|
1. Just Might Change Your Life
2. Show Me How To Love
3. You Can Have Me
4. The Words I Would Say
5. Moving All The While
6. For What It's Worth
7. You Love Me Anyway
8. All Things New
2. Show Me How To Love
3. You Can Have Me
4. The Words I Would Say
5. Moving All The While
6. For What It's Worth
7. You Love Me Anyway
8. All Things New
These Simple Truths
[Release Date: August 25, 2009] (Word Records)
Track Listing:
Track Listing:
9. You Will Never Leave Me
10. Give It All Away
11. Lay Down My Life
12. Change This Heart
10. Give It All Away
11. Lay Down My Life
12. Change This Heart
 | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  |
4.0 out of 4
2.7 out of 3
1.9 out of 2
0.8 out of 1
9.4 out of 10
Message
Music
Production
Creativity
Overall Score
| 94% A- |
Sidewalk Prophets initially made a name for themselves at Indiana’s Anderson University
where front men and main songwriters Dave Frey and Ben McDonald met. Although we
don't consider ourselves to be a worship band, we probably do more worship music than
our original music, and that's fine with us.” Integrating worship with real life - that is one
of the simple truths Sidewalk Prophets has learned to live by.
“These Simple Truths” the debut album by Sidewalk Prophets, centers on the hope that
Christ’s love provides. “The more we look at today’s problems the more we see that a
lot of times people are fearful of being themselves,” explains Frey. “And finding our
identity in Christ is one of the most crucial steps in loving others. Once people start
realizing this and living confidently we’ll see a visible change from households to
communities to ultimately the world. “That’s what we’re all about. The name ‘Sidewalk
Prophets’ even means that we are common people speaking the truth about life from our
perspective as followers of Christ.”
The album starts off with the upbeat song “Just Might Change Your Life”, a song that
reminded me of “Life Is A Highway” by Rascal Flatts and “What Could Be Better” by
33Miles both in tempo and style of song. This song sets the tone for a very solid album
which really challenges listeners to hear “simple truths” about our walk as Christians.
Next song “Show Me How To Love” is one of my favorite songs on the album as the
chorus calls out “I confess that I’ve been blind, Open up this heart of mine, show me
how to love”. Personal confessions are throughout “These Simple Truths” as the band
says the album is about “truth, hope and love”.
The next few songs continue the theme of showing true love to God and others with the
heart-wrenching lyrics “So I will crawl upon my knees just to know the joy of suffering”
in the song “You Can Have Me”. First single “The Words I Would Say” is already
climbing the Christian charts and is the standout title song of the album as the chorus
lists “these simple truths: Be strong in the Lord and never give up hope, You’re gonna do
great things, I already know, God’s got His hand on you, so don’t live life in fear,
forgive and forget, but don’t forget why you’re here, take your time and pray, these I
are the words I would say”. The song is a letter to loved ones to let them know how
much they are loved by the writer and by God. This amazing song is followed up by the
incredible modern hymn and praise song “Moving All The While” with the worship
response and chorus “Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah!”, which is throughout the bible
from Psalms to Revelation and translates as “praise God!”.
“For What It’s Worth”, “All Things New”, “You Will Never Leave Me” and “Give It All
Away” are all nice personal songs of prayer and response to God proclaiming thanks and
praise for our blessings and for God’s mercy and grace. “You Love Me Anyway” and
closing song “Lay Down My Life” are the other standout songs for me and both are love
songs to and from God. “You Love Me Anyway” moves me as I sing along in praise “I
am the nail in your wrist, I am Judas’ kiss, but You love me anyway”. The bridge of
“Lay Down My Life proclaims “give me all your pride, give me all your fears, give me all
your secrets, give me all your tears” which causes me to break down in prayer as the
song is written from the perspective of Jesus as His love song to us.
Closing Thoughts:
This is a very solid debut album and fans of Rascal Flatts, 33Miles and Julian Drive will
greatly enjoy Sidewalk Prophets. My favorite songs are “Show Me How To Love”,
“The Words I Would Say”, “Moving All The While”, “You Love Me Anyway” and “Lay
Down My Life”. This is one of the best debut albums I’ve heard this year along with
MIKESCHAIR and Revive. I expect a GMA best new artist nomination for Sidewalk
Prophets.
where front men and main songwriters Dave Frey and Ben McDonald met. Although we
don't consider ourselves to be a worship band, we probably do more worship music than
our original music, and that's fine with us.” Integrating worship with real life - that is one
of the simple truths Sidewalk Prophets has learned to live by.
“These Simple Truths” the debut album by Sidewalk Prophets, centers on the hope that
Christ’s love provides. “The more we look at today’s problems the more we see that a
lot of times people are fearful of being themselves,” explains Frey. “And finding our
identity in Christ is one of the most crucial steps in loving others. Once people start
realizing this and living confidently we’ll see a visible change from households to
communities to ultimately the world. “That’s what we’re all about. The name ‘Sidewalk
Prophets’ even means that we are common people speaking the truth about life from our
perspective as followers of Christ.”
The album starts off with the upbeat song “Just Might Change Your Life”, a song that
reminded me of “Life Is A Highway” by Rascal Flatts and “What Could Be Better” by
33Miles both in tempo and style of song. This song sets the tone for a very solid album
which really challenges listeners to hear “simple truths” about our walk as Christians.
Next song “Show Me How To Love” is one of my favorite songs on the album as the
chorus calls out “I confess that I’ve been blind, Open up this heart of mine, show me
how to love”. Personal confessions are throughout “These Simple Truths” as the band
says the album is about “truth, hope and love”.
The next few songs continue the theme of showing true love to God and others with the
heart-wrenching lyrics “So I will crawl upon my knees just to know the joy of suffering”
in the song “You Can Have Me”. First single “The Words I Would Say” is already
climbing the Christian charts and is the standout title song of the album as the chorus
lists “these simple truths: Be strong in the Lord and never give up hope, You’re gonna do
great things, I already know, God’s got His hand on you, so don’t live life in fear,
forgive and forget, but don’t forget why you’re here, take your time and pray, these I
are the words I would say”. The song is a letter to loved ones to let them know how
much they are loved by the writer and by God. This amazing song is followed up by the
incredible modern hymn and praise song “Moving All The While” with the worship
response and chorus “Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah!”, which is throughout the bible
from Psalms to Revelation and translates as “praise God!”.
“For What It’s Worth”, “All Things New”, “You Will Never Leave Me” and “Give It All
Away” are all nice personal songs of prayer and response to God proclaiming thanks and
praise for our blessings and for God’s mercy and grace. “You Love Me Anyway” and
closing song “Lay Down My Life” are the other standout songs for me and both are love
songs to and from God. “You Love Me Anyway” moves me as I sing along in praise “I
am the nail in your wrist, I am Judas’ kiss, but You love me anyway”. The bridge of
“Lay Down My Life proclaims “give me all your pride, give me all your fears, give me all
your secrets, give me all your tears” which causes me to break down in prayer as the
song is written from the perspective of Jesus as His love song to us.
Closing Thoughts:
This is a very solid debut album and fans of Rascal Flatts, 33Miles and Julian Drive will
greatly enjoy Sidewalk Prophets. My favorite songs are “Show Me How To Love”,
“The Words I Would Say”, “Moving All The While”, “You Love Me Anyway” and “Lay
Down My Life”. This is one of the best debut albums I’ve heard this year along with
MIKESCHAIR and Revive. I expect a GMA best new artist nomination for Sidewalk
Prophets.
Review Written By: Kevin Davis [kevin.davis@christianmusicreview.org] Date Written: August 19, 2009
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| [Album Review] |
| Sidewalk Prophets |