BridgeCity Awakens Hearts
Posted February 09, 2015
By JJFrancesco_NRT, Staff Reviewer
The Pitch:
Christ Be Glorified is electronically-tinged pop/rock worship that shuffles between catchy hooks, exciting anthems and laid-back soft AC-style worship.
What Works:
The electrical backing to many of the songs coat these pop tunes in a catchy goodness that makes many of them difficult not to dance along to. "Awaken Hearts" is a radio-worthy anthem that almost harkens back to 90's-era CCM. Opening track "Light A Fire" carries the rocking energy you'd expect from such a track, and tinged with electronic hooks, it's a great kickstarter.
Reinventing old hymns is another surprising strength of this release. "The Old Rugged Cross" and "Nothing But The Blood" get a whole new life breathed into them with the electronic treatment. You might be tempted to write it off as a bit irreverent, but the hymns' beauty and earnest messages carry through well to the new approach. And perhaps the honest emotion behind the words resonates a bit more shaken from the standard style we've come to associate with them. All in all, some of these songs pack a surprising musical punch that helps elevate the album as a whole.
What Doesn't:
The album sags a bit when it foregoes the pop sound that works well for it in favor of a more standard approach. This is most apparent in some of the middle tracks, which get buried a bit under the weight of the stronger tracks. While never sacrificing vertical, lyrical integrity, some of the tunes become a bit complacent and forgettable when stacked next to the album's highlights.
Closing Thoughts:
BridgeCity develops the promise of earlier releases and creates some truly unique and enjoyable hits in this collection. It's hard to avoid the feeling of "mixed bag" when taking the highlights against some of the more standard offerings. However, the hits are truly standout offerings that could help establish the band as a powerhouse rising star in the coming months, and they definitely set more precedent to build on next time. If subsequent releases can capitalize on the areas that work best and strengthen the ones that don't, BridgeCity could easily climb to the level of spectacular.
Song to Download Now:
"Nothing But The Blood" (Get it on iTunes here.) View All Music And Book Reviews By JJFrancesco_NRT | View JJFrancesco_NRT's Profile
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