Relentless---No Better Word could Describe Natalie Grant
Posted March 04, 2008
By singersmartguy17,
"Relentless" is the much-anticipated 5th studio album---7th if you include a live worship album and a holiday album---from numerously Dove-nominated Natalie Grant. "Relentless" is a lot of "Awaken" with more upbeat tunes, but also more ballads. In fact, half of the album is made up of ballads, which can be a good or a bad thing. In this case, it is definitely a good thing, though I would like to have seen more upbeat songs. Only someone like Natalie Grant can pull off having 6 ballads on a 12-track album. There is honestly not one bad song on here.
The album opens with the pop-rocker "I Will Not Be Moved." The song is a bit harder rock than any of Nat's previous work, and the perfect way to open the album. The song reminds me a lot of BarlowGirl, and could have easily fit into any of their albums. Track 2 is a little early for an album's first ballad, but nevertheless, the first single "In Better Hands" falls here. The song was well received since it hit radio airwaves last August, and has hit #1 on several charts. "Better" starts as a soft ballad, but builds and builds until it reaches the climactic 3rd verse, giving Nat a real chance to show off her awesome vocals. "Make It Matter" and "Wonderful Life" are catchy, fun pop songs that are real highlights on the album. Matthew West helped pen the rock-fused ballad "Back At My Heart," which is mostly a cry to God for redemption. "Let Go" and "Perfect People" are catchy rockers, following pursuit of "I Will Not Be Moved." "Our Hope Endures" has been compared many times to her signature song, "Held." Both songs are written by Christa Wells, and both are about crying to God in troubled times. However, musically and melodically, they are very different. "Hope" has a distinct soft rock ballad sound, and could easily be a single from the album. The lyrics are probably the best part of the song, stating, "Our hope endures/The worst of conditions/It's more than our optimism/Let the earth quake/Our hope is unchanged." "So Long" is an acoustic pop song, with a horn-driven chorus. The lyrics remind me a lot of MercyMe's "So Long Self", and the chorus is catchy and easily accessible. The album ends with three back-to-back-to-back ballads. Tiffany Arbuckle-Lee (aka Plumb) co-wrote "Safe," which is probably my favorite of the album's ballads. The Plumb influence is obvious and could have easily been recorded by her. Natalie's vocals even sound a little Plumb-like in the middle parts of the song. The lyrics and vocals alike are beautiful, powerful, and majestic. "Brittany's Song (Make A Way)" is another deep ballad. The lyrics are definitely a stand-out. The song tells the story of a girl (her name is never mentioned, but it is obviously Brittany due to the title of the song) who gets pregnant as a teenager and is left to live the rest of her life alone. The tune isn't the most catchy thing you've ever heard, but the lyrics make up for it in so many ways. The album closes with Nat's remake of the Newsboys' "In Christ Alone," which was previously available on WOW Worship Aqua. Natalie does an amazing cover of the song, straying from its churchy feel and giving it a more contemporary vibe. Her vocals are also amazing in the song.
"Relentless" is a must have for any Natalie Grant fan, or CCM fans, at that. The album blends everything popular in the Christian music scene---from peppy pop tunes (Make It Matter, Wonderful Life), rock songs (Will Not Be Moved, Perfect People, Let Go), powerful ballads (Our Hope Endures, Safe, In Better Hands, Back At My Heart, Make A Way, In Christ Alone), and even a jazzy acoustic song (So Long) for good measure. If you buy music digitally, this will be one you will want to buy the entire album. Well, that pretty much sums it up!
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