|
1. Come Alive
2. Open Heavens
3. Beautiful Ending
4. Stay With Me
5. Our Worlds Collide
6. Love Is Marching
7. Running Out of Time
8. Time For You to Go
2. Open Heavens
3. Beautiful Ending
4. Stay With Me
5. Our Worlds Collide
6. Love Is Marching
7. Running Out of Time
8. Time For You to Go
Love & War
[Release Date: September 8, 2009] (Fervent Records)
Track Listing:
Track Listing:
9. Sing Me a Love Song
10. Tears Fall
11. Hello Sunshine
10. Tears Fall
11. Hello Sunshine
 | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  |
After a tremendous fan response for the release of BarlowGirl’s fourth album, Love &
War, Word Entertainment surprisingly reacted by bumping up the release date by two
weeks. This time around the girls continue to boldly fight for their beliefs but take it a
step further, acknowledging why they fight - love. A combination of lush harmonies, pop
melodies, rock anthems, melodic ballads, and thought-provoking lyrics make Love &
War the trio’s most mature effort to date.
The pulsating “Come Alive” challenges Christians to eagerly answer God’s call, making
the point that life is too short to wait. Tying in with the overall theme Love & War, the
chorus proclaims “We’ll fight for love and we’ll live to die.” Later in the album, the
melodic “Love Is Marching” returns to the previous lyric in reflection- “Can we say/We
have lived for more/And did we live to die for/… love?”
“Stay With Me” was born out of a personal prayer of the Barlow sisters. The girls cry
out to God, asking why He won’t take them out of a difficult situation. Through prayer
they discover that God wants to take them through the situation. A profound line in the
verse sheds light to the reason- “Is hope found in moments with no light/Does strength
grow in our greatest fears?” Another honest prayer “Sing Me A Love Song” also longs
for God’s presence during dark times.
Just as on previous albums, BarlowGirl unashamedly declares the truth. “Running Out Of
Time” warns Christians of being luke-warm and complacent in their faith- “This is a war
so pick your side/It’s time to move not time to hide.” The audacious rock anthem “Time
For You To Go” takes a stab at the media. The gospel-influenced “Tears Fall” tackles the
taboo subject of abortion, grieving for unborn babies that have been murdered “in the
name of rights.”
The highlight of Love & War is the album’s epic lead single “Beautiful Ending.” A
mesmeric, fast-paced piano riff carries the song into a contemplative refrain- “Tell
me/What is our ending/Will it be beautiful, beautiful?” The song came out of the Barlow
sisters’ fear of losing their relationship with God while serving in ministry. The message
of “Beautiful Ending” will surely resonate with all who hear it.
Love & War is straightforward pop/rock for the most part but the girls experiment with
some funky piano riffs on “Our Worlds Collide” and “Hello Sunshine.” It’s nothing
groundbreaking, but it shows that the girls aren’t afraid to try new things. The real
shining points of Love & War are in the lyrics. The bold proclamations of truth and
challenging, honest lyrics prove Love & War to be one of the most lyrically daring and
thought-provoking albums of the year.
Closing Thoughts:
BarlowGirl continues to set the bar higher with each album. Surprisingly, the group has
never garnered a Dove Award, but 2010 just may be their year.
War, Word Entertainment surprisingly reacted by bumping up the release date by two
weeks. This time around the girls continue to boldly fight for their beliefs but take it a
step further, acknowledging why they fight - love. A combination of lush harmonies, pop
melodies, rock anthems, melodic ballads, and thought-provoking lyrics make Love &
War the trio’s most mature effort to date.
The pulsating “Come Alive” challenges Christians to eagerly answer God’s call, making
the point that life is too short to wait. Tying in with the overall theme Love & War, the
chorus proclaims “We’ll fight for love and we’ll live to die.” Later in the album, the
melodic “Love Is Marching” returns to the previous lyric in reflection- “Can we say/We
have lived for more/And did we live to die for/… love?”
“Stay With Me” was born out of a personal prayer of the Barlow sisters. The girls cry
out to God, asking why He won’t take them out of a difficult situation. Through prayer
they discover that God wants to take them through the situation. A profound line in the
verse sheds light to the reason- “Is hope found in moments with no light/Does strength
grow in our greatest fears?” Another honest prayer “Sing Me A Love Song” also longs
for God’s presence during dark times.
Just as on previous albums, BarlowGirl unashamedly declares the truth. “Running Out Of
Time” warns Christians of being luke-warm and complacent in their faith- “This is a war
so pick your side/It’s time to move not time to hide.” The audacious rock anthem “Time
For You To Go” takes a stab at the media. The gospel-influenced “Tears Fall” tackles the
taboo subject of abortion, grieving for unborn babies that have been murdered “in the
name of rights.”
The highlight of Love & War is the album’s epic lead single “Beautiful Ending.” A
mesmeric, fast-paced piano riff carries the song into a contemplative refrain- “Tell
me/What is our ending/Will it be beautiful, beautiful?” The song came out of the Barlow
sisters’ fear of losing their relationship with God while serving in ministry. The message
of “Beautiful Ending” will surely resonate with all who hear it.
Love & War is straightforward pop/rock for the most part but the girls experiment with
some funky piano riffs on “Our Worlds Collide” and “Hello Sunshine.” It’s nothing
groundbreaking, but it shows that the girls aren’t afraid to try new things. The real
shining points of Love & War are in the lyrics. The bold proclamations of truth and
challenging, honest lyrics prove Love & War to be one of the most lyrically daring and
thought-provoking albums of the year.
Closing Thoughts:
BarlowGirl continues to set the bar higher with each album. Surprisingly, the group has
never garnered a Dove Award, but 2010 just may be their year.
Review Written By: Cara Fisher [cara.fisher@christianmusicreview.org] Date Written: August 31, 2009
Additional Reviews
Main Review & Closing Thoughts
| [Album Review] |
| BarlowGirl |
4.0 out of 4
2.8 out of 3
2.0 out of 2
0.8 out of 1
9.6 out of 10
Message
Music
Production
Creativity
Overall Score
| 96% A |
Review Rating
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