What she thought would be a year of restoration turned out to be a seven-year reclamation project. She’s far from finished. In fact, one could argue that Susan’s new project Thief is just a beginning. God faithfully brought Susan through every circumstance and restored her love for Him for the purpose of delivering an authentic message that cuts through banal superficiality, and all the way to the soul. Susan beautifully and prophetically proclaimed “Out of myself and into the fire, You move me, burning with love and hope and desire, how You move me, I’m taking delight in every little thing” in her gorgeous song “You Move Me.” Other than a brief appearance in 2005 on Lost In Wonder with Christine Dente’ and Michelle Tumes where Ashton sang incredible versions of the great modern worship songs “I Believe In You,” “Beautiful Savior” and“In Christ Alone,” Christian music fans have been robbed of Susan’s gifted vocals.

The opening track “Moonshine,” is a gorgeous banjo and violin laced ballad with Susan’s passionate vocals setting the tone for this five star effort with the confessional lyrics, “Here I go again, a moth to a flame, it’s charming, enchanting, a mystical sight, there on the surface it all feels alright…there’s a dark side to the moon…shine.” The upbeat track “Love Is Alive” has already become one of my favorite country-tinged musical anthems with the prayerful and uplifting words: “My heart is on fire, my soul’s like a wheel that’s turning, my love is alive, my love is alive!” “Thief” is a poignant song about choices and temptations where she sings yearningly for “Innocence Lost.” In the song Susan personifies sin and the enemy with the piercing words, “you broke into my house, like you had the right to, you didn’t have the right to, you wrecked me, you never made a sound…like a dancer, a smooth romancer…ain’t it just like you, it’s who you are it’s what you do, it’s what you do, take anything you want with no regard of what it does to me…thief...twisting me in all my truth, you mesmerized ‘til I no longer recognized what I believed…thief.” During the song’s bridge, I’m fighting back tears as Susan tells the enemy, “Liar, stealer, I see you, deceiver, It’s just like you, it’s who you are, it’s what you do, it’ll take time but you’ll get yours, you’ll see…thief.” Amen.

“Become Myself” is a melodically-soaring autobiographical song and you will actually physically feel the emotion and cry for “God’s help” so poignantly expressed by Susan as she passionately cries out “I’m on my way, I’ll get back someday, with God’s help, I’ll become myself, yes I will, I will…God hovers over chaos, and He hovers over me, He makes all things beautiful and it’s beautiful to see.” “The Wrong Well” is a piano based reflective ballad about the poor choices we make when “you’re drinking water from the wrong well.” Susan poetically describes how that “looks like life, but it’s stealing your soul, it sounds like truth, but it’s a lie and you know, you tell yourself there’s no harm done, and your heart goes numb” and is a meditative reflection on life and our desperate need for the grace, forgiveness and mercy of God. Susan’s stellar and emotional vocals in many of the songs including “The Wrong Well” cause me to hang on every word she brilliantly sings. Closing track “Not Small” ends the album as strong as it starts, and is a wonderful picture of Susan’s prayer for personal restoration and validation. The lyrics reflect the theme of this mesmerizing album— “Know me, take the time it really takes to know me, go beyond polite consideration, don’t leave me here in silent isolation..I don’t have to be the epic hero, your beginning and your end all…I just want to be…not small.”

CLOSING THOUGHTS

Every song on Thief is personal and bears the marks of a life still standing after weathering the storms. Susan’s voice is crystal clear, the music is artistic, the lyrics are thoughtful and challenge listeners to think seriously about the serious things in life. This is a transparent and vulnerable album about finding truth and acceptance  in God’s faithful kindness. God will never leave or forsake His children, no matter how far we’ve fallen. These songs are meant to be experienced in order as they take the listener on an emotional journey from a place of confronting our humanity and weakness and crying out for God’s restoration and healing. If you like the female vocalists Carrie Underwood, Kelly Clarkson and Audrey Assad, then don’t miss out on this incredible album. Susan Ashton’s remarkable singing voice and her interesting music and lyrics are truly captivating. No matter what you are going through in life, God’s promise to His children is that one day we will overcome and He will make “all things new.”

The sister duo is back with the independent album Black & White, a new collection of very heart-felt and introspective songs. What’s great is how 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 “This Is Love.” The song has an upbeat musical style and vulnerable vocals as the sisters harmonize “This is Love, there’s nothing left to fear, this is Love / I can finally be myself, this is Love / where our dreams can come true yet / all  I want is to stay right here with You / this is Love.” “Once Upon A Time” keeps the upbeat musical flow going and firmly establishes the thesis statement of the album “No, no, it’s pointless without You, Jesus, please / I can’t live without Your love, and the storms can roll over me all again, but I’m not going nowhere to lose such a Friend…no, no, no.” The bridge “You give me life, You save my life” is a great example of the vertical lyrics found throughout this very solid “gourmet” album.

There are two songs that literally stop me in my tracks, the captivating ballads, “Stone” and “Ninety-Three.” The songs feature prayerful, personal and Scripturally inspired lyrics clinging to the hope and promise of our Rock, Jesus—“I will not give you a stone / when you’re asking for bread / No, I will not leave you alone / when My child is cryin’ /  No I won’t” in “Stone.” An Enya style gorgeous musical intro flows into a beautiful and prayerful moment to praise our eternal God and Savior in the ethereal standout song, “Ninety-Three.” The sisters reverently sing—“The Lord reigns, The Lord reigns, He is clothed with majesty, The Lord is clothed…He has girded Himself with strength / Surely the world is established so that He cannot be moved, Your throne is established from above / You are from everlasting.” Amen.

The upbeat pop musical style returns with “Shoulders” and “That’s Me.” The sisters trust in the Lord throughout “God Knows” as they offer themselves as living sacrifices, “God knows all my doubts, all my fears, He isn’t scared…He’d love to hold you yet again.” Don’t miss the standout closing ballads, “Hands” and “If You Think.”  I can’t get enough of the prayerful and vulnerable Adele-like musical style song of surrender to Christ in “Hands.” The sisters pray like David in the Psalms—“They made my life a misery, I found soon they got no right to me, I never knew what I could be…You’re calling me to victory…I throw up my hands because I know that You’re better / give up my heart this is my true surrender” which leads to the sincere bridge “they say to leave to cleave it, want to show You that I receive it, tear the walls that block my way to You.” The album closes as strong and prayerfully as it starts with “If You Think.”

CLOSING THOUGHTS

Musically, the album features a great mix of laid-back ambient pop and singer-songwriter folk style music. In the 1990’s when I wasn’t saved I was a huge fan of the mainstream singer-songwriter Jewel and her hit songs “Foolish Games” and “You Were Meant For Me” captivated me with her relatable lyrics and gorgeous vocals. Tal & Acacia has released an album with vocals and lyrics that remind me of that incredible twelve-time platinum debut album Pieces of You by Jewel. If you like Adele, A Fine Frenzy and Ellie Goulding, you’ll truly enjoy this “gourmet” collection of worshipful songs from Tal & Acacia. Give Black & White a few deep listens and you’ll love it. I hang on every single word and the stirring vocals, prayerful lyrics and musical arrangements are breath-taking. Well done and welcome back Tal & Acacia. I love to pray along with these compelling and moving songs. This album is balm for my soul.

I’m one of JJ’s newer fans and both Painted Red and When I'm With You have been in heavy rotation for me since they released. Naturally I’ve been interested in hearing her back catalog which blew me away once I heard how “Love Me” was re-recorded as “What Love Really Means.” This album displays JJ’s signature introspective emotional singer-songwriter style that paved the way for her current success, which is well-deserved. This incredible five star album opens with “If You Fall” which ushers in a newer more ambient musical feel, similar to Ellie Goulding, A Fine Frenzy and Sarah McLachlan. It is one of several stand-out songs on this album. “For You” features guitar, piano and strings layered musically in a powerful fashion as the song builds to the emotional proclamation “If I can talk, Then I will sing for You, If I can walk, Then I will dance for You, As long as I can breathe, My heart will beat for You.” Amen.

“Redemption” and “Loved” are also transparent, vulnerable and moving songs. JJ’s breathtaking lyrics “Do you feel the ache inside your soul, You know you’ll never make it on your own, Sorrow is too great for you to hold it, You’re gonna break, Why don’t you lay it down” brings me to tears as I pray along with her in “Loved.” What’s so relatable is how JJ Heller’s “relationship” songs are relevant for everyone, but especially if you know Jesus, then you know the ultimate answer to the quest for love can only be found in Him. No song better displays that emotion than “Who You Are” which includes the extremely moving description of parents who have painful questions for God about losing a child. They ultimately find redemption in knowing and being known by our Father in Heaven as gorgeously sung in the lyrics: “You have a Father’s heart, And a love that’s wild, And You know what it’s like to lose, Yeah, You know what it’s like, What it’s like to lose a child.” I started sobbing the first time I heard the emotional bridge of the song, it’s that moving and beautiful.

JJ passionately sings “The truest things I know, Are those I cannot see, From my birth to my dying day, I believe, I’d rather have Jesus than houses or lands, I’d rather be led by his nail-pierced hands, I’d rather have Jesus than anything…” in “I Believe,” one of many times this album causes tears to flow as I worship along with JJ in Spirit and in Truth. No matter what you are going through in life, God’s promise to His children is that you are loved. God is love. That biblical truth is profoundly captured on LOVED.

CLOSING THOUGHTS

Rarely has an album affected me this deeply as many of the songs cause me to physically feel the depth and sincerity of JJ’s goose bump inducing emotional vocals. This is yet another one of those “gourmet” albums that only comes along when JJ Heller puts out a new album. I have to fight back tears while listening to several of the songs, especially “Redemption,” “Loved,” “Who You Are” and “I Believe.” The new worshipful songs “If You Fall,” “For You,” “Better Things” and “Come Back To Me” are not to be missed. If you like the singer-songwriters Audrey Assad, Sara Groves and Brooke Fraser then you must pick up LOVED by JJ Heller. This is one of the most emotionally moving and authentic albums I’ve ever heard. JJ’s remarkable singing voice and her interesting music and lyrics are truly captivating. This is a nearly perfect album.

Battistelli’s signature style is best found in both versions of “This Is The Stuff.” In the song she tells it just how it is and all the things that drive her crazy. The main message of the song, despite all the little things that drive us all crazy, is to remember we are blessed. Francesca writes and sings about relatable subjects and her lyrics and melodies are completely infectious. The bridge of “This Is The Stuff” also summarizes my prayer as a Christian: “To break me of impatience, Conquer my frustrations, I've got a new appreciation, It's not the end of the world...” Amen. “Constant” and “You Never Are” are also catchy pop songs. Every song includes at least one lyrical phrase that completely hits me where I am. “Constant” is about God’s love and Francesca sings “Okay I really don't like change but I can't stop it, I'm moving forward with the promise, You are the anchor for my soul, That's all I need to know.”

Both versions of “Angel By Your Side” are “beautiful, beautiful” and the song is a standout ballad. The original has a catchy guitar part and the “unplugged” version features Francesca’s gorgeous vocals with piano and strings. “Motion Of Mercy” grabs me with Francesca’s sincere prayer, “God give me strength to give something for nothing, I wanna be a glimpse of the Kingdom that's coming soon.” “Emily (It’s Love)”features Dave Barnes and is destined to be a hit song, perhaps on mainstream radio. One argument Christians may make about this album is that the lyrics may in fact be too relatable to listeners. That would be a shame, as I was saved due to being hooked by the cross-over success of Jars of Clay’s debut album, which introduced me to the Gospel for which I’m eternally grateful.  Francesca has that “it” factor that could draw literally millions of listeners to hear the Gospel truths of her music such as in the next song “Good To Know” where there is no mistaking whose love Francesca is singing about in the lyrics, “It's good to know, It's good to feel the arms of grace, To know that my mistakes are covered by Your love.” “So Long” has mainstream appeal as well, and I could imagine hearing the song in a movie soundtrack.

“Worth It” is a gorgeous ballad and love song with biblical truth paraphrased from 1st Corinthians 13, “Love takes sacrifice, Love cuts like a knife, Sometimes love will make you cry, Love's not easy, But it's worth it.”Similar to “Someday Soon” and “Forever Love,” this could be a wedding song for believers making a marriage commitment. The song moves me to tears along with the amazing title track “Hundred More Years.” The song is about finding that person that you want to spend the rest of your life with and falling in love. The song is about great moments in life and wanting them to last a hundred more years.  I get goose bumps and well up when Francesca passionately sings the beautiful lyrics, “they can laugh, they can cry, the future looks so beautiful and bright, they can dance in the moonlight, cause God is smiling down on them tonight, and He wants to stay right here, make it last for a hundred more years.” God wants to bless His children and this song completely blesses me. New recordings “Hold Out For Love,” “Something More” and “Trampoline” are all great songs. The balance of upbeat songs and ballads is another highlight as the songs flow perfectly together to create a unique musical experience.

CLOSING THOUGHTS

I'm convinced Hundred More Years Deluxe Edition is easily the best album by a female artist I've heard in the Christian and mainstream music market since GRAMMY award winning 21 by Adele. Francesca Battistelli has hit on all cylinders with this stellar pop music album.  Every song is a perfect blend of compelling vocals, musical excellence and lyrical relevance. There are no filler songs and this album gets 5 very enthusiastic stars. This album is a "must-have" for fans of Colbie Caillat, Sara Bareilles and Adele.

My favorite Chris Tomlin led songs have generally been the new live recordings found on the Passion worship collections, going back to “We Fall Down,” “Enough,” “How Great Is Our God,” “God Of This City,” “Our God” and “White Flag.” This collection begins with the great new “dance” worship anthem “God’s Great Dance Floor,” and unlike previous Tomlin led songs, you probably won’t be adding that song to your church services. Don’t fret, however as you’ll certainly be singing the other new Chris Tomlin led songs “Whom Shall I Fear (God Of Angel Armies),” “Once And For All,” "We Glorify Your Name” and “Shout,” featuring Matt Redman. “God’s Great Dance Floor” was written by Martin Smith from Delirious and is an unashamed declaration of faith to God wrapped around a new contemporary electronic musical style. I love the truth of the song: “You’ll never stop loving us, no matter how far we run, You’ll never give up on us, all of Heaven will shout, let the future begin. I come alive, I feel alive / I am alive on God’s Great Dance Floor.”  The song is hooked-filled, fun and you’ll belt it out once you learn the chorus which features the album title. I love the crowd energy which opens this collection. There are 10 brand new songs on this 14 song regular edition collection. The other new songs, “Jesus, Only Jesus” by Matt Redman, “The Lord Our God,” “Children of Light” and “Come To The Water” by Kristian Stanfill, “Here’s My Heart” by David Crowder, and “My Delight Is In You” by Christy Nockels are all upbeat, catchy and worshipful. I especially like the musical arrangement on “Burning In My Soul” by new worship leader Brett Younker.

The other highlight for me is the new Christy Nockels song “My Delight Is In You” which gives me chills. I’m consistently mesmerized by the power and beauty of the lyrics and Christy's incredible vocals. The collection also includes great live performances of the modern anthems for the Church, Jennie Lee Riddle’s “Revelation Song” performed by Kari Jobe and modern hymn “In Christ Alone” performed by Kristian Stanfill. The Church can hear this collection and worship "Our God" with their whole hearts, minds and souls. “Whom Shall I Fear (God of Angel Armies)” is chock full of the Truth that as Christians, we need to have full reliance on God to deal with the struggles of life.  The song perfectly expresses that dependence: “I’m holding on to Your promises, You are faithful…I know Who goes before me, I know Who stands behind, The God of Angel armies, is always on my side, The One Who reigns forever, He is a friend of mine.” Remember that if God is for us, who can be against us? We raise our hands to celebrate and in surrender. We can lift up our hands in confidence to God and know that His mercy is unfailing. His love is never-ending. He is our refuge and our strength. God's ultimate will is not to bring affliction upon people, but to restore us so that we may experience His unfailing love.  I love singing these songs back to Jesus and telling Him plainly that I need no other than Him.



CLOSING THOUGHTS

What’s most impressive is how these catchy songs will have you singing along at the top of your lungs after just a couple of listens. After an amazing run of new worship albums to start off the year with Chris Tomlin, Meredith Andrews, Rend Collective Experiment, Daniel Bashta and Hillsong UNITED, along comes some of the best new original worship songs I've heard in the past few years. If you want to experience a spine tingling worship experience then you can't go wrong with the biggest names in the business. Tomlin, Stanfill, Crowder, Nockels, Hall, Redman, and new worship leader Brett Younker are all in top form on this excellent Passion: Let The Future Begin album, another solid entry in this great series. There are several instantly sing-able and worshipful arrangements that you'll want to add to your Sunday morning set-list. The themes of this album are Trusting God, loving Him and loving others as He loved us. All of the songs are catchy, exciting and worshipful. After listening to the album, I am stirred with compassion to love people as Jesus loves us. That's the heart behind this album, and thank you Passion for blessing us with your music and for singing the Truth of the Gospel for the Kingdom of God.

Britt Nicole is back with her highly anticipated third full-length re-release Gold on February 26, 2013. Britt is one of my favorite female artists. She has an incredible heart for her ministry, is a wonderful role model for girls of all ages and she has an excellent singing voice. If you like Francesca Battistelli and mainstream pop music, then you'll love Britt Nicole. She has delivered the ideal album to minister to anyone struggling with identity issues. I've been married for 18 years and have 3 young daughters and this entire album really ministers to me and my family. She opens with the ultra-catchy dance-tempo title track, "Gold" which perfectly sets the tone for this excellent five star album. The title track opens with the lyrics--"You were walking on the moon, now you're feeling low, what they said wasn't true, you're beautiful, sticks and stones break your bones, I know what you're feeling, words like those won't steal your glow...you're worth more than gold." My daughters are more precious than anything in the world to me and to their Heavenly Father, and this song is a great anthem to celebrate the biblical Truth from Psalm 139, that we are "fearfully and wonderfully made."



Britt's favorite Scripture passage is 1 Chronicles 28:20 which she says reminds her daily of God's calling on her life. Hit song "All This Time" is next and has a sincere autobiographical style where Britt shares her testimony of when she was first met God and celebrates her salvation in Christ. It's the type of song that I've come to really love from Britt's albums in the style of "Set The World On Fire." It is a great song and Britt seems poised to pick up where she left off with The Lost Get Found, with a great mix of different styles, heating up and cooling down with every song a great showcase of Britt's excellent singing voice."Look Like Love" is a wonderful song of encouragement to live as a light and know that in Christ we can do anything. God will never fail us or forsake us until the work of the Lord is finished. Britt belts out the awesome chorus, "I want to look like Love, be more than just enough for the hearts that are broken, coming undone, It's up to you and me to leave a legacy, if we're all they ever see, I want to look like Love."Britt has the gift of encouragement and every single song lifts me up."Ready Or Not" features a guest vocal by Lecrae. The message is uplifting and mission-minded including the lyrics, "giving everything to see the lost get found" leading to the chorus--"Ready or not here I come, I'm about to show you where the Light comes from."



"Breakthrough" has a contemplative feel to open the song leading to an explosive chorus and some musical programming which will have you hanging on every note as Britt builds to the lyric, "I can feel a breakthrough coming." The encouragement continues with the gorgeous ballad "The Sun Is Rising" which proclaims "you're gonna make it, the night can only last for so long, whatever you're facing, if your heart is breaking, there's a promise for just the ones who hold on, lift up your eyes and see, the sun is rising." The song that really grabs your attention is the super-hooky dance song, "Amazing Life" which rivals any hit song in the mainstream pop scene yet includes celebratory and positive lyrics instead of destructive and sensual themes. One of my favorite songs on the album is "Still That Girl." As my daughters grow up, I love that our relationships are built on the understanding that God has great plans for them according to Jeremiah 29:11. Whatever happens in their lives they'll always be my little girls. Just like "Have Your Way," I can hear Britt's vocals break as she sings this emotionally charged song, along with the beautiful closing ballad, "Seeing For The First Time."



CLOSING THOUGHTS

Britt Nicole's songs "Walk On The Water" and "Set The World On Fire" have been featured in television shows and movies and with Gold she is poised to "Breakthrough" as the premier female artist in all of Christian music. She has an infectious and upbeat musical style, layering her strong and distinguished vocals over the top of one hooky melody after another. Britt Nicole has really emerged as one of the top female vocalists in any genre and she is a great role model for girls struggling with identity issues. This album is loaded with positive grace-filled messages of hope. The upbeat and heavily produced musical arrangements on this album perfectly accentuate Britt's powerful and passionate songs. Don't miss out on one of the most upbeat and fun albums of the year. You'll won't be able to help but dance and sing along with the stand-out songs, "Gold," "All This Time," "Look Like Love," "Ready Or Not," "Breakthrough," "The Sun Is Rising," "Amazing Life" and "Still That Girl." This is one of my top albums by a female artist and one of my top overall albums of last year. If you liked The Lost Get Found, then you'll love Gold by Britt Nicole.

I’m very impressed by Christine’s powerful and emotive vocals which remind me of passionate female Jesus Culture singers, Kim Walker-Smith, Kristene DiMarco and Steffany Frizzell. Deeper opens with a great upbeat invitational song, “Reign,” which has piercing and sincere vertical lyrics perfectly setting the tone for this great album: “Let the Church cry out, open the Heavens, with Your power, we want to see You lifted high, break into darkness, shining glory.” Amen to that! The album has a mesmerizing, contemplative vibe and every song invites the listener to join in with Christine as she praises our Savior and Lord Jesus with all of her heart and soul. “Magnified” provides me comfort as I sing at the top of my lungs: “Every breath we sing is Yours, Every heart and every soul will declare Jesus magnified.”  This song reminds all of us that the pain of this world is temporary and to live for Heaven. My life verse is Isaiah 6:8, and the entire album’s sentiment ties in with Isaiah’s meeting God and saying, “woe is me, I am a man of unclean lips.” I find myself meeting God in every song on this album. For me, songs like “Magnified” provide opportunities for God to whisper to me my TRUE identity - not found in what I do or don't do, but in who I am - more importantly to Whom I  belong.  These songs invites listeners to worship along with her and you can’t help but get swept up in the emotion of the songs. These opening songs set the tone for a special worship experience. No matter what you are going through in life, God’s promise to His children is that one day we will overcome.

The next songs blow me away with how vulnerable and personal they get. “Pursuit” has become my personal worship anthem and keeps the cohesive theme going with the gorgeous and prayerful offering reflecting the yearnings of my heart: “I’m pressing into You, so do not pass me by / I’m breaking through the boundaries, I will not be denied.” There is incredible comfort and biblical Truth in this song and Christine’s passionate vocals will have you hanging on every word, especially during the lyrics which wreck me—“Open my eyes, search me inside / I can’t live without Your presence, I can’t live without Your presence.” What an incredible prayer to our King and Savior. There is great comfort in knowing Jesus and being known by Him in every detail of our lives. “Father of Mine” stops me in my tracks as Christine slays me with her confessional and prayerful vocal style, opening with the imploring and intimate lyrics, “Keep me, keep me, keep me, In Your shadow, Lord For this I know, there is no safer place.” It is one of the most compelling songs I’ve ever heard and perfectly captures the intimacy of our relationship with Jesus and He is our Bridegroom and we are all His bride. He is the Father to the fatherless, and as the song tenderly proclaims, He is “Abba, Father of mine.” Amen.

“Your Presence is Heaven” has another confessional lyric that also really grabs me: “Who is like You Lord in all the earth? / Matchless love and beauty, endless worth / Nothing in this world will satisfy / Jesus You're the cup that won't run dry / Your presence is heaven to me.” Produced by Paul Mabury (All Sons & Daughters/Hillsong) and featuring songs written specifically with the global Church in mind, D’Clario’s passion for her faith is evident from the first note on Deeper. Whether it’s a joyful standout track like “Reign,” that expresses her desire to see God’s Kingdom on Earth, to the soulful strains of “Faithfulness” or “Magnified,” a timely anthem for the redeemed, Deeper is filled with relevant reminders of the joys of being in God’s presence. Christine travels internationally singing, leading worship and speaking, calling people into a greater place of wholeness, healing and freedom in their lives and in their relationship with God.

CLOSING THOUGHTS

Christine is clearly in love with Jesus and how these songs convey her relationship with our Lord and Savior in these songs is truly inspiring and convicting. If you like albums with God-focused worshipful lyrics, musical diversity and engaging female vocals with a lot of range then you’ll want to check out Deeper by Christine D’Clario. Every song on this album has quickly become a staple in my playlist of my favorite worship anthems. The songs are all worshipful and catchy. The vertical worship and number of songs I could imagine singing in union with fellow believers in a corporate worship setting is another highlight of this very solid album. Some of the songs that would be great additions to church services are “Reign,” “Magnified,” “Pursuit,” “Father of Mine” and “Your Presence is Heaven.” This is one of the most emotionally moving albums I’ve ever heard. Christine’s remarkable singing voice and her interesting music and lyrics are truly captivating. For sure, this will be among my top worship albums of the year. Do yourself a favor and buy this album immediately. You’ll be refreshed, nourished, encouraged and turn to God for your strength.

Proving her lyrical prowess, Plumb aptly captures her essence on the opener "Invisible” when she sings, "I’m sick and then I’m well / So full so empty still / You leave me wanting / Oh tell me where’d you go / Don’t be invisible / Cause I am reaching / Save me." Therein lies the beautiful paradox of Plumb's art; she molds elements of rock, pop, and electronica together and does so while singing about some difficult subjects like physical abuse, alienation, and depression. "Beautiful,” I Want You Here" and "Say Your Name" are telling examples with Plumb's edgy rock mixing perfectly with strings. “Beautiful” perfectly displays the reality of marriage with the poignant lyrics: “Oh I don't deserve you ‘cause I always hurt you / then you say the perfect thing / you're beautiful, so beautiful to me.” I've been married for eighteen years, and the "crazy cycle" of marriage is one that hinges on compromise and asking for forgiveness. Just like in "Real Life Fairytale," Plumb captures the marriage dynamic in a catchy song. Now a mother of three, she seasons her lyrics with her life experience, making her lyrics even more relatable to listeners.

“I Want You Here” features Plumb’s signature epic sound layered around Tiffany’s powerful vocals, as she belts out “An ache, so deep, that I can hardly breathe…God help me, God help me, God help me, Breathe.” Tiffany struggled with panic attacks and shortness of breath and has learned to reach out to God in prayer for healing as also reflected in her hit song "Need You Now (How Many Times)." The title track is a wonderful song of encouragement and prayer to ask God to break your pride, live redemption's story, and move closer to who we're meant to be in Christ. Allow God and His Holy Spirit to change you to be more like Jesus, and move closer to His glory. The chorus of the song says it all, "How many times have You heard me cry out, "God please take this"? How many times have You given me strength to just keep breathing? Oh I need You, God, I need You now." God wants us to know that He's faithful to complete what's He's started in all of us who've put all of our hope and trust in Jesus for our salvation.

The stark and majestically beautiful songs "Unlovable” and “I Don’t Deserve You” both showcase Plumb's wonderful voice, and don't miss how she soars with eagles on these dramatic songs. Both songs bring me to tears as I pray along with Tiffany with the incredible lyrics of “Unlovable.” She brings out the truth of our fallen and judgmental selves when she proclaims: “So we say we love Jesus / But didn’t we kill Him / ‘cause we thought He was different / I bet He was saying…Why Me? Why am I not welcome in your company? Why do you treat Me like an enemy? If you believe the way you say you do / then why am I unlovable to you?” Oh my, the tears just flow when I listen to that gorgeous song. Have a box of tissues when you listen to the Prodigal Son inspired “I Don’t Deserve You.”  Tiffany wrote the song directly to her song Oliver and as a father of three daughters, and a chosen son of my Heavenly Father, I can’t listen to this gorgeous song without being moved. The picture of God’s unconditional love for us after all that we’ve done wrong is profoundly captured in the chorus—“I don't deserve Your love / But You give it to me anyway / Can't get enough / You're everything I need / And when I walk away / You take off running and come right after me / It's what You do / And I don't deserve You.”

CLOSING THOUGHTS

Need You Now has been one of my favorite albums to savor in many years, as the combination of Tiffany Arbuckle-Lee’s incredible vocal range and her compelling and relevant lyrics have never been more perfectly combined than with this stellar and flawless masterpiece. Plumb’s longtime producer Matt Bronleewe perfectly describes her unique sound as "raw, lyrically introspective vocals floating across an epic soundscape." Every Plumb album is an immersion into her life. Each is unique, tied to the emotions and circumstances that inspired it, and yet each is timeless, identifiable as the outpouring of a singular artistic vision. Every song on this album is excellent, and Need You Now is the album of the year.

There are several signature style personal songs by Jeremy with very biblical lyrics and a personal calling out to God in faithfulness, such as in “Paradise” which acknowledges that this world is not our permanent home. Jeremy understands about living for eternity as he proclaims “On my knees, I will glorify, in Paradise, One day, I know I will be with You in Paradise, until that day I will surrender all my life, we’ll sing Hallelujah, Hallelujah, every knee will bow and say, Hallelujah, we’ll bring glory to Your name.” Amen to that! Bookending his personal commitment to walk with Christ, the album closes with another standout song “Without You,” which ends with the sincere words “I won’t make a move without You.”

CLOSING THOUGHTS

Filled with passionate songs birthed in the furnace of worship, prayer and intercession, Jeremy Camp’s new studio album Reckless is a powerful experience calling the body of Christ to a revival and restoration in Christ with eleven brand new original songs. The highlights are “Reckless,” “The Way You Love Me,” “Free,” “Paradise,” “We Must Remember” and “Without You.” The songs all have strong messages. There are several reflective songs for times of worship and adoration. There really aren’t any rockers like “Take My Life,” “Lay Down My Pride” or “Tonight,” and this album displays a softer adult contemporary musical style. The album is filled with messages of hope, confession and worship to our great God and Savior. Jeremy Camp’s enthusiastic and reverent style of writing and singing praise and worship songs has consistently been a draw for me. Camp’s prayerful sentiments are consistently filled with his personal adoration of God. Reckless is no exception.

As hard as “Release The Panic” starts, just like their last album many of the songs also include a soft choral and orchestral arrangement that just calms you. This excellent rock album totally brings the perfect package of heavy rock guitars and the emotive vocal punch and gorgeous strings found in the three previous RED albums. Teaming with legendary producer Howard Benson, Red has uncovered a potent set of standout songs including “Perfect Life,” “Die For You,” “Same Disease” and the title track. The band refused to stray away from its pull-no-punches brand of storytelling, with emotive lyrics dealing with mortality, abandonment, paths to redemption and the demands of a pop culture-obsessed society, as found on the initial single, “Perfect Life.” The lead single is a great example of the more pop-flavored rock sound as heard in their cover of Duran Duran’s “Ordinary World.” “Die For You” is a guaranteed hit song in any format, and is my new favorite rock anthem by this now legendary rock band. The idea of creative destruction unveiled in the midst of new life is found in the lyrics: “Someone please tell me what I’m supposed to do ‘cause you hate me, but I love you! / I can feel your madness now, I can feel your fire now, it’s what I burn for, it’s what I ache for, it’s what I bleed for, I would die for you.” 

 

“Damage” and “Same Disease” keep the rock flow going and the theme of this album is very cohesive as the songs all point to the concept of finding our true identity. The message of the song "Same Disease" perfectly embodies the duality of human beings where we are attracted to what destroys us. Michael brilliantly sings the lyrics “I am immune to you, you are immune to me, we are both sick souls with the same disease, it’s infecting me, it’s infecting you.” What’s cool about most of the songs are that although they may not be blatant Christian messages, you can interpret the songs from your own perspective. Even for believers, we ask God to show Himself to us, and reveal His ways. When I’m watching what’s going on around me, I sometimes get caught up in all the hype of the world, or get obsessed or depressed about worldly values. God has promised us that there is a place without all this craziness we see around us, “living in a desperate time” and that’s Heaven with “a light that will never die” where “He’ll make us whole again.”

CLOSING THOUGHTS

RED’s fourth project Release The Panic, has knocked it out of the park with their best overall album. I’m truly a fan of this band and I can’t get enough of their emotive hard rock. Even if you don’t normally listen to hard rock albums, the artistic nature of these songs draws you in and elicits an emotional response. The messages throughout many of the songs are very positive and although RED has had mainstream success, I don’t question the spiritual seeking nature of the lyrics, which are naturally much more Christ-centered than mainstream metal bands like Linkin Park that many have accurately compared to RED. The stand-out songs are “Perfect Life,” “Die For You,” “Same Disease,” “Hold Me Now,” “So Far Away,” “Glass House” and “The Moment We Come Alive.” This album firmly establishes RED as the premier hard rock band in all of Christian music.