With an eagerness to help others far exceeding her 25 years, Meredith Andrews has been leading worship since high school (currently at Harvest Bible Chapel in Rolling Meadows, IL) and is passionate about helping orphans in India and Guatemala. Singing about God's grace, love and hope for the broken is yet another form of outreach for her. Meredith's debut album, The Invitation, showcases powerful vocals accentuated by beautiful piano melodies. The recurring theme of the album is restoration: God invites us to come as we are, regardless of where we are in our lives. All we have to do is receive His invitation. Produced by Jason Ingram and Rusty Varenkamp, the album is full of hits with standouts including the soaring ballad and first radio single, "You're Not Alone." We invite you to experience Meredith Andrews, the talented new face making her mark on the CCM world and the local church alike.
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Solid debut album for great singer-songwriter| Posted October 16, 2008 Meredith Andrews is a great new singer-songwriter to hit the CCM scene. In the piano-based style of Vicky Beeching, Bethany Dillon, Ginny Owens and Nichole Nordeman, Meredith really impressed me with her first single You're Not Alone and I've been enjoying that stand-out song for months. It is a great song of comfort with this beautiful chorus: "You're not alone, For I am here, let me wipe away your every fear, My love I've never left your side, I have seen you through the darkest night, And I'm the one that who's loved you all your life, All of your life".
The Invitation is much more than just the outstanding You're Not Alone, and the acoustic version of the song is a great bonus track and really shows off Meredith's amazing vocals. You Invite Me In really sparks this solid debut album with a nice melody and sets the tone for this worship-filled album, produced by Jason Ingram. There are no filler songs and my other favorites are The River, which should also be a hit CCM radio single, and Draw Me Nearer. If you are looking for the next Ginny Owens, Dove Award Winning Best New Artist 2000, look no further than Meredith Andrews, a deserving "Billboard Face to Watch in 2008".
ANDREWS' DEBUT HOLDS ITS OWN| Posted September 24, 2008
As the worship leader of Chicago’s 12,000-member Harvest Bible Church, Meredith Andrews is accustomed to performing her own work. This experience is reflected in her debut album—characterized by her sweet, confident voice—proving she can hold her own in the Christian music industry.
The Invitation showcases her singing and songwriting talent in 11 songs, all of which she wrote or co-wrote. “God is extending an invitation to you, to you personally, calling you by name. He knows where you’ve been, and He knows your background. He knows your family situation. He knows the things you struggle with, but He’s calling you by name, and He’s inviting you to come in and to meet with Him and to know Him,” says Andrews of the title.
While most of the songs have a light melodic pop sound, the lyrics reveal a thoughtful expression of the universal struggle to draw closer to God, as in the album’s centerpiece, “You Invite Me In,” where lyrics explain, “I’ve been...ashamed of the shape I’m in/Afraid you’ll see who I really am, but you invite me in.”
This young singer/songwriter is on her way up—she was highlighted as one of Billboard’s 2008 “Faces to Watch” and just completed a tour with “New Artist” Dove winners Aaron Shust and Brandon Heath this spring. –Emily Wenstrom
This review has been reprinted on NRT with permission from Christian Music Planet. Click here to visit ChristianMusicPlanet.com today!
Meredith Andrews [The Invitation]| Posted September 24, 2008
[Main Review]
“Sing to the Lord a new song” is a phrase that comes up over and over again in the Psalms. Meredith Andrews is truly living out the word of God by offering up many new songs of praise to the Lord. She started out like any other Christian singer, serving and worshiping God in her own church. No visions of stardom, no dreams of glory; just a passionate spirit and a servant’s heart. In this album, “The Invitation,” Andrews extends her hands and voice to invite you to enter with her into a time of worshiping our Lord.
The first song gives the listener a visual of God waiting for us with His wide-open arms to come love Him and be with Him, despite whatever ashes our past may hold. The good thing about ashes is that they can be blown away with a gentle wind. “Now I am walking away from the life I once knew and running into your grace/ it covers my shame/ again and again/ I’ve found my life in you. You invite me in/doesn’t matter where I’ve been/you’re arms are open wide/there’s nothing left to hide.” There is no shame under the protection of Christ. Track two continues on inviting listeners to “Lift up your head, and throw off every chain, lift up your eyes to the one who doesn’t change…” Worship is not just singing or words; worship is action. Lifting up your eyes and hands can be an action symbolic of devoting yourself to the Lord, mentally and physically. It is freedom to throw off your chains and meet the eyes of the One who loves you more than life.
A big standout song is track six: “I’ve been wading in shallow water/ you’re the ocean I am after and I wanna go with you…/ Take me deeper and take me deeper to where you are/ that I may find you/ Take me further, take me further than where I’ve been/ I wanna be with you.” Through this slow and steady melody Andrews also speaks of coming through a desert place, out of the dust into His embrace, being drawn ever deeper into the love of her Savior.
It is hard not to get up and dance as the track eight starts to rock with “We are reconciled by love/ This is the new song we sing/ to the King of Heaven…/ We stand before you redeemed/ as you children…we who were once so far away/ are brought near by your love.” It’s a fun and perky mix, followed by some heavier sounds in the next few tracks, dealing with the greatness of God, and how hard it is for our human minds to fathom who He is. I believe that Andrews has made it clear that if no one buys her album, or she doesn’t reach top charts, it does not matter because she has done what God called her to do, and she did it for Him, no one else. The last three songs, although beautiful, are all a little too slow paced, and might be better mixed in with something more lively. However, this detracts from the overall effect very little.
In a press release, Andrews said “I never want to write songs just to write songs. I always want them to be about conveying the heart of God to people, whether they are people who walk with the Lord or people who don’t walk with the Lord,” she says. “I think the best way to do that is to do it through His word. I always want my songs to be infused with the word of God because if it’s my words, it’s null and void. What do I have to say to people that is going to change their lives? Nothing! But if it comes from the Lord, it’s that’s what’s going to change them.”
CLOSING THOUGHTS
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The project is honestly inspiring. Providing vivid pictures of hope, heaven, and eternity, this album is replete with spiritual refreshment. The lyrics speak of the security a Christian has in the heart and plan of an unchanging God of love. The best kind of music is music laced with scripture, and Meredith Andrews has provided a beautiful and artistic well of worship for brothers and sisters to draw from. One gets the sense that not only has Andrews released an album, but she has released her heart as well. Her focus is clearly on Christ, and this album is truly glorifying to God. This one is going to go through the charts.
Rating: 9.1 out of 10 (91%, A-)
Review written by: Liz Zelinski
(liz.zelinski@christianmusicreview.org)
Review can also be found at:
http://www.christianmusicreview.org/meredithandrews_theinvitation.html
This review has been reprinted on NRT with permission from ChristianMusicReview.org. Click here to visit ChristianMusicReview.org today!
Another Winner| Posted January 15, 2013
One of her best. My mom had this album and I would find myself wanting to listen to it off and on and didn't know why until I realized...it was because it's AWESOME!!! Go out and buy it for sure. You will not be dissapointed.
Amazing| Posted February 18, 2010
I love this album. The heart felt songs touch the deepest of a person's heart. From her pop songs like "New Song We Sing" to her ballads like "You're Not Alone". Her music can help you in any point of a persons life. This album is so simple and pure it is amazing. She is a blessed young woman and has a great gift of preaching the gospel through music.
"The Invitation" Invites Us To Worship!| Posted August 20, 2009
I'll be honest, first when I heard Meredith Andrew's single "You're Not Alone" on the radio, I wasn't that impressed. It seemed like typical CCM with that ever famous vibe Point of Grace created in the early 90s. But, after I'd heard the song a few times, I really listened to the lyrics, and the musical creativity within the song, and the song begin to grow on me. Before I knew it, I was asking for Meredith Andrews' album for my birthday, and, soon I was hooked.
Few artists have the lyrical depth that Meredith Andrews illustrates. Lyrics like "Take me through the desert places, for the chance to see your face. Take me through the breaking waves, into the depth of your embrace", in the song Deeper and "Still our eyes are blinded by the culture, by the lies, we can't see that we're filthy, we're fallen, we're dry.." in the song The River are much deeper than I'm used to seeing in a typical praise and worship album. Her lyrics are deep enough to stir up and challenge even the most theological of listeners, but are simple and catchy enough to learn quickly and sing along.
Along with that, the music on this album is extraordinary! Meredith Andrews has an INCREDIBLE voice, and her gentle, yet powerful voice draws you into the presence of God. The piano rifts in particular on this album, are very creative, and create a worshipful atmosphere.
The only flaw in this album is that there are not enough fast songs. The fact that two versions of "You're Not Alone" (acoustic & regular) are included is disappointing, as both versions are much too similar. More variety in tempo would have made this album more enjoyable!
Meredith Andrews' debut album is definitely a hit in my mind - and is perfect for playing in your car, or listening to in worship.
More then Amazing| Posted November 03, 2008
My wife and I feel very Blessed to have know Meredith since she was 6 years old. We heard her sing "I Love You Lord" at First Assembly of God" in Wilson, NC in 1989. She was a Beautiful child with a big voice. Meredith is now a beautiful Godly married woman with that same big voice that praises God and reaches out to people with great encouragement from His Word. The songs on "The Invitation" are extremely uplifting. I believe in many years when God calls her home to live with Him forever. He will surely say to her "enter into the joys of your Lord, good and faithful servant".
Touched my soul| Posted September 17, 2008
Meredith is amazing...not only in voice, but the words to each of her songs are incredible. It completely met me where I am at. She sings of so many truths of God. This is well needed....each and every song.
Amazing!| Posted July 15, 2008
I had the Oppurtunity to see Meredith Andrews at a Concert here in the Dallas/Fort Worth Area, seeing her perform "Your Not Alone". The Amazing Vocals, and lyrics of this song are ones that turn your heart.
"You're not alone, For I am here, let me wipe away your every tear, My love I've never left your side, I have seen you through the darkest nights, And I'm the one who's love you all your life, All your life"
Amazing! If for no other reason, get the Cd for this song.
Altho, Once you get this cd, and you place it in your cd Player, you will fall in love the other tracks and you will no doubt keep that CD in the player day and night.
An Invitation to buy The Invitation| Posted May 30, 2008
I only stumbled across this album because of a New Release Tuesday post and I am so glad I did. I haven't been able to get it out of my head since listening to it online. It's one of those albums that you hear once and just have to go buy the very next day. Lift Up Your Head and Treasure are my favourites but only because they're the ones I find I'm unconciously singing to myself all the time. You're Not Alone seems to come straight from the heart of God. The quality of all Meredith's songs and the heartfelt lyricism is fantastic across the board. It's emotional, passionate and best of all biblical. You really get a sense of a woman who is close to her creator and who wants to draw us closer too. Much Kudos Meredith. Everyone else go buy the CD, now!
God is shining down on this southern belle| Posted May 28, 2008
Well folks Meredith Andrews, what can I say. She is pretty, smart, intelligent and has the voice of an angel. Her CD Invitation is just that. It truly is an invitation into the heart of God. Many songs taken directly right from scripture. The song "You Are Not Alone," speaks to the fact that God Himself tells us that he will never leave us and that no matter the circumstances we are not alone. She even goes far enough to let those who may be hurting or feel distant from God that the Lord over all the universe invites them in through the song "You Invite Me In." Her Sophomore album straight from the heart of God through Meredith. I recently had the chance to talk to Meredith while attending service with her at Harvest Bible Chapel in Elgin, IL and she had this to say, "For the past year or so I have been sitting in many of the same services that you have and through the teaching of Pastor James God has spoken these messages and nuggets of truth into my heart so that I could make this CD and breath them out to others." (Paraphrase / Summation of the conversation) None the less, I now present to you...(drum roll please)
Meredith Andrews...The Invitation
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