Best Album Of 2009
Posted January 04, 2010
By KevinMcNeese_NRT, Staff Reviewer
I can't recall an album ever making me long for the coming of Christ the way this album has. After listening to Heaven & Earth, it's probably an obvious reaction to 12 tracks solely dedicated to the topic, but it goes way beyond that. This album puts a pain in my heart, makes the everyday seem downright trivial and I almost feel that the skies are opening as the album continues on. This album is an experience of one man's true connection with his eternal future, and you instantly want to be there with him, soaking in the pure radiance of our Creator, worshiping at the throne of the Almighty King. What a day that will be!
What connects me most to this album is not only the lyrics and subject, but the overall production. The songs feel as if they are coming to you from another time and dimension. Phil's vocals are echoed, as if being recorded in a massive canyon, and layered in a way that reminds you of an angelic chorus. You hear high notes on a keyboard in the background and long chords that fade in and out, breathing life into the music and taking it to the heights that match the lyrics. In a way, this is one of the few albums where the music compliments and even lifts the lyrics instead of the other way around.
I'll be honest--Phil Wickham's voice has always grated me the wrong way. But here, it works incredibly well. To give credit to the production is not fair to Phil, because his signature delivery is still very much prominent. I simply feel that the overall style on Heaven And Earth suits his vocals better than his previous efforts and it's a pleasure to listen to something so unique that still resonates to my spiritual core.
As a Christian music consumer, I'm always on the line between two mediums. I want to be entertained and engaged with amazing music that is well structured and accessible. As a Christian, I want lyrics that I can relate with, that encourage me and challenge me to be a better disciple of Christ. It's not often that both connect throughout an entire album. But on Heaven And Earth, the subject is so poignant and soul-stirring, the music so captivating and modern, that I have no other choice than to name this the best album of the year. In a way, I hope you're scratching your head and will pick up the album out of sheer curiosity. That way, we can sing these songs in heaven together before the King. View All Music And Book Reviews By KevinMcNeese_NRT | View KevinMcNeese_NRT's Profile
|
