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JFH Music Review




Natalie Grant
Deeper Life



Artist Info: Discography
Album length: 12 tracks
Street Date: February 11, 2003


Things haven't always been easy for Natalie Grant. After changing record companies twice, Grant has finally found a home with Curb Records. And now, with the release of Deeper Life, Grant is sure headed in the right direction with a solid third album.

Albums are always opening with something upbeat these days, and "Deeper Life" opens things off in the right direction. With plenty of signature Grant sounds, the song really reflects what this album is all about: seeking the deeper life in Jesus Christ. "Days Like These", a song that is almost too bubbly bright, comes next with an upbeat, but more organic, sound.

Things take a drastic turn when the Latin-flavored "Love Without Limits" pounds through the speakers, reminding us that God loves without any reserve. Adding in a little brass instrumentation, combined with drum loops and guitar, Natalie Grant uses her vocals to really bring home the message of the song. Another sudden turn comes with the soft pop feel of "Within Me". This tender ballad gets a little help from the London Session Orchestra, providing a great string background.

The radio hit, "I Will Be" is next on the track list, bringing us back to the upbeat pop reminiscent of "Keep On Shining", a radio hit from Grant's previous album, Stronger. With a completely organic sound, "I Will Be" is a major highlight on this record, and a major highlight in Grant's musical career.

As a surprise for Father's day, Natalie Grant recorded "Always Be Your Baby", a sweet song dedicated to her Dad. While the lyrics are touching, the song sounds too much like "Within Me". "That's When I'll Give Up (On Loving You)" follows, another upbeat song much like the opening to the album.

Completely penned by Grant, "Salvation" is almost out of place on this album. With a Gospel/R&B feel, the song is basically Natalie's testimony: "I gotta talk about it, sing about it/ I can't face the world without it/ Sweet salvation/ It's not magical, not mystical/ It's purely supernatural/ Sweet, sweet salvation."

With the writing talents of Cindy Morgan, "I Desire" is another highlight on this album. A big sound, soaring vocals, and marvelous instrumentation sets this song above the others on the album, and reaffirms Natalie Grant's life goal: to serve Christ. The edgier, rocky "Live For Today" is another track written by Grant with a message of living for the day, and following God's leading.

"I Am Not Alone" begins softly, but really opens up later on when Natalie Grant brings out some more of her smashing vocals accompanied by strings and gentle guitar. The final "bonus" track, "No Sign Of It" has to be one of the best on the entire album. The slightly upbeat "No Sign Of It" was featured in the upcoming Gwyneth Paltrow/Mike Myers film A View from the Top. Grant says the song really describes her career in music – the ups and downs and everything in between.

Natalie Grant sure has something going for her. With this newest album, containing some of her strongest work to date, she's really outdone herself. A solid record, a solid message, and a solid musical base, Deeper Life is sure to please fans of Grant's previous work, and it's also sure to bring in new listeners. Trouble has come to Natalie Grant in the past, but now, there's no sign of it, and her skies are definitely clear today.

- Review date: 7/16/03, written by Shaun Stevenson



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. Artist Info: Discography
. Record Label: Curb Records
. Album length: 12 tracks
. Street Date: February 11, 2003
. Buy It: Amazon.com

  1. Deeper Life
  2. Days Like These
  3. Love Without Limits
  4. Within Me
  5. I Will Be
  6. Always Be Your Baby
  7. That's When I'll Give Up (On Loving You)
  8. Salvation
  9. I Desire
  10. Live For Today
  11. I Am Not Alone
  12. No Sign Of It (bonus cut)

     

     

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This Friday, November 14, 2025
ALBUMS
Bethel Music We Must Respond (Deluxe) [Bethel]
Emery White Line Fever (Remastered) - Disc One (independent)
FYR FYTR Snow After Fire - EP (independent)
HolyName Three Bar Cross - EP (independent)
Jake and Mates Songs of Deliverance (independent)
JERICKO Ups and Downs - EP [Syntax]
Kings Kaleidoscope Asaph's Arrows II EP [BEC]
VIC LUCAS The Journey (Deluxe Version) [Syntax]
Ronnie Martin Evergreen Melodie [Velvet Blue]
NF FEAR - EP [Capitol]
Blessing Offor To All A Good Night [Capitol CMG]
Rave Jesus I MET GOD ON THE DANCEFLOOR [Provident]
Kristian Stanfill Come to Jesus [sixstepsrecords]
We Are Messengers Rejoice! (A Celtic Christmas) [Curb]
The Young Escape Not Done Yet [BEC]

SINGLES
ADRIEL CRUZ & JAMIL Praying For My Enemies - Single [Syntax]
BILL B. My Lord - Single [Syntax]
Biscuits Drifting Off (Hayloft) - Single [Circle Back]
Holly Brand Tennessee Christmas (feat. Warren Peay) - Single [Integrity]
Leanna Crawford Still Waters (Strings & Choir Version) - Single [Provident]
Melvin Crispell III, Jason Clayborn Whatever It Is - Single [Tyscot]
CUTRIGHT, ZIPPY, & QEW Pick it Up - Single [Syntax]
DRENAE Like U Do - Single [Syntax]
Eighteen Mile What Mercy Means - Single [Mountain Home Music]
His Kingdom Suffers There's No Light In This House - Single [Charon Collective]
KNALADEUS, SELAH THE CORNER, & AYO SHAMIR Let it Be (ft. JOSEPH SD) - Single [Syntax]
LEXLY NIRVANA Perdoname - Single [Syntax]
Richard Lynch Why Me Lord - Single [MTS]
Jamie MacDonald My Family - Single [Capitol CMG]
NEEDTOBREATHE Where You Call Home - Single [Omnivore]
Hunter Plake Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas - Single [BEC]
Skillet O Come, O Come Emmanuel - Single [Hear It Loud]

Next Sunday, November 16, 2025
ALBUMS
Bir Witness 26.13 (independent)

Next Thursday, November 20, 2025
SINGLES
The Rocky Valentines Happy Thanksgiving - Double Single [Velvet Blue]

Next Friday, November 21, 2025
ALBUMS
Drew Holcomb & the Neighbors, Ellie Holcomb I'll Be Home for Christmas - EP [Magnolia]
Joseph Habedank The Great Adventure: A Tribute to Steven Curtis Chapman [Daywind]
Andrew Marcus Christmas - EP (independent)
Stryper The Greatest Gift Of All [Frontiers]

SINGLES
Cliff & Antoinette Murray Happy Thanksgiving - Single [DREAM]
Good Weather Forecast Little Christmas - Single [DREAM]
Jake MacAdam, Mark & Sarah Tillman Christ Has Come - Single [Ocean House]
Life.Church Worship A Thousand Blessings - Single [Ocean House]
Seph Schlueter Cling To The Cross (feat. Matt Maher) - Single [sixsteps]

VINYL
Stryper The Greatest Gift Of All Vinyl [Girder]


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