatherings that the Planetshaker ministry implements, and with that in mind, these songs make a lot more sense. One can easily see hundreds of young saints pogoing their socks off to these high-energy tunes. Many of the songs follow the fast-paced guitar-pop trend, but there are variations with "Majesty", which is a little more Europop with its zingy synth-line. "You Are" at last brings the pace down to a more Darlene-style ballad. "Your Glory" keeps the slower, more acoustic feel and is a great worship song. "My Hero" is really enjoyable melody. "Set Me Free" is the most memorable song and the one most likely to live outside the context of this album....

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Planetshakers - Evermore

Planetshakers describe themselves as comparable to the Hillsongs movement, but with an explosive youth orientated twist. This may be true but as a 40 something I have to admit that there is an energy within these guys that is infectious, and this DVD manages to capture this well. It's full-on explosive and passion led worship from start to finish. These guys rock. Their following has increased since they started nearly 10 years ago and with a performance as good as this you can see why. From the hip-hop style of "Jump Around" to the more traditional worship of "Holy Spirit" there is something here for everyone, whatever age. There are also many resources available in the special features section. A worthwhile investment and very entertaining...

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Planetshakers - Never Stop

Never Stop says it all. We never want to stop praising Him, worshipping Him, honouring Him and living for Jesus! This album contains 13 all new songs plus bonus DVD that are from a passionate heart to do everything we can to lift up the name of Jesus. Featuring Henry Seeley, Mike Guglielmucci and Sam Evans, this studio album is signature Planetshaker praise and worship for a new generation. Includes CD and bonus DVD of Planetshakers live worship and inspiring messages...

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Planetshakers - (My King) Live Praise & Worship

Sounds like … a cross between the United praise band and the livelier moments from an Acquire the Fire conference, with energy and melodies to spare.

At a glance … though it'll be nearly impossible to shake off the Hillsong comparisons, (My King) is still an energetic and well-executed live worship album.

As if trying to mend a past mistake, Australia's Planetshakers appear intent on making (My King) Live Praise & Worship their real introduction to U.S. audiences (or second introduction, considering 2002's Phenomena). After all, it's only been a couple of months since their lackluster studio album Open Up the Gates, a project that all but flooded worship set lists nationwide. In all fairness to the movement, Gates was more a rushed post-concert keepsake for the Planetshakers conferences than a testament to their true sound, which explained the boxed-in feel of it.

(My King) does away with these limitations and establishes the band as one comparable to Hillsong's United praise band. Chief songwriter and worship leader Henry Seeley is a pop composer at heart, keeping things simple and accessible without sacrificing the album's major strength: its melodies. Like an older Joel Houston or Marty Sampson, Seeley polishes these songs to perfection, and the results are as singable as they are memorable—in fact, one can hear traces of "My Best Friend" in "Give You Praise," while "Open Up the Gates" recalls Sampson's "King of Majesty." Even the amped-up guitars in "Be With You" seem lifted from "We Want to See Jesus Lifted High," except with a horn section that's informed by ska influences....

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Planetshakers - Open Up the Gates

Sounds like … a modern worship mixture of Sonicflood, Newsboys, and Vineyard UK.

At a glance … Open Up the Gates is listenable, but it's indistinguishable from countless other generic modern worship projects.

If you cross Hillsong Australia's upbeat contemporary worship with the exuberance of the Acquire the Fire youth conferences, you might get something like Australian worship team Planetshakers, which sounds like a mixture of Sonicflood, Newsboys, and Vineyard UK. With a strong commitment to challenge and inspire young people, the annual Planetshakers worship conference has grown tremendously in recent years, reaching a total audience of 20,000 in three of Australia's major cities.

Here's proof that record labels don't always keep tabs on each other. Word/Warner eagerly signed Planetshakers hoping to introduce them stateside with Open Up the Gates. But Planetshakers already tried for American exposure with Crowne Music Group on 2002's Phenomena, which revealed modern worship that was derivative of better songs, but still likeable and varied, propelled by incredible live praise-driven concert energy....

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Planetshakers - Phenomena

Sounds like … an array of musical styles blended together for modern worship — imagine Sonicflood, Newsboys, dc Talk, Delirious, and Five Iron Frenzy worshipping as a single band.

At a Glance … standard modern-worship wording and recycled song riffs are outweighed by an extremely exciting and talented worship band on this passionate worship disc of the same spirit as the Passion albums.

Modern-worship enthusiasts are no doubt familiar with successful worship conferences such as Passion and Acquire the Fire or with the hugely successful Hillsong Church in Australia. Add to that list the largest youth conference in Australia, Planetshakers. Led by speaker Russell Evans, the event is held on a beach off the coast of Adelaide, Australia (west of Sydney), and it has attracted an audience of 8,000 young people from all over the world (the United States, New Zealand, England, Malaysia, Ireland, Romania, Denmark, and Singapore). The worship band takes its name from the event and is fronted by worship leaders Sam Evans (vocals) and Henry Seely (vocals, guitars). These two are backed by as many as 12 musicians at a time, including a 3-man horn section and 9 other vocalists. The Planetshakers have a big and energetic sound, as evidenced on their live worship album, Phenomena. Imagine Sonicflood, Newsboys, dc Talk, Delirious, and Five Iron Frenzy coming together for a worship concert, and you've got a pretty good idea what it sounds like.

Recorded live at Planet Shakers 2001, Phenomena sounds very much like a Vineyard modern-worship project, especially on ballads such as "Worship Forevermore" and "Burn." What sets Planetshakers apart is their sound, which, though eclectic, closely resembles similar songs already written. Songs such as "It's All About Jesus," "Run Into Your Arms," and "So Amazing" recall classic Delirious, the latter sounding a bit like "I Could Sing of Your Love Forever." The song "What You've Done For Me" is similar to Sonicflood's famed version of "I Want to Know You" or Fusebox's cover of "Every Move I Make." I loved the faithful ska treatment given to "Live 4 U," but it sounds too much like "The Impression That I Get," the hit song by the mainstream ska band Mighty Mighty Bosstones. Perhaps most surprising is the title track, which sounds so much like dc Talk's "Supernatural" that Planetshakers practically could be accused of plagiarism. Not only do the two songs share a similar title and sound, but the verses both testify to the mysteries of God and things unseen....

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Friday, September 19, 2008

Music

The Planetshakers band is the central part of their events, bearing a worship-woven modern pop-rock sound attractive to young people. The 2003 Australian Idol winner Guy Sebastian

was also a part of the Planetshakers band for several years, taking both lead and backup vocal parts on the 2002 and 2003 albums and conferences. Many of the musicians originated

from Youth Alive South Australia, which also released CDs. Some of the songs written by current band members for the Youth Alive albums, such as 'Phenomena' and 'God of Miracles'

(from Youth Alive Western Australia) have also featured on Planetshakers earlier albums.

In 2004, their CD Open Up The Gates was nominated for Praise and Worship Album of the Year for the Dove Awards.

Planetshakers announced at their 2008 conference that they would no longer be producing studio albums. Instead they will release tracks via subscription to the "Planetshakers

Revolution" - a new online music/resource distribution system designed to consolidate and build upon different products that they already offer. These include backing tracks, music

videos, and new releases of CGI "music videos" based on CGI graphics used at Planetshakers City Church and conferences. Later that year, Planetshakers' founder Russell Evans

announced at Planetshakers City Church that a new "acoustic, unplugged" album will be recorded at the church on August 31st, 2008, coinciding with the church's move to three

services.

* All For Love (2008) Recorded live at conference.
* Free (2008) Recorded live at Planetshakers City Church.
* Saviour of the World (2007) Recorded live at conference.
* Never Stop (2007) Studio recording
* Worship Him (2006) Compilation.
* Praise Him (2006) Compilation.
* Pick It Up (2006) Recorded live at the 10th anniversary conference.
* Arise (2006) Studio Recording.
* Decade: Lift Up Your Eyes (2005) Special 10th Anniversary Compilation.
* Evermore (2005) Recorded live at conference.
* Always and Forever (2005) Studio recording.
* All That I Want (2004) Recorded live at conference.
* Rain Down (2004) Studio recording.
* My King (2003) Recorded live at conference.
* Open Up The Gates (2003) Studio recording.
* Reflector (2002) Recorded live at conference.
* Phenomena (2002) Compilation. (International release - live recording)
* So Amazing (2001) Recorded live at conference.
* When the Planet Rocked (2000) Recorded live at conference.


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City Church

Planetshakers City Church (formerly Melbourne City Church) is a Pentecostal Christian church affiliated with Australian Christian Churches, the Assemblies of God in Australia. The

church started when the Planetshakers band and ministry moved to Melbourne in 2004, and currently meets in hired auditoriums throughout Central Melbourne. The church is pastored

by Russell and Sam Evans and has attendance over 4000, and throughout most of 2005 ran three services per weekend, commonly approaching capacity. Currently, the church is held

at the Dallas Brooks Centre, with two Sunday services, 3:00pm and 5:15pm (both with a full kids program). The church also made use of the Arrow building for baptism services but

due to the increased attendance the baptism services have been moved to Richmond AOG Church in Melbourne. Planetshakers' Senior Pastor Russell Evans announced at the church

that they would be adding a third service, at 10:45am, commencing on August 31st, 2008.

The church's youth ministry called "PlanetBoom" is led by pastors Chad and Tiffany Harding, running Friday nights (7:15pm) during school terms at Collingwood Town Hall or Melbourne

High School (check website for details). The youth ministry has become so successful that the Catholic and Anglican churches are looking at adopting Planetshakers' methods.[2]

The church also runs a children's ministry called "Planetkids", led by pastors Rob and Assunta Bradbury, which is held concurrently with the main church service at 3:00pm & 5:15pm.

Planetkids also runs an annual children's conference, with the second conference for 2007 being held at Melbourne High School in the September holidays. ("Planetkids goes Space")

"planetUNI" is the church's university students ministry overseen by pastor Matt Fielder and comprises local and international students as well as recent graduates being active in the

group. In addition to fortnightly meetings (Urban Life groups), a new outreach event will be held once a month on a Friday night aiming to attract university students.

"Urban Life" groups (basically cell groups) are run fortnightly in homes spread around all parts of Melbourne, offering discipleship and connection with other people outside of Church.

They include different age areas, such as kids (held in the Church service each week), teenagers (PlanetBoom), university students (planetUNI), young adults and adults.

There are also various other ministries serving and reaching out to women (Beautiful Woman) and business people (Kingdom Life).



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Conferences

Planetshakers runs annual conferences in several Australian states. The first conference held in Adelaide in 1997 had 300 delegates, growing to reach 20,000 nation-wide by 2004.

The 2007 conference period saw Perth, Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne as venues, and marking the 11th anniversary. Melbourne, being the primary venue, hosted the conference in

Vodafone Arena, part of Olympic Park.


The conferences were held in Melbourne, Brisbane, Sydney and Perth in January 2008. Melbourne at Vodafone Arena from 2-5 January 2008; Brisbane 7-10 January 2008 at Brisbane

Convention Centre; Sydney 9-12 January 2008 at Sydney Olympic Park in the Sports Centre (formally State Sports Centre); and finally Perth on 15-18 January at Challenge Stadium.

The 2009 Planetshakers conference tour will be moved to April, instead of January as in all past years.

Conference speakers have in the past included Glen Berteau, Jurgen Matthesius, Rich Wilkerson, Mal Fletcher, Pat Schazline, Jude Fouquier, Matthew Barnett, Judah Smith, Reinhard

Bonnke, Reggie Dabbs and Chris Hill. With messages containing memorable catch-cries such as "crossing over", "seizing the day" and "breaking out of the box", and "SHUT THE FRONT

DOOR!". They strive to "empower a generation to win a generation". Young people are often challenged to deeper levels of surrender, repentance, passion, and faith in Jesus Christ.

Growing internationally, Planetshakers now also runs conferences in Malaysia, Singapore and South Africa, with a desire to expand to the United States of America. They ministered at

Singapore's Faith Community Baptist Church in Singapore Expo's max Pavilion in 2006.

Internationally in 2007, Planetshakers band will play at events in Hong Kong, the USA, the UK, New Zealand, Malaysia, Singapore and South Africa.

Planetshakers has also had relationships with Australian Youth Alive events, which often cross-promotes the conference and college to tens of thousands of young people.



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