Houston, Texas-based singer/songwriter Jimmy Needham’s Inpop Records debut, Speak, released Aug. 15, 2006, showcasing his down-to-earth lyrics while exposing the rock, pop and gospel-influenced side of his art as well. The album produced a No. 2 single at Christian Hit Radio with “Lost At Sea,” and its song “Dearly Loved” also broke the Top 10 on CHR. Last fall Needham was featured on tour with NewSong, Echoing Angels and Nate Sallie, while he also joined label mate Superchick for a special Christmas tour. Produced by Will Hunt (Bethany Dillon, Ginny Owens, Shane & Shane) at acoustic duo Shane & Shane’s very own Spaceway Studios, Needham’s sophomore album, But Not Without Love, is a fitting continuation of his first project and includes tracks like “Come Around,” “Tossed By The Wind,” “I am Yours,” and "A Breath Or Two" the current CHR radio single. Needham will perform songs from Not Without Love as a special guest on female vocalist Natalie Grant’s headlining tour this spring and then again on tour this fall with Barlow Girl.
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Jimmy Needham [Not Without Love]| Posted August 20, 2009
Houston Texas-based singer/songwriter Jimmy Needham?s InPop Records debut ?Speak? showcased his down-to-earth lyrics while exposing the rock, pop and gospel-influenced side of his art as well. ?Speak? produced a No. 2 single at Christian Hit Radio with ?Lost At Sea,? and its song ?Dearly Loved? also broke the Top 10 on CHR. Needham?s sophomore album, ?Not Without Love?, is a fitting continuation of his first project and includes standout tracks ?Come Around?, "A Breath Or Two", ?Hurricane?, ?Firefly? and ?Forgiven And Loved?.
Opening song ?Come Around? sets the tone for this very solid album as Jimmy Needham blends his signature sound that to me blends mainstream artist Jason Mraz with recent American Idol winner Kris Allen. Jimmy?s soulful voice and personal lyrics are very engaging and every song puts me right there with him. Next song ?A Breath Or Two? is a great worship song and continues telling Jimmy?s personal journey of faith and highlights the main theme of ?Not Without Love? which is 1st Corinthians 13:1-3: ?If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.? ?Hurricane? is also one of my favorite songs and the song is based on Psalm 51:17 with the great chorus: ?I need You like a hurricane, Thunder crashing wind and rain, To tear my walls down, I?m only Yours now?.
Hit song ?Firefly? is next and is a great relationship song with the catchy lyrics ?You move into a room like Summer breeze at noon time, Baby out of nine I?d give you ten?. My favorite song of the album is next, Jimmy?s hit song ?Forgiven And Loved?, which is based on Romans 8:1-?Therefore, there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus?. The message of this song is so personal and biblical as it is directed to both believers and non-believers to know that there is no condemnation for our sins when we accept Jesus as our substitute and Savior. Also, we need to know that we can?t earn our own salvation and unfortunately many people live for works and think they can somehow earn their way to heaven.
?Before And After? and ?Tossed By The Wind? are also great songs that reflect Jimmy?s Christian walk. ?Unfailing Love (Kelly?s song)? is another love song to Jimmy?s wife. ?Rend?, ?The Author? and ?The Great Love Story? close out ?Not Without Love? with more biblical truth especially at the end of ?The Great Love Story? with the lyrics ?All glory, All honor be, To the God that filled the divide?.
If you like Jason Mraz and Kris Allen, you need to check out Jimmy Needham. ?Come Around?, "A Breath Or Two", ?Hurricane?, ?Firefly? and ?Forgiven And Loved? are my favorite songs on this very solid album.
Jimmy Needham's "Not Without Love": A Review| Posted September 10, 2008
by Karen Gilmore
When I was first recommended checking out Needham’s MySpace page it was late at night and I was a little tired. His music didn’t quite catch with me except one of his older songs “Lost at Sea.” A John Mayer reference was mentioned so he had a pretty impressive comparison to live up to. But Needham is no John Mayer, and that’s a good thing.
Needham offers his own brand of soulful vocals with a light dose of a contemporary blues slant. “Hurricane” paints us a picture of someone wanting to break down their emotional walls to let let love in. While “Forgiven and Loved” is a heartfelt song that talks about the basic need to be loved and accepted. But the real treat is that Jimmy creates not one, but two bona fide romantic songs. “Firefly” is the best of the two and has swoon-worthy lyrics like: “your love is like an ocean / surf and spray and motion / Baby I’m a diver and I love to swim in.” I can’t remember the last time I heard a Christian song that could be played at a wedding so that is refreshing in itself. Hopefully Needham will spark a trend that reassures Christian music artists that it’s okay to sing songs outside the agape type of love. Yet for some reason I have a hard time seeing Christian radio encouraging that trend. But maybe Without Love just might do the trick.
Another highlight is the title track that nicely caps off this well packaged album and showcases Needham’s poetry skills. I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s had experience performing in coffeehouse poetry slam contests.
The only thing I would have liked to hear on this album a couple of songs that stood out more or varied a little off the similar tone he has. Perhaps a little bit of the Spanish guitar or something that would make us take notice of a slight shift change. That and a nicely placed collaboration with a soulful female vocalist like Stacie Orrico would have easily merited this album to get a 5 star rating. But even as I enjoy his latest batch of songs I’m already eagerly awaiting his next release because it might yield such results.
Fans of Gavin DeGraw and Jason Mraz will definitely enjoy Needham’s style. This is the kind of album that the Christian music industry should be producing. “Not Without Love” is simply good music. I almost hesitate to label it Christian, not because it lacks it spiritual substance but because it offers a universal beauty that can easily connect with anyone who enjoys songs about love, life and the search for God amidst it all. And the real tragedy would be if this album only got relegated to Christian bookstores because it has the musical integrity to stand on its own in the mainstream market. Inpop Records has truly found an emerging talent that has great potential.
This review has been reprinted on NRT with permission from The Christian Manifesto. Click here to visit TheChristianManifesto.com today!
NEEDHAM’S SOUL-TINGED POP IS COMPLETELY INFECTIOUS| Posted September 24, 2008
Jimmy Needham seems quite comfortable. This isn’t a spiritual accusation at all, but instead, an observation of just how completely at home the pop songster appears to be on his sophomore effort, Not Without Love.
Glimpses of solid songwriting were found throughout Speak, Needham’s two-year-old debut on InPop Records, yet they failed to come close to those found here. Utilizing his Gavin DeGraw-esque ability to vocally soar and plummet at will over soulful guitar tracks and ballads alike, each song conveys both a powerful message of love and layers of vocal emotion.
“Hurricane” simply states analogies of need and longing, yet Needham injects vitality into each, lending credibility and overcoming what could become a series of trite clichés. The playful piano on “Firefly” instantly seizes the ears and never lets go while frolicking for its two-plus minutes. “Unfailing Love (Kelly’s Song)”—titled for Needham’s wife—is bound to become “our song” for thousands of couples with its jazzy transitions and focus on earthly love.
Not Without Love signals that the best is yet to come from Jimmy Needham while providing a very solid pop offering for this year. InPop would do well to allow this artist to blossom and find his audience as he goes. –Matt Conner
This review has been reprinted on NRT with permission from Christian Music Planet. Click here to visit ChristianMusicPlanet.com today!
Plenty of Love| Posted September 10, 2008
The album of the year award goes to: Jimmy Needham! I am not bias to Jimmy Needham just because I love him so much and enjoy his music deeply. I rate albums fairly and this album is definitely worth purchasing! Jimmy Needham has talent and knows what it means to serve the Lord with all of his heart. He is a true man of God who tries to write lyrical songs that move both the heart of the listener as well as the heart of God. This upbeat and unique album had me listening to it's funky rythms and rhymes almost all day long. Everytime I went into the car, I just simply could not resist! I unfortunatley overplayed the album though. It was that good! The album holds a combination of upbeat, fast-pace hits and beautiful heart-moving balads. This album is worth seeking. Try it out and discover Jimmy Needham!
:)| Posted January 27, 2010
This album is probably one of my favorites. I'm more of a rock person, but Jimmy Needham has a way of making me love his style of music. His songs are very catchy and have a good message. One of my favorite songs is "Firefly" and "Tossed By the Wind" So if you ever get a chance you should check him out.
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