BarlowGirl - Love & War

So I said awhile ago that I was going to do a review of BarlowGirl's new album love and war and here it is:

1. Come Alive - 4/5 BarlowGirl open's the album strong with Come Alive, which is more of an upbeat call to action song. I think it is very catchy and very fun to listen to in the morning. My only problem with it is that the production in the verses doesn't match the production in the chorus. Lauren was a perfect choice to sing this song as her voice is better suited for the faster songs.

2. Open Heavens - 5/5 This song is more worshipful that Come Alive and it is one of my favorites. Alyssa sings this one and it is flawless. My favorite part is when the song seems like it is ending the best part begins as a chorus of "hallelujahs" is sung. It is also very beautiful and has such a happy natural quality about it.

3. Beautiful Ending 4.5/5 I did not like this one at first because it is Lauren singing a slow song and usually that makes me dislike a song, her voice just is too low for slow songs. That said, I gave this one a few listens, as it was their first single and it was the first song we were allowed to hear from the album, and after listening to it for awhile it really grew on me. The song is beautiful and it has an amazing message about making sure we are really pouring our hearts into our relationship with God because we want to be found by God's side when we die. Definitely a standout track!

4. Stay With Me - 4/5 I like this song because of Alyssa's voice and because it is another great song but I really felt like the chorus of the song didn't match up with the build up of the bridge. I also did not find this song applying to my life so it kinda just fell to the wayside of tracks I didn't give very many listens. After going back like Beautiful Ending it has grown on me and I find it enjoyable sometimes, it's just not a favorite. Still a good track.

5. Our Worlds Collide 5/5 - One of the funnest tracks on the album! Worshipful, upbeat and beautiful. I felt this song was so uplifting that it has quickly become one of my favorite things to listen to on sunny afternoons!

6. Love Is Marching 6/5 I have to fight really hard to decide which is my favorite song this one or "Sing Me A Love Song". This song is so beautiful, I want to learn it on the piano! The chorus "everyone will pass/ and when we've breathed our last/ can we say we have lived for more/ did we live to die for love" is kinda a reminder of what our lives must become, something more. It sums up how we live for God who is more than anything else in the world and when we die we want to have given our lives completely to him, in a way it is exactly the same thing as Beautiful Ending but it is better and more beautiful and thus much better.

7. Running Out Of Time 4/5 - I feel like a lot of this album is the same thing, calls to action in our spiritual lives. This song has that same message, to fight for God instead of sitting on our hands and expecting someone else to move. It is a more upbeat and fun song, which we missed out on the last album which was mostly sadder songs. This one echos back to earlier BarlowGirl songs such as "5 Minutes of Fame" and "Superstars." I like it because it is fun to listen to but i feel that it is the same as "Beautiful Ending" and "Love is Marching" in a pop form.

8. Time For You to Go 5/5 An uptempo song I absolutely love! This one is about the media and how everything around us seeks to get into our heads and effect our opinions. It is relevant considering what is constantly thrown at us. Lauren takes control on this one using her alto voice to really sing it nice. It is fun to jam to.

9. Sing Me a Love Song 6/5 I think I have decided that this song is my favorite over "Love is Marching" though that is a hard decision. This song is the most beautiful, stirring song on the album! It begins with heavenly strings and beautiful piano. The chorus and every moment of the song is perfectly crafted! This is one song that I will listen to any time of the day! I love it!

10. Tears Fall 4/5 This is a low key beautiful song. I like it but I don't feel there is too much to say about it. It has a gospel vibe to it and I would love to learn it on the piano!

11. Hello Sunshine 5/5 - This song is my new anthem, a beautiful song about God's creation. It is something to turn on in the morning and it is a great song to start the day!

So overall the album gets a 4.7/5 - I liked every track enough on this album that I can just put the disk in my car and listen to it without skipping a track. I highly recommend this album to anyone who wants an encouraging album though the subject matter is a little repetitive!

Michael Card - Under the Sun

He was a king a teacher,
the wisest in the land,
driven by a passion,
just to know and understand.
He opened wide his eyes,
sought to see beyond the lies,
and found a world beyond his understanding.

Under the sun,
he saw the vanity of vanities.
He bravely looked at life and saw futility.
Torn between the facts he saw and all he ever had believed,
between his hopes and what he'd clearly seen.

He hoped it might be wisdom,
so he set himself to learn,
but found the more the knowledge,
the more sorrow and concern,
and so he turned to pleasure,
to folly and to cheer,
but still his laughter tasted of his tears.

Under the sun it was all vanity of vanities.
In wisdom or in wine, he found futility.
In knowledge or in folly,
for the wise man or the fool,
hoplessness will always be the rule

And yet there is a time for everything under heaven;
a time to run, a time to stand and fight.
So in the face of cold despair, no matter what seems right,
remember darkness drives us to the light.

Under the sun,
true there is vanity of vanities.
But there is more to life.
There is security.
Remember your Creator in the days when you are young,
and He will be your hope under the sun.


I was listening to this song earlier today and I thought i could make a nice short blog post on it. This is one of my favorite Michael Card songs taken from the book of Ecclesiastes. Michael Card does a nice job of taking that book and making a song out of it. My favorite line is "Remember your Creator in the days when you are young, and He will be your hope under the sun" as it gives the message of hope to all. The hope we have in God is the greatest hope on earth for it is Him who gives us all the breath that we breathe and the life that flows through us. He is the one that keeps us, leads us and guides us.

Happy New Year to all,
Katherine

PS. Here is the Graham family photo done by Katherine Graham Photography