All the World (Jason Ingram, Sam Mizell)- The album starts out excellently with the song All the World. The song has a driving beat and is infectious when you start singing along in the car. The song basically is saying that all the world is an opportunity for us "to be Your voice, to be Your touch, to give an answer, to show Your love, To hold out hope, to offer peace, to shine a light for everyone to see, in all the world." This is definitely a message that every Christian needs to be reminded of sometimes. The lyrics are simple, to the point, and effective. The music is catchy. The singing is, as is always the case with Point of Grace, incredible. Score:8
Fearless Heart (Scott Krippayne, Jill Tomalty, Tony Wood)- This is probably the most country-sounding song on the CD. Despite the fact that I do enjoy country, this is probably my least favorite song on the CD, depending on my mood. The message is definitely inspiring and helped me through some tough times in recent months. Scott Krippayne is definitely one of my favorite songwriters and I appreciate the message he is bringing in here, about wanting to live with a fearless heart, and courage to trust God. Score: 5
How You Live (Turn Up The Music) (Cindy Morgan)- Point of Grace has recently begun collaborating with Cindy Morgan quite a bit as a songwriter for their songs. She's great at tapping into what they want to say and putting it to music. The lead on this song is Heather, and she just blows it out of the water. The message is that we need to LIVE the way God intended us to do. We need to not let the business of life keep us from doing the important things in life such as being with our family. Don't waste time looking back in regret, but go on, do the important things. Be with your family, make peace with God, give to those who need it, and pray. The music is soaring, the perfect companion for Heather's opera-trained voice. Score: 9
Any Way (Connie Harrington, Kelly Minter)- This song was originally performed by Kelly Minter. Kelly's version is amazing, but I prefer Point of Grace's version. The music is pleasant, and I especially love the fiddle that can be heard playing throughout the song. The song speaks of the fact that God often reveals himself where we least expect it, and speaks of accepting that vision however it is presented. The lead singer on this one, Denise, does a great job with her sweet voice telling God, "Any way You wanna show me, all Your glory, any way You choose to speak, tell Your story, in the low and lofty places, strangers' faces, any where, any way", she will listen. Score: 8
He Believes In You (Rodney Clawson, Connie Harrington)- This song is geared toward all the brokenhearted who are finding it hard to believe in God through all their trials. It basically says that even when you think that God has left you, when you think all hope is gone, He believes in you, loves you. "He will protect you, until you're rescued, oh there's nothing He can't do, He believes in you, when you're at your weakest, when hope is burning through the night and you can't see it, You know in your heart He loves you, but at those moments when you can't believe it's true, He believes in you." The music fits the song very well. Score: 6
You Are Good (Clint Lagerberg, Nichole Nordeman)- First of all, let me say this... Nichole Nordeman wrote this song! So right off, you know that it's going to be amazing lyrically. Nordeman is one of my favorite songwriters because, as she has progress through her career, she has taken her listeners on an incredibly honest account of her spiritual journey through that time, from doubt to faith to worship. It is rare in this day and age to hear someone on CCM radio come out consistently with truly honest songs that portray Christianity as the enigma that it is, and not as some perfect, happy thing. This song is a perfect example of that, and is my favorite song on the CD. When I start to feel sorry for myself, this is the song I listen to. It reminds me that whether things are good or bad, God is always with me, and He is good. "With every breath I take in, I'll tell you I'm grateful again, Though the storm may swell, Even then it is well, You are good, So how can I thank You?, What can I bring?, What can a poor man, lay at the feet of a King, So I'll sing You a love song, It's all that I have, To tell You I'm grateful, For holding my life in Your hands." The music is beautiful, especially when the beat comes in just prior to the first chorus. This song is an amazing reminder of what the Bible says about God working all things together for our good. Score: 10
Fight (Sam Mizell, Zach Nielson)- First of all, I love the drumbeat that starts this song off. Shelley's vocals to start the song are perfect, and then Denise brings the perfect complement. The harmonies and the voices joining together in the chorus are amazing. I liked this song a lot originally, but then I got to watch them singing it at the XM radio station when they were recording a concert, and it really gave me even more of an appreciation for the song. This song is FUN to sing along with. The message deals with something that most of us have dealt with- how much we want to be in God's love, but how much we fight him with our selfishness. "All of my broken motives, all of my selfish dreams, Now I understand what it means, I wanna be in Your love, I wanna be so much more, I know You're reaching out, So what am I fighting You for?" Score: 8
On God's Green Earth (Twila LaBar, Joel Lindsay)- This song is dynamic. All the girls take turns singing lead on this one and then joining together in the chorus, and it is simply amazing. It's just the kind of song that instantly cheers you up. "We live, we laugh and love and dance, Cause God makes all things beautiful and perfect in His hands, We rise from the ashes of our past, Cause we've learned the truth at last, Love is not blind, Every color shines, On God's green earth." Score: 9
Heal The Wound (Clint Lagerberg, Nichole Nordeman!!!)- This song has direct relevance to any Christian who has ever sinned, which includes... let's see... all of them. I think we've all wished we could go back and erase our mistakes, but I also think that if we're honest with ourselves, we know that God has used those mistakes to teach us and make us stronger, and we know that if we went back, we would be losing some very valuable knowledge. Personally, this song has great relevance for me, as there were times in my past that I messed up that I really wish I hadn't done, but I wouldn't be who I am without those times. I used to be so judgmental of other people, but making my own mistakes and seeing that my heart never left God, that I never stopped trying to reach God and move past those things, showed me that I should not judge people. I cannot see their hearts. So what the song is saying is "I have not lived a life that boasts of anything, I don't take pride in what I bring, But I'll build an altar with, The rubble that You've found me in, And every stone will sing, Of what You can redeem, Heal the would but leave the scar, A reminder of how merciful You are, I am broken, torn apart, Take the pieces of this heart, And heal the wound but leave the scar." The lead on this song is sung by Leigh, and you can just hear that this song is so personal for her, as it should be for anyone who sings it. This song is a ballad that builds to the beautiful chorus. Score: 9
Broken Thing (Clint Lagerberg, Jill Tomalty)- And now it's time for Shelley's lead song! Very upbeat song, about falling, but God fixing the damage. Shelley can sing the heck out of a ballad, but I have to admit that my favorite songs that she leads on are the upbeat ones, probably because Shelley herself is such an upbeat, fun person. "Yeah I was wading in deep despair, wandering with no sense of direction, thinking prayers just vanished in the air, Cause I got myself in this situation, and just like every other time before, You made the pieces into so much more, You found beauty in this broken thing, made angels dance with wounded wings, I can't imagine anything more beautiful, You took the darkest part of me, restored what little dignity was left inside, This broken thing." Score: 8
Because You Are (Scott Phillips)- This song is very much a modern day hymn. It is gorgeous. Each one of the POG ladies sings the heck out of their part of the song, and the harmonies in the chorus are just incredible. There is a part at the end where the music cuts out, and Leigh sings "The blood on my hands is what washes me clean" that just gives me chills. "Holy, unbreakable, infinite God, every unchanging in all that You are, light of the world and the sun and the stars, You are I am and I am because You are." Beautiful song of pure praise to God. amazing. Score: 10
Before The Throne of Grace (Scott Krippayne!!!, Tony Wood)- Before I say anything else, let me say this. I HATE a capella. Hate it. Bores me to tears. This song... is a capella. And it is AMAZING. My husband, who shares my hate of a capella, loved this song the first time he heard it, and said later that it was so good, he did not notice it had no music until I pointed it out. This song is purely just 4 of the most beautiful voices in the world joining together in perfect harmony. And it is a beautiful song of praise, another hymn-like song. "I love the Lamb who took my sin, Whose mercy makes me clean again, I rise with words of grateful praise, knowing now the only way." Score: 10
Producer- Brown Bannister is the producer of the CD. I rate production simply on whether the music was enjoyable, and on whether the vocals were able to be heard clearly above the music. By those standards, the production on this CD is impeccable. Score: 10
Final Score: 8.5
This is an awesome CD! A must-have
---------------------------------------
Check out my husbands website - www.GeraldFaganPhotography.com
