Dara Maclean [You Got My Attention]
Posted June 25, 2011
By KevinDavis_NRT, Staff Reviewer
Fervent Records’ soulful new artist Dara Maclean is guaranteed to turn heads with the release of her debut album, You Got My Attention. Produced by Dove Award-winner Ian Eskelin (Francesca Battistelli, Sidewalk Prophets), Maclean’s debut combines the soul and urban pop influences that infuse her musical approach with soaring vocals in service to intelligently uplifting lyrics. A singer of incredible grace, power and control as well as a gifted songwriter, she wrote or co-wrote all 12 of the tracks on the album. Opening track “Suitcases” is the debut single driven by an infectious beat and a vocal approach alternately intimate and soaring, and is an offer of true release from “your burdens, heavy like gravity.” I was immediately hooked right from the opening notes and the song uses the metaphor of carrying suitcases as a perfect depiction of the weight of sin that we don’t need to carry with us if we’ve put our faith in Jesus for our salvation. Dara gorgeously sings “You can’t run when you’re holding suitcases, It’s a new day throw away your mistakes and open up your heart, Lay down your guard, you don’t have to be afraid.” According to Dara, “I wanted to paint a picture of God’s complete restorative love and how through Christ, we have an opportunity to live free,” she says. “This song does just that.” Amen. Dara displays the strongest vocals I’ve heard in years, and her Brit-pop sounding vocals are similar to Adele and Natasha Bedingfield wrapped around Motown style soulful music as displayed on upbeat title track “You Got My Attention,” which is one of several 5 star songs on this flawless 5 star album.
“Unreachable,” “What Love Looks Like” and “Yours Forever” are all very personal songs where Dara really unveils what’s on her heart.“What Love Looks Like” has a hooky slower tempo guitar pick groove and confessional lyrics, “it takes you in, holds you close, never let’s you go, picture all the best things in life, that what Love looks like.” Vocally the songs remind me of “Clearview” by Tal & Acacia. “Yours Forever” is another standout ballad where Dara personally prays, “Thank You for finding me when You did, You changed my life, Now I believe that Love is all that I’ll ever need, I promise my heart and all that I am, I’m Yours forever my Love.” Fans of R&B style musical songs will flock to “Free” and “Nothing You Won’t Do,” surefire hit songs with great dance floor tempos like “Unwritten” by Natasha Bedingfield, both in music and message. They are great anthems about the freedom we have in Christ and that’s there’s nothing He won’t do to find us, even if we were the only one on the planet. He loves us that much.
Several of the songs include biblical lyrics, especially “The One” which has Dara declaring “You are the Way, the Truth, Jesus, You’re the only One.” “Had To Be You” is another beautiful and confessional ballad as Dara soulfully sings “I’ve been waiting all my life, just to find someone like You, Love You caught me by surprise, One look and I just knew, it had to be You, No One else can love me like You, Eternally I’m Yours, it’s true, nothing in this world can change the meaning of forever, me and You.” Closing songs “So Good To Me,” “Gratitude” and “Home” are all prayerful offerings of thanks. Dara is clearly a grateful believer who is unashamed of her salvation and many of these songs are invitations into Dara’s prayer life. If you don’t know how to word your prayers of thankfulness for what Jesus has done for you, just sing along with these incredible songs of faith.Don’t hesitate to buy this masterpiece!
CLOSING THOUGHTS
Dara Maclean's debut album You Got My Attention blew me away! This is my top album of the year for sure and Dara Maclean is the best new artist I've heard in CCM since Francesca Battistelli. Her sound is a perfect blend of Brit-pop soulful female artists Adele, Natasha Bedingfield and Duffy. I can’t get enough of this album which for me is flawless with twelve amazing songs. For sure you’ll be hearing her name and her songs. Dara is my surefire choice for best new artist, female vocalist and pop/contemporary album of the year. View All Music And Book Reviews By KevinDavis_NRT | View KevinDavis_NRT's Profile
|
