Hope Rising - Fee

For years, the modern worship band Fee have been recording music and gaining exposure, but it wasn’t until mid 2007 that they released their major label debut “We Shine.” Proving to be a successful venture, the album scored them their first No. 1 hit, “All Because of Jesus,” and a Dove Award nomination. Now, over 2 years later, they are releasing their anticipated sophomore disc, “Hope Rising” to an ever growing fan base. Featuring anthem like choruses and rousing guitar riffs, there is a bit of everything here. It seems from the first few songs that it will be a pure praise album, with titles like “Rise and Sing” and “Greatly To Be Praised,” it would be my instincts to mark it as just another Chris Tomlin sound alike, but as the CD progresses into the mid to second half, they keep things interesting by developing other sides to their music. But before we get to that, I’ll point out some early standouts.

The lead single, “Glory to God Forever” is a soon-to-be classic, with a simple but glorifying chorus, and a made for church service feel that permeates much of the material here. “God is Alive” is an energetic piece, following in the footsteps of the previous collection’s “Happy Day,” and keeps their focus on resurrection, not just Jesus’, but our own personally when we come to know him.

Okay, so at this point, we’re still looking at a powerhouse praise genre…well, it’s here they throw something new in. “Everything Falls,” I must say, has to be a favorite of mine. Not that the other stuff is bad, but this is really good. With a mid-tempo beat that urges you to clap along, the song brings to mind fellow artists like Phil Stacey or even Britt Nicole, and though the idea isn’t new, somehow the way they put it together just makes an outstanding piece of music, the chorus’ lyrics as follows: When everything falls apart / you’re arms hold me together / when everything falls apart / you’re the only hope for this heart / when everything falls apart / and my strength is gone / I find you mighty and strong / you keep holding on / you keep holding on.

With a silver lining on the horizon, they extend this obvious theme in the later part of the record also. From the hook-laden “Promise Land” to the finale “Send Me Out,” there is a feeling that the band longs to extend to their listeners: That they will find hope, in their hope. I don’t know if I am communicating myself well, but the message that you will find here is something that a lot of people really need, and will relate to in their times of hardship. So, as a whole, this album is a pleasurable listen, and more than that, it will be something that could help you through the tough places in your life. When you could use a cool breath of fresh air and an escape from your earthly fears of this world, this is a great place to go. ~ Christian Lingner

41/2 of 5 stars