One of the Best Albums of 2021
Posted July 01, 2021
By BPence,
I first heard Ellie Holcomb on the song “Elizabeth”, a song she wrote with Kristyn Getty and included on the 2017 album Sing! - An Irish Christmas: Live at the Grand Ole Opry House. Watch a live performance of the song here.
I was attracted to this album by a tweet from NEEDTOBREATHE indicating that lead singer Bear Rinehart had teamed up with Holcomb for “Sweet Ever After”. I’m glad I checked out the album, as it’s one of my favorites of 2020.
The album was inspired by a trip Holcomb took to the Grand Canyon last summer. She has said that the songs, born out of a season of a lot of personal and global (COVID-19, racial tension, etc.) loss, feel like a soundtrack to healing and hope.
Canyon, produced by Cason Colley, is Holcomb’s follow-up to her 2017 Red Sea Road album. Holcomb’s father, Christian music veteran Brown Bannister served as executive producer.
Here are a few brief comments about each song:
I Don't Want To Miss It - This upbeat song was written by Thad Cockrell, Cason Cooley and Ellie Holcomb. The song features drums, bass, piano, backing vocals, and banjo. She doesn’t want to miss God’s voice and touch.
Key lyrics:
I don't want to miss a thing
So I climbed up in a sycamore tree
'Cause I don't want to miss a thing
And I don't want to miss it
I don't want to miss a thing
I don't want to miss the melody
That You've been singing over me
Canyon - This hopeful song was written by Thad Cockrell, Cason Cooley and Ellie Holcomb. The song features, banjo, backing vocals, drums, piano and bass. She found the Lord in the desert. Holcomb has said that this song, and the album, is about a deeper sorrow and a higher hope. There’s a river running through her deepest sorrow and pain. There’s a river running through every dream that never came true.
Key lyrics:
I walked into the desert and I found You
You set a table for me in the presence of my enemies
To share with my enemies
No longer my enemies
Color – Holcomb sings of stone-cold lonely nights when she built her house on sand. She thought the truth was black and white, but now sees it is made of color. The song, which builds powerfully, features keys, finger snaps, bass, guitar, drums and backing vocals.
Key lyrics:
In the broken sanctuary light
I'm surrendered, I am hypnotized
I can see You even though I'm blind
This world is made of color
Bridge - This song was written by Jordan Reynolds, Ellie Reynolds, Ellie Holcomb, Carly Bannister and Alexandria Mowry. The song features piano, guitar, bass, drums and backing vocals. The song is about racial reconciliation, rebuilding what has been broken, repentance and forgiveness.
Key lyrics:
I wanna listen, I wanna repent
It's time to rebuild what's been broken
Teach me to love, help me learn to forgive
And when hate melts it down, we'll rebuild it again
Paradox - This song was written by Natalie Hemby and Ellie Holcomb and features Hemby. She thought see would see God clearly from the top of the world, but now that she is in the valley looking up God has never felt so close. The song features piano, keys, backing vocals, bass and drums.
Key lyrics:
And now I'm in a valley, looking up
You have never felt so close
Canyons all around me, stars above
Meet me in the depths below
Where the lost is found
Where the broken is crowned
Where the souls rise up
From the ground
You got me in the valley, looking up
Brand New Day – This song was written by Jeremiah Dunlap, Matt Wertz and Ellie Holcomb. We all fall down and get banged up. There’s a storm, but you’ve not going under. It’s a brand-new day. I really enjoyed the musical arrangement on this song, featuring guitar, hand claps, bass and backing vocals.
Key lyrics:
Mercy new, don't miss the way it shines
It's a brand-new day
Sweet Ever After – This song was written by Bear Rinehart and Ellie Holcomb, and features Rinehart of NEEDTOBREATHE. The song references the tornado that struck Nashville in March, 2020, and features banjo, bass, backing vocals, drums. The sun is coming up on the stairway to Heaven in the sweet ever after.
Key lyrics:
Got a lot of bad days still coming our way
But a sweet ever after
Wind and waves breaking over our walls
But the ship, it don't shatter
Stronger - This song was written by Nicole Witt, Ellie Holcomb and Christa Wells. The encouraging song is about being stronger than your fear. It features piano, drums, guitar and backing vocals.
Key lyrics:
Go fly away my dear, up to the golden sun
Don't build your home right here, you were made for love
Worry whispers lies but let the truth be clear
You are stronger, love, you are stronger than your fear
Mine - This song was written by Ellie Holcomb and features Drew Holcomb. It’s a beautiful piano and strings driven song for their children.
Key lyrics:
Before I held you, I knew I loved you
Before I saw you, I was sold out for you
I was writing lullabies
Before I ever heard your cry
I've been here the whole time
You always have, you always will be mine
I Will Carry You - This song was written by Ben Glover and Ellie Holcomb. The song could be addressed to a friend who is tired, hurting and full of anxiety. It features piano, guitar, banjo, drums, and backing vocals.
Key lyrics:
I will carry you
Through your darkest night
When you're terrified
I will carry you
When the waters rise
When your hope runs dry
I will carry you
Gold – This song was written by Ellie Holcomb and features Carly Bannister. It sounds like a love song to Holcomb’s husband Drew, as she sings that she learned to sing so she could sing right next to him. The song features acoustic guitar, pedal steel guitar and backing vocals.
Key lyrics:
You are wonderful, you are kind
You are patient, you are humble, and you are wise
You don't see it with your own eyes
But you are gold to me and I love the way you shine
Constellations - This song was written by David Leonard (Christian), Ellie Holcomb
and Jon Guerra. The piano driven song features a passionate vocal from Holcomb
as she cries out to God to promise her that she is not alone.
Key lyrics:
'Cause out here in the dark
Underneath a canopy of stars
Constellations falling from Your heart
They tell me that I'm not alone
'Cause honestly I'm so alone
But promise me I'm not alone
Best Songs
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