Kristian Stanfill: Attention

By Soul-Audio.com

Published: May 06, 2009

If you are not already aware of this young worship leader, it is time to emerge from under the rocks. Kristian Stanfill is undoubtedly one of the brightest rising stars, not just amongst worship or Christian industries, but music in general.

His affiliations with Northpoint Community Church, Passion, Big Stuf, Young Life and Scott Dawson have brought his passion to thousands of worship venues, but his excitement and energy is bound to poise him to reach an entire generation. Most known for his popular revival of "Jesus Paid it All," his music is exactly what is needed in an age where Christian artists have become cookie-cutter American Idol runner-ups.

"Alive and Running" starts off the album with explosive guitar riffs, setting a high standard for the remainder of the album. Kristian and company easily meet the expectations, though, pounding through 10 more tracks like an Olympic sprinter. The guitar team of Matt Melton and Alex Nifong set the tone for the most of the record, pouring emotion and purpose into each measure, with all of the skill and passion of U2's The Edge. Bassist Tim Gibson and drummer Joe Thibodeau complete the musical package, combining depth and skill that is rarely seen from players of such a young age.

With as busy a schedule as theirs, it is no doubt this act has more experience under their belts than the number of their years would suggest. This experience is noticed through every corner of the album, and is deftly captured and enhanced by the production package. This artistry is most noticed on "Wake Up," the relatively quiet song placed at the middle of the album. The band showcases not just an intimate understanding of rhythmic structure, but also a sense of dynamics rarely seen in the modern age of ultra-hot mastering. Make no mistake, these men are pros, and their musical ability should not be taken lightly.

sixstepsrecords has a reputation for bringing us extremely talented worship leaders, and Kristian is no exception. To understand this, one only needs to be a part of any of the numerous events he has the privilege of leading. How many worship leaders spend half their stage time with eyes closed, fist pumping the air, and lungs shouting passionately into the waiting microphone? It is obvious that despite the goofy YouTube videos of his improvised sing-a-longs, Kristian is serious about the act of worship. This seriousness has resulted in some of the best worship songs of our generation. There is an inherent accessibility in Stanfill's music. These songs are written plainly, full of an honesty that comes directly from a heart focused on a relationship with our Creator. It is evident that Stanfill writes songs of worship not because it is his job, but because his heart pulses with praise.

This album is definitely one of the best to come around in a long time. 8 is a strong rating, and quite frankly, this album could be a 10. Only time will reveal if it continues to hold my heart years from now, but my guess is that this will always be one of the most played albums in my collection.

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