“My heart is stirred by a noble theme as I recite my verses for the King; my tongue is the pen of a skillful writer.†(Psalm 45:1)
Thus goes the introduction to Chris Reid’s debut album “The Vertical Challengeâ€. More than just an album, “The Vertical Challenge†is a musical, lyrical, and theological exposition into the allure of worldliness faced by both Christians and non-Christians, and how it can be overcome through Christ.
With a unique style not totally characteristic of his home Dallas, TX, Chris Reid passionately weaves together biblically sound lyrics over 16 banging tracks in a way that can be appreciated and understood by anyone, from the average non-believer to theologically trained ministers. One listener commented, “This dude mixes the message of Christ with a distinctly southern flava. All together, it's hitting on truth harder than Samson wit a jawbone. Please believe it!â€
Following the album’s intro of Psalm 45:1, Reid immediately dives into heavy topics on “Live 4 Uâ€, giving a lyrical exposition of 2 Timothy 3, encouraging all to strive to live for Christ in a fallen world. “Evangelionâ€, featuring Alabama native Prodigal, is a passionate plea for all to hold firm to biblically sound Christian doctrine. With a unique ‘old-school’ feel, “College†is a powerful track on which in classic storybook fashion, Chris shares 2 realistic fiction accounts and his own personal testimony of the woes of living devoid of Christ on college campuses. “Chirren’â€, featuring youth recording artist’s Day 3, is a fun upbeat track assuring kids that they are not too young to love and worship Christ. “Imagineâ€, joined together with the smooth vocals of Darien Swinton, challenges the body of Christ to unite, encouraging racial unity.
With production equivalent to lyrics, The Vertical Challenge provides a wide variety of sounds that promote praise, worship, dancing, and of course constant head-bobbing. It is sure to keep trunks rattling and minds focused on Christ, while drawing non-believers to the faith and encouraging believers to grow.
