Artist: Reuben Bidez
Album: Generation
Year: 2009
Label: Reuben Bidez
Website: http://reubenbidez.blogspot.com/
Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/reubenbidez
Twitter: @reubenbidez
Buy: iTunes - Amazon - Tunecore
Sounds Like: Aaron Keyes, Unhindered, Phil Wickham, Hillsong United, Fee, Casting Crown
Rating: 2/5 ♥♥

A new face emerges in contemporary worship. This is Reuben Bidez that presents his debut album entitled “Generation”. With the help of his friend and producer Christian Paschall (Unhindered, Jason Allen Rich), they have managed to summarize their hard work in 10 inspirational worship tracks influenced by genres such as rock and soul and bands like The Beatles, Led Zeppelin, U2, Lenny Kravitz and James Brown. Although the album sounds more like Aaron Keyes, Phil Wickham, Hillsong United, Reuben’s particularity is the piano sound and his versatility in every song, and especially the fact that he wrote every song here.

“Rain On Me” is an accelerated anthem to start the album with a message of revival and need for God. The guitars and synthesizers reflect the denial of our flesh, of our kingdom to enjoy the Kingdom of God: “Rain on me / We do it all for you / You took our place so we can take our place with you. Next, “Going Home” reminds us of our human nature, which always chooses the wrong path but God decides to save us with his grace and he rescue from our situation: “I’m held back by the sin I’m in / Thinking I can’t begin again / It’s a lie I’ve been told my whole life / But it’s a war already won / I’ve been restores as my Father’s son / I once was lost , but now I’m found / dead but now alive”. The piano and the melodies are added to contrast the story of the prodigal son. The titletrack “Generation” is lyrically similar to “God of This City” of Bluetree or “After Your Heart” by Phil Wickham, but deeper into the fact that this generation will glorify the King, singing together as a church: “This is our battle cry / To see you glorfied / A time is drawning near / When all the world will hear / We sing Holy, Holy, Holy”. The violins declare devotion in “I Surrender”, a simple but profound composition that confesses that our daily life now belongs to God; he can do with our lives as it pleases. “Alleluia” is enhanced by complex guitars and a melody that proclaims our freedom from the chains of sin: “Tonight’s the night my chains are loosed / I lift my hands to sing to you”. Pianos and guitars fill the air in “Though I Can’t See”, which talks about our faith to believe in God, although we cannot see him, we love and believe in Him. “Lift Him Higher” is influenced by U2, with powerful guitars and severe drums declaring: “Let heaven and creation sing / The praises of our King”. Immediately we find “Come Closer”, heavily painted with traces of The Beatles on an upbeat tune that asks God to show his glory, his face more strongly: “Come closer Lord / Come close enough to touch / Your nearness is our good”. The sweet acoustic sound of “Speak” longs to hear God’s voice, a whisper in our heart, as Samuel used to do: “Speak to me in a whisper / Speak to me in my heart / Speak to me, your servant’s listening / Speak to me from your heart”.  The cello fills the worship air in a sublime intimacy. Finally we have “Wipe Every Tear” with pop/rock and interesting chords in a startlingly prophetic chorus: “He will wipe every tear from our eyes / There will be no pain

While “Generation” is not entirely perfect, musically speaking, the time will define the solid sound of Reuben Bidez, who is just starting in this market. Impassioned songs like “Speak”, the energetic “Rain On Me” and the prophetic “Wipe Your Tears” are good examples of his lyrical and musical ability that could resemble Fee or an experienced Casting Crowns.

Un nuevo rostro surge en la adoración contemporánea. Se trata de Reuben Bidez que nos presenta su álbum debut titulado “Generation”. Con la ayuda de su amigo y productor Christian Paschall (Unhindered, Jason Allen Rich) han logrado resumir su arduo trabajo en 10 inspiradores tracks de adoración influenciados por géneros como el Rock y Soul y bandas como The Beatles, Led Zeppelin, U2, Lenny Kravitz yJames Brow. Aunque el álbum suena más a Aaron Keyes, Phil Wickham o Hillsong United, la particularidad del sonido de Reuben es el piano es su versatilidad en cada canción, y sobre todo el hecho de que compuso cada una de sus canciones.

“Rain On Me” se acelera a empezar el álbum con un himno de avivamiento y necesidad de Dios. Las guitarras y los sintetizadores reflejan la negación de nuestra carne, de nuestro reino para disfrutar del Reino de Dios: “Rain on me / We do it all for you / You took our place so we can take our place with you”. Seguidamente, “Going Home” nos recuerda nuestra naturaleza humana, que siempre escoge el camino incorrecto pero que Dios con su gracia decide salvarnos y rescatarnos de nuestra situación: “I’m held back by the sin I’m in / Thinking I can’t begin again / It’s a lie I’ve been told my whole life / But it’s a war already won / I’ve been restores as my Father’s son / I once was lost , but now I’m found / dead but now alive”. Los pianos y las melodías se suman al contraste de la historia del hijo pródigo. El titletrack “Generation” se asemeja líricamente a “God Of This City” de Bluetree o “After Your Heart” de Phil Wickham, pero profundiza más en el hecho de que está generación dará gloria al Rey, unidos como iglesia cantando: “This is our battle cry / To see you glorfied / A time is drawning near / When all the world will hear / We sing Holy, Holy, Holy”. Los violines declaran devoción en “I Surrender”, una simple pero profunda composición que confiesa que nuestro diario vivir ahora le pertenece a Dios, que él puede hacer con nuestras vidas lo que le plazca. “Alleluia” se realza con guitarras y una melodía compleja que pregona nuestra libertad de las cadenas del pecado: “Tonight’s the night my chains are loosed / I lift my hands to sing to you”. Los pianos y guitarras llenan el ambiente en “Though I Can’t See”, que habla sobre nuestra fe al creer en Dios, que si bien no lo podemos ver, lo amamos y creemos en Él. “Lift Him Higher” se influencia de U2, con poderosas guitarras y severos tambores que declaran: “Let heaven and creation sing / The praises of our King”. De inmediato nos encontramos con “Come Closer”, fuertemente pincelado con rasgos de The Beatles, en una impulsadora melodía que le pide a Dios que muestre sus gloria, su rostro con más intensidad: “Come closer Lord / Come close enough to touch / Your nearness is our good”. El dulce sonido acústico de “Speak” anhela oír la voz de Dios, en un susurro dentro de nuestro corazón, tal y como Samuel solía hacerlo: “Speak to me in a whisper / Speak to me in my heart / Speak to me, your servant’s listening / Speak to me from your heart”. El cello invade el ambiente de adoración en una sublime intimidad. Por último tenemos a “Wipe Every Tear”, con pop/rock e interesantes acordes en un coro estremecedoramente profético: “He will wipe every tear from our eyes / There will be no pain”.

Si bien “Generation” no es totalmente perfecto, musicalmente hablando, el tiempo definirá el sólido sonido de Reuben Bidez, quién recién está comenzando en este mercado. Canciones como la apasionada “Speak”, el enérgico “Rain On Me” y la profética “Wipe Your Tears” son perfectos ejemplos de su capacidad lírica y musical que podría asemejarse a Fee o un experimentado Casting Crowns.