Love Come To Life is the first new album by Big Daddy Weave in over three years. Their last album What Life Would Be Like was one of my top ten albums of 2008, featuring the hit title track and “You Found Me” and I’ve been anxiously awaiting the follow-up which features the number one hit title track “Love Come To Life.” If you like that song, get this album immediately as this album has a cohesive theme based on the lyrics of that super-catchy song, “Bring Your love to life inside of me, a generation that you’re calling out, living everything that we sing about.” Amen! This new album demonstrates once again the passion and energy that have made Big Daddy Weave one of Christian music’s most compelling acts for nearly a dozen years. True to form, the project reflects real life and emotion, from longing and struggle to breakthrough and gratitude, with front man Mike Weaver’s forthright songwriting and intimate and unmistakable vocals backed by powerful arrangements and stellar musicianship. It derives its power from the fact that life and music intertwine so fully.

This band had me at “Audience of One” from their major label debut One & Only over ten years ago. Just like the debut album by Kutless, Big Daddy Weave’s sincere gospel messages and contemporary sound really hooked me as I had previously collected only secular music and after I was saved in 1999, I was excited to find great musical alternatives to the popular mainstream grunge and alternative rock bands from that time. I played saxophone all through grade school and college, so this band’s southern rock sound including a rocking saxophone part is something I’ve always enjoyed and reminds me of the bands I grew up with—Foreigner and Dave Matthews Band and current modern rock act O.A.R. One of the best first songs on any album this year is the epic opening track “Jesus Move” which includes a Brit-rock style. The song opens with a U2-like musical build up to the catchy and prayerful opening lyrics: “let the power of God fall down on us, let Your power fall down right now…let the Sprit of God pour out on us, let Your Spirit pour right now, For Your Glory, and You only, what You say is what we do, let Your passion become action, Holy Spirit come and move, cause Jesus we’re alive to glorify Your Name, so let Your Spirit rise among us now as we sing…Jesus Move!!”  No matter your musical preference if you love Jesus, I guarantee you’ll love this song. The band follows up that incredible opening track with “Magnificent God” which includes gang vocals and more powerful, prayerful and vertical lyrics: “We lift our eyes to You, our hope is found in You, You are glorious, almighty, infinite and holy, gracious, full of mercy…Magnificent God, our hearts are full of wonder, Magnificent God, we bow before all You are.” Amen! This band can really write a hooky and Truth-filled chorus, and these opening tracks including next song “Love Come To Life” are all catchy, relevant and worshipful like their previous hit songs “What Life Would Be Like” and “Every Time I Breathe.”

“Love Come To Life” and “Stay” each include the lyrics “why don’t You break my heart” and “break my heart for what breaks Yours” originally made popular by Hillsong UNITED’s “Hosanna” and can now be found in many popular songs including “My Own Little World” by Matthew West and “Jesus, Friend of Sinners” by Casting Crowns. If I have one criticism of popular songs in contemporary Christian music, it is the repeated use of meaningful phrases that could lose some of their impact if they are over-used. That being said, a stand-out track is the incredible song “If You Died Tonight,” which stops me in my tracks. It is a tender ballad with a straightforward salvation message: “If you died tonight, where would you be, where would your soul spend eternity, Jesus gave His life, if you just believe, it changes everything, if you died tonight.” Thank you for including such a bold song on your album. It takes until tracks ten and eleven, but my other favorite section of the album is “Maker Of The Wind” and “Give My Life Away” which both feature that classic Big Daddy Weave southern rock sound including a saxophone part. Both songs will get you fired up in the style of their hit songs “You Found Me” and “In Christ.” “Overwhelmed” poignantly ends the album with another prayer-song where Mike passionately sings “God I run into Your arms, unashamed because of mercy, I’m overwhelmed by You.” It is a worship ballad similar to “Completely Free” and is a wonderful bookend to this very solid album.

CLOSING THOUGHTS

After repeated listens, the sincere and poignant lyrics, musical excellence and Mike Weaver’s compelling vocals make Love Come To Life my new top album by this great band surpassing all of their previous excellent albums. There are several potential hit songs including the opening tracks “Jesus Move,” “Magnificent God,” and “Love Come To Life.” The middle of the album is anchored down by the powerful and moving song “If You Died Tonight.” Similar to previous offerings, they end the album with some incredible musical moments, especially in the closing tracks “Maker Of The Wind,” “Give My Life Away” and “Overwhelmed.”  If you’ve always liked this band, then you’ll absolutely want to get Love Come To Life by Big Daddy Weave.