We last heard the stellar vocals of Natalie LaRue in 2002 as at age 17, Natalie and her brother Phillip, 19, finished their third and final album as LaRue, Reaching. The album received high praise for its sophisticated harmonies, matured lyrics and fuller alternative rock feel. Reaching had several stand out tracks as the siblings’ musical talent and lyrical honesty reflected their artistic maturation. The album’s catchy pop title track reflected LaRue’s passionate worship to God.  After ten years since her last album, the 28-year-old wife and mother of three is excited to release Even Now, her newest EP of songs chronicling the lessons of faith, family and love that are on her heart from the past decade. This album includes six new compelling songs about her experiences of the past decade being a wife, a mother and Christian.

The opening track “Back To You,” is a gorgeous piano-based ballad with Natalie’s passionate vocals setting the tone for this five star effort with the confessional lyrics, “I can come back to You, back to You today, how I love the way, You’re kindness keeps on rolling, like a river swells with rain, pulling me back to You today.” The reflective opener is a wonderful prayer-song about finding regular strength and courage in God’s faithful kindness. “Humble Me” has already become one of my personal worship anthems with the piercing words: “God of the broken, God of the weak, Humble me to love, Friend to the outcast, Savior of me, humble me to love, humble me to love.” The upbeat and uplifting track “May You Have Victory” is a poignant statement about finding God’s transcendence in daily difficulties.

“Baby Boy” is a melodically-soaring lullaby about Natalie’s son, Noah. Anyone who has experienced parenthood will actually physically feel the emotion so poignantly expressed by Natalie as she passionately cries out “I will never be the same.” “Glory” has a gospel-feel and is a meditative reflection on the greatness of God. Natalie’s vocal runs in many of the songs including “Glory” cause me to hang on every word she brilliantly sings. The lyrics reflect the theme of this mesmerizing album—“Glory I’m in need and You’ll always have me.” Closing track “Home” ends the album as strong as it starts, and is a wonderful picture of marriage and faith commitment with the phrase “You are my home, you are my sense of peace, and it’s in my arms, and I finally found my release, I found my home.”  Having been married for almost eighteen years, the song perfectly depicts the beauty of a marriage commitment to unity. This entire album is loaded with relatable lyrics, incredible singing and prayerful themes about what it means to be a parent, spouse and child of God.

CLOSING THOUGHTS

If you like the female vocalists Jewel, Sarah McLachlan and Audrey Assad, then don’t miss out on this incredible album. In the 1990’s when I wasn’t saved I was a huge fan of the mainstream singer-songwriter Jewel and her hit songs “Foolish Games” and “You Were Meant For Me” captivated me with her relatable lyrics and gorgeous vocals. Natalie LaRue has released an album with vocals and lyrics that remind me of that incredible twelve-time platinum debut album Pieces of You by Jewel. This album is balm for my soul.