Prolific singer/songwriter Phil Wickham continues to gain momentum with his modern style of vertical worship and poetic lyrics. Leading corporate worship nationwide, Wickham, known for hits such as "Beautiful" and "Divine Romance," describes the daily truths he is learning with a tender yet poignant voice and a passionate cry of worship. Heaven and Earth finds him creating melodies that are infectious with contemplative and honest messages of surrender and abandon.
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Phil Wickham [Heaven and Earth]| Posted November 20, 2009 [MAIN REVIEW]
In some ways, the seed that eventually grew into Phil Wickham’s third studio album, Heaven and Earth, was planted while reading Donald Miller’s Searching For God Knows What, which happens to be one of my all-time favorite books. There is a chapter about Adam and Eve and how humanity falls in the third chapter of the Bible. Like Phil, I am also very moved thinking about the concept of struggling with our separation from God knowing that we had Paradise. First song “Eden” is all about that idea and right from the first notes of Heaven and Earth, Phil had me hooked both musically and lyrically. Even with the critical acclaim he’s garnered, for the first time in his career, Wickham feels that he has a story to tell: he wants to remind the Church for what and who we are created for. The album continues with “Coming Alive” and if you like mainstream Brit-rock artist Keane, then you need to get this album. Not only does Phil’s vocal style resemble Tom Chaplin, but musically his tight guitar licks and synth-rock style also reminds me of U2 and Coldplay which is pretty amazing company in my opinion.
What sets Phil apart from those best-selling mainstream artists is his sincere and unapologetic faith-filled Christian lyrics. Title track “Heaven & Earth” features Phil’s signature soaring vocals with these very convicting words: “these are the lines we’re choosing to cross, between heaven and earth.” That sentiment is really our calling as Christians to live by faith and be in the world but not of the world. Possibly the most catchy track on this very catchy album is next with “The Time Is Now”. The song has another calling for Christians: “let’s be the resistance, it’s time, the time is now for lifting souls, the time is now for letting go, let light and love come rushing through the door.” As I delved into the amazing lyrics the song swirled musically with a great electronic string melody that I’ve been humming all day. As if I couldn’t be more impressed musically, Phil knocked my socks off with next track “Hold On”, one of my favorite songs ever by Phil Wickham. If you like “Spiralling” by Keane, you need to hear this song. Musically it picks up where “Crumble To Pieces” and “Must I Wait” left off, but takes it up a notch with a synth-dance rock beat and extremely catchy and very sing-able lyrics: “love is going to make it right, just hold on, just hold on, there’s mercy in the morning light, when you’re weak, love is strong, hold on.”
The first single on the album, “Safe” also features a duet with MercyMe’s Bart Millard who just so happened to be passing through San Diego as Wickham was recording the song. The lyrics of “Safe” serve to encourage, strengthen and remind listeners that they are not alone as they say, “You will be safe in His arms, You will be safe in His arms, the hands that hold the world are holding Your heart, this is the promise He made He will be with You always, when everything is falling apart you will be safe in His arms.” The next four tracks “I Will Always Love You”, “In Your City”, “Your Arrival” and “Because of Your Love” all keep Phil’s emotional vocals and catchy musical style going as a great musical experience leading up the two closing tracks “Cielo” and “Heaven Song” which bookends the concept started with “Eden”. “Heaven Song” has Phil quietly confessing “Oh my God, I’ll be ready for You, I want to run on greener pastures, I want to dance on higher hills…my soul is getting restless for the place where I belong.” This album is just filled to the brim with Phil Wickham’s brilliant songwriting, singing and musical style. He deserves multiple GMA award nominations and is my male vocalist of the decade!
CLOSING THOUGHTS
This is definitely Phil Wickham’s best overall album and one of my top 10 albums of 2009. For me the standout songs are “Eden”, “Coming Alive”, “Heaven & Earth”, “The Time Is Now”, “Hold On”, “Safe” and “Heaven Song”, which are all among Phil’s best songs ever along with his all-time classics “Divine Romance”, “You’re Beautiful” and “True Love”. I can imagine singing many of these songs with fellow believers and although Phil hasn’t really been a radio fixture in the past, these melodies are off the charts and any test audience will have a hard time not giving these songs 5 star ratings. This is a 5 star album.
Rating: 9.6 out of 10 (96%, A+)
Review written by: Kevin Davis | Review can also be found here.
This review has been reprinted on NRT with permission from ChristianMusicReview.org. Click here to visit ChristianMusicReview.org today!
It's been over a year since Phil Wickham's amazing live worship album Singalong and two long years since his last studio album Cannons. Now comes Wickham's third studio album Heaven and Earth. After being pushed back twice it has finally been released for all the world to hear. But most importantly, for me to hear!
After almost a year of waiting words cannot describe how happy I was to finally get my hands on this album. I had very, very high expectations. To my surprise this album exceeded those expectations! If it wasn't considered unprofessional there would be a very happy smiley face right here.
Eden starts the album off nicely! It's about how Adam (as in Adam and Eve) must have felt after sinning against God and no longer having the innocence he once had or the
relationship with God he had and how he must have missed it. "I want it like it was back then/I want to be in Eden/To be naked and unashamed/In a sweet down pour of innocent rain/I want it like it was back then/I want to be in Eden..." It's a very addictive song, once you listen to it you can't stop.
The title track (Heaven and Earth) is one of my very favorites. It was inspired by C.S. Lewis' "The Chronicles of Narnia: The Last Battle." And I can't get enough of this song. I melt every time I hear it. It’s about laying down your life for God and going the extra mile for Him. The music just fits the lyrics so perfectly.
The Time is Now and Hold On is where Wickham’s talent and true potential shine through.
Out of all the songs on the album The Time is Now is the one that really stands out, it’s absolutely amazing. The violins and cellos are simply superb, unlike anything Wickham has ever done before. It‘s about letting go and taking a stand.
Hold On is light synthpop believe it or not! And it suits Wickham very well. The song is about holding onto the Lord through the darkness because no matter how weak you are His love is strong and He will get you through the night because "there is mercy in the morning light."
The first single off the album Safe featuring MercyMe’s front man Bart Millard. I admit that lyrically it’s nothing we haven’t heard before but the chorus (You will be safe in His arms/You will be safe in His arms/'Cause the hands that hold the world are holding your heart/This is the promise He made/He will be with You always/When everything is falling apart/You will be safe in His arms..) and Bart Millard are good enough for me to love it! It’s a good reminder to anyone who has ever felt alone that You are not alone! God is with you always and you are safe in Him. Bart Millard and Phil Wickham are just great together!
I'll Always Love You and Cielo are the most intimate songs on the album.
The first twelve seconds of Cielo have a very oriental feel, something you don’t hear everyday. The song is so pure and sincere.
Musically I don‘t like how I’ll Always Love You starts off, but it picks up right away and the chorus is just wonderful! Forever I will tell you/Yeah I'll scream until it hurts/That I can't live without You/You are Heaven, I am Earth/And even from the moment/That You saved my life I knew/That I'll always love You…" There is
no way you can't love it.
Heaven Song is without a doubt my favorite song on the whole album. It's a great ending to an album I wish didn't have to end. It is beautiful and simple. It's about longing for heaven, longing to be with the Lord and join the angels to “sing my heaven song.“ This one brings tears to my eyes
every time I hear it. Its impacted me in a great way. Heaven is something I think about a lot and for my feelings, (and the feelings of many other Christians I’m sure) to be captured in a song, well, it’s wonderful!
Phil Wickham gets better and better with each album. His heart and love for God are obvious in every song.
The only disappointment is that Great In My Life, Sun and The Moon and Love, Love, Love did not make the album. And there wasn't a duet song with Bethany Dillon, still waiting for that.
Overall Phil Wikham has outdone himself once again (yes that's possible.) This album is unique, original, and unlike anything Phil Wickham has ever done before. It's definitely my favorite album of 2009, no doubt. I for one cannot wait for his next album.
I could literally go on and on about how great this album is, but this review is long enough so I won't. Just buy it! You won’t regret it, honest!
Best Album Of 2009| Posted January 04, 2010
I can't recall an album ever making me long for the coming of Christ the way this album has. After listening to Heaven & Earth, it's probably an obvious reaction to 12 tracks solely dedicated to the topic, but it goes way beyond that. This album puts a pain in my heart, makes the everyday seem downright trivial and I almost feel that the skies are opening as the album continues on. This album is an experience of one man's true connection with his eternal future, and you instantly want to be there with him, soaking in the pure radiance of our Creator, worshiping at the throne of the Almighty King. What a day that will be!
What connects me most to this album is not only the lyrics and subject, but the overall production. The songs feel as if they are coming to you from another time and dimension. Phil's vocals are echoed, as if being recorded in a massive canyon, and layered in a way that reminds you of an angelic chorus. You hear high notes on a keyboard in the background and long chords that fade in and out, breathing life into the music and taking it to the heights that match the lyrics. In a way, this is one of the few albums where the music compliments and even lifts the lyrics instead of the other way around.
I'll be honest--Phil Wickham's voice has always grated me the wrong way. But here, it works incredibly well. To give credit to the production is not fair to Phil, because his signature delivery is still very much prominent. I simply feel that the overall style on Heaven And Earth suits his vocals better than his previous efforts and it's a pleasure to listen to something so unique that still resonates to my spiritual core.
As a Christian music consumer, I'm always on the line between two mediums. I want to be entertained and engaged with amazing music that is well structured and accessible. As a Christian, I want lyrics that I can relate with, that encourage me and challenge me to be a better disciple of Christ. It's not often that both connect throughout an entire album. But on Heaven And Earth, the subject is so poignant and soul-stirring, the music so captivating and modern, that I have no other choice than to name this the best album of the year. In a way, I hope you're scratching your head and will pick up the album out of sheer curiosity. That way, we can sing these songs in heaven together before the King.
Heaven comes to Earth with Wickham's newest.| Posted December 07, 2009
Poet, worship leader, musician, genius, all words used to describe worship leader Phil Wickham. But the best words to describe his newest album "Heaven & Earth" would be: Heavenly, ethereal, worshipful, surreal. Following in the footsteps of David Crowder Bands' "Church Music", Phil continues to re-define worship music with this Electronica/80's Rock hybrid. For those looking for the Derek Webb-esque sound of his first album, this is certainly not for you, but those fans of "Cannons" and the aforementioned Crowder will be treated to musical candy.
The album opens with the beautiful "Eden", a piano and synth heavy rocker. It is a recollection of Eden, and puts very plainly "I want it like it was back then, I want to be in Eden!" The next track "Coming Alive" is sure to have you bobbing your head and tapping your feet. The title track continues the trend of the first two songs, but it maintains the flow wonderfully and isn't repetitive. The only throw back to the folksy style of his first album is "The Time is Now". It is an acoustic guitar driven (but still synth heavy, and even has some funky banjo thrown in for good measure) ballad and is a pleasure to listen to, extremely fun (I cannot emphasize that point enough), and still fits in perfectly. "Hold On" is a space age rock song that is unlike anything I have ever heard from Phil. "Safe" features MercyMe frontman Bart Millard, and is the only song on the album that I may skip on return visits. Don't get me wrong, it's good, and lyrically it's a true stand-out, but it's just a little too normal compared to the rest of the album. The rest of the album follows with the same kind of charisma and beauty that graced the first 5 tracks. "Cielo" is the only other song that really stands out from the rest of this phenomenal album. The lyrics, vocals, and instrumentation are heavenly to say the least. It is easily one of the best on the album.
I would love to classify this album as groundbreaking in the world of Christian music, but other artists like Family Force 5, And Then There Were None, Krystal Meyers, Plumb, and David Crowder Band already broke that ground with all of their most recent offerings. But this album is just as good if not better than some of those recently mentioned projects, and you would be a fool to skip out on this fantastic release. This is sure to be a major contender for awards from Doves to Grammys. One of the best of 2009 for sure!
Pick it up on Nov. 17th and check him out on tour now with Chris and Conrad in a city near you.
Same old Phil| Posted November 29, 2009
I really like the songs on the new album and if there is one thing I wish Phil would do a little more of is putting some more high energy songs on his albums. All in all though, good stuff!
Super-awesome!| Posted November 27, 2009
After hearing this album, I must say, Phil's quite the artist. Quite the poet, too, assuming any of these songs were penned by others. I don't have A favorite!!!!
Phil's Heaven and Earth| Posted November 24, 2009
This albumn reveals the growth in worship that is taking place in Phil's heart. Each albumn provides evidence of an ongoing, growing work of God's Spirit in his heart.
"Cielo".. "Because of Your Love", these songs 'breathe' worship and cannot come to fruition except from one who has their own personal and intimate relationship with the Father. God it seems has blessed Phil with a voice to match the words that are given to him for this particular style of worship music. I find it extremely easy to sit back and enter into that heavenly realm along with the songs.
My personal opinion is that any worship music must have the capacity to intrude into our busyness and cause us to refocus on the eternal. This albumn, as has Phil's previous music, accomplishes that.
My 'not to be taken serious' comment is this... The only negative side to this whole experience is the way this albumn makes it difficult for me to concentrate on my study and preparation for Sunday morning's service!!!
Wow| Posted November 19, 2009
Wickham is an acquired taste, but honestly one of the most talented male vocalist/songwriter/musician of this decade. "Heaven and Earth" is by far the best solo male record of the year. The production is smooth, the sound crisp, and Wickham's vocals shine on every track. It is very hard to chose a "bad" song on this release, this CD is that good. It's surreal and humbling. A real treat. A must buy.
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