Victorious (Single)
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Austin & Lindsey What You Need to Know:
Austin and Lindsey Adamec--a highly talented married duo who specialize in songwriting, multi-instrumental gifts and beautiful...
Jonah Part Two
by
KJ-52 KJ-52 is an energetic hip-hop artist who uses his story to reach common ground through an uncommon style. He continues to reach adults and youth alike, spreading the Gospel in an undeniably relatable way....
Victorious Truth | Posted April-05-2018 What You Need to Know:
Austin and Lindsey Adamec--a highly talented married duo who specialize in songwriting, multi-instrumental gifts and beautiful vocals--join forces for worship song "Victorious." You may recognize Lindsey from 1 Girl Nation and Austin from his solo singing and songwriting. Their music is inspired by their faith and marriage as they experience life as a newlywed couple battling busy schedules.
What it Sounds Like:
A worship song of relief, reminding of God's victory while providing lovely vocals and a combination of instruments creating a soft background with a strong drum beat.
Spiritual/Lyrical Highlights:
"Victorious" centers around the message that "our blessed assurance, our rock through the ages, Jesus, you reign victorious." It is a message we often need to be reminded of through our busy lives and difficult situations. It's a perfect anthem for anyone from student to parent to elderly. We all can find strength in God's victory over evil, and it is a poignant reminder as we find ourselves in the Easter season.
This song shows off Austin and Lindsey's talents in a beautiful way. Bringing powerful songwriting and Lindsey's vocals with the background support of Austin's voice, it shows what the couple is capable of. "Victorious" is a song you'll want to play in the car and pray to as you go through your day.
Lenten Prayers | Posted March-22-2018 Andrew Peterson has a history of bringing truthfully sweet acoustic stories to the table with albums like Counting Stars and The Burning Edge of Dawn. He brings the timely EP Resurrection Letters: Prologue to us before the Easter holiday. Listen in for breathtaking Biblical reminders carrying you through the death of Jesus. It is a precursor to his upcoming album, Resurrection Letters: Volume 1, which comes out on Good Friday and will celebrate life and Spring. Both are years-later prequels to his album Resurrection Letters: Volume 2 which released in 2008.
What it Sounds Like:
Peterson takes the gloomy moment of Jesus' death and dwells on the beauty found in the sacrifice. The project starts with "Last Words (Tenebrae)," a song with beautiful piano melody as a backdrop with crescendos and decrescendos to pull attention to the message. "Well Done, Good and Faithful" and "God Rested" show off the classic Andrew Peterson style: lovely vocals and acoustic undertones. "The Ninth Hour" draws you in as the dramatic strings and soft piano speak for themselves. In the bittersweet "Always Good," Peterson lays out a prayer recognizing God's goodness in a tough moment where goodness seems far away.
Spiritual Highlights:
Written as a Lenten prayer, this EP is essentially a study guide accompaniment to the death of Jesus. The intention of Prologue is clear: to bring us a timely reminder. "Last Words (Tenebrae)" repeats the phrase, "Father forgive them, for they know not what they do." The more you listen to those words, the more you will be brought down to your knees in awe. "Well Done, Good and Faithful" brings more light to humanity's affliction in the story and Jesus' prayer on the cross: "You are he who formed his flesh, by your almighty word / And since he hung upon the breast, his hope was in the Lord."
Best Song on the Record:
Last June, I remember reading about a mother who had just given birth and died shortly after. My heart broke for the new family, and I watched as a community rallied together to offer whatever they could. Andrew Peterson knew the family and wrote "Always Good" after hearing the husband, lying on the floor, say "He is always good" over and over again. After learning about that, "Always Good" has become my favorite song on this EP. Mandolin undertones bring this beautiful anthem to life as Peterson looks past the immediate sorrow to find goodness.
Peterson writes a story in music of the death and resurrection of Jesus. Prologue is an amazing EP, packed with reminders about the true meaning of Easter. The perfect soundtrack to your Lent Bible study, I cannot wait to hear Resurrection Letters: Volume 1 on Easter morning.
Old School Influences Modern | Posted March-17-2018
KJ-52 is an energetic hip-hop artist who uses his story to reach common ground through an uncommon style. He continues to reach adults and youth alike, spreading the Gospel in an undeniably relatable way. Coming hot off of Jonah Part 1, Jonah Part 2 mixes electronic undertones with strong beats and unique but catchy verses.
What it Sounds Like:
Old school hip-hop beats mix with a modern influence. This album feels like a throwback while also somehow sounding like your favorite new jam. With special guests like Zauntee, Datin and Canon, there's a mix of narrative flavors. Kicking off the album with spoken word on "Intro," the tone for the album is set. "Saw The Light (ft. Sean C. Johnson)" offers some crisp versatility from his usual upbeat, electric rap style. Of course, no KJ album would be complete without mentions of Mountain Dew and Godzilla, so look out for some fun references!
Spiritual/Lyrical Highlights:
"Intro" offers a peek into the spiritual journey of KJ, which is more than refreshing. "He Won't Fail Me (ft. Zauntee)" is an anthem for any fan, offering a powerful reminder that God will not leave our side. "All I Had (ft. Datin)" explains how Jesus worked to provide for KJ after he put all his trust in Him. "Birthday" sounds like a well-loved classic, explaining how every day is like a birthday because we need to be renewed each day. This is the kind of album that will not only lift up your energy but also your spirit!
Best Song on the Record:
"Saw the Light" feels new and light, a perfect Sunday morning cruise track. "Savage (ft. Canon)" shows off KJ's clever writing in a genius and fun way, featuring nods to Chick-fil-A and PSP's. It's always amazing to see what KJ comes up with next!
Getting new KJ tunes is like waking up on Christmas Day: you never know exactly what you're going to get, but you know it will be good. A creative mastermind, this project shows off his ministry and musical talent. With hand-picked guests that fit perfectly with each track, you won't be disappointed by Jonah Part Two.
A Modern Twist From a Classic Artist | Posted February-23-2018
Michael W. Smith has long been known as a bricklayer for the foundation of Christian music. After all, he is a multi-platinum artist and best-selling author as well as the founder for youth outreach center Rocketown-what can't he do? But even someone as successful as Smith has the seldom run-in with writer's block. At the end of 2016, he found himself searching for his voice. He found it just in time to release A Million Lights, a modern twist on his classic style. The goal of this album? To unite a broken audience.
He successfully finds the common ground in the title track "A Million Lights:" "For You, all the stars are singing / With You, every day I'm feeling alive." The song is centered around a synth backbeat that is subtle but catchy. Smith recently released a video for the song, illuminated by blue lighting and featuring an outer-space world in which the singer explores the galaxy. He admits to being a big fan of Sci-Fi, so it's no surprise that he drew inspiration from films like Star Wars and Lost In Space.
My favorite track on the album by far is "Conversation." As Smith says, "In the age of social media, people have forgotten how to talk with one another, to be civil. If you put these same people in a room together, what was once an agenda becomes a conversation." The album revisits this theme throughout, and the message stands out boldly in this song. It also focuses on Smith's new synth-sound, which fits well on this track.
When Smith lost his father in November 2015, he explained to his team that he was not going to write another record unless he found something exciting to write about. His standstill only lasted two weeks or so. The world's controversy awoke his creativity, and he seems to describe that in his song "Something In My Heart." He begins the song portraying "endless dreams" and "hesitation," but ends the verse with a line saying "If not for You I never move / You are the spark."
Another thing you may notice is that Smith gives us a glimpse into his own personal struggles in certain songs, including "Crashing Waves" and "Your Love," which describe a time where hope seemed far away. We've all had those times where all you can think about is the past or an unbearable tragedy. The great thing about these times is that hope is always near, as Smith sings in these songs--in "Crashing Waves," he declares "I'll never be the same, you rolled this stone away." He stands his ground on triumphant tracks like "Footsteps" and "Love Always Wins," songs that seem to say "I'm back and better than ever!" while also echoing truth we all need to hear. For anyone struggling right now, these are tracks to remind you where you come from!
You'll notice that Smith also has a high-profile feature on this album: Jordin Sparks sings along in "Hey Love," a song that is light but full of palpable joy. It describes the everlasting love Jesus has for us, especially powerful in the chorus with lines like "Hey love it's me, I want you like I wanted you back then, I want you more today than I did then." This song stands out, and how could it not with Sparks as a vocal guest?
The Bottom Line: In the end, we should all be grateful that Michael W. Smith found his voice again. A Million Lights is a testament to his ability to write through tough times, whether that be in his family or in the world. A Million Lights is the kind of album you want playing to remind yourself of God's truths, and it's an especially great album to loop in your car. If you can't get enough of this album, more Michael W. Smith is headed your way on February 23rd in the form of a live worship album, Surrounded.
MaddyAgers_NRT's Music and Book Reviews 
