Irish worship group We Are Messengers are primed to release their 3rd full-length album later this year, titled Wholehearted. As is customary in today's age, a plethora of singles are spontaneously generating. I enjoyed the openness and engaging melody of the first released single, "Come What May," but our focus now is the more standard "God You Are." Opening with its best lyric, we hear "when I was young you called my name/I tried to run but still you came/and you stepped into the dark, cause that's just the kind of God you are." The theme of the track is how God pursues and holds onto us, not because of anything in us, but because that's God's nature. This truth is shown to be most exceptional in Christ's death and resurrection. It's a solid theme that perhaps isn't explored enough, however, the metaphors used to magnify this truth seem rehashed and unoriginal, especially in the chorus, "Your death-defying love is written in your scars/you'll never quit on me/you'll always hold my heart."
The music unfortunately doesn't offer anything unique, if you're familiar with any of the half-ballads Christian radio has pumped out this millennium. It's just underwhelming, both in its overly-processed sound and lack of a melodic hook. The feature of Josh Baldwin, author of Bethel's mega-hit "Stand In Your Love," doesn't do justice to the songwriter's voice, and I had to listen intentionally a few times just to realize he was singing on it. The song is just too tame and lacks the fun inhibitions and Irish flair that makes We Are Messengers so proprietary in this space.
I have enjoyed much of what We Are Messengers has put out since their inception in 2015; they have a certain charm that's simply magnetic. My only concern here is that their mainstream success doesn't push them into a formulaic box, like so many others in the worship industry. Here's hoping "God You Are" is just the token radio play on Wholehearted, allowing their true colors to shine in the rest.
- Review date: 7/31/21, written by Joel Zaloum of Jesusfreakhideout.comRecord Label: Curb | Word Entertainment
NEEDTOBREATHE's Sold Out Red Rocks Performance Set to Stream Globally May 19 Wed, 27 Mar 2024 14:25:00 EST |
Hezekiah Walker Celebrates 30th Anniversary of Love Fellowship Tabernacle Wed, 27 Mar 2024 14:15:00 EST |
Alex Henry Foster Announces New Album, "Kimoyo" Wed, 27 Mar 2024 13:55:00 EST |
Barbara Mandrell's 'Precious Memories: 20 Hymns and Gospel Classics' Tops Christian Albums Chart Wed, 27 Mar 2024 13:15:00 EST |
Patrick Mayberry Earns First No. 1 At Radio With Psalm 23-Inspired "Lead On Good Shepherd" Tue, 26 Mar 2024 15:10:00 EST |
Atlanta, GA's Grungepunks To Release "The Fall Blues EP" Tue, 26 Mar 2024 15:00:00 EST |
Ryan Stevenson Delivers Summertime Vibes with "Just As You Are" Tue, 26 Mar 2024 13:30:00 EST |
Demi-Leigh Tebow to release debut book this August Mon, 18 Mar 2024 21:20:38 +0000 |
LIFELINE CHILDREN’S SERVICES, GRUPO NELSON PUBLISHERS CO-HOST BOOK LAUNCH AND SIGNING FOR “WHOSE AM I?” Thu, 14 Mar 2024 15:49:00 +0000 |
EEM’s Bibles for Kids Initiative to Provide 570,000 Free Bibles to Children & Teens in 2024 Mon, 04 Mar 2024 22:33:43 +0000 |