Dave Barnes: "Stories To Tell" Review

How many Christian artists do you know that give you a warm feeling inside, every time you listen to their music? Well for me, Dave Barnes is one of them! His enjoyable blend of pop, country, rock and soul, melded with his impassioned vocals and compelling messages are what fans have come to love about him. The GRAMMY® nominated singer songwriter is best known for his runaway single "God Gave Me You", which has sold over a million copies to date. Dave Barnes' sixth studio album, Stories To Tell, takes a new musical turn from his previous efforts. Birthed from his experience during his wife's pregnancy, Stories To Tell is a heartfelt 11-track album that encourages us to hold on to the special moments in our lives, because we never know what's around the corner.

The album opens up with the super catchy "White Flag", a fun little love song that speaks of finding forgiveness in a relationship: "I'm sorry, forgive me, just let me back inside your arms girl / Forgive me, I'm sorry, this ain't the way our love should go." This is the perfect anthem to play loudly with your windows down, as it utterly captures the "ups and downs" of marriage within a catchy melody. The running theme of forgiveness continues in the next song, "How Long", an upbeat, hook-laden rocker that will have you singing along in no time! 

The first single "Mine To Love" is an absolutely gorgeous track, speaking of the moment when Dave welcomed his first child into the world. "You are the answer to every midnight prayer / You're mine to love, we have all been waiting on you / You're mine to love, come into these open arms / It took some time to wait it out, but I see it now / You're worth all the dreaming of...". This tear jerking song beautifully captures the gift of parenthood, reminding us that it needs to be cherished. It's the perfect follow up to "God Gave Me You", and it's sure to go just as far! The album then flows into some folk/pop infused tracks, starting with "Heaven Help Me". This fun track is about a girl called Angelina, as it encourages the listener to have hope when the world around us is collapsing.

"Love Will Be Enough For Us" is a slower, acoustic driven track with a country vibe. It speaks of yearning for the perfect marriage, while also longing for the pleasures of the world. " The gentle beat, romantic lyrics and soft backing vocals are very enjoyable. "Seventeen" talks about regret over a past broken relationship, evoking a sense of sadness. "Missing You" has a similar theme to the previous track, but speaks of moving on from the relationship. "Find Your Way Back Home" addresses those who are lost in the darkness, encouraging them that they'll get home someday. "You'll find your way back home / Just follow the light, it'll be alright / I swear that you're not alone...".  

The upbeat title track has an excellent chorus that sums up the message of the album. "There's life to be lived, and stories to tell / Lessons to learn, that we don't know yet / Nothing like looking back knowing that we lived it well, with stories to tell." "Warm Heart In A Cold World" is a laid-back, bluesy track and one of my personal favourites from Stories To Tell. It accentuates Dave's warm vocals, while also offering a radio friendly pop sound. "One of Us" closes out the album, a mainly acoustic guitar track that beautifully describes the intimate connection between Dave and his new child. It also features backing from a female vocalist, which is a wonderful addition.

Stories To Tell is the most catchy album I've heard this year! It's loaded with hooks, verses and fill-ins that will be stuck in your head all day!  Newly married couples are sure to love this album, as it perfectly captures the gift of marriage & parenthood. Dave Barnes invites you to share in his personal experience through every song, and I now feel like I know him personally! I can confidently say that this album is sure to  find its way into the CD players of both the Christian and mainstream audience, and also elevate his position as one of the top singer songwriters in the business! 

Rating: 
Genre: Pop / R&B
Release Date: March 13, 2012

Top 3 Songs:
1. Mine To Love

2. Stories To Tell

3. Warm Heart In A Cold World

Track Listing: 
1. White Flag

2. How Long

3. Mine To Love

4. Heaven Help Me

5. Love Will Be Enough For Us

6. Seventeen

7. Missing You

8. Find Your Way Home

9. Stories To Tell

10. Warm Heart In A Cold World

11. One Of Us