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By Kevin Pollard
• Sanctus Real: Pieces of a Real Heart, Sparrow/EMI
IT’S HARD to believe Sanctus Real is approaching a decade in Christian music. This
quintet has done a lot of growing up, and now offer a more mature sound for
their fifth album. The lyrical depth found on these 11 tracks has made this
album one of my favourites of the year.
The group offers songs that don’t try to provide all the answers; rather, they express questions, doubts and joy
that we can all relate to. It is difficult to narrow down my favourites here;
but certainly the album opening first single, ‘Forgiven,’ sets the tone with its driving guitar and banjo.
One passage declares: “I don’t have to carry the weight of who I’ve been / ‘Cause I’m forgiven.”
On the tender ‘Keep My Heart Alive,’ they sing: “Take these empty ‘hallelujahs,’ and fill my lungs again / ‘Cause I want to sing, and I want to mean it.”
Also powerful is the vulnerable ‘Lead Me,’ which singer Matt Hammitt wrote to express his yearning to be the husband,
father and man God wants him to be.
Listeners concerned that this new grown-up sound means their edge is gone do not
have to worry, as evidenced by the hard-driving ‘Take Over Me’ and ‘I Want to Get Lost.’
• Robbie Seay Band: Miracle, EMI
The Robbie Seay Band leads worship at Ecclesia in Houston, Texas – where the material from their latest album originated. The songs here are
powerful proclamations of heartfelt worship that are also eclectic enough to be
enjoyed by David Crowder fans – with catchy pop melodies reminiscent of Brandon Heath.
Highlights include the title track, which is a stirring prayer to our Creator;
the infectious anthem of the album opening ‘Love Invades’; and ‘Kingdon and a King,’ which calls us to reach out to those in need.
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• Brenton Brown: Adoration, Survivor
Numerous songs by Brown have been recorded by the likes of Chris Tomlin; and
some of them are sung in churches worldwide. But his name is still primarily
recognized by worship leaders, rather than the record-buying masses.
Nine of the 11 songs on his latest album are remixes of material previously
released on Because of Your Love. These versions are quite different; they bring a whole new life and energy to
the material. Some songs have a country flair; the rest of these honest
expressions of worship have a great pop/rock vibe. ‘Because of Your Love’ has been a favourite at my home church.
• Stellar Kart: Everything is Different Now, INO
I was pleasantly surprised by this band’s fourth studio album. They have left their punk rock sound behind, and
exchanged it for a more mature worship-driven pop rock sound.
The album title is fitting, given that founding guitarist Cody Pellerin has been
replaced by former Dizmas guitarist Jon Howard. Certainly, the worship tone is
set with the album opening ‘All My Heart.’
With only 10 tracks here, though, four covers is a few too many. But they do
give some new energy to Norman Greenbaum’s oldie ‘Spirit in the Sky,’ Audio Adrenaline’s ‘Until My Heart Caves In’ and Matt Redman’s ‘You Never Let Go.’
• Manafest: The Chase, Universal
If you’re looking for a great rap/rock record, you’ll want to check out this Canadian rapper. His latest album offers hopeful
lyrics set to an immense sonic track. It is significantly influenced by Trevor
McNevan of Thousand Foot Krutch, who shares co-writing credits and vocals on ‘Fire in the Kitchen,’ ‘Every Time You Run’ and ‘Renegade.’
Other highlights here include Manafest’s powerful testimony on the worshipful ‘Breaking Down the Walls’; the hard rocking ‘Supernatural’ and ‘Bring the Ruckus’; and the techno-driven ‘Avalanche.’
Given the lack of positive God-fearing artists in the genre, this is an album
you will want to give a listen to . . . loud.
July 2010
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