Listen to the new album from Sam Hauge!
Listen to the new album from Sam Hauge!

JFH Indie Review

JFH Indie Music Spotlight Review

Natalie LaRue

Natalie LaRue
Even Now EP

Album length: 6 tracks: 25 minutes, 15 seconds
Street Date: June 15, 2012


LaRue was certainly an impressive duo in 1999 when every element of their approach was considered. Phillip LaRue was seventeen, and his little sister Natalie was fifteen, but their musical talent transcended their youth with both grace and spiritual fervor. Fast-forward to 2012, and both siblings are married with children but are nonetheless transparent in their passion for music. With Phillip having already made his solo debut three years ago, now it's Natalie's turn, and one Kickstarter campaign later, Even Now EP brings Natalie LaRue back into the spotlight.

LaRue as a collective pairing only became better as time went on; as the brother-sister duo matured, so did their songwriting, even if it was just little improvements over a four-year span. Natalie's debut solo project, however, is a brief but embracing collection that shows an entirely different methodology than her adolescent music-making days. As with Phillip, expecting a much older LaRue sibling to pick up where she musically left off would be a painful mistake, as a whole decade of life experiences since the duo's final album makes a visible impact. Still, Even Now is a project all Natalie's own, and it's invigorating to hear her striking voice once again.

Slower piano ballads, with some occasional light strings and percussion thrown in, make up the real bulk of Even Now, but in traditional LaRue fashion, nothing here ever leaves Jesus out of the equation. "Back to You," "Humble Me," "Glory," and "Home" are honest moments of pure worship, capturing Natalie's ardor for Christ without a sometimes too common stale aftertaste; her faith like a child still feels full-grown. "May You Have Victory" is self-descriptive, giving all glory to Christ in both the good and bad times ("Even now, in the midst of this mess, constantly draining me when all I need is rest/hold in my arms when I face defeat, even now, may You have victory"), and "Baby Boy" is Natalie's ode to the blessing of her newborn son ("Never knew I could love this way, every day a little more/when you came it changed everything, lost much but I gained it back tenfold"). Without feeling generic or forced, Natalie's vertical songwriting reflects her earthly emotions fairly and sympathetically, and Even Now is a comforting and revealing glimpse into her life story that's still being written.

With more than enough positives to mention, Even Now is still a restrained project that seems to barely get started as soon as it ends, and something about it feels momentary and less timeless than it should be. Even though it's not the most varied series of songs from a compositional standpoint, Natalie's foray back into music is a warmly welcomed one. While the LaRue siblings have taken their separate paths and left their "childish" ways behind them (a phrase used very loosely here), it's refreshing to see their more adult songwriting surface after all these years. And even when they're not together, LaRue is still very much alive and well in their fans' hearts.

- Review date: 6/14/12, written by Roger Gelwicks of Jesusfreakhideout.com



(JFH Sponsor Spot)

Back the upcoming album by Loch & Cain!

 

. Record Label: None
. Album length: 6 tracks: 25 minutes, 15 seconds
. Street Date: June 15, 2012

  1. Back to You (4:15)
  2. Humble Me (4:07)
  3. May You Have Victory (3:41)
  4. Baby Boy (4:50)
  5. Glory (3:52)
  6. Home (4:30)

 

 

 

go to main Indie review page
go to Indie Review Index

 

              
Back the upcoming album by Loch & Cain!

Search JFH




This Wednesday, June 7, 2023
SINGLES
Limoblaze & Madison Ryann Ward Pretty Day - Single [Reach]


This Friday, June 9, 2023
ALBUMS
Rose Everly Still Worship - Harp Vol. 2 [Integrity Music]
TrueSong Tell Someone [New Day]

SINGLES
Anberlin Lacerate - Single [Equal Vision]
Lion of Judah Colours - Single [BEC]
Zauntee Hard Work God First - Single [BEC]


Next Friday, June 16, 2023
ALBUMS
Anchor Hymns Sing, Sing, Sing - EP [Integrity Music]
Melvin Crispell, III No Failure [Sony]

SINGLES
George Mhondera Oh the Power - Single [BEC]
New Life Worship Nobody But You - Single [Integrity Music]
REVERE Contemple (O Rei Da Gloria) (Portuguese) [Live] - Single [Integrity Music]

VINYL
Owl City Coco Moon Vinyl (independent)


For all release dates, click here!
 



Check out the new album from Endeavored Urgency!




Listen to the New Album By Erin Corrado!

Check out depositphotos for royalty free images