| Tal & Acacia |
|
1. Top Priority [Listen]
2. Garbage In [Listen]
3. Clearview [Listen]
4. Yahweh [Listen]
5. Wake Me (Noah's Song) [Listen]
6. Swing Song [Listen]
7. Merry Go Round [Listen]
8. Drifting Away [Listen]
2. Garbage In [Listen]
3. Clearview [Listen]
4. Yahweh [Listen]
5. Wake Me (Noah's Song) [Listen]
6. Swing Song [Listen]
7. Merry Go Round [Listen]
8. Drifting Away [Listen]
Wake Me
[Release Date: September 22, 2009] (Essential Records)
Track Listing:
Track Listing:
 | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  |
3.5 out of 4
2.7 out of 3
2.0 out of 2
0.9 out of 1
9.1 out of 10
Message
Music
Production
Creativity
Overall Score
| 91% A- |
Sisters Tal & Acacia grew up in Portland, Maine, in a Christian household and attended
an inner-city school their mom and dad ran for underprivileged youth. Tal & Acacia first
began songwriting and playing guitar in their teen years, while the family spent an
insightful year in Russia aiding a humanitarian orphan ministry. After returning from
Russia, the sisters developed a stronger sense of the world during separate collegiate
pursuits in opposite regions of North America.
Now, in their early twenties, Tal & Acacia aim to create songs that wake listeners and
refresh the soul. The songwriting duo’s music ministers and inspires. Realizing that
sometimes we slumber in our walk with God and take a hiatus from His presence, Tal &
Acacia desire to stir listeners to become alive again.
Musically, Tal & Acacia resemble female vocalists Feist, Norah Jones and Leigh Nash.
The first three songs set the tone for this very enjoyable album, “Top Priority”, “Garbage
In” and “Clearview” are all upbeat, catchy and bring out the main themes of this album
which to me are introspective songs about worldly pressures and calling out to God for
guidance and mercy.
The next two songs are my absolute favorites on the album, “Yahweh” and the title song
“Wake Me (Noah’s Song)”. “Yahweh” is a beautiful ballad and a prayerful song and the
vocal style reminded me of new CCM artist Kelly Mack. The song cries out “let time
pass away, as I simply praise Yahweh… with my hands raised, my knees they fall, as I
simply praise Jehovah”. “Yahweh” is a great and sincere song of faith and praise and
has a great bridge expressing faithfulness: “Do I believe that You’re My God, that You’re
All I Need, All I Need”? “Wake Me (Noah’s Song)” kept the prayer-style going in a
more upbeat song that reminded me of new CCM female duos Cadia and The
Sonflowerz with the cry out to “create in me what I’ve never seen” .
Musically, the album is very diverse with a great mix of rock, folk and pop. Each song
kept me guessing which style would come next and the album sounds very original and
yet familiar at the same time. I really enjoy how sisters Tal & Acacia blend vocally,
especially on the song “Drifting Away”, which is another highlight for me. The song has
a stripped down musical style and vulnerable vocals as the sisters harmonize “love is the
thing that made it begin for the first time, and His love set it right to keep us going on,
but we keep drifting away from the Love that makes Life, we keep drifting away from
His sight”.
Closing Thoughts:
For me, the standout songs are “Top Priority”, “Yahweh”, “Wake Me (Noah’s Song”),
“Drifting Away” and the closing song “Warrior Child”. This is a great debut album and if
you like Leigh Nash, Feist and Norah Jones, you’ll truly enjoy Tal & Acacia.
an inner-city school their mom and dad ran for underprivileged youth. Tal & Acacia first
began songwriting and playing guitar in their teen years, while the family spent an
insightful year in Russia aiding a humanitarian orphan ministry. After returning from
Russia, the sisters developed a stronger sense of the world during separate collegiate
pursuits in opposite regions of North America.
Now, in their early twenties, Tal & Acacia aim to create songs that wake listeners and
refresh the soul. The songwriting duo’s music ministers and inspires. Realizing that
sometimes we slumber in our walk with God and take a hiatus from His presence, Tal &
Acacia desire to stir listeners to become alive again.
Musically, Tal & Acacia resemble female vocalists Feist, Norah Jones and Leigh Nash.
The first three songs set the tone for this very enjoyable album, “Top Priority”, “Garbage
In” and “Clearview” are all upbeat, catchy and bring out the main themes of this album
which to me are introspective songs about worldly pressures and calling out to God for
guidance and mercy.
The next two songs are my absolute favorites on the album, “Yahweh” and the title song
“Wake Me (Noah’s Song)”. “Yahweh” is a beautiful ballad and a prayerful song and the
vocal style reminded me of new CCM artist Kelly Mack. The song cries out “let time
pass away, as I simply praise Yahweh… with my hands raised, my knees they fall, as I
simply praise Jehovah”. “Yahweh” is a great and sincere song of faith and praise and
has a great bridge expressing faithfulness: “Do I believe that You’re My God, that You’re
All I Need, All I Need”? “Wake Me (Noah’s Song)” kept the prayer-style going in a
more upbeat song that reminded me of new CCM female duos Cadia and The
Sonflowerz with the cry out to “create in me what I’ve never seen” .
Musically, the album is very diverse with a great mix of rock, folk and pop. Each song
kept me guessing which style would come next and the album sounds very original and
yet familiar at the same time. I really enjoy how sisters Tal & Acacia blend vocally,
especially on the song “Drifting Away”, which is another highlight for me. The song has
a stripped down musical style and vulnerable vocals as the sisters harmonize “love is the
thing that made it begin for the first time, and His love set it right to keep us going on,
but we keep drifting away from the Love that makes Life, we keep drifting away from
His sight”.
Closing Thoughts:
For me, the standout songs are “Top Priority”, “Yahweh”, “Wake Me (Noah’s Song”),
“Drifting Away” and the closing song “Warrior Child”. This is a great debut album and if
you like Leigh Nash, Feist and Norah Jones, you’ll truly enjoy Tal & Acacia.
Review Written By: Kevin Davis [kevin.davis@christianmusicreview.org] Date Written: July 1, 2009
Review Rating
How do we rate our reviews? Click here for more information.
Additional Reviews
Main Review & Closing Thoughts
+ None
| [Album Review] |
