Free Song from Jimmy Needham!

Check it out! For a limited time, you can get Jimmy Needham's new song "I Will Find You" free from Noisetrade! The track is off his new album Clear the Stage, which releases March 27th, and features a guest appearance from Lecrae. Enjoy!

Stephanie Smith "Letting Go" Available for Download Today!

It's been a while since we've heard new music from Stephanie Smith ("Not Afraid"), but good news for fans -- her new single "Letting Go" is available on iTunes and Amazon mp3 today! Here is the official lyric video for your listening enjoyment!

Sixteen Cities: Love is Making a Way Review

Ever since the Centricity Music group Sixteen Cities released their self-titled debut in April 2010, they’ve enjoyed traveling the country and meeting new fans. Their first single from the project, “Sing Along” peaked at #28 on the Christian AC charts, even finding airplay over Abercrombie and Fitch’s store radio. Six months after the release of their debut, the Portland, Oregon-based worship group followed it up with the six-song Your Love Is… EP, which featured covers of popular worship anthems such as “Your Love Is Strong,” “Forever Reign,” and “Ready Now.” 2011 was a quiet year for the group on radio, but they continued traveling the country. (I personally had the chance to see them live two times last year.) But in December of last year, the group released a brand new single to radio after much anticipation from their fans. The title track off their new record, “Love is Making A Way” goes further to prove the effectiveness of the band’s ministry to share Christ in a practical way with their listeners. But while their debut more focused on an individual’s worth (“Someone’s Work of Art,” “Come as You Are,” “Innocent”), Love is Making a Way speaks more boldly about the power of Christ’s love, and how His love can and will break any barrier between us and Him. The ten-track project was well worth the wait, and as you are about to read, may even be a step up from their previous albums.

The fun and energetic “Sound of Love” is an awesome opener for Love Is Making a Way. Having a Newsboys sentiment to it, it’s almost a surprisingly upbeat and catchy song for Sixteen Cities to be heard singing. Speaking of how God’s love is singing over us, it’s a celebratory track, and is in all ways awesome. Josiah Warneking’s vocals sound better than ever, background vocals and harmonies complete the fullness, and the booming bass certainly makes it all the more catchy. “Sound of Love” is definitely single-worthy, and would also make a perfect concert intro!

The title track follows, still upbeat. Probably most noticeable about this heart-felt song of thanks for God’s deep love that breaks all chains in our life is the extra bass, which gives me chills every time I listen. A very fun track that makes me smile every time I listen, “Love is Making a Way” is also very worshipful and serves as an autobiography of lead singer Josiah’s life, how God healed his broken heart after his parent’s divorce. Hearing the meaning definitely accentuated the power of this song in my own life, and will no doubt cause the listener to ponder the power of God’s unconditional love.

“Glorious” follows, a moving worship song such as those that we’ve come to know and love from Sixteen Cities. The piano is a great opener, and things soon become very strong and powerful, even changing keys near the end. “Glorious” is totally original, yet it’s probably one of the best worship songs I’ve heard in my life. Sixteen Cities definitely knows how to deliver songs that provoke listener participation, and this is no exception.

“Still Here With Me” is my personal favorite off Love is Making a Way. The Psalm 23-like lyrics encourage the listener, reminding us that we are never alone. The lyrics, repeating themselves, definitely make for a great sing-along, and so do the emphatic fill-ins at the end of the chorus. Especially enjoyable to sing to is the strong chorus: “I’m sure that I’m not alone, not alone/ though the world tries to tell me so, tell me so/ in this valley I’m going through/ even when it’s hard to see, You’re still here with me!” The piano pop track is very full and encouraging simultaneously, making for one of the best works I’ve ever heard from Sixteen Cities. “All Around the World,” speeding things up again, is a track that fans have had a chance to hear a preview of during live shows. It is definitely great to hear what the guys have done to this track, which again brings out the message of God’s love raining down on us. Chad McCutchen does a fantastic job on the drums here, very quick and energetic, especially during the chorus.

The presence of God flows unhindered through “Mercy, Fall On Me,” a simple yet powerful prayer for God’s mercy and love to surround us.  “What It Must Be Like” has deeply contemplative lyrics, which are also quite creative. It also offers hope, and helps the listener to realize that God loves to watch over His children: “What it must be like to see the world through Your eyes/ to hear the prayers of a broken heart and be the breath of life/ what it must be like to hold the stars in place/ how Your glory shines over all the earth/ forever You will reign…”

“Walk On Water” is my second favorite off Love is Making A Way, as it explores the challenges of Peter in a way I’ve never quite looked at it. The lyrics are very heart-felt and worshipful, and I have often found myself repeating them throughout any hard time: “I’ll walk on water to You, if that’s the only way to get to where You are and fall into Your arms/ I’ll go wherever You say, I’ll take a leap of faith/ so tell me just how far, until I’m in Your arms.” Especially powerful is the touching bridge: “I wanna fall in, I wanna fall in Your arms.” Josiah’s vocals sound particularly amazing in this track as well, even in one point sounding electronic.

Closing the album are two prayers, “I Need You” and “Consume Me.” “I Need You” takes on a soft contemporary note, asking God to remind us that He is all we need. The monotonous melody of the verses was quite cool, especially when matched with the melodious chorus. “Consume Me” closes things well, with no drums, just a nice guitar strumming. The acoustic setting is perfect for the soft chorus, letting God know that there’s nothing else we’d rather have more than being consumed with more of Him. It’s an excellent closing track, and definitely a highlight from the album as a whole.

I have to say, I’ve been eagerly looking forward to a sophomore full-length Sixteen Cities project ever since the release of their debut project nearly two years ago. I’ve also had the chance to see the band several times, and hear sneak peaks into the new album, which increased my anticipation. Love is Making a Way was a wonderful follow-up! The ten-track project has Sixteen Cities better than ever. It seems the band has tried more of a definitive pop sound, which definitely works. And as always, the band hasn’t backed down from delivering their strong message of God’s unconditional love that they live out through their ministry. Love Is Making a Way will likely be my #1 favorite of 2012. Good job, Sixteen Cities!

Click on the picture to enlarge!

Rating: 5/5

Track listing:
1. The Sound of Love
2. Love is Making a Way
3. Glorious
4. Still Here With Me
5. All Around the World
6. Mercy, Fall on Me
7. What It Must Be Like
8. Walk on Water
9. I Need You
10. Consume Me

Releases February 28, 2012! Check out the preorder options here!

Kutless: Believer Review

What does it truly mean to be a believer in Christ? That’s the question Kutless explores through their seventh full-length studio project Believer. It seems like a simple title, but the album is far from that. And for those who might be asking whether Kutless has chosen to follow the hard rock scene they began with or pursue the worship that made them popular with It is Well and Strong Tower, the answer is both! Kutless delivers a fantastic thirteen-track project with relevant messages for our generation, and they’ve certainly found their sound in the process.

“If It Ends Today” is a rocker and excellent opener for their latest album. Though it’s fun and full of crowd fill-ins – a perfect live song! – it’s serious lyrically, speaking of rising up and representing Christ in these end times, even “if it ends today.” Jon Micah’s vocals also sound better than ever! “Carry On” follows, more worshipful, but has excellent lyrics, reminding the listener that where they can’t, God can, and that His strength is made perfect in our weakness.

“All Yours” is the best of the best vocals I’ve ever heard from Jon Micah, as he sings both high and low vocals and was pushed by his producer to explore areas he had never done before. “All Yours” speaks of counting it all as loss, because everything we own is God’s anyways. “Even If” comes as a modern day Psalm, choosing to praise God even if our hearts stay broken forever, because we know He is God and that His ways are not our ways: “Even if the healing doesn’t come and life falls apart and dreams are still undone/ You are God, You are good/ forever faithful One/ even if the healing, even if the healing doesn’t come.”

The slower, but strong “Hero” encourages listeners to step up to the plate and be the hero people are always looking for: “You could be a Hero/ you could be the change in this world/ rise above the normal/ don’t have to be afraid any more/ we are the light we are the hope/ we are the love inside worth fighting for/ you could be, you could be, you could be a hero…” With piano, “Identity” takes on a sound comparable to their Christmas music. Written by Kutless’ guitarist Nick Departee, the lyrics are phenomenal, realizing that Christ is our identity. Pounding drums definitely help to build the track well. In a day and age where it’s hard to know our identity, this track will no doubt become the theme song of many listeners’ life, as I know it will become mine.

“Need” follows as the most upbeat and energetic track off Believer. Heavy guitars, lead guitar, and booming drums all combine perfectly with Jon Micah’s emphatic vocals powerfully. Based on Mark 9:24, “Need” is based on the father of the demon-possessed child’s cry: “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!” “Need” will likely become the fan-favorite from Believe, especially fans who most enjoy Kutless’ rock anthems.

The emotional “Come Back Home” is a touching prodigal son song, written from God’s perspective, how He waits anxiously for us to return to Him. Especially a highlight is the bridge: “I’ve paid the price so have no fear/ there’s nothing but mercy here yeah/ mercy is waiting/ when you come back home.” “This is Love” is a portrayal of the agony that Jesus must’ve felt in the Garden of Gethsemane, yet how He chose to endure it because of His love for us. Somehow, hearing Kutless sing about it really makes it easy to picture the immense love of God for us during His last few hours.

“Gravity” boasts on behalf of Kutless’ excellent song writing, as the bold contemporary track depicts us running away from God, but His gravity pulling us back to Him. Lead guitar also helped make the track full. “I’m With You” is also strong, a very encouraging reminder that God is always with us, but especially when we feel broken, alone, and discouraged. Especially enjoyable are the repetitive lyrics of the chorus.

The title track follows as the second to last track, and is appropriately on the worshipful side of things, as it speaks of the hope we have in Jesus Christ. From the bridge, these lyrics are breath-taking: “No matter what you’ve done or how far you’ve run/ there is hope for you/ for every broken heart/ He’ll meet you where you are/ He will rescue you/ Let Him rescue you.” Lastly, the soft radio single “Carry Me to the Cross” closes the album, with the reminder that when life gets rough, we can find peace and comfort at the cross of Jesus.

It’s not hard to tell that Kutless poured themselves into their seventh full-length album Believer. Having been a fan of Kutless since the very beginning, I can honestly say that this album finds the rock group at their best. They’ve delivered mostly worship songs like the radio singles that have helped bring them fame, but they’ve also given us a nice handful of hard rock tracks with awesome messages, and a few in between. All in all, the phenomenal vocals, powerful lyrics, and always-perfect musical combinations make Kutless one of the best bands in the Christian music scene, in my opinion. Believer was one of my most anticipated albums of 2012, and it was definitely worth the wait!

Click on the picture to enlarge it! 

Rating: 5/5

Track listing:
1. If It Ends Today
2. Carry On
3. All Yours
4. Even If
5. Hero
6. Identity
7. Need
8. Come Back Home
9. This is Love
10. Gravity
11. I’m With You
12. Believer
13. Carry Me to the Cross

Releases February 28th, 2012!

For King and Country: Crave Review

Breakout Christian group of the year For King & Country has already been enjoying much success, even before the release of their debut full-length album. Not only has their single “Busted Heart” been doing exceptionally well at radio, they’ve also watched their songs “Light it Up,” “Love’s to Blame,” “Sane,” and “People Change” be featured on popular TV shows! Whether that be because of their ear-grabbing harmonies, hopeful lyrics of finding healing for a broken heart, or their musical diversity, it’s clear that For King & Country deserves the recognition they’ve received, and that Crave is poised to be a top album of 2012 for the listeners.

With a strong message of overcoming depression, “Light It Up” begins with soothing piano and soft vocals from Joel and Luke. Listening to this powerful song build through each portion makes it totally personal to someone struggling with the issue of depression, as the chorus encourages them to: “Light it up and let it go, don’t you see that you are not alone?” With strong strings comes “The Proof of Your Love,” sounding very much like what you would expect from Rebecca St. James (and it’s no wonder, since they are her siblings!). Based on 1 Corinthians 13, the both serene and strong track is a prayer that our life would show the love of Christ to those around us (“Let my love be the proof of Your love”).

The techno tempo in the background of “Missing” is very enjoyable, but the lyrics address a broken relationship. Following appropriately is For King & Country’s radio single “Busted Heart,” lighter than most of the tracks off their new album Crave, but very hopeful. Especially a standout is the message than in brokenness, we can call on Jesus to hold on to us during the hard time. This track has already been ministering to those in this position, and I have no doubt that it will continue to do so.

“People Change” speaks of relationship breakups, but with very high vocals, also speaks of how people can change, and relationships can be fixed if they are allowed to. “Middle of Your Heart” is especially a standout for it’s rhythmic and extremely catchy melody. Both brothers together have superb vocals, and it’s easy to hear from this track. In some parts, it almost sounds like Downhere with Marc Martel’s high but manly vocals. “Love’s To Blame,” a soft song with beautiful strings, speaks of two people previously wanting a relationship, but knowing it wasn’t meant to be. Despite its disappointing lyrics, it’s an extremely beautiful track.

“Fine Fine Life” is a celebration of the good in life, very upbeat and fun, something that you can crank up in your car and roll down the windows! The album comes to a slower note with the final three tracks off Crave, “Sane,” “Pushing on A Pull Door,” and the title track. The title track puts a wonderful ending to Crave, speaking of how hope is what we truly crave. It encourages the listener that no matter what happens in their life, God’s grace will get us through anything. It’s the slowest track off the album, but the sereneness makes the message of this powerful title track stick out all the more.

Crave, For King & Country’s debut full-length project, will no doubt make the listener an immediate fan. Their lyrical creativity, musical diversity, and superb vocals make them a standout from the current Christian music scene, as does their positive messages of finding hope for brokenness and enjoying the life God has given us. There’s no doubt we’ll be seeing more from For King & Country as their message enables them to sneak their Christ-centered lyrics into mainstream markets as well as find national airplay for their singles.

Rating: 4.5/5

Track listing:
1. Light it Up
2. The Proof of Your Love
3. Missing
4. Busted Heart (Hold On to Me)
5. People Change
6. Middle of Your Heart
7. Love’s to Blame
8. Fine Fine Life
9. Sane
10. Pushing on a Pull Door
11. Crave

Releases February 28th, 2012!

Sent By Ravens: Mean What You Say Review

If you’re looking for a unique Christian rock band, look no further than Sent By Ravens! Not only is their hardcore rock with explosive guitars, rough vocals, and extremely strong lyrics very appreciated, but also is the story of how God brought this group together and began their musical career! The fivesome (two of whom are originally from Hawaii) moved and connected in Hartsville, South Carolina where they recorded two independent EPs and where discovered by Tooth & Nail Records. Their 2010 debut Our Graceful Words peaked at #34 on Billboard Heatseekers Chart. Now, after two years of much anticipation from their fans, Sent By Ravens is back with their sophomore project Mean What You Say, released on February 28th.

Sent By Ravens’ honest lyrics and grunge rock are manifest through the short opening track “Prudence,” while “Listen,” stronger but with a slower tempo, addresses the irony that preaching at people produces little effect as much as loving them to Christ does. The poetic lyrics may be a bit hard to decipher at first, but once understood, they speak volumes of truth.

Lead singer Zach Riner’s vocals sound better than ever through “Rebuild, Release,” which has a Children 18:3 sentiment to it. Especially enjoyable are the emphatic vocals of the chorus: “I need to get this feeling out/ the walls are coming down/ I’d bleed for something real right now/ let’s build it from the ground!” Screamo and also strong background vocals during the bridge make “Rebuild, Release” my personal favorite off Say What You Mean. “Learn From the Night” with deep vocals, takes on a sad turn, and appropriately with its sad lyrics of regret – another fantastic track.

The crazily fun title track follows, emphasizing the importance of our words – a very powerful message that definitely sticks out with the lyric “You better mean what you say” throughout the verses and chorus. “However Long it Takes” again takes on a slower note, but the strong guitars make it far from mundane, with a message of broken relationships and restoration.

“Need It Today” has a metal sound to it, but has an awesome piano backing, while the haunting “Never Be Enough” again shows off Zach Riner’s fabulous vocals. Both tracks are relationship struggles, but are really nice listens.

While “We’re All Liars” is characterized by grunge guitars and screamo, it’s the awesome lyrics that make it a highlight: “Somebody is a liar!/ You shouldn’t play with fire, you may get burned!/ You know, you know/ I put my trust in this, but I know, I know/ I’ve been misplacing it.” “Best In Me” closes Mean What You Say on a slower note, with these thoughtful lyrics: “So just settle down/ this storm won’t last forever/ we’re built for more than this world…”

Sent By Ravens’ hardcore rock, poetic lyrics with strong messages, and astounding vocals combine very well to make SBR a standout rock band! I highly recommend Mean What You Say to fans of Children 18:3, and current fans of SBR will definitely be pleased with this project as well. Kudos to Sent By Ravens’ for another fantastic album!

Rating: 4/5

Track listing:
1. Prudence
2. Listen
3. Rebuild, Release
4. Learn From the Night
5. Mean What You Say
6. However Long It Takes
7. Need it Today
8. Never Be Enough
9. We’re All Liars
10. Best In Me

Releases February 28th, 2012!

Matt Brouwer: Till the Sunrise Review

Matt Brouwer has certainly made a name for himself in the past decade. With just three albums previously released, Matt has already won several awards for his heart-felt and relatable music, including two GMA Canada Covenant Awards and a JUNO Award in 2010. Now, Matt is back with his fourth album on his self-created record label Black Stone Records. Titled Till the Sunrise, this record was shaped mostly by Matt’s recent marriage. Being with Hannah, Matt says, has caused him to view people with more compassion and realize the importance of companions. This is obvious, making Till the Sunrise not only relatable, but a sweet project as well.

Matt Brouwer speaks of his love for his wife through the title track, which opens the album with nice acoustic guitar and booming drums. Also with a catchy melody, this sweet love song speaks of a trip he took with his new wife to Hawaii, where they spent a night gazing at the starry sky and realized he never wanted this love to end. A little bit more mellow, but still nice, “Tonight” speaks of spiritual rebirth, realizing just how powerful the love is God. This track accentuates Matt’s soft yet mature vocals.

With a Gospel and country twang to it, “Thornside” is an awesome conceptual track, one of my favorites from Till the Sunrise. Not only did Matt’s vocals fit the track absolutely perfectly, the lyrics portray a fictional town of “Thornside,” where, based on 2 Corinthians 12, God’s grace is the only thing that can set us free from our thorns in the flesh. The soft and encouraging “Ocean” follows, borrowing lyrics from the “Peace Like a River” hymn. Its beauty makes it a track easy to hit repeat on.

“Everlasting,” Psalm 139 put to melody, sees Matt singing a bit higher, showing off his flexible vocals. But I also enjoyed this Scripture song – it’s always awesome to hear a pure song of Scripture. “One For Another” speaks of the importance of unity, as the track itself has a fun upbeat pop sound. They high vocals in the chorus are quite catchy: “One for another, love (I know that we can be together)…”

The acoustic “One in A Million,” with a light drumbeat celebrates the fact that God has saved one specific person just for us, while “Someone Else’s Arms” has a swing twist to it. With it’s peaceful Southern feel, it reminds us that even when we betray God, He will still be there to welcome us with open arms when we run back to Him.

“Wish You Were Here,” too is made of acoustic guitars, but does have more of a full sound to it. Written around Christmastime, it depicts how Matt Brouwer missed his wife Hannah badly when he was scheduled to play in New York City and flew without her. The track is very sweet, and easy to sense the loneliness in it. I wouldn’t be surprised if this track became an anthem for separated couples, as the track itself is generic and has sweet lines such as “I wish you were here to help my world make sense and to break down my defenses the way that only you can know/ ‘cause love has made the whole thing new and I am not complete without you/ I’ve just got to have you near, I wish you were here.”

“Love Can Find Away,” co-written with Dave and JJ Heller, actually features JJ Heller in background and supportive vocals. The powerful track features a bit of a waltz tempo, and speaks of how love can find a way to our heart no matter what the circumstances may be. Closing the album is “Outside, Inside,” a very sad yet relatable song, as it speaks of the depression and devastation over losing someone close.

I have to be honest – despite Matt Brouwer’s successes and several albums, Till the Sunrise is really the first time I’ve listened to the 31-year-old’s music, besides a radio single here and there. Till the Sunrise definitely made me a fan! Many songs are deeply worshipful, others are contemplative or sweet, and several take on Southern twists that are highly enjoyable. This is a great album!

Rating: 4/5

Track listing:
1. Till the Sunrise
2. Tonight
3. Thornside
4. Ocean
5. Everlasting
6. One For Another
7. One In A Million
8. Someone Else’s Arms
9. Wish You Were Here
10. Love Can Find A Way
11. Outside, Inside

Releases February 28th, 2012!

Twila Paris: God Shed His Grace... Review

Twila Paris has always been patriotic. In fact, the year that she was first able to vote during a Presidential election (1981), she released her first album Knowin’ You’re Around. The direction of our country and the blessings of freedom we have always impacted Twila’s music. Now, 31 years later, again another Presidential election year, Twila releases her 23rd album, God Shed His Grace: Songs of Truth and Freedom. The album is a collection of her patriotic songs, and also contains tracks more specifically about trusting God at all times of our life – good or bad. Twila Paris has also included two brand new tracks, “God of Our Fathers” and “America the Beautiful,” for diehard fans who own her entire collection already.

Twila Paris definitely did a great job picking the 13-tracks of this patriotic album. “God of Our Fathers,” a new track, has a really nice light keyboard background accentuating her angelic vocals. It shows that she has definitely stayed true to the soft contemporary style she is known for. “America the Beautiful,” recorded in her living room, is backed by soft strings. It’s not very strong, but is very peaceful. Let’s just say, Twila Paris needs to be singing the national anthem at the Super Bowl next year! :)

The others include the originals “Wisdom” and the title track from the 1999 release True North, “I Can Do All Things” and “There Is A Plan” from the more recent 2007 Small Sacrifice release, “What Did He Die For?” from the 1996 release Where I Stand, and more. And of course, no Twila Paris collection would be complete without “God is In Control” from what is perhaps her best and most popular album yet, Beyond a Dream, released in 1993. It’s possibly her most well-known track, and it fits perfectly on a patriotic album, reminding the listener that whatever happens in this country, God is in control.

God Shed His Grace is a fantastic collection of patriotic songs from one of Christian music’s classic female vocalists. Twila Paris’s passion and love of the United States of America is undeniable, and something that she spreads with her listeners. Fans of hers who do not yet own her greatest hits projects will definitely enjoy this release, and those who already own them will not want to miss out on the two originals recorded just for this project!

Rating: 4/5

Track listing:
1. God of Our Fathers
2. True North
3. Wisdom
4. I See You Standing
5. The Warrior is A Child
6. There Is a Plan
7. God is In Control
8. How Beautiful
9. I Can Do All Things
10. Runner
11. What Did He Die For?
12. America the Beautiful
13. What Am I Without You?

Releases February 28th, 2012!

Music Video: We are Leo -- "Supernova Sunrise"

Check out this brand new music video from one of my new favorite bands -- We are Leo's "Supernova Sunrise"! Interesting fact for you: the video was filmed and directed by Ben Kasica, previously from Skillet!