Category Archives: Music Reviews

Music Review: You Are The Light by Josh Blakesley

March 26, 2012

You Are The Light by Josh Blakesley (spiritandsong.com, 2012) Catholic singer-songwriter Josh Blakesley released his newest album, You Are The Light, to a warm reception on both the Christian Radio Weekly Adds Chart and the iTunes Gospel/Christian charts early last week. This comes as no surprise to this writer who has followed Josh Blakesley’s rise as a leader in Catholic music ministry and a songwriter and recording artist for the past several years. You Are The Light is an album [...]

Music Review: This Winter’s Eve by Sarah Hart

November 1, 2011

This Winter’s Eve by Sarah Hart (2011) The Christmas season is my favorite time of the year. It’s the season where San Francisco’s skyline is lit up in millions of tiny bulbs, our church’s altar is decorated with poinsettias, and a time where I can bring out my Christmas music collection and sing along to familiar carols and the occasional new tune. I love the sounds of Christmas, but rarely find new songs that add anything more to such a [...]

Music Review: Your Time By Sarah Kroger

August 8, 2011

Your Time by Sarah Kroger (2011) Once in a while a song pops up that makes one sit up and take notice. For me, those songs are usually lyric-driven and reach to the very core of me. I love songs with depth in the words and interpretation. Anyone can write or sing a song, but not just anyone can really make a song mean something, especially the first time a listener hears it. A few weeks ago, I heard a [...]

Still Love My Enemies by Ooberfuse (Music Review)

July 23, 2011

God calls us each to a unique ministry. For British Catholic band Ooberfuse it comes in the form of electro-pop music that spreads the message of the Gospel. I admit that prior to the Pope’s visit to the UK last year I hadn’t heard any of Ooberfuse’s music. Thankfully, having their Heart’s Cry chosen as the official youth anthem of the UK visit helped them gain the notice of several UK news outlets—both mainstream and Christian. Who else can use [...]

(Music Review) Sarah Hart – The Give and Keep (2010)

December 21, 2010

The Give and Keep by Sarah Hart (2010) I’m going to start off by admitting that I was eagerly awaiting this album from the moment Sarah Hart announced she was working on it. Her previous album, SaintSong, is a favorite of this blogger and Sarah’s music has certainly been an inspiration for me, especially in 2010. More on that later. Let’s talk about her new album. The Give and Keep is another beautiful and inspiring compilation from an inspiring and [...]

(Music Review) The Gift – Susan Boyle

November 27, 2010

The Gift by Susan Boyle (Columbia, 2010) It is often said that we shouldn’t judge a book by its cover. If there is one perfect example for that phrase it is Susan Boyle. I remember watching YouTube clips of Susan’s performances on Britain’s Got Talent and how, her first time on stage, brought disgusted looks and laughs from the people in the audience. It was sad to see people’s initial reactions to Susan Boyle, but there was something akin to [...]

(Music Review) Home for Christmas (2010 edition) – Sheryl Crow

November 26, 2010

My music collection boasts over 50 Christmas CD’s and a host of Christmas cassettes from the pre-CD era. I love Christmas music and it has become a family tradition, each Christmas, to pick out one family ornament and an unspoken family tradition to pick out a new Christmas album to complement the season. Truly great Christmas albums are hard to come by. It seems that every major recording artist, at some point in their career, will release a Christmas recording. [...]

(Music Review) The House You’re Building by Audrey Assad

July 13, 2010

The House You’re Building by Audrey Assad (Sparrow Records, 2010) Few artists can capture my attention the first time I listen to their album. Even fewer can speak to the listener in a way that allows the listener to also speak through the music. Catholic singer/songwriter Audrey Assad, whose new album debuted today, is unique among today’s young artists—one whose lyrics and music continue to stir in the hearts and minds of listeners long after the album has stopped playing. [...]

(Music Review) SaintSong by Sarah Hart

December 26, 2009

SaintSong by Sarah Hart (SpiritandSong.com, 2009) Most often, when we think of Catholic music, we think of traditional hymns or the beautiful Gregorian chants that are so intrinsically a part of the history of Western Christianity and the Catholic experience. Music in the Church, however, has evolved into a blend of traditional and contemporary liturgical music that evokes both the beauty of the Catholic musical tradition and the Christian call to praise God in all ways. With SaintSong, singer-songwriter Sarah [...]