Discography
Hold You High  (2004)
Root (2003)
Invade My Soul (2001)
These Days (2001)

  Grace Hotel
  Overall rating: ++-

Album Review

"Hold You High" is the fourth and latest album from emerging rock band By The Tree. Upon first glance, one may think that this is yet another band jumping on the Praise and Worship bandwagon that's all the rage these days. In fact, it's quite the opposite. By The Tree was originally formed as a worship band but veered away into playing pure Christian rock when they released their first album in 2001. With "Hold You High", By The Tree has truly returned to its roots offering a unique mix of original and covered praise songs that are both rocking and intimate at the same time.
The album opens with a solid set of driving rock numbers including the title track, "Only To You", the Beatle-esque "Miraculous" (penned by former BTT member Kevin Rhoads) and a cover of Tim Hughes "Beautiful One".
From here until the end of the album, the overall mood of the album shifts into quieter territory and the pace rapidly slows down. It is during this point in the album where the music becomes more worshipful. Highlights include the bands take on the soaring worship ballad "Your Beloved", their cover of Matt Redman's "Lord Let Your Glory Fall", a new version of BTT's first hit "Reveal" and an outstanding 6-minute atmospheric arrangement of the classic hymn "It Is Well With My Soul". The album closes on a tender note with the acoustic Chuck Dennie original "Jesus Washed", a beautiful praise ballad which gives the Lord all the glory.
By The Tree have surely outdone themselves with "Hold You High". This is the band's strongest album to date. While it's not as hard-rocking as their previous album "Root" nor as experimental as their first two albums "Invade My Soul" and "These Days", "Hold You High" displays the band branching out into uncharted waters as well as bringing them full circle as a worship band. This is one of the better Praise and Worship albums to be released in 2004 so far. If you're a Tree fan, this album is definitely for you. If you're into Praise and Worship music, this one is definitely up your alley as well.

~ Louie Bourland