Discussing his smash hit single "While I'm Waiting," "I'm sure most people can relate to this song," says singer/songwriter John Waller, "but the important thing to remember while we're waiting on God, is to not just wait, but to actively wait. Serve, worship and be faithful with what you have, where you are.even while you wait."
Indeed, this overflowing message of trust in the Lord is so important that it soon became the prevailing sentiment of Waller's sophomore album, also titled While I'm Waiting. With songs like "Faith Is Living," "Cling to the Call" and "The Lord Reigns Here," this writer of declaration-style anthems for the body of Christ is once again giving listeners biblical words to claim as their own during trying and uncertain times. "My calling is to go deeper into God's Word and to let that truth set me free," John relates. "When people sing the truth of God's Word it changes their lives. I don't know anything more powerful!"
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John Waller [While I'm Waiting]| Posted March 24, 2009 [MAIN REVIEW]
John Waller is a singer/songwriter/worship leader who originally gained national attention fronting According to John. After the band ended, John and his family moved to Denver, Colorado, and focused on writing songs for his church congregation. The people at SouthLink Church loved John’s music so much, they raised the money to finance his record. He eventually signed to Beach Street Records after Mark Miller—label owner and Sawyer Brown front man—was captured by John’s powerful songs. Waller's distinctive sound reflects the praise-oriented heart of a humble, devoted servant. As one who has previously struggled with depression, Waller conveys his message with refreshing authenticity and unabashed openness.
Discussing his smash hit single "While I'm Waiting," featured in the hit movie “Fireproof”: "I'm sure most people can relate to this song, but the important thing to remember while we're waiting on God, is to not just wait, but to actively wait. Serve, worship and be faithful with what you have, where you are, even while you wait."
If you like the song “While I’m Waiting”, then you’re in for a real treat with the entire album including the original and Fireproof Remix of the title song, originally released on “The Blessing”. Musically, I feel that the album is a slight step up, in particular with the songs “Hands Of The Healer”, “Cling To The Call”, “Quest”, “House Of God” and “Our God Reigns Here”, which are my other favorite songs on the album in addition to the title song, which is an amazing song. In particular I was struck by the song “Cling To The Call” which was one of the songs considered for the album title. The song continues the theme of “waiting” in that John waited 17 years to become a music artist and has held strong to that calling. John’s songs tend to be personal and based on real-life situations. “Quest” is a fun story-song that even references Don Quixote. The second half of the album builds to another very memorable song “Our God Reigns Here” which will have you singing along in praise to our Savior!
The message of the album is extremely biblical and uplifting and worthy of the highest message rating of any album I’ve heard this year. Almost every song has bible verses listed in the liner notes to go with the songs. For example, “Faith Is Living” is based on Hebrews 11:1: “Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” That type of encouragement is throughout the album, especially in songs like “House Of God” and the worshipful closing song “Perfect Peace”.
CLOSING THOUGHTS
This is a great adult contemporary worship album. If you like Steven Curtis Chapman, Casting Crowns, Bebo Norman and MercyMe, then you should really enjoy John Waller.
Rating: 9.6 out of 10 (96%, A)
Review written by: Kevin Davis | Review can also be found here.
This review has been reprinted on NRT with permission from ChristianMusicReview.org. Click here to visit ChristianMusicReview.org today!
While I'm Waiting| Posted April 03, 2009
John Waller’s sophomore project, While I’m Waiting, contains only nine new songs. Yes there are twelve tracks, but the title track was originally on Waller’s debut CD The Blessing which eliminates the ending “Fireproof remix” which includes sound bites from the popular Christian film. Also the guitar driven “priestly blessing” is a simple alternate version of the popular benediction originating from Numbers 6. Removing the title track takes a lot away from the album, but John Waller’s attempts pulls things together early on balances out the lacking second half of his contemporary pop album.
Starting off the CD is “Hands of the healer” a more convincing worship song than most, which is followed by the inspiration filled “faith is living”. The guitar driven “Cling to the call” has southern roots and “perfect peace” is too light to be a epic ending song. “Our God reigns here” is the most interesting song because of it’s out of place riffs which fade into a heavier than average praise and worship tune. John Waller takes no risks but does a good job making the upbeat “quest” an enjoyable listen even though the album as a whole lacks something new.
Thankfully John Waller does take a Biblical prospective to writing most of his songs which include passages of scripture frequently. For example “Dead Man’s Song says ‘I am crucified with Christ’ along with ‘if we try to save our life we will lose it’ and “Faith is Living: ‘It’s the evidence of things I cannot see/faith is the evidence of things I cannot see… you never live until you live by faith’. Waller takes on the traditional idea that “we go to Church” on “house of God”, and Waller writes a fine song regarding the Savior of men and the “quest”. The weakest songs are “hands of the healer” and “our God reigns here” which are typical worship songs.
Contrast John Waller’s While I’m Waiting with Warren Barfield’s Worth Fighting for back in May of 2008. Both albums featured song on Fireproof and Barfield’s “Love is not a fight” was even the song which backed the trail along with ending the film. However over the months While I’m waiting has since become the theme song for Fireproof as well as his album. What does that mean? It means that if you liked Barfield’s album you will love Waller’s because the depth of the lyrics flows almost as well as Waller’s album cover.
While I'm Waiting| Posted October 26, 2011
Overall I felt this release was much more upbeat than "As for Me and My House" with more rock oriented tracks. The lyrics are very worshipful and Christ centered and the album has a good variety of tempos to keep things interesting and engaging.
Wonderful| Posted June 19, 2011
I flat out love this album. There is a great mix of worship songs, and ones that you can just sing along with. Every sone is very nicely written, and they all have great messages. I recommend this guy to everyone.
Love it!!| Posted July 02, 2009
I absolutely love this cd! My favorite song on it is While I'm Waiting which is an amazing and worshipful song that spills over with passion. House of God is another good one that talks about how the church is made up of people, not a building. I also really like faith is living which is a song about (you guessed it) "you've never never lived until you've lived by faith." A few other really good ones are Our God Reigns Here and Hands of the Healer. A very good album all-around!
Awsome!| Posted April 06, 2009
With the mundane Christian music scene as of late, Waller brings life to it. Using "While I'm Waiting" as the foundation of this album, Waller crafts powerful songs with his brilliant songwriting skills. There is no sophomore slump with this album. If you haven't hear of John before, jump on the band wagon now; you won't be disappointed.
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