Christy Nockels [Life Light Up]
Posted June 02, 2009
By christianmusicreview,
[MAIN REVIEW]
One of Christian music’s most recognizable and prolific female voices, Christy Nockels, was born in Ft. Worth, TX. Together as Watermark, Christy and her husband Nathan recorded five albums with Rocketown Records, including hit songs “Knees To The Earth”, “My Heart Your Home” and “Glory Of Your Name”. Christy and Nathan have served at Passion Conferences since 1997 and in 2008, they moved to Atlanta, GA to be a founding family of Passion City Church.
Christy released her first solo worship project, “Life Light Up”, with sixstepsrecords on June 2, 2009. The album opens up with a new recording of “No Not One”, co-written with Brandon Heath and originally released on “What If We”. I can’t get enough of this new version as it has a techno-style electronic beat and beautiful lyrics and a catchy melody. First single “Life Light Up” is next and is another highlight of the album with the call to live to be a light in the darkest night. I have to say, this is also the coolest album artwork I’ve seen since “Revelation” by Third Day.
The album slows down for the next several songs, all original songs written or co-written by Christy including an amazing hymn-rewrite original version of “A Mighty Fortress”. I can totally imagine singing that song in unison with other believers in praise of our God. After another nice ballad “In Your Hands”, written by Molley Moody, are the 3 excellent closing songs of the album. “Marvelous Light” was originally recorded and written by Charlie Hall and Christy does an amazing job of updating this excellent song. Just like “No Not One”, the song has an electronic feel and I love this song and new recording. “Hosanna” is originally by Brooke (Fraser) Ligertwood and recorded by Hillsong United and also covered last year by Starfield and by Christy on “Passion: God of This City”. This is one of my favorite new praise and worship songs of the decade and I can’t get enough of the song. I love that two of the premier female voices in Christian music have brought us the best studio and live recordings of this very passionate song. Christy does total justice to the great song and cry to “break my heart for what breaks Yours” in the bridge moves me every time I hear it.
The album closes with another hymn-rewrite of sorts, “By Our Love”. The song reflects the biblical truth “they’ll know we are Christians by our love”. Just like the other slower songs, Christy’s tender and powerful vocals are captivating and this song is sweet and moving like “I Saw What I Saw” by Sara Groves. This whole album just gives me goose bumps.
CLOSING THOUGHTS
This is my favorite female solo album of the year along with Lanae’ Hale’s “Back & Forth”. The highlights for me are “No Not One”, “Life Light Up”, “A Mighty Fortress”, “Marvelous Light”, “Hosanna” and “By Our Love”.
Rating: 9.5 out of 10 (95%, A)
Review written by: Kevin Davis | Review can also be found here.
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