I don't know a whole lot about kids' Christian music scene, but I know that "Supernatural," new from Australia's Hillsong Kids ministry, offers more than mere cuteness.
“Supernatural” was recorded live before a crowd of 3,000 kids, and that fact flavors the tone of the whole album. There’s a lively energy to it, and it’s interesting to hear the way the leaders, kids themselves, urge the audience to “get up and dance now.” I’ll be honest: there were times when it was difficult for me to imagine kids responding to the deep worship conveyed by the music, but that could say more about my ignorance of kids’ worship than it does about the album’s fit. I certainly wouldn’t put it past the dynamic ministry of Hillsong Church.
The album kicks off with the title track, its tight arrangements perfect to get kids ready to move and groove in the Lord. “Better Than Life” is a hand-clapper, with a powerful spoken-word prayer mid-track, again, setting a sincerely worshipful tone. By the time you reach the quietly prayerful “You’re All I Need,” you realize these young leaders are quite capable, showing that kids are more than ready to enter into worship on their own. To me, the songs with the simplest lyrics rang most true; a fresh “Jesus Loves Me,” with its classic Biblical truths movingly presented, felt both truly kid-oriented and worship-driven. A few other tracks just came across as more adult-oriented to me (the upbeat “For Who You Are” and the slower-tempo, worshipful closing tracks). Again, that may just be my lack of experience in this field. But there are just as many songs that work quite well: the tribal beats of “Not Forgotten,” the soulful, anthemic “Get It Started,” and the funkified “Everyday.” “Supernatural” certainly qualifies as an album that many adults could enjoy just as much as your kids, which is nice if you anticipate hours and hours hitting replay in the family van.
Companion resources include a “Supernatural” Songbook and a DVD that offers performance trax videos with audio options, four song episodes with discussion style monologues, documentaries, and more, all available on February 27.
