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Tom Booth
We're
all familiar with incidents in which famous
people "unraveled," ruining their reputation
through some scandal. That's not the way God
wants us, as Christians, to go down. Rather,
he calls us, as Tom puts it, to "drown
gracefully," to die to self, to "unravel" in
imitation of Christ. Tom's latest album
reflects on this unraveling that Christ
calls us to daily. Set to an invigorating
pop-rock sound and performed by an
incredible cast of musicians, the message of
Unravel is one you'll want to hear over and
over.
Tom composed and recorded the title track
and four other songs in the tradition of the
classic American/British rock song. The
album also includes lushly arranged ballads
and songs with parts for cello, Hammond B-3
organ and even ukulele. The classic
Christian poem "The Hound of Heaven" comes
to life in "The Shade of Your Hand," which
ends with an unforgettable guitar solo by
the legendary Phil Keaggy.
Phil is just one of many amazing guest
musicians Tom gathered for this project.
Steve Ferrone, who has played with George
Harrison, Eric Clapton and Tom Petty, and
who is considered one of the world's finest
rock drummers, performs on several tracks.
Other guests include Fr. Stan Fortuna
(jazz/hip-hop/rap artist and Franciscan
priest), ValLimar Jansen (renowned gospel
singer), Matt Maher, keyboardist Carl
Herrgesell (Kenny Loggins, Elton John),
drummer Tony Mora (Kathy Troccoli, Point of
Grace), drummer/percussionist Will Denton
(DC Talk, Steven Curtis Chapman), Dave
Cleveland on guitar, and studio ace/bass
player Matt Pierson (Rich Mullins and
others).
Providing songs for both listening and
communal worship, the collection includes
three
guitar-based psalm settings with breezy,
melodic, acoustic styling. Other songs can
serve for gathering and other parts of a
liturgy or prayer service. All in all,
Unravel exceeds expectations.
Booth is also recognized in Contemporary
Christian Music circles for his three #1
hits, “I Will Choose Christ” composed with
and recorded by Kathy Troccoli in 1996. That
song was nominated for a Dove Award, from
the Gospel Music Association (the Christian
Music industry equivalent of a Grammy).
“Nothing Is Beyond You” was recorded by Amy
Grant and composed by Booth, Mitch McVicker
and, Christian music artist, the late Rich
Mullins. Tom’s most recent #1 hit on the
Contemporary Christian Music Chart, “Love
Has a Name” was co-written and recorded by
Dove award recipient Kathy Troccoli.
 Tom
Booth is Music Director for LIFE TEEN (an
international youth ministry movement
founded and centered in Mesa, Arizona) and
associate music director for St. Timothy’s
Catholic Community in Mesa, Arizona. He was
commissioned to write and perform Cry the
Gospel the theme song for the youth event
during Pope John Paul II’s, visit to St.
Louis, Missouri in 1999. Booth was honored
to perform for over one million people at
World Youth Day in Rome, Italy in July of
2000 and in Toronto, Canada in July 2001. He
also performed at the International Music
festival in San Remo, Italy, Jubilmusic –
which included artists from all over the
world on the famous Ariston stage.
Tom’s latest CD: Unravel
 Many
times when I am in Eucharist Adoration I
just let go of all the pressures of the
world. I have been told by a priest to "let
go and let God." This is the idea behind the
new CD by Tom Booth called Unravel.
Booth is one of Christian music’s most
recognized artists, as well as music
director of Life Teen International. His
last CD, Change Me, was one of
CatholicMusicNetwork.com's top sellers.
Unravel not only equals that CD, it beats
it. The style is fresh and new, and Booth
has tried different styles that work very
well on this collection. Something that I
noticed throughout "Unravel" is the
attraction to Beatle-esque guitar riffs or
lyrics. Booth has a Lennon/McCartney method
in his songwriting. Unravel has Booth's
signature Life Teen anthems and Psalm
responses, but mixed with rock songs and
ballads that are loaded with spirituality.
The CD opens with the awesome "The Shade of
Your Hand." It is based on a famous poem
called, "The Hound of Heaven," by the
Catholic poet, Francis Thompson. It tells
that God does not abandon, but pursues the
most wayward soul. Most notable on the song
is the guitar. Booth works with Christian
legend Phil Keaggy, considered not only in
the Christian music field, but in the
secular as well, as one of the best guitar
players in the world. The guests on the CD
do not stop there. One of the most
controversial songs on the CD is written and
preformed not only by Booth, but by Matt
Maher and Fr. Stan Fortuna as well. It's
controversial because "Giovanni Paulo" is a
departure from what people are used to from
Booth. It is a hard alternative rock tune
with Fr. Stan's edgy rap mixed in to tell
the life of Pope John Paul II. This is
surely a song that will stick in the mind of
everyone. If you're a Matt Maher fan you
will also be happy in knowing that he
appears in other songs on the CD. The most
noted is the song, "Just Live It," which he
co-wrote with Booth. It's another rock tune
that tells us to be proud that we are God's
children and to let everyone know by our
actions and the way we live. I could not
help but think that the song, "Little One,"
could be perfect for Christmas. It's
reflects Booth's softer side with a backing
orchestra. Thinking of that little child in
the manger at Christmas and what he did for
the whole world is a humbling thing.
Booth takes a light jazz approach with "I
Belong To You." The song is a plea to Jesus
to keep us always at His side. The bonus is
that Fr. Stan Fortuna joins in on bass
giving the song an almost Crispin sound.
Sounding like a song from a Catholic youth
gathering comes the incredible "Lord Let
Your Face Shine Upon Us/ Let The Sun Shine."
This is a powerful mix of Psalm 4's text and
the 60's anthem from the musical Hair. Booth
has changed the idea of letting the sun
shine on us to letting the Son shine on us.
Other Psalms include, "The Lord Uphold My
Life (Psalm 54)," and "The Lord Is Near
(Psalm 145)." I could not help but think of
the Beatle's song, "What You're Doing," when
listening to Booth's "The Prettiest Girl At
The Mall". They are similar in style. It's a
fun song about seeing God's love shine
through a smile of a stranger. Another
Beatle-sounding song is the title track to
"Unravel," which proves Booth's songwriting
skills by taking a word that we think means
one thing and making it mean something else,
namely, giving it all to God. Surely
Unravel is Tom Booth's Sgt. Pepper's
Lonely Hearts Club Band.
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