'Tis The Season For Something Different | Posted October-06-2015
Best known as the legendary pen behind such hits as "Open The Eyes Of My Heart" and "Above All," Paul Baloche is no stranger to leading people in worship. In an effort to combine traditional holiday tunes with modern worship songs, Paul released his first Christmas album in 2013, appropriately titled Christmas Worship. Now two years later, Paul returns to that effort with Christmas Worship II, a new collection of songs to minister to and provide a resource to the church this holiday season.
"Joy To The World/Our God Saves" demonstrates the power of the combination Baloche crafts on this album, much as "For Unto Us A Child Is Born/Open The Eyes Of My Heart" flawlessly transitions between the timeless classic and the modern hymn. A soaring female vocal is brought in on "O Holy Night/Love Shines Bright," which only enhances the beauty of an already elegant song. A co-write with fellow CCM artist Phil Wickham, "Gloria" is a strong point on Christmas Worship II.
Other standards like "What Child Is This/Praise Emmanuel," "It Came Upon A Midnight Clear/Glorious," and "The First Noel/Above All" find their way onto yet another Christmas record, but not before getting a reinvention of sorts from Baloche. His technique of mixing in parts of more contemporary worship songs really changed up the atmosphere of the whole album and revitalized songs that have begun to frequently sound the same when re-recorded.
Well-written originals "The Newborn King" and "When Love Crossed Over" close out the album.
Closing Thoughts:
Christmas Worship II is not your typical Christmas record. Paul Baloche has crafted something uniquely special by taking holiday classics and fusing them together with modern worship, adding something completely new, yet managing to keep the original heartbeat of the song intact. Over the years, many Christmas albums have begun to sound alike because of the same songs being reused over and over, but Paul created something truly refreshing and different with Christmas Worship II. These songs are sure to minister to you, give you a few new Christmas favorites and maybe even show up in your church set lists this season.
Jordan Feliz is the newest signee to Centricity Music, but he's already making big waves in the industry. His first single "The River" is gaining steady support from Christian radio and forming a strong fan base for the artist even before the release of his first album. Formerly a heavy metal singer in Warped Tour style band A Current Affair, Jordan is far from a newcomer to the music business. Now with the release of Beloved, Jordan offers up a stunning CCM debut that promises good things from the California native.
Aforementioned lead single "The River" opens the album with an upbeat tempo and catchy melody sure to get stuck in your head for days. Also on the peppy side, "Simple" talks of the sheer simplicity of the Gospel truths.
Easily the standout song on the album, the title track comes to life with lyrics of bold declaration: "You are essential, not accidental / you are beloved / I wanted you to know / you are beloved / let it soak into your soul / forget the lies you've heard / rise above the hurt and listen to these words / you are beloved." Jordan wrote the song for his newborn daughter while thinking about what he most wanted to communicate to her, but the song resonates with all listeners, reminding us of who we are in Christ.
Taking it back up-tempo, "Dancing Through The Fire" testifies to God's faithfulness even in the hardest times, much like "Rejoice" praises Him for His power. The lone ballad included, "Satisfied," is another noteworthy moment on the album. "My heart, Your throne / this life belongs to You and You alone / let there be no divide / in only You may my soul be satisfied," the emotional song of surrender sings out.
The album closes with four recordings from The Song Sessions: acoustic versions of "Beloved" and "The River" alongside incredible covers of NEEDTOBREATHE's "Brother" and Ed Sheeran's "Photograph."
Closing Thoughts:
Jordan Feliz is well on his way to becoming a big name in Christian music. For a debut, Beloved is strikingly well produced and well written. Jordan has crafted a unique sound that's already being noticed by fans and grabs your attention at first listen. One of the most promising debuts this year, Beloved proves that good things are ahead from Jordan Feliz.
A Perfect Collision | Posted September-28-2015
The world was first introduced to Colton Dixon when he lit up the American Idol stage back in 2012. Since then, things have only gotten better for the twenty-something singer songwriter. Dove Awards, national tours, chart-topping singles, and almost-instant fame soon followed for Dixon.
Now with two majorly successful albums behind him, Colton returns with an intriguingly unique technique: a compilation album in the form of dual EPs. The Calm Before The Storm is a combination of acoustic renditions (Calm) and remixed versions (Storm) from both of Colton's previous albums (A Messenger, Anchor).
The Calm
Colton's flawless harmonies shine on the stripped-down version of "Limitless" that opens the album. The lyrics capture contrast: "Doubt sees a mountain, no way around it / faith sees a victory, no doubt about it / fear sees the ceiling / hope sees the stars." Some of Colton's first hits, "Never Gone" and "You Are" (the latter a duet with his sister Schyler), appear here in a much calmer yet just as powerful mood. Most recent single "Through All Of It" gets a reinvention on Calm, sounding even better than before with a bit of a pep added.
Even with so many well-done acoustic versions presented here, I have to say that the most incredible moment featured on this side of the album is definitely the one brand new song we get. "Where I End" is an encouraging message for those who feel at the end of their own strength: "so I'll stand again / take another step / because of You, I can / I'm not scared 'cause You are where I end." With a beautiful piano melody and lyrics of bold faith, I bet I'm not the only one who hopes this is Colton's next single.
The Storm
"More Of You (Pro-Fitt Remix)" is first to get the remix treatment for Storm. Adding techno elements, the track boarders on EDM and is sure to get you moving. Already energetic "Back To Life (BLRZ Remix)" gets taken up a notch, much like "Dare To Believe (JSapp Remix)," a highlight on this side of the album. My favorite remix on Storm, "Echo (Neon Feather Remix)," comes next. The thoughtful production completely remakes the song and has it sounding even better than before. Closing out the album, "Anchor (BLRZ Remix)" takes on an urban feel.
Closing Thoughts:
The Calm Before The Storm seems to be the perfect collision of acoustic and remix. While some attempts at remixing a track can easily end by detracting from something that was originally so good, the reinventions of Colton's songs here prove to be a success, and even make a few songs better. Calm and Storm are both things that Colton Dixon does well, and the combination featured in this project seems to fit together well. Even with only one new song, the fresh perspective on others make this album well worth a listen. If The Calm Before The Storm was an experiment, I think we can definitely say that it worked. Whichever direction Colton's next album takes, I'm sure fans will be excited to hear it.
A Strong Start | Posted September-28-2015 Ryan Stevenson has created an incredibly impressive resume for a new artist. Jumping onto the scene in 2013 with his Gotee Records debut EP Holding Nothing Back, Ryan began to garner attention from fans with songs "Holding Nothing Back" and "The Human Side."
Now flash forward two years, several big tours and a few more charting singles later, Stevenson is back with his debut full-length album Fresh Start.
The title track kicks things off by singing of God's unending grace that keeps forgiving us and gives us a "fresh start" each time we ask, a theme also in standout track "Mercy Changes Everything." Ryan's latest single "All Yours," a song of dedication to the Lord, is burning up radio airwaves lately and finding well-earned success on its own. Pop-driven "Chasing Your Heart" is another strong moment on the album, displaying Ryan's soaring vocals and catchy hooks.
Slowing it down a bit, "What You Say" is a song of surrender and trust in what God tells us above what we feel. "Not Forgotten," featuring the Gotee Records boss TobyMac, proves to be the best song found on Fresh Start. Creating a melody that gets easily stuck in your head, you'll be singing along to this encouraging message in no time. Paying homage to his roots, "From The Ground Up (Bonanza)" tells the story of Ryan's life.
Ending the album on a calmer note, "Dare You To Trust My Love" and "Eye Of The Storm (feat. GabeReal of DiverseCity)" are both well-written songs of trust in God even in hard times.
Closing Thoughts:
Fresh Start solidifies Ryan Stevenson's place in the industry. A well-rounded album overall, Ryan has crafted a successful first full length effort with his work here. While a bit more diversity in sound would be nice, what Ryan has done in Fresh Start creates a successful a debut. Fans are sure to be happy with this album and eager to see what will come next from Ryan Stevenson.
Song To Download Now:
"Not Forgotten (feat. TobyMac)" (Get it on iTunes here.)
The Next Big Thing | Posted September-28-2015
Centricity Music signees Carrollton first came on the scene in 2014 when their debut EP hit shelves and blew us all away. Their exceptional musicianship, catchy sound and deep lyrics combined to make Breathe In Deep a release you definitely wanted to hear. Now, almost a year and a half later, the band is following up with another EP, Sunlight And Shadows. This new project showcases their talents in a different way, allowing us to hear acoustic versions of some songs and full production versions of others.
"More Now" begins with the upbeat sound and faith-filled lyrics that have become a signature of sorts in Carrollton's music. "Cause I thought I was done and I almost gave up when my whole world was crashing down / now I can't shake this truth / after all I've been through / somehow, Lord, I believe in You more now," the chorus rings out. Packing a load of wisdom into a short three minute frame, "Let Love Win" is a standout track that highlights the importance of laying down our weapons and allowing love to take over. "Meant To Be" keeps the energy high while praising God for His sovereignty.
With "Tell Me," lead singer Justin's vocals shine bright as he sings a beautiful prayer for Christ to remind us of who we are. Previous single "Holding Onto You" is another standout track that speaks of trusting God in the hardest times and the confidence we have to cling to Him no matter what: "when I can't catch my breath and there's nothing left to hold onto, I'm holding onto You."
Bringing in the acoustic element, The Jetlag Sessions gives us intimate, stripped-down versions of a few new songs. "Withered" slows down tempo for a while to well fit the title, talking of a weary world and the redemption Christ brings to broken things. Southern-infused "Free To Live" shows the band's strength, mixing flawless harmonies with exceptional instrumentation before bringing the mood down one last time with "Open Wide," a heartfelt ballad of surrender.
Closing Thoughts:
Carrollton may not be an incredibly familiar name to you yet, but that should soon be changing. Despite the band's lesser known status, their talent matches that of the best in the business and blows me away with each song. In just the short time that they've been around, the group has mastered a unique sound that is sure to make fans out of anyone who hears it. Honest lyrics, strong vocals, and incredible musical skills are just a few of the things Carrollton brings to the table, and with Sunlight And Shadows, we get another taste of that. This is a band you definitely want to watch out for, and I'd be willing to call them the next big thing in Christian music. Carrollton is on the right path for sure and shows no sign of slowing down. When your sophomore release is this good, there's no telling what the future has in store.
Some Things Never Change | Posted September-25-2015
Everything changed for Jonny Diaz when he and his wife welcomed their first daughter into the world earlier this year. Even before the baby was born, Jonny began to feel overwhelmed with all life was throwing his way. An impending deadline for his new music, a 40-city tour, launching a fitness studio with his wife, and the reality of fatherhood soon to set in stared him down. The arrival of Charlie Grace also brought many changes, and while Jonny says that this is the most rewarding season of life yet, it's still a new normal for the Diaz clan.
Now with his new appropriately titled EP Everything Is Changing, Jonny takes his experiences and emotions from the past year and does what he does best: crafts songs out of them.
"Enough In You" begins the album as Jonny speaks of his identity in Christ. "All I am is found in You / I'm holding to Your truth that I'm enough in You," the song declares. Lead single and standout track "Breathe" gives some encouragement to listeners who feel rushed and overwhelmed in a busy life to just relax and be still before the Lord: "come and rest at My feet / and be, just be / chaos calls but all you really need is to just breathe."
The most upbeat moment found on the album, aptly titled "Joy," sings of the constant joy that only Christ can give, even in the midst of hard seasons. "Saved From" features a catchy melody and lyrics that praise God for His unending grace that keeps forgiving us. A personal favorite, "Chance" is another standout track that shows off Diaz's characteristically smooth vocals and sings of how God uses our hurt to draw us closer to Him: "hurting is a chance to find You as a Healer / lonely is a chance to fall into Your love / broken is a chance to know You as Redeemer / empty is a chance to find that You're enough." The album closes with a sweet song Jonny wrote for his newborn daughter, "All Because Of You."
Closing Thoughts:
Things are definitely changing for Jonny Diaz, but one thing that hasn't changed is his ability to turn a life event into a beautiful song. Whether it's the birth of his first child or just a difficult season of life, Jonny has a way of writing about it in a way that's relatable to all who hear it. Everything Is Changing is sure to minister to Jonny's fans and encourage listeners to trust the One who holds them steady when everything else is shifting around them, because thankfully, some things just never change.
An Atmosphere Of Worship | Posted September-16-2015
Amanda Cook, most known for her work with Bethel Music, is also a powerhouse worship leader in her own right. The heart and pen behind extremely successful hit "You Make Me Brave" and many others, Amanda has already established herself as an anthemic songwriter. Now with her debut Brave New World, Amanda works to establish herself as a solo artist.
The album opens with standout track "Heroes," an invitation to trust God even in hard times: "You taught my feet to dance upon disappointment, and I will worship You." "Shepherd" begins with a beautiful piano melody before singing out lyrics of Biblical promises. Written with a few other Bethel leaders, "The Voyage" speaks of taking a chance and stepping out of your comfort zone, while "Closer" is a prayer to go deeper with Christ.
"Never See The End," another highlight track, praises God for His eternal love with powerful statements of truth: "where can I go from Your presence? Your love surrounds me from all sides." "Mercy," "City Of Hope," and "Bittersweet" talk of the grace that washes away our sins and restores what was once broken, with lyrics straight from Scripture. "Kind" creates an intimate moment of worship as Amanda sings of the nature of our good Father, much as "Pieces" responds in worship to all He is.
Instrumental pieces "Flagship" and "Brave New World" add an extra element as the album comes to a close.
Closing Thoughts:
Amanda Cook has created a beautiful atmosphere of genuine worship and praise with Brave New World. With her soft yet bold vocals and anthemic lyrics that declare God's promises in every song, Amanda has crafted what I believe to be one of the best worship albums this year. Given that it's easy for worship music to become repetitive and cliche, I was pleasantly surprised with how Brave New World ushered in God's presence and constantly reminded me of Biblical truths in new ways. Listeners will surely find some new favorites in this album, and we can all wait in anticipation of what comes next for Amanda Cook's solo career.
Brave Songwriting | Posted September-16-2015
Former Hollywood actress turned worship/pop indie artist Julie Elias is back with her latest album, Unbroken. Offering ten new originals and two covers, Julie uses her voice to tell the story of all she's learned and gone through in the past few years. The high-energy collection of songs were specifically picked to serve a purpose on the album, each one reminding listeners of important truths.
The intro to "Burning Bright" is a highlight, boasting an infectious pop tone and setting the mood for the rest of the album. Following suit, "Home" is a standout track that focuses on the thought that we can always run back to God no matter where we are in life. Slowing it down for a while, "Butterfly" and "I Will Love Again" are both beautiful ballads.
Unbroken offers several different sounds, with the title track taking on a rock edge and "I Won't Cry" feeling a bit more southern. "Stop Before I Start" tackles the topic of taming your tongue, much like "The Choice" speaks of the consequence of our actions.
Julie ends the album on a note of worship with covers of Joy Williams' "The Love Of The Lord Endures" and Bethel Music's "It Is Well."
Closing Thoughts:
One of the strongest points in Unbroken is that the album offers a variation of styles, with rock, pop and worship all being represented. Another great aspect of the album is Julie's songwriting, which shines a deep vulnerability that's rare and appreciated. Being a relatively new indie artist, Julie is just getting started in the CCM industry, but with the elements she displays in Unbroken, it's clear that she has big things ahead.
The word "doxology" refers to a liturgy of praise to God, usually sung at the end of a church service.
But for Aaron Shust, this Doxology mindset isn't just one for the end of a service, but rather for the end of time when Jesus returns for His people and we're all gathered around the Throne of Heaven.
The Dove Award winning artist has been making music for a decade now, yet he somehow still finds something new to say with each record. With Doxology, Aaron's desire was to release a specific message and not just a random collection of songs, the common theme being that of eternal praise to Christ for defeating death and sin completely. He's been writing for this album since the beginning of last year, and it seems that his patience has proved to create another successful effort.
"Always Will Be" begins with a joyful tone and upbeat melody that captures your attention at first listen. The song flows straight into a standout track "It Is Finished," which declares God's goodness with confidence: "Your ending was our beginning / Your last breath became our first / Your suffering became our healing / You were the way when no way could be found."
"Oh Praise (The Only One)" and "Triumphant Conqueror" take on a softer side of worship before building into powerful moments of praise with Scripture-packed lyrics. "The Great Overcomer" also proves to be a standout track, displaying Aaron's seemingly effortless ability to take the truths of Christ and sing them in a way that sticks in your head.
"Never Gonna Let Me Go" and "Come Quickly" take on a bit of a Gospel twang, while "How Majestic" and "Nothing More" (the latter a duet with powerhouse vocalist and CCM darling Lauren Daigle) are more intimate times of worship filled with words of adoration and faith. The album comes to a close with "To The Only God," a declaration of all Christ is to His children and a summary of all Doxology stands for.
Closing Thoughts:
Over the years, we've seen Aaron's artistic songwriting abilities improve with each release as he has honed his talent of taking Biblical truths and turning them into powerful songs of worship. Doxology is another great representation of that gift. Sonically, this album has a little bit of everything, and whether upbeat, worshipful, or gospel-driven, Aaron pulls it off well. Lyrically, this album is overflowing with power-packed words of faith, giving the church many new additions to their worship sets.
Aaron Shust is a staple in the Christian music community, and with albums like this, it's not hard to see why. We can count Doxology another success from Aaron as we worship along with him in response to God's eternal goodness.
Big Heart, Beautiful Sounds | Posted August-21-2015
Known for her honest and poetic writing style, CCM sweetheart JJ Heller's songs are well-embraced vulnerable journal entries into the music world. Always striving to tell a story with her unique voice, JJ's music is something of increasingly rare value born from hard work and relentless effort. With multiple albums, several charting singles and successful tours, and even a Kickstarter project that produced a children's book and a lullaby record behind them, it's an exciting time for JJ and her husband Dave as they explore a regenerated sound with her newest release, Sound Of A Living Heart. The ninth studio album captures well Heller's heart, bringing a different feel to the music we've previously loved from her.
The evolution in sound— a welcomed pop-driven change— is evident from the beginning of "Let Down Your Guard" and plays out throughout the rest of the album. JJ's soft and delicate yet bold and soulful voice is put on display for tracks "The Well," "Daylight" and "Silence." If you're anything like me, "Fully Known" will grab your attention from the opening seconds, but by the time the chorus comes to life, you'll know it's a song sure to stay on repeat.
Fans who follow her on social media will recognize a few songs from videos JJ posted earlier this year when she and Dave first wrote them: "Meant To Be," an adorable love song with an even more adorable music video, and "Father-Daughter Dance," a touching duet with Sanctus Real's Matt Hammitt that shows off JJ's remarkable ability to write beautiful but unusual songs from real-life stories. The song is guaranteed to make you shed a few tears. Most notable on the list of previously heard songs is "This Year (Happy New Year)," which first appeared on Heller's Facebook page on New Year's Day and was met with overwhelming positive response from listeners.
"Holy Ground" offers a bubbly sound and well-written message of peace: "when we lay our weapons down / when we speak the truth out loud / when we're slow to judge and quick to love, we'll be standing on holy ground." "Scarlet Thread" also offers thoughtful songwriting as JJ sings about God holding us together when everything comes undone. The album ends with the title track, a truly outstanding moment on the record that sums up JJ's desire to be vulnerable and authentic with her life and her pain.
Closing Thoughts:
There are so many elements that make Sound Of A Living Heart the remarkable effort that it is, but more than anything, I'm still blown away by JJ's songwriting skills that beautifully tell stories while encouraging listeners. Sonically, the change in this album is incredible, and while it's a different feel than we're used to, it's definitely a good change. Personally, I'm a big fan of how this album turned out, and an even bigger fan of the direction JJ's music seems to be heading. Sound Of A Living Heart proves to be a success for the Heller crew and is sure to be met with fan approval.
CaitlinLassiter_NRT's Music and Book Reviews 
