Heaven and Earth
by
Phil
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...
Alive
by
Ian
It's been almost two years since Twenty-two year old Worship leader Ian McIntosh made his debut with the very impressive and emotional Awakened. Ian McIntosh "embarked on a journey...
Don't Get Comfortable
by
Brandon I really like this album. My favorite song on this album is probably I'm Not Who I Was because that song just reminds you that no matter what you've done or what's happened in your life GOD CAN...
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!
It's been almost two years since Twenty-two year old Worship leader Ian McIntosh made his debut with the very impressive and emotional Awakened. Ian McIntosh "embarked on a journey to develop a new sound" and this album is living proof that he has done just that!
The album starts off with Alive (An Intro.) The first thirty seconds of this track threw me off a bit, it felt like it was theme music for a horror film. Fortunately the last one minute and ten seconds came to the rescue and was enough to make it a nice intro, not amazing but nice.
The next track, Faithful is where Ian‘s creativity and unique style shine through. The first ten seconds of the song has an 80’s techno feel to it, that might seem awkward to some but I really enjoyed it. The song is about putting your trust in God completely and wholly because He is always faithful. Ian’s vocals get a little high at the bridge for what I think was suppose to be for dramatic effect but it came across a little awkward. The song is lyrically simple but overall still wonderful.
Ian’s cover of Misty Edwards’ Light of Your Face could have been sensational had Ms. Mellisa How not done guest vocals. She just didn’t seem to fit with Ian’s vocals at all. It felt a lot like a “filler”. Although I love Beautiful lyrically, it too has the same problem.
Song‘s like Come Away,Always Good and Heaven are very lyrically simple but it’s Ian’s unique musical style and vocals that bring out the beauty and life in every song.
Flight, although instrumental is where Ian’s true artistry and talent shine the most than any other track on the album. The title is the perfect way to describe the song in one word. It completely takes you away and makes you forget about the world and everything around you for a wonderful five minutes. It’s a lovely song that leaves you refreshed like a glass of ice water. Just a few reasons why this song is the most beautiful song on the whole album and my personal favorite. Musical perfection!
Ian’s cover of Hillsong United’s Open Up the Heavens is splendid! In my honest opinion it’s ten times better than the original.
The thirteen minute track, You Are Holy written by Richy Clark ends the album absolutely perfectly with it’s compelling music and simple yet straight forward lyrics: You are Holy/Oh so Holy/You are Holy/ Lord of all.
Overall this album is remarkable! Ian McIntosh has outdone himself! This album is definitely a step up from Ian's debut Awakened and will no doubt me on my list of Top Albums of 2009.
Former American Idol contestant Jason Allen Rich enters the Christian music scene with the release of his six track debut album; A Beautiful Life.
Lyrically there is more originality then expected but disappointingly not that much originality musically. I’m sorry to say that musically every song is just way too similar.
In all honesty these song’s aren’t anything we haven’t heard before but Jason managed to pen down the lyrics in an original new way that’s surprisingly refreshing and enjoyable.
Song’s like Redefine (co-written by Chris and Conrad’s Chris Kuti) and Take Us Away Were just okay and in my opinion probably the album’s weakest points.
But song’s such as Lamb of God, Arms Open Wide and Taste and See (which started the album off very nicely) were the albums strongest points and probably the best song’s on the album. Jason‘s originality, honesty and heart for God really shine through, in these song’s.
Each song focuses on something different. Redefine focuses on the love and desire we have for God. Lamb of God speaks of the love of God and the sacrifice Jesus made upon the cross. While A Million Angels (which ended the album very well) is about the inexpressible gratitude we have for God’s love and forgiveness.
Overall this album isn’t great but a refreshingly enjoyable listen and well worth the money. But in all honesty I don’t expect anything more than the likes of A Beautiful Life from Jason in the future. However I do hope he will prove me wrong and unexpectedly wow me on his sophomore album. So I will be keeping an eye out for Mr. Rich
The four piece Australian Rock band now located in Atlanta Georgia as of December 2007 bring us their official debut album Chorus of the Saints. Front man Dave Hanbury's vocals are stunningly remarkable and Revive’s fresh new sound make this album simply perfect.
The title track starts the album off very nicely, very catchy and upbeat. Perfect chorus: (This is the chorus of the saints singing/“Hallelujah our God is faithful!”/We the redeemed are lost again/With misplaced trust and desire to complain/But if only we’d open up our eyes/And see the beauty of our God/Who has never left our side)
The Truth Is is one of my favorite song’s on the album, it’s about the fact that there is none like our Lord and Savior (But the truth is/There is none like you/Even though my heart is yours/I’m so quick to compromise/Still believing all the lies)
You Know feature's guest vocals by Third Day’s front man Mac Powell. It’s about the Lord knowing exactly where we’ve been in life and knowing where we will be in the future. I really loved Dave and Mac together, they work very well together.
Don’t Look Anywhere Else Love, love this one. It’s about not looking to the world for happiness, love and freedom. In God is where we’ll find all we need; because He is all we need.
You’re All I Need very lovely, and an excellent song. It’s about being finally free and finding that God is all you need. Wonderful chorus: (And now I am finally home inside your love/And the hope I have in You is more than enough /And with all You’ve done my heart is finally free/'Cause You’re all I need/You’re all I need)
Distant Memories I love the bell at the beginning of the song and the trumpet near the end of the song. They really capture the story of the song perfectly. This song is absolutely stunning with a wonderfully written chorus: (I’m just history/Nothing more than distant little memories/But I am in a place where/I never felt more home/And now my old life seems to be/Nothing more than distant memories)Dave‘s vocals were amazing and the music was superb.
Stay and Sit With Me were not as good as the rest of the album but still very lovely song's. Sit With Me is about the Lord just wanting us to spend time with Him and forget our worries and troubles of this world and to go to Him with our burdens and cares.
Power is another one of my favorites. It’s a very lovely worship song about God’s power and glory.
Promise of Tomorrow was the perfect and most stunning way to end the album! You can really feel the emotion in Dave’s voice in every lyric, making this one of my favorite song's on the album! (This is all I can give It hurts just to live/But I will stand with You/Yes I will fan the flame/And I’ll bear Your name/And I will stand in You/The promise of tomorrow)
Overall this album is just amazing, definitely one of the best albums of the year. I was left wanting more. I expect great things from Revive and I don’t doubt that they won’t disappoint me at all, I can’t wait for their sophomore album.
It’s been a little over two years since Dove Award Wining artist Jeremy Camp’s last album Beyond Measure and his highly anticipated 5th studio album (including Carried Me: A Worship Project) Speaking Louder Than Before does not disappoint. Jeremy has come a long way since his debut way back in 2002 with his wonderful album Stay which went Gold. Speaking Louder Than Before is without a doubt Jeremy Camp’s best to date.
Slow Down Time was a great way to start the album off, it was very enjoyable and upbeat. Jeremy Camp’s vocals worked absolutely perfect with the music.
Capture Me is about being totally and completely captured by the beauty of God and His love.
The title track (Speaking Louder Than Before) is just wonderful. It’s about the children of God raising up and speaking out about the love of Jesus. Reaching everyone in any way possible all together as one.
There Will Be a Day is the best and my favorite song on the entire album. It truly is a remarkable, beautiful and wonderfully written song. With an unforgettable chorus: (There will be a day with no more tears/No more pain, and no more fears/There will be a day/When the burdens of this place/Will be no more/We'll see Jesus face to face)
It’s simply…perfect. This song made a huge impact on me, I can’t even explain. The first time I heard it it brought me to tears. Definitely one of Jeremy Camp‘s best song’s ever, truly superb.
I’m Alive is an awesome, great upbeat enjoyable rock song, I liked it very much.
You Will Be There reminds us that no matter what we do in life God is always there no matter what and we can never escape Him, light and simple but still a lovely and refreshing song.
Healing Hand of God is beautiful, Adie’s guest vocals were lovely…as always. It’s simple yet moving. Great song, by far one of Jeremy Camp’s best song’s, I LOVED it. One word to describe this song: Amazing.
So In Love is about being so completely in love with God.
My Fortress and Giving You All Control…well the meaning behind these is obvious but both are very good song’s.
Surrender was the perfect ending…this song was just so incredibly lovely, well written simple chorus: (I surrender to your throne/I surrender to your throne/I will make my heart your home/I surrender to your throne)
Overall not every song was amazing but I did love them all. This is without a doubt one of the best album’s of ‘08 and I can’t wait till Jeremy Camp’s next album but until then I was left completely satisfied, this album was excellent and so worth the money. Jeremy Camp's vocals were superb...as they always are. “Die Hard” fans or “Team Campers” won’t be disappointed at all. Great job and well done Mr. Jeremy Camp!
Bebo Norman is one of my favorite male artist's and I really like his music but when I learned he was in the process of recording his first Christmas album...well I wasn't too sure it was going to work out very well but I was wrong, this album is simply wonderful, Bebo even captures the classic's surprisingly well.
I loved Come and Worship, it‘s beautiful simple melody is sure to get you in the Christmas spirit.
I wasn't too sure about Joy To The World but I really liked Bebo's folksy twist on an old favorite. It was very uplifting.
Born To Die written by Bebo Norman and singer/songwriter Jason Ingram is simple, lovely, and beautiful. This song is absolutely perfect. Born to Die is now one of my favorite Christmas song's ever.
Angels Interlude was a pleasant two minutes of music.
Old time favorite's like What Child is This, Go Tell It On The Mountain and Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas were all surprisingly very lovely versions.
The Rebel Jesus was very nice and I really liked Great Light of The World Interlude, I’m so glad they included a bit of one the most amazing song’s I have ever heard.
Christmas Time is Here written by Bebo Norman and Jason Ingram with amazing guest vocals by Amy Grant is a lovely original Christmas song.
Mary's Prayer written by Bebo Norman himself was a splendid ending for a wonderful Christmas album. Very well written: (Cause Your feet will walk on water/Your eyes will pierce the dark/Your heart will save the souls of men/And Your hands will bear the scars.)
Overall this is one of my favorite Christmas album's and one of the best Christmas album's I have ever heard. It was very enjoyable and it will definitely get you in the Christmas spirit.Bebo Norman’s vocal’s are absolutely perfect.
Joy Whitlock signed her first record deal only six months after receiving Christ into her life at a movie theater during Mel Gibson‘s “The Passion of The Christ.”
Now four years later Joy Whitlock‘s debut God and a Girl is finally out and I have been anticipating this album for months now, it’s a simple somewhat acoustic album with a twist of rock.
This album is an enjoyable debut, it’s obvious that theses song’s came from deep within Joy’s heart and I expect great things from Joy in the future.
Cost of Being Free is an okay song but I don’t think it was the best way to start the album off.
Faith Don’t Fail is about having faith and believing that what God say’s is true. And trying to forget your past and believing that your not the person you once were.
Don’t Look Down is not a very good song, the lyrics are just okay, the music isn’t anything different or unique. Towards the end of the song these female back round vocalist’s come in and just throw the song off completely, they didn’t fit the song at all..
Behind the Scenes is a really nice song, the music fits perfectly with Joy’s unique vocals, the lyrics are deeper than most of the other song’s on the album. This song reminds us that God is not like everyone else, He love’s us more than anyone else could, the rest of the world isn’t there for us like He is when we’re at our worst.
Holding on to Me is one of my favorite song’s on the album. It’s about the fact that even when we fall flat on our face or when trouble comes our way we don’t have to worry because God is always holding on to us no matter what. This is one of the best song’s on the album I just wish it would have been a little longer than three minutes.
Testify is more acoustic than any of the other song’s on the album and simpler. It’s about being down and feeling unworthy of all God has done and the only good thing in your life is God.
Beautiful is about how beautiful Jesus is and the sacrifice He made for us all.
Your Face is about the glorious day when we see our Saviors face, a simple but very nice song.
Traces of You is my favorite song on the whole album, I love the music and the depth of the lyrics.
It’s about losing someone close to you and finding traces of that person everywhere and missing them until the day you see them again in Heaven.
The last song on the album Day of the Lord is the most original song on the album, lyrically and musically. There’s a thunder and lightening effect in the middle of the song which is something you don’t hear everyday.
Overall this album isn’t amazing or all that original. Song’s like Fake, Psalms, Cost of Being Free and a few other’s lack lyrical depth but this was a nice enjoyable album and I look forward to Joy’s sophomore album.
The Canadian four piece Rock band has come a very long way since they’re amazing self-titled debut way back in 2001 and they’re fourth studio album does not disappoint, it is their best album to date.
One of the thing’s I’ve always loved about Downhere is the way Marc Martel and Jason Germain‘s vocal’s work so well together .
The music for every song just fit perfectly.
Marc Martel and Jason Germain vocal’s are better than ever…if that’s possible.
Bleed For This Love start’s the album wonderfully, I think the music is just fantastic.
Their single Here I Am is one of my favorite song’s on the album, there is just a lovely simplicity to it.
Cathedral Made of People is a reminder that no matter how much this world tries to hurt us or bring us down we are God’s church and bride and there isn’t anything that they can do to stop us from believing in Him or loving Him.
Hope Is Rising is so melodic, it’s about the fact that even though your broken or in pain and too tired to keep going there is hope and God is that hope.
Something Heavenly is about asking God to take you and make you the person he wants you to be.
Come Back Home is very catchy.
Don’t Miss Now is a reminder that even though God’s road and way is hard and rocky, don’t stop and dream of tomorrow or someday when you get through the hardest and darkest times it will all be worth it and don’t miss the here and now.
Live For You is so uplifting and lovely, it’s about wanting to live for God and God alone.
The Problem is about how everyone wonders how the world could be so horrible and in suffering and in so much pain. They say if God is so good why doesn’t he stop tragedy before it happens. But in reality the problem isn’t God it’s us, you and me.
How Many Kings is my favorite song on the whole album…it’s just remarkable, amazing chorus. (How many King’s stepped down from their thrones?/How many Lord’s have abandoned their homes?/How many Greats have become the least for me?/And how many God’s poured out their hearts to romance a world that is torn all apart?/How many Father’s gave up their son’s for me?/Only One did that for me,)
A great way to end a great album.
If you liked Wide-Eyed and Mystified you’ll love Ending is Beginning. Downhere has outdone themselves once again. This album is wonderful and one you’ll never forget. Definitely one of the best albums of 2008 (I know I’ve been saying that a lot but it’s true, 2008 has been an amazing year for Christian music, and it’s still not over.)
Bebo Norman's highly anticipated self-titled 6th studio album is his best album to date.
This album is just amazing. After his last album Between The Dreaming and The Coming True I didn't have high hopes for Bebo Norman's music anymore, but I have been proven wrong. I am happy to say this album is much more emotional and lyrically deeper than anyone of his previous albums.
Bebo's single Pull Me Out is the most upbeat song on the whole album, it's about asking God to come down and take you out of the place your in and just take complete control of your life.
Hear It From Me is a reminder that even though it's all been said and done before. God want's to hear you praise and profess your love for Him because He loves to hear it from you.
Not Living In The In Between is about not pretending to be anything you're not, just being you and doing your best to please God.
Britney is without a doubt one of Bebo Norman's best song's. This song is for every girl whose ever felt like she's not good enough or pretty enough because the world tells her she isn't, but God accepts her no matter what, He loves her just the way she is.
Ruins I love this song, I think the music was just perfect, wonderfully written chorus (This is my holy hour/This is my world on fire/This is my desperate play/This is where I am made/This is my kingdom come/This is my freedom song/This is my helpless state/This is where I am saved.)
The Only Hope is a lovely song, it's about asking God to take your life because he is the only hope for you.
Can't Live Without You...well this one is obvious, it's about not being able to live without God in your life and His love.
One Bright Hour is the perfect ending, it's my favorite song on the whole album, it brought me to tears the first time I heard it, it's simply beautiful. I only wish it would have been longer than three minutes.
It's about the glorious hour when Jesus comes down to take His bride home to be with Him and praise Him forever.
Overall this is a sensational album, there isn't anything I didn't like about it, I was left wanting more. And although musically it's not amazing I think the music accent's Bebo's vocals and the lyrics beautifully. Lyrics matter more than music to me. I can't imagine anyone not liking this album. Bebo Norman is definitely worthy of a Dove Award next year.
This Beautiful Republic is one of my favorite bands, I love Ben Olin's vocals, so after hearing of their plans to release they're sophomore album I had some high expectations and This Beautiful Republic did not disappoint me at all.
Pain is a pretty good song but not exactly the best way to start the album off.
Surrender Saved My Life is one of my favorite song's on the album, the message is similar to their song Going Under off they're debut album, but still a good song and I liked it very much, especially the music.
Learning To Fall is one of the softer song's on the album, it's also very catchy. It's about humbling yourself before the Lord and surrendering to Him and letting Him take complete control of your life.
Beautifully Broken is wonderfully written and probably my favorite song on the whole album.
My God feature's guest vocal's by Underoath's and The Almost's Aaron Gillespie, personally I think Ben and Aaron's vocal's are just perfect together, I wish Aaron would have been featured in a few other song's.
For The Life Of Me is more melodic and softer with a lovely chorus (For the life of me/Why'd you bear my chains?/For the life of me/Why'd you walk to Calvary?/For the life of me/I can't explain the reason you died/And the reason you came/Was for the life of me)
Change The World Is about how the thing's of this world can sometimes get in the way of our time with God and if we all came together as one maybe we could make a difference in the world, "we could change the world."
Say Goodnight is about saying goodbye to a loved one that's going home to be with the Lord in heaven, but instead of saying goodbye you say goodnight because you will see your loved one again, it's not goodbye it's just goodnight.
Overall this is a well written album musically and lyrically, this is definitely one of my favorite album's of 2008. TBR fans will not be disappointed.
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