Heaven and Earth
by
Phil [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...
Fireflies and Songs
by
Sara [MAIN REVIEW]
"This one is the songwriter's album for sure." Almost as an afterthought, Sara Groves concludes an in-depth conversation about her new recording, Fireflies...
History Makers - Greatest Hits
by
Delirious? [MAIN REVIEW]
With Delirious? taking a break at the end of 2009 this is the last project from one of the pioneers of the modern worship movement. Since 1997's Cutting...
Delirious? [History Makers] | Posted November-10-2009 [MAIN REVIEW]
With Delirious? taking a break at the end of 2009 this is the last project from one of the pioneers of the modern worship movement. Since 1997's Cutting Edge I have greatly enjoyed the Brit-Rock music and lyrical worshipfulness of Delirious?. "I Could Sing Of Your Love Forever", "My Glorious", and "Majesty" have become staples in church services, and as a long-time fan of fellow British rockers U2, Coldplay, Radiohead and worship leader Matt Redman, I have eagerly anticipated every album by Delirious?.
The final chapter in the Delirious? story closes with this – the release of a truly limited-edition and utterly spectacular compilation, History Makers: Greatest Hits. There are single and double disc options.
If you are like me and have been collecting every album by this amazing band over the past decade, then you have probably heard all of these songs, however the older tracks originally from Cutting Edge like “Did You Feel the Mountains Tremble?”, “Shout To The North”, “The Happy Song”, “Lord You Have My Heart”, “Obsession”, “Find Me In The River”, “I Could Sing Of Your Love Forever” and “What A Friend I’ve Found” have a digitally enhanced sound quality that really brings out the amazing musicianship of Delirious?. Stu G’s guitar playing has a place in the history of Christian music similar to how The Edge from U2 has influenced mainstream music. The guitar licks in “Rain Down”, “History Maker”, “My Glorious” and “My Soul Sings” are among the most powerful and signature-sounding in the history of the modern worship genre. Many past and current modern worship artists including SonicFlood, Matt Redman, David Crowder, MercyMe, Jeremy Riddle and The Glorious Unseen have built on the “Solid Rock” foundation set by Delirious?. Speaking of “Solid Rock”, that track is only available on the expanded limited edition 2 disc collection and is one of the stand-out songs originally from The Mission Bell.
From the single disc collection, “Deeper” and “History Maker” represent the break-out album King of Fools, and are great examples of how Delirious? has a blend of both contemporary and worship anthems. My favorite overall studio album Kingdom of Comfort is represented by “My Soul Sings” and “We Give You Praise” and all-time worship classics “Majesty” and “My Glorious” round out this amazing and spot-on representation of the greatest ‘hits’ by Delirious?. If you like the ‘deeper’ album cuts by Delirious? (and I do) then you need to pick up the double disc limited edition which includes “Inside Outside”, “Love Will Find A Way”, “Investigate”, “Stronger” and “Paint The Town Red”.
CLOSING THOUGHTS
It’s the end of an era. In this digital download age, I don’t often recommend compilations, however this is easily the best ‘greatest hits’ anthology I’ve ever heard by one of the premier bands in the history of Christian music.
Rating: 9.7 out of 10 (97%, 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!
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!
Sara Groves [Fireflies and Songs] | Posted November-10-2009 [MAIN REVIEW]
"This one is the songwriter's album for sure." Almost as an afterthought, Sara Groves concludes an in-depth conversation about her new recording, Fireflies & Songs. Well put. At the same time, it should be pointed out that Sara's parting descriptor is a testament to how the album was approached and recorded rather than a proclamation of Fireflies' superiority over her other widely-esteemed work. With her two previous INO recordings, 2005’s Add to the Beauty, which includes “You Are The Sun”, and 2007’s Tell Me What You Know, which includes “I Saw What I Saw”, Groves focused on a theme and wrote poetic commentary with songs about social justice and the impoverished.
However, early in the pre-production process of Fireflies & Songs INO Record’s president Jeff Moseley suggested that "It's been a long time since we've heard from you," saying, "I want to check in with you. What's happening now in your life? What is life like for you as a wife, mother, daughter and friend?" Sara's songwriting has long been ubiquitously described as extremely "vulnerable", "honest", "transparent", "intimate" and "real."
Each of Sara’s albums have received well-deserved acclaim for her premier songwriting ability. Sara’s major label debut album Conversations includes “The Word” and she was nominated for best new artist. She has followed up each album with her next “best” album with 2002’s All Right Here which includes “Less Like Scars”, and 2004’s The Other Side of Something which includes “The One Thing I Know”.
“Fireflies And Songs” begins with Sara musing about “30 years ago I was a little girl “ hearing a woman singing “you don’t bring me flowers anymore”. As a late 30’s male who grew up listening to that same song when I was a little boy, I immediately identified with Sara’s reference and also having 3 young children, I found every reference amazingly relevant as I’ve also been married for 15 years, same as Sara. She continues with “From This One Place”, which had me praying along with Sara in response to bouts of anxiety. “Different Kinds of Happy” is another one of Sara’s classic songs of vulnerability with these lyrics “I’ve got to ask you something, but please don’t be afraid, there’s a promise here that’s heavier, than your answer might weigh”. “Twice As Good” is a relational song to one of Sara’s friends.
Each of her albums has always had at least one song that pulls my heart strings and brings out an emotional response. From “Maybe There’s A Loving God” to “I Saw What I Saw”, I always expect at least one of Sara’s songs to make me cry. On Fireflies & Songs that song is “It’s Me”. The picture of how a husband and wife hurt each other with emotional wounding words is capped off by Sara’s crying out to the boy she loves “it’s me, baby it’s me, how in the world can tenderness be gone, in the blink of an eye”. The song makes me cry just writing about it. “This House” is written to Sara’s daughter Ruby and is based on Psalm 84:11. The album ends with two of my all-time favorite songs by Sara, “Eyes Wide Open” and “Joy Is In Our Hearts”. “Eyes Wide Open” is confessional with the lyrics “I’ve got layers of lies that I don’t even know about yet” and concludes with “when the lights come up on this town, when the thing goes down, I wanna be telling the truth”. “Joy Is In Our Hearts” is worshipful and was written to encourage believers serving on the front lines of social justice. Sara is an avid supporter of International Justice Mission and Food For The Hungry.
CLOSING THOUGHTS
Sara’s excellent songwriting and captivating piano-based singer-songwriter style have made her my favorite female artist in all of Christian music. If you like Nichole Nordeman, Ginny Owens and Bethany Dillon, you must get Fireflies & Songs. For me, the standout songs are “Fireflies & Songs”, “Different Kinds of Happy”, “Eyes Wide Open”, “Joy Is In Our Hearts” and the gut-wrenching “It’s Me”. It’s hard to imagine, but Sara has now once again released her “best” album topping all of her previous excellent work. This is one of my top 10 albums of 2009.
Rating: 9.5 out of 10 (95%, 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!
Shane & Shane [Everything Is Different] | Posted October-27-2009 [MAIN REVIEW]
With career sales exceeding 450,000 units, the acoustic guitar-wielding, Texas-based duo Shane & Shane returns with its eighth album, Everything Is Different. The album embraces a more corporate worship style, inspired by Shane Barnard and Shane Everett's role as worship leaders at their home church in Dallas. Influenced by the pair’s ongoing involvement in teaching and training students in the area of worship ministry, Everything Is Different offers moments that range from vertical praise to quiet reflection.
Among the most devotionally focused singer/songwriters of this generation, for Shane Barnard and Shane Everett, it all comes back to the creative source. “We always have a tendency to bring the scriptures into our songs,” Barnard explains. “It happens naturally for us. It’s not like we have a game plan, but we’ve always spent a lot of time in the Word of God. The Word of God is just so good - if you don’t mess with it - it’s hard to mess it up. I think this album, probably more than any other album we’ve done, is the Word of God set to music.”
My favorite overall song by Shane & Shane is now the title track “Everything is Different”, which is a song about all of these things that are completely changed and how different they are in Christ. Shane & Shane drew heavily on scriptures from Isaiah to make its point in this upbeat, corporate worship song, comparing the wages of the world with the free gifts of God - from ashes to beauty, from heaviness to praise, from no way to a clear path, from the impossible to all things are possible.
Primary songsmith, Shane Barnard drew on Hebrews 1 and Psalm 40 for inspiration in the gorgeous corporate worship hymn, “Worthy of Affection.” The album’s sweet yet pulsating musical version of “The Lord’s Prayer” is taken word for word from the Gospels of Matthew and Luke. Shane Everett lends his rare songwriting talent on “Rain Down,” a song that reflects Psalm 27. The album’s first radio single, a creative re-imaging of the beloved hymn, “My Hope Is Built,” is based on Jesus’ parable of the wise man who built his house on solid rock, found in Matthew, chapter seven.
CLOSING THOUGHTS
Musically this album is very diverse and the songs are acoustic oriented with very biblical lyrics. Harmonizing together on every song, Shane & Shane’s personal and vulnerable vocals have never sounded better. Each successive album has improved on the last for Shane & Shane from Clean to Pages to Everything Is Different, which is now their best overall album in my opinion. For me, the standout songs are “Everything Is Different”, “Worthy of Affection”, “I’m Alive”, “Rain Down” and “My Hope Is Built”. If you’ve liked past hit songs “Be Near”, “Yearn” and “We Love You Jesus” by Shane & Shane, then you need to pick up Everything Is Different.
Rating: 9.0 out of 10 (90%, 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!
Paul Baloche [Glorious] | Posted October-27-2009 [MAIN REVIEW]
Paul Baloche is one of the most acclaimed worship artists and songwriters of our time. Winner of two Dove Awards, he has penned radio hits such as “Because of Your Love”, “Hosanna (Praise Is Rising),” “All The Earth Will Sing Your Praises” and “Our God Saves” and he has written top-ranking CCLI songs and modern-day classics including “Above All”, “Open the Eyes of My Heart”, “Offering” and “Your Name.” Integrity Music is honored to present Glorious, an all-new collection of songs that reflect his heart, and his passion for the Church.
“’Glorious’ is about the adventure of being led by a living, active God,” Paul says. “It’s about looking beyond the cross, to look behind the mystery, to see the risen Savior. For us to live in the new covenant idea that Jesus Christ is alive in us. Instead of only looking back 2,000 years, we see the risen Christ now. Learning to be led by His Spirit, guided by His Spirit, and to discern the language of His Spirit.” Paul recalls, “My pastor told me that ‘Glorious’ feels like an answer to ‘Open the Eyes of My Heart.’ That original cry of my own heart. ‘Glorious’ paints a picture of seeing Jesus for who He is, as the risen Christ and the living God.”
The album’s first single, “Just To Be With You,” offers a different, though no less profound, view of our God and our reliance on Him. “’Just To Be With You’ is simply about intimacy with God,” Paul says. “With all of the stuff in this world that overwhelms us, no matter what happens, ‘all I want is to be with You’ as I’m walking through this life.”
I really like how the songs are recorded live and have audience participation, which is how these songs are meant to be experienced, as corporate worship with other believers. Paul’s songwriting ability is really displayed in two familiar songs on the album, “Today Is The Day”, also recorded by Lincoln Brewster and “A New Hallelujah”, also recorded by Michael W. Smith. If you like the original versions of those songs, you’ll also enjoy Paul’s versions. Another highlight for me is at the end of the song “To The Cross”, where Paul prays along with his congregation and lifts up his voice in praise and worship to our great God.
CLOSING THOUGHTS
If you’ve liked past hit songs by Paul Baloche including “Open The Eyes Of My Heart”, “Offering” and “Your Name”, then you’ll really enjoy Glorious. For me, the standout songs are “Glorious”, “You Have Saved Us”, “Just To Be With You”, “Today Is The Day” and “A New Hallelujah”. I’m looking forward to singing more new songs by Paul Baloche with fellow believers. If you like Matt Redman, Chris Tomlin and Lincoln Brewster, you need to add Glorious to your worship music collection.
Rating: 8.7 out of 10 (87%, B+)
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!
Jadon Lavik [The Road] | Posted October-20-2009 [MAIN REVIEW]
Jadon Lavik has performed on numerous Saddleback Church albums and sings in front of nearly 20,000 parishioners every weekend when combining all the services which has truly been an education in praise directed ministry. All those goods, combined with an incredibly appealing voice, cozy croon and down to earth demeanor drew attention from BEC Recordings and his official recording career was born. After releasing Moving On Faith in 2004 to critical acclaim, consistent touring and the meteoric single “What If”, the stage was set for a much anticipated follow-up found in Life On the Inside. Last year, Jadon released the praise & worship album Roots Run Deep and now he is releasing The Road, an acoustic collection.
First song “Hear Our Song” is a simple yet passionate plea of praise with these worshipful lyrics: “Father hear our song, A song of praise to the worthy one, In joyous surrender With our eyes fixed on You, May our lives bring you glory to serve you in all that we do”. The acoustic version of “Moving On Faith” reminded me of “Tell Me” by Josh Wilson. Jadon’s version of “Come Thou Fount” is done as though he’s in my living room leading worship and I can’t help but sing along in worship to the all-time great hymn. “Father” was a hit song from Life On the Inside and this stripped down version really captures the passion of this prayer-song with the sincere lyrics: “ I cry out and You answer, I cry out and You answer, Father I know You listen when I pray, Father would You hear these simple words I say”. Such song and stylistic explanations further lay the ground work for the overarching meaning of the song “On The Outside”. Not only does it possess a reflective and meditative tone, but the moniker also exposes this singer/songwriter as incredibly authentic and unabashedly honest who genuinely wants to impact listeners with his beliefs.
“What If” is my favorite overall song by Jadon. I can’t help but get emotional listening to the bridge: “What have I done to deserve Your son sent to die for me, What can I give, I want to live, give me eyes to see, In a world that keeps changin' there's one thing that I know is true, Your love is stayin', there's nothing else I'll hold onto”. The whole album has a classic acoustic feel which is well suited to Jadon’s singer-songwriter style and his smooth vocals. If you like this album, you need to also check out Jadon’s album Life On the Inside.
CLOSING THOUGHTS
If you like Bebo Norman, Josh Wilson, Paul Colman and Jimmy Needham, then you should enjoy Jadon Lavik’s The Road. For me, the standout songs are “Hear Our Song”, “Come Thou Fount”, “Father”, “On The Outside” and “What If”.
Rating: 8.0 out of 10 (80%, B-)
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!
Tim Hughes [Happy Day] | Posted October-20-2009 [MAIN REVIEW]
Modern worship songwriter, two-time Song of the Year GMA Dove Award winning artist Tim Hughes releases in the U.S. his first-ever live DVD/CD, Happy Day on Oct. 20. The high-energy, celebratory Happy Day was recorded live before a capacity crowd at the famous London venue, Shepherds Bush Empire. Opening with the brand new corporate anthem “Jesus Saves,” the recording features a combination of favorite worship songs and brand new tunes written by Hughes.
As the writer and singer of all-time classic worship songs “Here I Am To Worship”, “Beautiful One” and “Consuming Fire”, I’ve been singing Tim’s songs for many years and have always found his albums to be worshipful and uplifting. The energy of this live recording is how these songs were meant to be experienced, amongst a body of believers. The album starts off with one of the four new songs “Jesus Saves”, a great new worship anthem sure to be added to church worship services in the near future.
“Beautiful One” has been covered by Jeremy Camp, Passion Worship Band and By The Tree, and this live version is now my favorite version of the song. “Give Us Your Courage” is next, another new song and the songs flow nicely as you get to meditate on the challenging lyrics mixed with catchy melodies.
Tim’s live version of “Here I Am To Worship” is phenomenal, and although churches have been singing this song for almost a decade, this version is fresh and very powerful. This worship anthem has been covered by Hillsong, Michael W. Smith, Jeremy Camp, SonicFlood and Passion Worship Band, among others. Tim is truly a gifted songwriter similar to fellow British worship artist Martin Smith from Delirious? who shares the stage with Tim to perform his all-time classic song Another new song “Remember” is next and reflects on the ‘story of the cross’.
“Happy Day” and “Dance” pick up the tempo and create a celebratory atmosphere with “Happy Day” exclaiming “Jesus Is Alive…I’ll never be the same, forever I am changed”. Both songs are fun and have great audience participation as you’ll find yourself clapping and singing along with Tim and the crowd. “Consuming Fire” is less known overall, but for me is the most moving worship song that Tim has written. I can’t help but be moved when Tim passionately sings the bridge “stir it up in our hearts Lord, passion for Your Name”.
“We Won’t Stay Silent” is another new song which is also featured on the CompassionArt: Creating Freedom from Poverty recording. All the royalties ever received from this song will go to benefit the poorest of the poor. The album closes with “God of Justice” and a great reflective version of “When I Survey”.
CLOSING THOUGHTS
For me, these live versions of “Beautiful One”, “Here I Am To Worship”, “Consuming Fire” and new song “Jesus Saves” are among the best worship songs of the decade. If you like Matt Redman, Chris Tomlin and Delirious? then you’ll love Happy Day by Tim Hughes.
Rating: 9.5 out of 10 (95%, 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!
Chynna & Vaughan [One Reason] | Posted October-13-2009 [MAIN REVIEW]
Chynna Phillips, one third of the pop supergroup Wilson Phillips, announces a new phase in her music career as she joins independently-famed singer/songwriter Vaughan Penn to form the duo “Chynna & Vaughan.” The group’s debut album titled, One Reason, releases Oct. 6 on Reunion Records, an imprint of Christian music’s Provident Label Group. Phillips and Penn first met in 2007 and although their musical career paths were distinctive and unique, Chynna & Vaughan naturally formed a creative partnership based on their passion to share the hope of Christ with a hurting world.
Phillips says, “This is such an important time in my life. Although I did accomplish a lot of the things I wanted to as an artist and songwriter during all the touring, talks shows and the awards as a member of Wilson Phillips, nothing compares to what I’m doing now.” She adds, “Nothing is more gratifying as a Christian believer than being able to thread my faith and love for Jesus into my music.” Chynna Phillips achieved vast international fame and recognition as a member of the pop sensation, Wilson Phillips. With massive radio hits such as “Hold On”, “Release Me”, “You’re In Love”, and “Impulsive”, Wilson Phillips sold over 10 million copies worldwide. Yet despite this extraordinary success, Chynna did not experience true joy and peace until she gave her life to Jesus Christ six years ago. Phillips has been married to actor William Baldwin since 1995. The couple have three children: daughter Jameson (born 2000), son Vance (born 2002), and daughter Brooke (born 2004).
“One Reason” kicks it off and I immediately heard that signature vocal style that Chynna made famous as a member of Wilson Phillips and her harmonies with Vaughan Penn are so catchy. I can’t get enough of the vocals on this album. The message of the songs is very personal and biblical as they reflect the maturity of a believer who hasn’t always known “Jesus tell me again, when’s it going to sink in, that You’re my one reason”. “Everyday Miracles” keeps the harmonies going with the Truth that “I can see a world full of everyday miracles and every day You’re making me believe. That in this world full of everyday miracles, Your love surrounds me”.
“Something Divine” praises God’s “beautiful, amazing, redeeming grace” and has a great harmonica part. Musically the album has a folksy pop style. “Now I Know Your Love” sums up one of the themes of the album “now I know Your love is not to keep, I never knew Your love could do what it’s done to me, You meet me where I am doing the best I can, even when the Truth is hard to understand”. My favorite song is next, “Eye For An Eye”, it has another great harmonica part and these amazing lyrics: “I’m not gonna hate even if I ache inside, I’m not gonna hurt someone even if I’m justified, I’m not gonna lie, even if I’ve been deceived, an eye for an eye is not the life I choose to lead”. What a great reminder as Christians. The rest of the songs are also catchy and filled with great reflections of the joy of walking with Jesus.
CLOSING THOUGHTS
One Reason is one of the catchiest albums I’ve heard this year and the title track “One Reason” had me hooked from the first song all the way through the end of the last song “Take It All”. My favorite songs are “One Reason”, “Everyday Miracles”, “Something Divine”, “Now I Know Your Love” and “Eye For An Eye”. I’ve heard every song by Wilson Phillips and Chynna has never sounded better and the collaboration with Vaughan Penn is a match that was meant to be. If you like Tal & Acacia, The Wreckers, and Wilson Phillips then you can’t go wrong with Chynna & Vaughan.
Rating: 8.8 out of 10 (88%, B+)
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!
Tal & Acacia [Wake Me] | Posted October-12-2009 [MAIN REVIEW]
Sisters Tal & Acacia grew up in Portland, Maine, in a Christian household and attended an inner-city school their mom and dad ran for underprivileged youth. Tal & Acacia first began songwriting and playing guitar in their teen years, while the family spent an insightful year in Russia aiding a humanitarian orphan ministry. After returning from Russia, the sisters developed a stronger sense of the world during separate collegiate pursuits in opposite regions of North America.
Now, in their early twenties, Tal & Acacia aim to create songs that wake listeners and refresh the soul. The songwriting duo’s music ministers and inspires. Realizing that sometimes we slumber in our walk with God and take a hiatus from His presence, Tal & Acacia desire to stir listeners to become alive again.
Musically, Tal & Acacia resemble female vocalists Feist, Norah Jones and Leigh Nash. The first three songs set the tone for this very enjoyable album, “Top Priority”, “Garbage In” and “Clearview” are all upbeat, catchy and bring out the main themes of this album which to me are introspective songs about worldly pressures and calling out to God for guidance and mercy.
The next two songs are my absolute favorites on the album, “Yahweh” and the title song “Wake Me (Noah’s Song)”. “Yahweh” is a beautiful ballad and a prayerful song and the vocal style reminded me of new CCM artist Kelly Mack. The song cries out “let time pass away, as I simply praise Yahweh… with my hands raised, my knees they fall, as I simply praise Jehovah”. “Yahweh” is a great and sincere song of faith and praise and has a great bridge expressing faithfulness: “Do I believe that You’re My God, that You’re All I Need, All I Need”? “Wake Me (Noah’s Song)” kept the prayer-style going in a more upbeat song that reminded me of new CCM female duos Cadia and The Sonflowerz with the cry out to “create in me what I’ve never seen” .
Musically, the album is very diverse with a great mix of rock, folk and pop. Each song kept me guessing which style would come next and the album sounds very original and yet familiar at the same time. I really enjoy how sisters Tal & Acacia blend vocally, especially on the song “Drifting Away”, which is another highlight for me. The song has a stripped down musical style and vulnerable vocals as the sisters harmonize “love is the thing that made it begin for the first time, and His love set it right to keep us going on, but we keep drifting away from the Love that makes Life, we keep drifting away from His sight”.
CLOSING THOUGHTS
For me, the standout songs are “Top Priority”, “Yahweh”, “Wake Me (Noah’s Song”), “Drifting Away” and the closing song “Warrior Child”. This is a great debut album and if you like Leigh Nash, Feist and Norah Jones, you’ll truly enjoy Tal & Acacia.
Rating: 9.1 out of 10 (91%, 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!
Todd Agnew [Need] | Posted October-06-2009 [MAIN REVIEW]
For many, Todd Agnew is an acquired taste. While his past albums have had their moments, it’s also fair to say that they’ve had their challenges as well. Listening to the paradox that exists in Todd’s deep grunge vocals set upon tracks reciting Bible stories and old church hymns is strange to some and sometimes difficult to relate to. Often plagued by slow, wordy ballads sung in a deep baritone, Todd’s recent releases fell flat and had difficulty connecting.
Need, however, is quite different. This time around, Todd Agnew achieves balance. On Need, the best qualities of his signature lyricism and heartfelt vocals are captured within a myriad of listener-friendly hooks and infectious sounds. Much of the unwanted wordiness of past albums has been toned down and replaced with more syncopated rhyme. Todd returns once again to using his full vocal register, allowing choruses to build and reach their true intended climax. As a consequence, much of the music on Need feels natural, less embellished and far more appealing than before.
What’s more, Need offers a clever combination of styles from church hymns to southern gospel and both, classic and modern rock. This spectrum of influences helps keep the album interesting and the anticipation going from one song to the next. Several tracks on the album stand out for me as they remind us again of Todd’s gifts.
First off, tapping into the magic of past hits like “Grace Like Rain” and “This Fragile Breath,” are the tracks “Written On The Wall” and “The Love of God.” The song, “Written On The Wall” is an up-beat, piano-driven piece that includes the highly identifiable sentiment: ”I wish you still spoke through burning bushes...and I wish you still wrote on blocks of stone…‘cause the sound of this world is deafening and I wish your will was still written on the wall.” The song, “The Love of God” is a pacing and haunting alternative rock version of a timeless church hymn based on an old Jewish poem that expresses the endless depth of God’s Love. Dramatic and humble, Todd delivers what may be one of his most timeless covers yet. There is power in the chords as Todd delicately sings: “Oh, the Love of God – how rich and how pure, how measureless and strong. The Love of God – it shall evermore endure, the saints and angels song.”
Not to be outdone, the tracks “Did You Mean Me” and “Gloria” also soar to great heights. In “Did You Mean Me” Todd relates his personal struggle with sin and his own humanity in contrast to God’s eternal promises. Todd’s willingness to expose his own self-doubt in the lyric, “You said all sins can be forgiven, but when You said that, did You mean me? Did You mean me?“ is quite powerful. Also demanding attention, the radio-friendly first track on the album, “Joy Unspeakable” is both lively and sweet, and stylistically reminiscent of the hit song, “Heaven” by Los Lonely Boys. Dynamic as well, are the rocky “Breakable” and the classical hymn “I Need No Other,” which includes the title lyric: “I need no other argument, I need no other plea. It is enough that Jesus died, and that he died for me.”
Unlike recent attempts, Need is an album from Todd Agnew that has greater commercial appeal and is far easier to consume. In addition to loyal Todd Agnew fans, I expect general audiences to respond favorably to this solid release. Congratulations to Todd for his superb work!
For more Christian Music Reviews By Aaron, visit: http://reviewsbyaaron.com
CLOSING THOUGHTS
If, for whatever reason, you’ve drifted away from Todd Agnew’s music in recent years, it’s time to come back and listen again. In Need, Todd reclaims so much of what originally attracted audiences to his music. His new album, Need offers listeners Todd’s signature depth and power, but more importantly, it recaptures his original artistry in a format that is highly consumable and extremely infectious.
Rating: 8.5 out of 10 (85%, B)
Review written by: Aaron Hassen | 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!
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