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JFH Indie Review

JFH Indie Music Spotlight Review

Wild Harbors, Monument

Wild Harbors
Monument

Artist Info: Discography
Street Date: March 15, 2019
Style: Folk / Indie
Buy It: iTunes
Buy It: AmazonMP3



C.S. Lewis once noted in his book The Four Loves that friendship begins when two people have a "What, you too?" moment. In other words, they find they have something in common or are in similar places, and that forms an instant bond between them. I believe this can happen to someone listening to music. The hearer thinks it's just another album and then suddenly they realize they and the artist are in the same territory. Such was my experience with listening to Wild Harbors' debut release, Monument.

Wild Harbors is the stage name of Chris and Jenna Badeker. Together this husband-wife duo joins a long list of other similar groups that have taken over the folk genre in recent years. Though folk is clearly Wild Harbors' foundation, their debut features a healthy mix of pop and rock moments throughout. The arrangements also vary from song-to-song, giving the record flavor. One song may be your standard pop offering ("We're Getting Better"), another may switch up the beat halfway through ("Battle"), or you may get a traditional ballad ("Ballad of Wallace and Jessie").

While the music and arrangements are strong, the lyrics propel this album even further. The Badeker's have a knack for crafting clever metaphors (consider especially "Water") and deftly write about their hopes, dreams, life, and marriage in a way that feels personal to them and yet accessible to the listener. Consider the chorus to "Alone Together": "I don't wanna be alone together/I don't wanna be close like stars/Side by side, my love, but still a million miles apart." You feel like you're listening in to an uncomfortable confession and yet any married person can relate to the sentiment. Each song packs its own punch, whether that's encouragement, dealing with marital issues, or just telling a tear-jerking story. Through it all, Wild Harbors shines with lyrics that feel more like poetry and not just words in a song.

I felt the punch of these tracks as I listened through the album the first time. I could relate or be inspired in some way as each minute ticked by. Monument is a near-perfect album. My only very minor critique would be that the track order could convey the movement of the theme through the record better, but again this is more of a nitpick. The forming of Wild Harbors and the making of this album was a leap of faith for the Badekers. Monument is a strong debut and will make many listeners (this reviewer included) happy that they made that choice.

- Review date: 3/13/19, written by John Underdown of Jesusfreakhideout.com



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JFH Indie Spotlight Review . Record Label: 756671 Records DK
. Album length: 10 tracks: 39 minutes, 53 seconds
. Street Date: March 15, 2019
. Buy It: iTunes
. Buy It: AmazonMP3

  1. Monument (4:09)
  2. We're Getting Better (3:21)
  3. House on Fire (3:43)
  4. Abigail (4:19)
  5. Come Clean (3:49)
  6. Alone Together (3:41)
  7. Water (3:43)
  8. Battle (4:30)
  9. The Ballad of Wallace and Jessie (3:52)
  10. Tomorrow Morning (4:46)

 

 

 

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This Friday, July 25, 2025
ALBUMS
Anchor & Braille New Mexico [Equal Vision]
B. Tee Told You [Syntax]
Bride Scarecrow Messiah CD Re-Release [Girder]
Empowered SALT - EP (independent)
Homesick Prodigals Different Good (independent)
KDNS After Eden [Syntax]
Olivia Lane Songs About Jesus (Deluxe Edition) [BEC]
Tasha Cobbs Leonard TASHA [Motown Gospel]
Kevi Morse Kingston We Winning [Syntax]
Pulpit Vomit Hospital Lens [Rottweiler]
Anthony & Tiffany Salerno Dance for Jesus - EP (independent)
Taylor & Co Worship Breakthrough - EP (independent)
Josh Wright LEAD (independent)

SINGLES
abenezer i was lost - Single [Gotee]
Joe L Barnes Good Shepherd (Studio Version) - Single [Provident]
Sho Baraka Still Got Faith (ft. L3xdivine) - Single [Syntax]
Gracie Binion Easy To Please - Single [BEC]
Katty Camargo Shine Upon Me - Single (independent)
The CCC Collective Thankful - Single (independent)
C4 Crotona Mr. Gritty - Single [Syntax]
CXMMXNS Trust and Obey (feat. CAIN) - Single [Provident]
EJ Swavv & Nickwit2Ks Growth - Single [Syntax]
Forrest Frank GOD'S GOT MY BACK - Single [River House / 10K]
Andrew Gonoude Closer To You - Single (independent)
Noah Paul Harrison Oh Lord My God (Live) - Single [Bethel]
J.Solo All I Have (ft. Kaboose & MotionPlus) - Single [Syntax]
Kings Kaleidoscope + Kings Kaleidoscope Hymns Amazing Grace - Single [BEC]
Tasha Layton Life In Me - Single [BEC]
Lecrae Bless You (feat. Torey D'Shaun) - Single [Reach]
TobyMac God Did It (feat. Jamie MacDonald) - Single [Capitol CMG]
Matt Maher Wait (Radio Version) - Single [Provident]
Hunter Plake Down to Earth - Single [BEC]
QEW JOYXFIX (ft. Stevie Rizo) - Single [Syntax]
Naomi Raine God Will Work It Out - Single [Tribl]
Rave Jesus Runnin' - Single [Provident]
Saints in Exile Bad Vibes - Single [Syntax]
Xander Sallows infinite - Single [DREAM]
Silent Reflection Left Me for Dead - Single [Syntax]
Michael W. Smith Your Love Is A Flood - Single [The Fuel]
John Stratton The Body and the Blood - Single [Pure Mosaic Services]
Regina Vandereijk You're the Light - Single (independent)
Joel Vaughn Feel It - Single [DREAM]
Zach Williams Killed A Man - Single [Provident]
Zauntee Jesus Down In Florida - Single [BEC]

VINYL
Bride Scarecrow Messiah Vinyl [Girder]

DVD
Jordan Smith The People's Hymnal DVD [Gaither]

This Saturday, July 26, 2025
SINGLES
Anthony & Tiffany Salerno What Would You Do? - Single (independent)

Next Friday, August 1, 2025
ALBUMS
Crash Rickshaw Big Sir - EP [Velvet Blue]
McKamey Legacy Holding to Truth [Horizon]
Ordained Thunder Roar [Girder]
V1 Worship Archives [DREAM Worship]

SINGLES
Dan Bremnes Human - Single [Curb]
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Sleeping At Last Believe - Single (independent)

VINYL
Disciple Attack! (Limited Run Vinyl) Vinyl [Girder]



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