Reviews

The 16 tracks that make up this outstanding output (yep 16 cuts and a full 1 hour 16 mins listening!) combine some chunky roots-rock praise with equally intense moments of semi-acoustic charm. Song selection too is a delightful blend - having built up a strong repertoire over the years, John’s creative eight-song set (two co-written by lead guitarist/drummer and producer Kevin Marks) fits most ably alongside tunes penned by the likes of Prosch, Ruis and David Crowder.

This is accomplished stuff! With so much to choose from - and all so darn good - selecting ‘highlights’ is purely subjective, though I’m especially drawn to the emotive challenge of ‘The elusive freedom’ and the adoration of ‘Psalm 84’. Trust delivers stirring, accessible Gen-x worship that rings with sincerity and depth. I love it.

Review by Tom Lennie
goldusa.com

What evokes that image is the alternative rock style of the CD, with its steady, crashing rhythms and the tendency to envelop melody in the trance of bass and guitar. And, like a freight train that runs through the mind, it can evoke songs that can break the heart, make you ponder the weight of the cargo within, and soon have you traveling to an exciting and unknown destination.

Most of the songs on the album were penned by John Riemenschnitter, but it also includes the familiar “Exalt the Lord,” the David Ruis favorite, “You Are Worthy of My Praise,” and the 1758 hymn “Come Thou Font,” dressed in a lumberjack shirt and wool cap. The band executes these admirably, but it is Riemenschnitter’s own “The Elusive Freedom,” an existential musing on the procrastination of the unbeliever that is the most appealing song of the lot: “There’s a yoke that is easy, and a burden that’s light/But I’ll find it tomorrow, when I’ve got more time.” The arrangements somehow make these songs musically consistent. There are no hooky pop tunes, but they’re good songs with a psalmic quality, and they could be performed by a solo voice and an acoustic guitar as easily as by a band.

I wouldn’t be surprised if the Riemenschnitter name became one day as familiar as H. J. Deutschendorf’s. (Okay, he changed it to John Denver.) And while Riemenschnitter is a lot grungrier and hasn’t reached the vocal or songwriting range of Denver, he does come across as the kind of guy with whom you’d let your daughter go out on a date. Okay, maybe the kind of guy you’d let lead your worship service. Gladly. Point your browser to http://www.highway.org for more information.

-Michael Roth
Worship Leader Magazine

Every now and then, when you’ve somehow gotten into a rut of your own making, God uses something unexpected to make a very special point in your life. In this present day of the Church we find ourselves with “big name” worship leaders (now there’s a term that nobody feels very comfortable with, eh?) These folks have great influence over the Church and what gets played on Sunday morning. The question is, where do they come from, and how did they become so influential? The answer is that before they were “Insert Popular Name Here” they probably just wrote and played songs that meant something to themselves and their local church.

For every household name out there, there are hundreds of songwriter/worship leaders out there, listening to God, listening to their pastors, writing about what’s happening in their own life. These folks, themselves grateful for the body of work that has come from the “big guys”, are leading congregations all over the world with songs written for their community of believers.

John Riemenschnitter, from the Highway Community in Los Altos, California is one such guy. His release “Trust-Music from the Highway Community” is a pleasing blend of originals and classic standards that convey how his church worships when they meet. But it’s more than just worship music. John’s songs convey not only an intimate love of Jesus, but a passionate pursuit of God and recognition of His mystery, as well.

The Highway Community is part of the emerging church movement, meaning that it’s birthed out of another church offering alternative worship experiences while drawing on the stability of the mother church. Sometimes the church remains housed at the same facility, and sometimes it moves on. The Highway Community, after several years, moved on to it’s own place of worship.

This album is well produced and well written. John writes poignant songs that bring Scriptural references alive. “The Highway”, written for the first anniversary of the church, flows from Isaiah 35:8-10: “And a highway will be called the Way of Holiness, it will be for those who walk in the Way”.

“Trust” combines the promises in Isaiah 26:4 and Psalm 121:5-8. “In You” acknowledges God’s high and mysterious ways spoken about in Isaiah 55:8-9 (John must’ve spent a lot of time in Isaiah!).

Perhaps my favorite song is “The Elusive Freedom”, a song about someone who knows full well the burdens they carry, and has even heard of the answers offered by a man named Jesus, and yet, still tarries without making a life changing decision. This is the kind of song that will speak to someone that was dragged along to church by a friend, only going as a favor. I believe that we need more of these songs that speak to heart condition of the very people Jesus came to save.

I enjoyed this album immensely. The guitar work of Kevin Marks (who also drums on the project) is incredible! And for sheer, ear-to-ear grins and can’t-sit-still foot-tapping, check out “Come Thou Fount of Ev’ry Blessing”. I’m sure this is exactly how Robert Robinson meant this to sound when he wrote the words back in 1758!

Who buys this album? Well, I think that when you buy this album you will not only enjoy the music, but my hunch is that you are going to get intrigued about how church can become in this age. Let God move you and inspire you think outside of the box.

-John Ausmus
worshipmusic.com