Lanae' Hale [Back & Forth]
Posted May 19, 2009
By christianmusicreview,
[MAIN REVIEW]
Out of Gainesville Florida, Lanae’ Hale who developed her style by playing worship in church and trying out her songs in coffeehouses, is the latest addition at Centricity records. Like a lot of young women Lanae’ felt the enormous pressure of living up to our material world’s 21st century expectations and sometimes that pressure sweeps you into a dark corner. “I was into cutting and if not for the grace of God I may not have made it through. It’s hard to explain but sometimes you don’t like yourself and do bad things to yourself, such as cutting. If I can reach out to God and change then others can as well. More than anything else, I would like to help young girls through my own music and my own testimony.”
Knowing Lanae’s background and having 3 young daughters myself, I found this album and the message of redemption and God’s love bringing light and hope out of darkness to be compelling. The title song “Back & Forth” is all about that theme of redemption. Here’s the chorus: “If I could, than I would run across the sea, So You'd speak to me, Back and forth, the waves keep crashing, Hold on, my head, I keep on sinking, I need Your hand to steady me to bring Your peace to this storm”. The song is so catchy and personal, I can’t get enough of listening to Lanae’s testimony and amazing singing voice. “Beautiful Things” sticks with the theme of redemption and the cry to “sing in the rain, love without pain, and live everyday”. “Here’s My Heart” is another one of my favorite songs and has the cry of my heart to “know me well and change me deeply”. The spiritual messages are subtle yet strong and the album listens like an autobiography of Lanae’s life. She has a couple of songs about her marriage, including “Let’s Grow Old Together” and “Headed Home” which are also stand-out songs on the album. As I’ve been married for fifteen years, the beauty of the husband and wife relationship is well-captured in these great songs.
CLOSING THOUGHTS
This is a great album. I am very impressed by Lanae’s ability to blend messages of love, redemption and hope throughout her story with catchy melodies and a fantastic singing style. If you like Jewel, Sheryl Crow and Plumb, you’ll love Lanae’ Hale’s album “Back & Forth”.
Rating: 9.1 out of 10 (91%, A-)
Review written by: Kevin Davis | Review can also be found here.
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