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JFH Music Review




Shawn McDonald
Simply Nothing



Artist Info: Discography
Album length: 12 tracks
Street Date: August 10, 2004


Shawn McDonald, one of the newer artists in the Christian music industry, wasn't always a laid-back Seattle-based singer-song writer. The Sparrow Recording artist is a living testimony of God's grace and wonder. Six years ago, as a lost kid on the streets of Eugene, Oregon, Shawn fell into a depth of sin involving nine felony charges for possessing, growing, manufacturing and dealing marijuana, LSD, and other controlled substances. After his second drug bust, McDonald made a total 180 turn in his life when falling to his knees and accepting Christ. Now, with his truthful pretensions, McDonald shares his testimony through his sophisticated, sensible, and yet simple album, Simply Nothing.

Simply Nothing, produced by Chris Stevens (TobyMac, Paul Wright, Cadet), is McDonald's first piece of art, which has the creativity yet simplicity of an album written by an artist who has been in the business for awhile. McDonald's unique acoustic-soul sound blends with hints of hip-hop, organic instrumentation, rich vocals and emotion filled lyrics to produce an amazing new album.

Starting off the album is "Take My Hands", an upbeat genre-bending song which begins the thinking process for the album. With themes ranging from a need for God to the desire for the hard truth over a lie, this album is full of eloquence and emotion. The string-like acoustic and folk blend in "Gravity" follows. As the project's first single, the song shows Shawn's yearning to have a deeper relationship with God. Later in the album is Shawn's expression of worship with "Here I Am". Drawing comparisons from a variety of artists and styles of music, you may find an appreciation for Shawn McDonald's music. With a few repetitive yet deeply intriguing lyrics throughout the songs on the record, we can see that McDonald is still a rising artist but that his progress will be interesting to watch in the near future.

- Review date: 7/26/04, written by Jessica Vander Loop



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. Artist Info: Discography
. Record Label: Sparrow Records
. Album length: 12 tracks
. Street Date: August 10, 2004
. Buy It: Amazon.com

  1. Take My Hand
  2. Gravity
  3. Hold On
  4. Simply Nothing
  5. Beautiful
  6. Don't Walk Away
  7. All I Need
  8. Take This Life
  9. Have You Ever
  10. Here I Am
  11. Yahweh
  12. Open Me
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This Friday, October 17, 2025
ALBUMS
ANTHNY DIARY ENTRY 1 [Provident]
AOH Music BEHOLD (Acoustic Live), Vol. 1 (independent)
Blanca Full Bloom [Curb]
Chris Blue Every Day Is Christmas [Gaither]
Geoff Moore and The Distance Foundations (Re-Release) [Girder]
Geoff Moore and The Distance A Place To Stand (Re-Release) [Girder]
Vince Gill 50 Years From Home: I Gave You Everything I Had - EP [UMG]
Nate Parrish Make Me A Mountain (independent)
Psallos The New and Better Way: Hymns of Hebrews (independent)
Anne Wilson Stars [Capitol CMG]
Megan Woods The Truth EP [Fair Trade]

SINGLES
Elevation Worship Jesus Be The Name - Single [Provident]
F'rael God's Wheel (ft. TRYBISHOP) - Single [Syntax]
Brandon Lake When A Cowboy Prays (Amazon Music Songline) - Single [Provident]
LEON Undefeated - Single [El Rescate Music]
No Vain Glory UNLEADED - Single [Syntax]
Park 7 The Hope Is On The Way - Single (independent)
Rave Jesus & Gracie Binion Need Your Love - Single [Provident]
REFVGE, Cyfë II & WAY? U P W A R D S ft. Bianca Silver & Josh LeCroy - Single [Syntax]
Rhymes In Harmony & MAYIA My Sister - Single [Syntax]
Rock City Worship Gravestone - Single [Capitol CMG]
Anton Scholl Born To Love You - Single [Near Kingdom]
Nathan Sheridan Don't Lose Hope - Single [WieRok]
SNT. VINCENT Feast of the Saints - Single [Syntax]
Vertical Kings Faith In Stereo - Single [Covenant]
Vic Lucas, Essence Natay & Ashleey Barnes Let it Rain - Single [Syntax]
Zane Vickery All Things New - Single (independent)
Aaron Williams Abide (feat. CAIN) - Single [Integrity]

DVD
Chris Blue Every Day Is Christmas DVD [Gaither]

Next Friday, October 24, 2025
ALBUMS
John Allan untitled EP [Centricity]
Dan Bremnes The Villain - EP [Curb]
Clear Convictions Endure [Resuscitation]
God Behind Bars Music Live From Angola Prison Vol. 1 [Provident]
Fepeste This World Ain't Mine to Change [Velvet Blue]
gio. FINE BY ME [Capitol CMG]
Brandon Lake Amazon Music Songline [Provident]
Tyson Motsenbocker Modern Worries [Tooth & Nail]
Smalltown Poets St. Augustine (independent)
Zahriya Zachary Rediscovery [Bethel]

SINGLES
29:11 Worship, Zion Rempel You Never Fail (feat. Emily Guy) - Single [DREAM]
Joe L Barnes Grief, Joy, Gratitude - Single [Provident]
Chad Cory, Zacardi Cortez My First Love (Remix) - Single [DREAM]
Leanna Crawford Beginning Of Your Grace - Single [Provident]
darthy Juniper Tree - Single [WieRok]
Emerson Day Midnight Hour - Single [Fair Trade]
Good Weather Forecast lows2highs - Single [DREAM]
Grace + Max Rich - Single [WieRok]
Mercy Tribe Music The King is in the Room (feat. Ayiesha Woods) - Single (independent)
Mountains in the Sea You Never Fail (feat. Emily Guy) - Single [DREAM]
Seph Schlueter Already On The Way (feat. Benjamin William Hastings) - Single [Provident]
Tomb Slayer The Christmas Lamb (feat. Khristian Dentley & Sarah Whittemore) - Single [Tomb Slayer]
The Undertaking! All Smiles - Single (independent)

VINYL
Clear Convictions Endure [Resuscitation]


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