NEEDHAM’S SOUL-TINGED POP IS COMPLETELY INFECTIOUS
Posted September 24, 2008
By ChristianMusicPlanet,
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! View All Music And Book Reviews By ChristianMusicPlanet | View ChristianMusicPlanet's Profile
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