The Sweet Spot
Posted January 14, 2015
By SarahFine_NRT, Staff Reviewer
20 years may not sound like a substantial chunk in the grand scheme of things, but for critically acclaimed, GRAMMY nominated male vocalist Brandon Heath, it's enough to flip life on its head completely.
No Turning Back, the latest studio offering from the "Give Me Your Eyes" songwriter, chronicles a milestone two decades since he gave his life to God. Each song reflects his personal journey, ranging from struggles in his newfound teenage faith to present day as a seasoned worship leader and blissful newlywed.
Right away, listeners are welcomed by Heath's signature lyricism. Songs like "Everything Must Go" and "Sing Brave" feel like sitting down and catching up with an old friend. While these tracks don't showcase his most original songwriting to date, they definitely present his most personal and heartfelt side.
"Girl Of My Dreams" falls along the same lines of the prior two songs. Recently married last summer, Heath pens the swoon-worthy tale of he and his wife's quirky courtship and marriage in what is sure to become a staple couples song: "Falling in love is a beautiful thing, like every morning's the first day of spring / God must be smiling down over me, I'm in love with the girl of my dreams."
A storyteller by design, Brandon is also known for producing songs that offer quite a bit to chew on thematically. If I could pinpoint a recurring theme throughout each song on this album, look no further than the message of selfless love-- in life both temporary and eternal.
"When You Look At Me" finds its core in being known entirely by God: "It's like I'm barefoot running through a golden field / Like a child, that's how You make me feel / Oh Lord, when You look at me."
In some sense, you can call this Brandon's most worshipful project yet. Prior albums full of genuinely tough questions led the way to this batch of eleven faith-fueled declarations. Take the sonically charged highlight "One Way To Heaven," which not only exemplifies how phenomenal Heath can sound when treated with the right amount of production, but lends an attractive gloss to a subject that could very easily feel overused or trite.
Closing Thoughts:
Brandon Heath is a well of creativity. Though his tried and true formula never grows tiresome, he hits his sweet spot when he pairs vibrant synth elements with his upbeat blend of acoustic pop. He's done this before of course, namely 2011's Leaving Eden, but perfects the marriage here in ways unlike before.
While Brandon has never been an artist to shy away from his faith, the bold No Turning Back is noticeably his most spiritually overt effort, with many moments thoughtfully acknowledging God in an intimate setting. This is a big step forward in Brandon Heath's ever-evolving career.
Song To Download Now:
"One Way To Heaven" (Get it on iTunes here.) View All Music And Book Reviews By SarahFine_NRT | View SarahFine_NRT's Profile
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