When I think of Delirious?, I think of modern Christian worhip music. They have released many worship albums, and have several well known worship songs including: “I Could Sing of Your Love Forever”, “Deeper”, and “Lord, You Have My Heart”. Delirious? began as a worship band for a youth outreach event called “Cutting Edge”. This event was created by Arun Community Church in Littlehampton, West Sussex, England. They have been a favorite in our household since purchasing and listening to their “Glo” album in 2000. I have loved their mix or worship centered lyrics and modern rock music. The band Delirious? features Martin Smith on vocals and guitar, Stuart Garrard (also known as Stu G) on guitar and backing vocals, Jon Thatcher on bass guitar, Tim Jupp on keys and piano, and Paul Evans on drums and percussion.

Their new album is called “Kingdom of Comfort“. It was released in the U. S. on April 1st, 2008, April Fool’s Day. I wonder if there was an intention to it’s release on that particular day? They did have an album titled “King of Fools” released in 1997. “Kingdom of Comfort” was inspired by the band’s recent missions trip to Cambodia and Mumbai, India. The band’s guitarist Stu G is quoted as saying:

Seeing children looking for scraps on the rubbish dump they call homes in Cambodia and the education and feeding projects in the slums of Mumbai India really had an impact on us. It wasn’t possible to simply proceed with business as usual. We had to ask ourselves, what am I building? A kingdom of comfort? Or a kingdom of heaven?

The album begins with the title track “Kingdom of Comfort”. The song is a quieter acoustic song which is strangely different than most of their other songs. Their singing and questioning comfortable homes and a lust for material things. The next track is “God Is Smiling”. The music begins with a driving bass guitar riff and drum beat. The rhythm guitar is very simple but it works well in the song. There is a guitar solo reminiscent of The Edge from U2 fame. The next song “Give It What You Got” begins with a bass guitar again that has a fuzz effect. If this song had some slide guitar I would almost swear that Foghat was playing it. The vocals, the song form, and rhythm are all reminiscent of that classic English blues rock band. The following track called “Love Will Find A Way” is about “love” overcoming the poor and social injustice in the world. The song has the staple Delirious? sound, and blends well with the anthemic vocal arrangement.

Album highlights include “Give It What You’ve Got”, the worship-themed “We Give You Praise”, “How Sweet The Name” a Jesus naming, and Jesus glorifying song that begins with a simple vocal / piano accompaniment and brings in a lone cello. A beautifully composed song that sings:

Jesus how sweet the name
The name that saves
Jesus how sweet the sound
The sound of grace
The sound of praise
The sound that saves

“Break The Silence” is another U2 influenced song with much smoother vocals. I love the guitar riff and rhythms in this one. “Stare The Monster Down” is about dealing with cancer in the writer’s father and a very touching song, “All God’s Children” sing hallelujah is going to be another bonified Delirious? worship song hit as it contains a great chorus hook.

The album as a whole is very good and contains some soon to be favorite worship songs. I like how the music to most of the songs flow from gentle acoustic to all out electric rock. The vocals are excellent and the lyric are not very far off theologically speaking. I want to point out a couple of things here and then I will tell you how to win your very own brand new Delirious? “Kingdom of Comfort” CD.

I still take issue with the use of the word “love” in place of God like in “Love Will Find A Way”. What does that mean anymore? The only disappointing thing about this album was something written by a Shane Clairborne inside the in the CD linear notes. I believe it is a snippet of his writing “Irresistible Revolution”. In it he states “this thing we call the Kingdom of God… God’s dream for the world.” mind you not God’s plan or God’s will for the world, but His dream. One other thing that stuck out is his man centered view of the gospel. “This whole Christian thing is not just about going to heaven when we die, but it is about bringing God’s Kingdom to earth. THIS IS THE GOSPEL”. I say … Huh?

The biblical view of the gospel is basically: Man is sinful and in rebellion toward God. God provided the means to reconcile man to Himself by coming to earth as the God-man Jesus Christ and living a sinless life. Being crucified and dying a death to satisfy the debt owed by man for his sin. He was raised again on the third day and has ascended into heaven waiting for the Father’s word to go and gather His own.

I give “Kingdom of Comfort” by Delirious? four stars out of five.

Now for the give away. If you are the first person to comment on this blog with the answer to the following question, you will receive the new Delirious? CD “Kingdom of Comfort” still sealed from the record company EMI/CMG. I have provided a link in this posting where you will find the answer. It’s as simple as that. Here is the question:

The band name Delirious? has a question mark as part of their official name. What was originally in the position of the “s” prior to the question mark, and why was it there?

Note: This giveaway excludes immediate family members.

Please check out my favorite music video from Delirious?, “Everything”.