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


NEEDTOBREATHE, HARD CUTS: Songs from the H A R D L O V E Sessions
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NEEDTOBREATHE
HARD CUTS: Songs from the H A R D L O V E Sessions



Artist Info: Discography
Genre(s): B-Sides / Pop Rock / Remix
Album length: 6 tracks: 21 minutes, 47 seconds
Street Date: August 11, 2017


READER RATING:   


Every Needtobreathe release brings with it certain high expectations due to their track record of producing excellent albums. This is why many fans were perplexed by their musical direction with H A R D L O V E in 2016. With this album of B-sides, titled Hard Cuts, it was uncertain as to what iteration of Needtobreathe fans would get. Would there be more synths and the pop production of H A R D L O V E? Or would we get a return to the southern rock/alternative of prior offerings? What we get here is some of both, and although an overall solid set of songs, Hard Cuts is clearly a B-sides album.

First off, we get another version of title track "Hard Love," this time featuring guest vocalist Serena Ryder that this reviewer didn't feel was necessary. Though not a bad song per se, simply slowing down the track and adding a different female vocal didn't feel interesting enough to warrant repeat listens. Also, we get another version of "Hard Love" as the final track, featuring yet another female vocal from Andra Day that just feels redundant. A highlight of the new cuts is "Waiting," an organ led song of yearning to a woman with lines like, "You keep me waiting/Shaking/Trembling/Chasing/Mistakes that I made/Which words did I say/Oh I can't take it I need you/Right now cause you keep me waiting." Also a great addition to the Needtobreathe catalogue is song "Count on Me," which feels very much like a cousin so their song "Brother" in message, though paced slower musically. This one would have fit nicely within the track listing of H A R D L O V E, and could have replaced one of the weaker tracks that did get included. The best of the new crop of songs though is "Cages." It's a simple piano song with lyrics that speak to anything looked to outside of Christ as just another "cage" of imprisonment. The chorus says, "I went looking for attention/in all the wrong places/I was seeking recognition/All I got was these cages." Overall, there is more to like than dislike and there are some solid additions to the Needtobreathe canon of songs. If you're looking for the cream of the crop, you'd do best to focus on "Waiting," "Count on Me," and "Cages." - Review date: 8/10/17, written by Josh Balogh of Jesusfreakhideout.com




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JFH Album Sampler
. Record Label: Atlantic Records
. Album length: 6 tracks: 21 minutes, 47 seconds
. Street Date: August 11, 2017
. Buy It: Amazon.com (CD)

  1. HARD LOVE (feat. Serena Ryder) (3:24)
  2. WAITING (3:21)
  3. COUNT ON ME (3:18)
  4. WALKING ON WATER (4:07)
  5. CAGES (4:04)
  6. HARD LOVE (feat. Andra Day) (3:38)

 

 

 

 

 

 



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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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