By: Mark Warren
When a new artist sets out to impact the public in a memorable way, especially in the area of worship, it can be easy to write songs that appeal to the least common denominator. Things become packaged in tidy, three-minute disposable morsels that sound familiar and have a shot at radio. Thankfully, this is not always the case.
Proving that modern worship can be intelligent yet immediately accessible, 1000 Generations’ first national release, Turn Off the Lesser Stars, is a pop-rock album that leans heavily on both electric guitar and piano and features song arrangements that translate naturally to the live setting.
The lead single, “Fail Us Not,” speaks to how God is bigger than our suffering and our sin. Featuring vocals from Steven and Amanda Potaczek, the verses begin with an acoustic groove that transition into a driving chorus is ideal for a corporate worship setting.
Along with unique approaches to corporate worship, the band includes commentaries on social justice such as the track “How Big Small Can Be,” named Song of the Year by the GMA Academy. The opening pulse of the piano gives way to a Beatle-esque chorus challenging us to remember that the world can be changed one small deed at a time.
Upon hearing a new artist, or one that’s new to you, it’s easy to think, “This sounds like fill-in-the-blank.” The listener will be hard pressed to easily pigeonhole this record. The band’s influences can be heard, but each track features an approach that is distinctly their own
With a foundation laid by bassist Alain Picard and drummer Lorin Lemme, the band is poised to break out with their debut. This record would be welcome by fans of Caedmon’s, Derek Webb and Brooke Fraser. One can only hope that as 1000 Generations reaches a broader audience they will inspire up and coming worship leaders to create lyrically exceptional expressions of love and faith, just as they have before them.
