Much Better by Jess Debenham
Thoughts about a live worship album that will stand the test of time.
Hi Pal,
For those who are new to her, Jess Debenham is a singer-songwriter and worship leader from Brighton, UK. A little over a year ago, she began the creative process that would eventually lead to the crafting and live recording of her debut album, Much Better.
On the surface, this may feel like a strange record to review here because the existence of this platform is in part to give Christians an alternative to what I have often described as formulaic worship. However, it was quite clear to me from this listening experience that this project is far from the seemingly patented brand of congregational music that has saturated the scene for the past couple of decades.
The album begins with “Holy, Holy, Holy (Come Have Your Way)”, after a brief ambient acoustic Intro Piece. The song starts with smooth strums on the guitars and bright keys, with a staccato accent, giving it a slight afro-caribbean feel when paired with the drum beats.
As the title track of the album, it’s fascinating that she chooses to name the album from a phrase in the pre-chorus. It’s one of those oddities that I fancy that enhanced my enjoyment of the song. Lyrically, it’s a song about how the life of righteousness, the love of Christ and his ‘narrow way’ is truly better than anything we can obtain in the world.
“Unshakeable Love” speaks of the constancy of the love of Christ. I love the isolation of the synth bass sounds on the verse and how the song builds into the chorus. It is effectively a progressive pop tune with slight acoustic funk undertones in the final chorus. Lyrically, “All Eyes on the Lamb” is one of my gems on the album; the backing vocals, harmonies and adlibs create an ethereal atmosphere, and the chorus is just gorgeous to sing.
All eyes on the lamb
If the lamb is perfect, then we are free
All eyes on the lamb
Jesus, you are perfect, so we are free
“Saving Grace” is a piano ballad that recounts the blessing we have received by the sacrifice of Christ on the cross. It’s warm and gossamer in its delivery and feels like a thematic extension of the lyrics of the previous tune. “Come to Me” is a song inspired by the words of Christ in Matthew 11:28. It’s one of the central tunes that reflect Debenham’s heart for the project, perfectly captured in words like, “…you’re calling those bound by the rules and religion, trying hard to achieve perfection, come to me…”. It’s a song of hope that balances synth pop sensibilities with choral singing application. The highlights are in the bridge, which has some of the most profound words on this journey and the spontaneous outro.
Come all the burdened, the weary, and restless
Come all the striving, the hurting, and anxious
Come all the wounded, the troubled, and guilty
Come to Jesus, come to Jesus
Find mercy and healing, love and forgiveness
Deliverance and freedom, life to the fullest
Peace deep and certain, the Father who sees you
And knows you, and loves you forever
I’ve hinted at the beauty of the harmonies on this album already, and no song here enunciates their power more than “Like No Other”. It’s a piano-led song with a soft approach, which allows for more emphasis on vocals in general. For a song that is almost 9 minutes long, the time seems to fly by, and that is all credit to the way the song is composed and sung by Jess.
Loosely inspired by Christ’s words in Matthew 16:24, “The Altar” is a tune about surrendering to the Lord as an act of love because He did it first for us on the cross. Musically, it sounds like the quintessential singer-songwriter tune, with a strong folk base, americana undertones and tinges of soul. “Great I Am” made me forget that I was listening to a live worship album in the best way. Debenham has a light and slightly airy vocal tone on most songs, and she leans into her upper register on this tune, which in turn affects the harmonies and gives the song a bit of an angelic quality. It’s a song of encouragement that reminds us of Christ being Emmanuel — the God with us.
“More Like You” is a soft pop number featuring Ysabel Rain. Her [Ysabel] deeper and darker tones create a sharp contrast with Jess’ voice, which works for the song. It’s a prayer for the transformational power of redemption to make us like our Saviour, something we can all connect with.
I think “I Am Free” is the best song on this album. As much as I enjoy Debenham on the softer and slower tunes that make up most of this project, I must admit that her indie pop/pop rock prowess is undeniable. It’s one of the strongest vocal performances here, and the instruments do not hold back either; they do everything to match her energy, making this the most enjoyable track.
“Abba Father” is a folky lullaby that acts as a love song and confession unto God. Larissa Matson is featured here, and plays out like a duet with interesting harmonic choices that help accentuate the flow and feel of the tune. It’s one of the best moments of the listening experience, and I’ve given it more than a few listens since it dropped as an early single.
“Revelation1” is inspired by the portion of scripture of the same name and is the second song featuring Ysabel Rain. The more I listen to it, the more it feels like a fascinating lesson in spontaneous worship when it is done right. With a runtime of almost 10 minutes, it has different sections communicating different lyrical themes. However, because the track is inspired directly from scripture, it is always reverent and theologically sound. It’s one of those songs that makes you wish you were present when it was recorded because the authenticity of the experience is palpable. “I Exalt Thee” follows seamlessly as a live cover of the original piece written by Pete Sanchez, and performed by Phil Driscoll.
I can’t describe the wave of nostalgia that hit me when “He Is Coming Again” was playing for the first time. Growing up in a Christian household full of CDS and tapes of worship artists from the ‘90s and early 2000s, this tune took me back to a simpler time where praise music was lyrically direct and straight to the point. A time before the longing for the comfort of simple truths was sacrificed on the altar of creativity and emotional expression. I love the song’s ability to recapture some of that and bring it back.
“Send Us Out” is a gospel-laced, funky tune that closes the album. It’s a song inspired by the commission of Christ to take the gospel to all nations. A fitting end to the album, as it’s the call that also closes out two of the gospel books in the Bible. I like that the album ends on an upbeat, fun and celebratory note while carrying a pertinent message that we all need reminding of.
The greatest compliment I can pay this album is that it has contributed incredibly to my belief in the need for authenticity within Christian worship music. I’ve had a fractured relationship with congregational worship for a few years because most of it has felt like prioritising a musical experience, sensationalism and production value over reverence and surrender.
This album has quality and is obviously extremely creative and eclectic in its musical approach, but it is also clear that it is not the primary point of its existence. The point is Christ: His words, His person, His love and our response to Him. In the end, I think that’s what we all need on this journey called life.
Genre(s): Alternative Worship
Listen Here:
Spotify:
Connect with Jess Debenham:
Instagram | Facebook | TikTok
That’s it for today.
Catch you soon!
Feel free to leave a comment. Also, I am always open to hearing from you, so feel free to send an email to me at stismavo@gmail.com