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JFH Indie Review

JFH Indie Inspection Review

Jonathan Tekell

Jonathan Tekell
Love Me to Pieces

Street Date: March 30, 2018
Style: Acoustic / Worship
Official Site: Official Website
Buy It: iTunes
Buy It: AmazonMP3



Jonathan Tekell is a singer/musician/songwriter with a wide variety of musical influences driving his writing style. Tekell's musicianship dates back to his high school days when he learned a lot of music theory as he progressed. However, God challenged Jonathan with a surgery on his wrist to repair ligaments -- crippling his ability to play music. Tekell channeled his musical gifts into writing music when he could not play; God eventually used this to set up Jonathan's current platform and his album, Love Me to Pieces. Tekell has a rather interesting voice that may take time to grow on some, but I found myself drawn to it from the start. Think of a pop/punk singer doing some more tame acoustic and pop music; at times there are even shades of "Weird Al" in his vocals and melodies. (This is certainly not meant as an insult as I'm a HUGE fan of Mr. Yankovic.) Jillian Tekell, Jonathan's wife, also makes several vocal appearances on the record. Her voice is quite beautiful and blends with his quite nicely.

Most of the album is acoustic (and piano) worship based, but there are some other genres interspersed throughout. "We Leap For Joy" adds in an electro/pop sound to the mix, "Gather My Heart" has a rock and roll feel with overdriven guitars and leads (along with a lot of strings), and the title track is steeped in hip-hop. While stylistically the album is a bit all over the map, the message of each song is cohesive: they are all written to lift the name of Jesus and draw people to Him. Love Me to Pieces is an album that may not speak to everyone's tastes, but there are some truly good songs present. I'd recommend "More Thankful For You," "Playing the Enemy," "Stir Me Up God" (the single version has some cool differences) and "Communion." The Tekell's prayer for the record is simply "that people would meet Jesus in these songs, and that these songs would change people's lives, because when we truly meet Jesus, we can't help but be changed." As a musician, I can't imagine the thoughts Jonathan Tekell had after surgery -- not knowing if he would ever be able to play again. His story is one of perseverance and God's healing powers.

- Review date: 4/8/18, written by Michael Weaver of Jesusfreakhideout.com



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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]
Lauren Daigle Let It Be A Hallelujah - Single [Centricity]
Sleeping At Last Believe - Single (independent)

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



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