A Top-Notch Pop Album
Posted January 30, 2020
By JasminPatterson_NRT, Staff Reviewer
What You Need To Know
Fresh off a GRAMMY nomination for "God's Not Done With You" and an RIAA certified gold single for "Known," Tauren Wells releases his sophomore album, Citizen of Heaven.
What It Sounds Like
I haven't been this excited about an album in a long time! Whether it's the topics the songs address, the crafting of the lyrics, the vocal performance, musicality, and production, or Tauren's passion and sincere reach for God that shines through each note--every song on this album is incredible.
Tauren is known (no pun intended) for serving us music that is high-energy and fun but full of God's Word and presence at the same time. He does it again on Citizen of Heaven, perfectly balancing modern pop stylings with lyrics that are as biblically rich as they are honest and relatable.
This album is a perfect collection of both catchy tracks you can dance and snap your fingers to ("Like You Love Me, "Close") and worshipful ballads of prayer and trust in God ("Perfect Peace," "Done," "Carry On"). The album also has some powerhouse features from other artists: Bethel Music's Jenn Johnson on "Famous For (I Believe)", Kirk Franklin on "Millionaire (Good Like That)," Gary Levox of Rascal Flatts on "Until Grace", and even a sermon snippet from Pastor Steven Furtick of Elevation Church on the prelude to "Close."
Spiritual/Lyrical Highlights
A standout song and lyrical moment on the album is "Until Grace." The combination of Tauren and Gary Levox's vocals singing about how God's grace carries us through things we wouldn't have made it out of otherwise reminds me of Psalm 27:13-14. "Yet I am confident I will see the LORD's goodness while I am here in the land of the living. Wait patiently for the LORD. Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the LORD."
Best Song On The Record
This was a hard choice, but I'll pick "Millionaire (Good Like That)" for the best song. It's just plain fun. The concept is clever (The lyrics are: "If I had a dollar for every time they said God wasn't gonna come through, I'd be a millionaire"), the beat will immediately get you dancing and Kirk Franklin adds his unique flair and a Gospel touch that makes the song really special. The harmonies in the background vocals are pretty sweet too.
For Fans Of
Jordan Feliz, Stars Go Dim, Riley Clemmons, Dan Bremnes
Final Word
Citizen of Heaven is a top-notch pop album that will entertain you and help you connect with God at the same time. This one will be in your heavy rotation for months to come.
Buy the album on Apple Music or stream it on Spotify. View All Music And Book Reviews By JasminPatterson_NRT | View JasminPatterson_NRT's Profile
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