Landes' 7K Records debut, Wide Open Praises, delivers 11 rodeo-ready praise songs that cover the spectrum of the country sound. The album brings together the best aspects of modern and traditional country, as well as flavorful flings with vintage honky tonk and '70s-style country rock. Instrumentally, all the choice contributors are there - the steel guitar, fiddle, mandolin, piano, and, on one song, even a self-made shaker filled with acorns from just outside Landes' front door. From the reflective ballad to the barn-burning wrangler, Wide Open Praises takes country music to the place where worshipful reverence and exuberant celebration find their balance .Landes, whose parents were raised in the Midwest, originally pursued music through various rock groups, but his country love always shown through. He remarks, "All the rock bands I played with would get mad because I would naturally sing everything country. My parents always listened to Hank Williams, Buck Owens, Johnny Cash, and artists like that, so I couldn't escape the influence."

Landes today hangs his hat in Fontana, the inland SoCal city that birthed the notorious Hell's Angels. There Landes performed for years with the Christian country group Southland. After releasing two albums with the band, Landes became involved more in his church's worship team where again his country touches shown through. The church congregation, however, adored his country style, and Landes immediately began developing a host of original worship songs with a stomp. His new songs caught on like an out-on-control campfire, and Landes soon found himself recording his brand of country praise for 7K Records.

"I like the honesty of country music," says Landes. "The genre tends to have a simplicity and sincerity to its message. I felt I couldn't find a better avenue through which to worship God."

Finding inspiration from the Psalms and other select scriptures, Landes crafted together a host of musically diverse country songs for Wide Open Praises. Tracks like "When I Am Afraid," "All Is Right," and "Oh Magnify the Lord" flow with simplistic relevance that transcends the musical style itself. Wide Open Praises also lets loose with more energetic tunes such as "Search Me Oh God" and the Elvis-tinged "It's Time." Though the album primarily features originals, the song "I Love Your Grace" is the one traditional praise song that got branded with the Landes' country hot iron.

Contemporary praise albums have found their place in the market, but Landes is the one with the courage and conviction to take praise music into a new frontier. It's a bold new ride for Christian worship, but Landes has got the spurs to make it happen.

You can get Wide Open Praises at your favorite Christian music source or right here at the 7k' Records Store.