Audrey Assad made a name for herself two years ago with her critically-acclaimed debut album The House You're Building, which was dubbed the "Breakthrough Album of 2010" on iTunes. Her fresh sound and flawless vocals took the Christian music world by storm, as she was nominated for a GMA Dove Award. Now the well-known singer/songwriter returns with her highly anticipated sophomore album, released on Valentine's Day and aptly titled Heart. This album finds Audrey once again collaborating with other songwriters (Matt Maher, Derek Webb) and producer Marshall Altman to bring us another timeless collection of songs that see her explore her own heart passionately and honestly, further establishing herself as one of the premier vocalists in the industry.
Heart opens wonderfully with "Blessed Are The Ones", a song co-written with Derek Webb and Sandra McCracken about Audrey's expectations of marriage. This emotional, piano-driven track showcases her passionate vocals, as she takes us on a lyrical journey through her walk with God in her difficult first year of marriage. The listener is reminded of God's promises, as Audrey's husband battled through cancer. It's hard not to get a tingle down your spine when the beautiful pre chorus is sung; "So further up and further in, we have nowhere else to go / As we plant the seeds of toil and tears, it's beauty we have sown." The poignant message, smooth trombone backing and gorgeous vocals make this song one of the highlights from the album. "Even The Winter" is more upbeat and hopeful, speaking of tough circumstances and offering a comforting reminder to the listener that the winter won't last forever, and that God has a plan that is worth all the struggle. The lyrics in this song are sure to strike a chord with listeners, as it has potential as a future radio single.
The two opening songs set the bar very high for the rest of the album. "The Way You Move" is a slow ballad that tells of how we will never be able to escape God's love. I'm not a big fan of this song, because the vocals seem to be too overpowering. Following is a rendition of the classic hymn "His Eye Is On The Sparrow" and the album's first single, similarly titled "Sparrow". This is a poppy, upbeat track that paints a beautiful picture in our minds and reminds us that God is always watching over us.
"Breaking You" has a nice, swinging tempo and is the probably the most emotional track on the album. Written from God's perspective, it speaks to the heart of an individual who has suffered pain and hardship, reminding them that help is on the way. "Lift up your head, help is on the way / It won't pass you by, you just have to reach out your hand." Be prepared for the tears to flow as you listen to this absolutely breathtaking song! The mainly piano ballad "O My Soul" continues to flow with emotion as it evokes a haunting atmosphere. Audrey's incredible vocals are better than ever on this track, especially when she sings the line; "Don't lie to yourself / Oh my soul, love your God."
"Won Me Over", an upbeat celebration of how God captures our hearts, begins a set of more upbeat tracks. In the following song "No Turning Back", Audrey expresses the positive changes in her life after becoming a Christian. It also uses a portion of the hymn "I Have Decided", and the acoustic piano pop vibe makes it a highlight from the album. The Christian walk doesn't always go to plan, and Audrey delves further into this on "Lament", a poignant ballad that finds her crying out for God in times of struggle. "Wherever You Go", written from God's perspective again, is a confronting reminder that we can never hide from God, as it builds very nicely throughout. The piano driven and melodic "Slow" speaks of how God's peace can sometimes be hard to feel, but his quiet voice is just enough to give us hope. "New Song" is the final track on Heart and it brings the album to an epic finish. It's simply an honest anthem of praise, as Audrey passionately proclaims that God is bigger than we could ever imagine.
There is one thing for sure, fans of Audrey Assad will certainly not be dissapointed with her new album Heart! Her captivating voice, stunning piano and maturity as a songwriter leave me breathless every time I listen to the album. It's hard to believe that this is only her second album, as Audrey is now my new favourite female vocalist. You're sure to see this release nominated for a Dove award -- it's really a no-brainer!
Rating:
Genre: Pop
Record Label: Sparrow Records
Release Date: February 14, 2012
Top 3 Songs:
1. Blessed Are The Ones
2. Breaking You
3. No Turning Back
Track Listing:
1. Blessed Are The Ones
2. Even The Winter
3. The Way You Move
4. Sparrow
5. Breaking You
6. O My Soul
7. Won Me Over
8. No Turning Back
9. Lament
10. Wherever You Go
11. Slow
12. New Song
"Breaking You" has a nice, swinging tempo and is the probably the most emotional track on the album. Written from God's perspective, it speaks to the heart of an individual who has suffered pain and hardship, reminding them that help is on the way. "Lift up your head, help is on the way / It won't pass you by, you just have to reach out your hand." Be prepared for the tears to flow as you listen to this absolutely breathtaking song! The mainly piano ballad "O My Soul" continues to flow with emotion as it evokes a haunting atmosphere. Audrey's incredible vocals are better than ever on this track, especially when she sings the line; "Don't lie to yourself / Oh my soul, love your God."
"Won Me Over", an upbeat celebration of how God captures our hearts, begins a set of more upbeat tracks. In the following song "No Turning Back", Audrey expresses the positive changes in her life after becoming a Christian. It also uses a portion of the hymn "I Have Decided", and the acoustic piano pop vibe makes it a highlight from the album. The Christian walk doesn't always go to plan, and Audrey delves further into this on "Lament", a poignant ballad that finds her crying out for God in times of struggle. "Wherever You Go", written from God's perspective again, is a confronting reminder that we can never hide from God, as it builds very nicely throughout. The piano driven and melodic "Slow" speaks of how God's peace can sometimes be hard to feel, but his quiet voice is just enough to give us hope. "New Song" is the final track on Heart and it brings the album to an epic finish. It's simply an honest anthem of praise, as Audrey passionately proclaims that God is bigger than we could ever imagine.
There is one thing for sure, fans of Audrey Assad will certainly not be dissapointed with her new album Heart! Her captivating voice, stunning piano and maturity as a songwriter leave me breathless every time I listen to the album. It's hard to believe that this is only her second album, as Audrey is now my new favourite female vocalist. You're sure to see this release nominated for a Dove award -- it's really a no-brainer!
Rating:
Genre: Pop
Record Label: Sparrow Records
Release Date: February 14, 2012
Top 3 Songs:
1. Blessed Are The Ones
2. Breaking You
3. No Turning Back
Track Listing:
1. Blessed Are The Ones
2. Even The Winter
3. The Way You Move
4. Sparrow
5. Breaking You
6. O My Soul
7. Won Me Over
8. No Turning Back
9. Lament
10. Wherever You Go
11. Slow
12. New Song
Great review. I've heard a lot of good feedback about Audrey's music. I've only heard a few of her songs though, but this review makes me want to hear more.
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