Sanctus Real write from the "Real Heart"
Posted September 21, 2010
By gizmodad,
Pieces of a Real Heart is fairly different to past albums from Sanctus Real. They are well renowned for their guitar-driven rock songs, but the only evidence of a rock song is Track 6, “Take Over Me” which brings back the traditional Sanctus Real sound, at the same time delivering the inspirational lyrics and message that the band aimed for with this album. So, if you are a rock fan or prefer the sound on the band’s other albums, then you won’t like this album as much. Sanctus Real uses a diverse range of sounds, such as the clever use of the banjo in the first single “Forgiven”. The album is produced by Christopher Stevens (tobyMac, Matthew West) and Jason Ingram (Tenth Avenue North, Bebo Norman). Jason Ingram is a well know contemporary Christian and worship producer, so his production of this album might have had some influence on the softer sound.
The main theme of this album is very clear. It is a reflection of the band’s goal to write honest songs that reflect their struggles in life, hence the title Pieces of a Real Heart.
A great song off the album is the lead single "Forgiven". The thing I love about this song is the big build up in the intro with guitars, drums and the banjo. This song is also about forgiveness and there is one key line in the chorus that shows the whole purpose of the song. “I don’t have to carry the weight of who I am, ‘cause I’m forgiven!” Forgiven is a great song but unfortunately it isn’t the biggest thing off this album.
Another song that needs recognition is Track 2 "These Things Take Time". This is a bouncy rock tune, but the rock is too a small extent. I find this song extremely catchy and easy to sing along to. The brief guitar instrumental is also very interesting because of it’s almost blues guitar sound.
The absolute stand out on the album and in my opinion the best song in Contemporary Christian music at the moment, is “Lead Me”. This song has been an incredible hit on Christian radio and it’s not hard to see why. This song is deeply personal and surrounds Matt Hammit’s as a husband, father and a man in need of God’s direction to be the best leader for his family. Matt cries out to God to lead him in his role and to be the best father and husband he can be. This song is very emotional and it has brought many listeners to tears.
In conclusion, if you’re a long-time fan of Sanctus Real (which I’m not) then you won’t enjoy this album as much because of its gentler pop and radio-friendly sound. This is a brand new band for me and I have enjoyed Sanctus Real’s positive message and inspirational tunes. In some places the sound is fairly single-channeled, but the album is very encouraging and personal. So if you’re ever going through any hard times in your Christian walk, Sanctus Real’s music has the ability to bring you closer to God. View All Music And Book Reviews By gizmodad | View gizmodad's Profile
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