Get the new FREE JFH MP3 compilation -- Vol. 14!
Get the new FREE JFH MP3 compilation -- Vol. 14!

JFH Music Review


Jon Foreman, The Wonderlands: Dawn
CLICK COVER TO ENLARGE

Jon Foreman
The Wonderlands: Dawn



Artist Info: Discography
Genre(s): Acoustic / Folk / Pop
Album length: 6 tracks
Street Date: October 23, 2015


READER RATING:   


In the 1890's, French impressionist painter Claude Monet did a series of 30 paintings of the Rouen Cathedral under various lighting conditions and at different times of the year to illustrate the importance of light and time in our perception of a subject. Jon Foreman has a similar vision for his Wonderland series, but instead of paintings, he used the medium of song and instead of a church, his subject is the human condition. With the preceding EP's tackling material like mortality, addiction, and hypocrisy, Dawn EP offers relief from the weightiness. The back porch acoustic number "Inheritance" kicks off the EP with a heartwarming story of Foreman's relationship with his wife Emily, threaded with a sweet and catchy chorus: "your heart is a work of art / I want to be rich in memories not money / our love is our inheritance, honey." All the songs here are well-constructed and thoughtful, but one that particularly stands out is "Mercy's War," which is characterized by a relaxed acoustic guitar accompanied by a playful clarinet. This casual setting is perfect for the poignant and poetic lyrics Foreman crafts to tell of the redemption God offers through the blood of Jesus. The EP and the series close on the fun "Before Our Time," which has an unexpected hoedown in the middle of the song. Few artists can pull off a project as ambitious as The Wonderlands, but Foreman makes it look easy. Dawn and Shadows are arguably the strongest EP's in the series, but this music is best experienced from start (Sunlight) to finish (Dawn).

- Review date: 10/4/15, written by Christopher Smith of Jesusfreakhideout.com



(JFH Sponsor Spot)

Get the new FREE JFH MP3 compilation -- Vol. 14!

 

JFH Staff's Additional 2 Cents


    Jon Foreman finishes up his "song for every hour of the day" project with Dawn, and a fine idea for a series of songs is drawn to a close in a grand fashion. Full of the kind of positive songs that you might associate with the breaking of day, Dawn ends the cycle of songs with beautiful musings on lifelong love, both of the romantic and spiritual kind. "Run Free" starts with quoting from the book of Isaiah (the same passage Jesus read in his hometown synagogue at the beginning of his ministry) and segues into a song where the Lord is the narrator, encouraging the believer to "run free," because of what has been done for you on the cross. "Inseparable" celebrates the powerful love of God, and "When We Collide" could have made a dynamic Switchfoot song. The whole 25-song collection (yeah, he snuck an extra one in there on Darkness) ends with the musically uplifting hoedown "Before Our Time," which serves as a fantastic catharsis for the whole Wonderlands project, and encourages the listener "to sing before our time runs out." Long live Jon Foreman, and may we all live in "the wonderlands" of God's grace. - 10/26/15, Alex Caldwell of Jesusfreakhideout.com

 

 

. Record Label: Lowercase People / Word Records
. Album length: 6 tracks
. Street Date: October 23, 2015

  1. Inheritance
  2. Run Free
  3. Inseparable
  4. When We Collide
  5. Mercy's War
  6. Before Our Time

 

 

 

 

 



Leave a Comment

 

 

go to main Album review page
go to Album review archive

 

 

                 
Get the new FREE JFH MP3 compilation -- Vol. 14!

Search JFH



This Wednesday, October 22, 2025
SINGLES
Phil Wickham Fear Has No Power - Single [Fair Trade]

This Friday, October 24, 2025
ALBUMS
John Allan Resurrection Power - EP [Centricity]
Dan Bremnes The Villain - EP [Curb]
Clear Convictions Endure (2025 Remaster) [Resuscitation]
Fepeste This World Ain't Mine to Change [Velvet Blue]
gio. FINE BY ME [Capitol CMG]
God Behind Bars Music Live From Angola Prison Vol. 1 [Provident]
Hulvey HE WILL RETURN - EP [Reach]
Brandon Lake Amazon Music Songline [Provident]
Latter Day Exploits Within Consumed (Expanded Edition) [Charon Collective]
VaShawn Mitchell SOUNDCHECK [Fair Trade]
MORIAH Nice Life - EP [F2]
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]
The Band JAREN Poetic - Single [Hit and Run]
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]
EJ Swavv & Jericko Love Like This - Single [Syntax]
Emerson Day Midnight Hour - Single [Fair Trade]
Good Weather Forecast lows2highs - Single [DREAM]
goodwill. REST - Single [Syntax]
Grace + Max Rich - Single [WieRok]
Mat Kearney Good Old Days - Single (independent)
Kelo Car Freestyle - Single [Syntax]
Vic Lucas I Need You (ft. IsaiahLaRoi) - Single [Syntax]
Jamie Macdonald You Can't Take My Song - Single [Capitol CMG]
Myles Maestro No Place - Single [Syntax]
Mercy Tribe Music The King is in the Room (feat. Ayiesha Woods) - Single (independent)
Mountains in the Sea Breakthrough - Single [DREAM]
Razzie & Glenn Ray Second Chances - Single [Syntax]
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]
tonyxtrotter, Yung Drew, Wayne Klassik HOLY HOLY HOLY - Single [Syntax]
The Undertaking! All Smiles - Single (independent)
Unseen Faith Cold Resolve - Single [Rottweiler Records]
Kim Zamolo Your Ways Are Higher - Single (independent)

VINYL
Clear Convictions Endure [Resuscitation]

Next Friday, October 31, 2025
ALBUMS
Hope Deferred Darkness Remains [The Charon Collective]
MORIAH Nice Life - EP [F2]
Testimony of Apocalypse Agony in the Garden [Roxx Records]

SINGLES
Dreamers My Heart His Home - Single [DREAM]
Roxanne Grace Try Again - Single [DREAM]
Lock & Chi Do To Me - Single (independent)
John Long Simple Pursuit - Single (independent)
Warren Zeiders How Great Thou Art - Single [Warner]


For all release dates, click here!
 

Purchase Original Art Prints, Drawings, Stickers, Bookmarks and more from JFH's own John DiBiase!
Need proofreading and editing help? We've got you covered! Click here to learn more
Check out depositphotos for royalty free images