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Producer: Lari Goss
Label: Cathedral Records
Website: www.johnhageefamily.com

Bearing Lari Goss' trademark touch with regal, colossal orchestral arrangements, Matt Hagee has released a powerful recording rich with lots of big, stunning musical arrangements. If I had heard this recording in time, I definitely would have included it with my favorite recordings released in 2004. (You can read that HERE ) In my opinion, (and there will those who will disagree with me) this is one of the best for 2004. I have always passed Matt Hagee off as simply an adequate singer, but he proved to me here that he definitely can tote the mail.

Starting with the strong beat of “WE PRAISE YOUR NAME” and the powerful “TAKE UP YOUR THRONE” (WOW what a song!), both songs have that Praise & Worship feel to them and are all extremely well done, while “SONG OF THE KING”, complete with a bridge of the Kirk Talley classic, “Triumphantly, the Church will Rise” has that big power ballad feel to it and it just keeps on building until it reaches a big finish.

After three very big and powerful songs, the title song, “IT'S MY DESIRE” takes things down a few notches and is a wonderful song of consecration, “It's my desire, to serve Your Kingdom Lord…and live for You…take all I have and use it for Your Glory…all I want is to be what You require…with all my heart, with all my soul…I'll serve You” , and offers some really nice musical and vocal movements. The following song, “THE BLOOD IS ALL THE REASON THAT I NEED”, finally kicks things up into high gear before slowing back down for a very intriguing number entitled, “THE TABLE”.

The rockabilly sounds of the highly enjoyable, “I CHOOSE TO BELIEVE” picks the pace back up before slowing down once again for the lush sounds of, “AFTER THE RAIN”.

We are treated with two back-to-back medleys. “HEAVEN MEDLEY” (“Heaven's Jubilee”, “When We All Get to Heaven”, “When He Calls Me, I'll Fly Away”& “I'll Fly Away”) and “ANGEL BAND MEDLEY” (“O Come, Angel Band”& “Going Home”) are both very well done, with the latter being my personal favorite from the recording…very beautifully and majestically done.

Matt kicks things back into high gear with “I'VE BEEN REVIVED” before turning in a masterful performance on the Josh Groban/Selah hit, “YOU RAISE ME UP”.

I am a big admirer of Lari Goss and his massive arrangements, and Lari, nor Matt, disappoint me with this recording. Now, I know my opinion may be jaded somewhat because of the respect and admiration I have for Goss as a producer and arranger, but Matt Hagee proves here that he is no slob when it comes to singing. He amazes me at how effortlessly he hits those high notes and the power with which he sings. Matt definitely has found his niche with the big power ballads. He does very well with the upbeat tunes, but he excels with the big arrangements of those power ballads. The Goss/Hagee combo is winner in my book!

Personal Favs: TAKE UP YOUR THRONE; SONG OF THE KING; IT'S MY D ESIRE; AFTER THE RAIN; ANGEL BAND MEDLEY; YOU RAISE ME UP

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