One Of The BEST Christian Albums Of The 2000's
Posted August 13, 2009
By SarahFine_NRT, Staff Reviewer
The year is 2002, the tour? Festival Con Dios. Jeremy Camp is an unknown Christian artist who had made a name leading worship at churches in Southern California--yet here he was opening for acts such as The Benjamin Gate, Audio Adrenaline and tobyMac. People didn't know what to expect, but what they walked away with? The songs of a man who had walked though one of the darknest valleys anyone could ever go through, losing his wife to cancer at only 21, and coming out the other side, with his hands held high, praising God for His neverending faithfulness. 'Stay' was relased a few months after Jeremy's run on the tour, and fans were FAR from dissapointed...
'Understand' sets the whole mood of the album--trusting God, even when it's the toughest, to know His Word is, and always will be true. 'Right Here' is a cry to God about knowing He will never leave us nor forsake us, while the biggest hit off the album, the moving 'Walk By faith' (written while on his honeymoon with first wife Melissa) is the firm foundation found in 2 Corinthians 5:7, "we walk by faith not by sight". Written in a time here Jeremy really was walking by faith and not by what he could see, this song is an anthem for anyone walking through trials of fire and trusting God through it all...finding Him faithful always.
'Stay', the title track is the fourth track and it diaplays Jeremy's booming vocal power as well as the amazing musicianship on this album. The music on this cut sounds easily like something you would hear on secular radio--with better lyrics to boot. 'All The Time' and favorite 'I Still Believe' follow up while the lyrically powerful 'One Day At A Time' offers up the raw message of beauty from pain. 'Breaking My Fall' and 'Nothing' slow down this emotional album, with both songs bringing into focus the powerful message of mending and healing. 'I Know Your Calling' (a track taken from one of his earliest indie albums 'Burden Me') is remade for this debut album. Jeremy's acoustic guitar playing on this song shine bright and the lyrics will stand out all on thier own as well.
Fan favorite (and one of Jeremy's most beloved songs to preform live) 'Take My Life' take this album to a whole new level. The grinding rock guitars, crashing symbols, powerful raw lyrics and Jeremy's bouts with the occasional death growl make this a hard one to ignore on this album--whether or not you buy this album, this is a song worth listening to if your into heavier rock music. The album closes on a worshipfl note with passionate praise song 'In Your Presence'. Not like what you might hear on Sunday morning, this is what makes this powerful worship song with heart gripping lyrics so wonderful to listen--and to worship God to.
'Stay' will remian one of the most infulential debut albums in Christian music and, in my opinion, it will stand out as one of the best Christian albums of the 2000's. This is an amazing start for Jeremy Camp, who has been and is going to continue to be, one of the most prominent male vocalists in Chrstian music. View All Music And Book Reviews By SarahFine_NRT | View SarahFine_NRT's Profile
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