Some things are simply worth the wait. Even if you didn’t know you were waiting for them. Till the End of the Age is one of those things. Why is this? Let me start by introducing you to the band that is Everyone’s a Poet. The band leads worship at the growing Awaken Church in Columbus, Ohio. They always have been anchored by the primary writers of the group, that is Jonathan and Christine Kimball. Also making an appearance in this seven person incarnation of Everyone’s a Poet is Micah Powers (producer at Columbus’ North Broad Studios, ex-Before We Forget) and Jeremy Steckel (Wolves at the Gate).
Till the End of the Age is not about innovation – it’s about one thing and one thing only – bringing the listener into a genuine worship experience. That said, it is fair to make comments on the sound and feel of the record. That’s why we’re here, right? Anyway, there’s a blatant Hillsong influence all over the record. For the unfamiliar (though I cannot imagine that you would be if you’re reading this) Hillsong is a collective of worship artists based in Australia that have consistently released huge, anthemic worship albums chock full of corporate worship anthems. From the beginning of “With You Now” the Hillsong influence is super obvious. But, the album sounds good! While overall it’s good, it suffers some of the setbacks that Hillsong music has (while still holding its own). Allow me to explain:
One person’s plunge into the worship experience is another person’s “ugh, can we just get on with the rest of the song already?” sentiment. The critic might see some songs on here as being repetitive and/or too long, while others get chills they don’t wish to end, making the worship song all too short. “You Won’t Leave” is a good example of this – the emotion more than justifies the length in my opinion, while others may find the six-minute length to be a bit much. At the same time, I find certain tracks to be a bit on the forgettable side (“Who You Are,” “All I Have”) but’s entirely possible that they haven’t caught me in a right mood yet. There are undoubtedly tracks that have caught me in the right mood, including “I Will Follow” which has Christine setting the tone with an unforgettable melody on the keys – possibly the most reverent on the record. “I’m Not Ashamed” is another favorite that ends the record in the most jubilant way imaginable in the context of the record. We are not ashamed of the Gospel, so let us proclaim it fervently, with utmost joy, and without reservation! “Till the End of the Age” doesn’t match the outright joyful vibe of the final track, but it overshadows it in epic instrumentation – a big sound appropriate for a message big enough to last “till the end of the age” and beyond.
Lyrically, the record doesn’t have the depth of, say, modern day hymn-writers Keith and Kristyn Getty but everything is biblical and genuine. Some may point out cliches in the lyrics but I do not see the point – if something is true and worth singing about who cares if it’s a cliche? Besides, Everyone’s a Poet does something that’s increasingly rare in today’s praise and worship market – they craft a fifteen song album of ORIGINAL worship. “We Are Yours” is a good example of a song that is genuinely captivating in the simplicity of what it proclaims – “We are Yours and Yours alone!”
Everyone’s a Poet is one worship band that may be one of the best kept secrets in the country. Just remember it’s not about them – it’s about the One that saved them.
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