Another Homerun Album Posted September 26, 2024 By AngelaMarie_NRT, Staff Reviewer
A Christian music mainstay for the past two decades, gifted storyteller Brandon Heath has returned two years after the release of his last album, 2022's Enough Already, with The Ache, a collection of 11 songs that feel like they were ripped from the pages of his journal. It's his second full-length album with Centricity Music and his ninth studio record. In The Ache, you'll hear grief, the processing of difficult emotions, and pleas to God for help, but you'll also hear confidence in Christ, a celebration of God's goodness, and a testimony of God's grace. Like any of Brandon Heath's projects, The Ache may sound even better acoustic, so check out his Instagram for clips of him performing songs from this album--just him and his guitar.
What You Need to Know
Brandon comes to this album carrying the heavy burden of grief. Not only has he recently lost his mom, but he's also reeling from the tragic shooting that took place at his daughter's future school in his hometown of Nashville, Tennessee. Brandon has absorbed the pain around him and uses this album, aptly titled The Ache, to return the hope he found in Christ. He's been talking to God often; The Ache seems like a continuation of already-started prayers. There have been many singles (tied together into an EP) released from this album already, including "He Does," "Gospel Truth" (a song Brandon is particularly proud of), "Scars," and "Highly Favored." On this album, with his signature earnestness and honesty, Brandon Heath confronts insincerity and cynicism with honesty in favor of truth and love.
What It Sounds Like
The Ache sounds both familiar and new. Songs like "The Ache" and "Scars" are deeply nostalgic for long-time Brandon Heath fans, bringing back memories of his Don't Get Comfortable album. Aside from his signature guitar licks, Brandon occasionally embraces a new sound on this album--trading his guitar for a piano with groovy tracks, often featuring choral background vocals.
Spiritual Highlights The Ache testifies to Brandon Heath's deep reliance on God as his source of hope and joy. It shows evidence of an enduring, long-term relationship with God in prayer. There is pain in these songs, but it feels like a banished memory in light of God's goodness and providence. Take the song "Lucky," for example. Brandon gushes about how he's grateful for his many God-given gifts, neglecting the idea that "there's no such thing as luck" for Christians. In his mind, there's every reason to praise God, and he's fortunate.
Best Song
Catchy and upbeat while hitting home a timeless message, "Gospel Truth" is a songwriting feat because it encompasses the past 20 years of Brandon Heath's songwriting. You catch glimpses of past albums in every part of this track: the guitar strum of Don't Get Comfortable, the worship influence of No Turning Back, the upbeat bounce of Enough Already, and something special that makes this song unique to this era of Brandon's life and music.
Bottom Line
Brandon Heath is a man who has seen a lot. The hard stuff, the beautiful stuff--he absorbs it all as the sensitive, open soul he is and takes it to God in prayer. These songs resulted from those quiet moments of prayer: often pleading, often celebratory, always grateful declarations of hope. He's been doing this a long time, so on this album, you'll hear an experienced songwriter who continues to effectively put his heart into a song, trying on some new instrumentals to help paint the picture. - Angela Marie
