Artist:
Title:
Closer
Type:
Album
Released:
22 Mar 2011 (US), 07 Apr 2011 (UK)
LTTM Rating:
Your Rating:
Review
Shawn McDonald entered the music scene in 2004 with 'Simply Nothing'. The singer has since released two additional recordings 'Risen' (2006) and 'Roots' (2008), but now three years in the making he releases his fourth album 'Closer'.
Shawn wrote most of the songs on this album while "going through it" - a painful few years that brought about the kind of brokenness that brings one Closer to God. He hopes the songs - and his own mistakes and heartaches - can help others who are hurting, by pointing them to the One who heals. Shawn explains about the album "I don't...
Read More Shawn McDonald entered the music scene in 2004 with 'Simply Nothing'. The singer has since released two additional recordings 'Risen' (2006) and 'Roots' (2008), but now three years in the making he releases his fourth album 'Closer'.
Shawn wrote most of the songs on this album while "going through it" - a painful few years that brought about the kind of brokenness that brings one Closer to God. He hopes the songs - and his own mistakes and heartaches - can help others who are hurting, by pointing them to the One who heals. Shawn explains about the album "I don't ever wish anybody to go through what I've been through,But regardless of my pain, on days when I would be like Where are you, God?, I would remember that He is faithful. Even in my brokenness, there was always a deeper feeling of hope...God has redeemed me, and He is healing my heart".
Kicking off with the funky Better Way, Shawn McDonald in his distinctive voice sings "Everybody wants, not everybody needs, everybody hurts, not everybody bleeds". The song doesn't have a big chorus, instead with big build up distorted guitar, the funky grove keeps this mid temp number rolling. From such a positive upbeat track the albums takes a quick turn towards a slightly slower feel in Hope and Closer with the latter song's vocal showing a real strain of pain coming from Shawn, singing about being closer to God.
Shawn has created a mid tempo album, but without depending too heavily on the acoustic guitar (well apart from the track 'Rise') which can sometimes be a safe option. He has interlaced tracks with slow dance beats, synth work which is overlaid with orchestral sounds that makes listening to the songs interesting and different every time.
In full, this is a solid album from Shawn McDonald, and he hasn't gone for a safe album. Lyrically this is about God being in control, being faithful to God and dealing with really hard times in our lives, which we can all associate with. Check out 'Closer' if you're a fan of Shawn's previous work. He is a talented songwriter who has just created anoter really interesting album.
Review by Jono Davies
LTTM Rating 4 out of 5 Stars
Standout Tracks
Better Way
The Space Between Us
Control
Articles
Shawn McDonald has now released his fourth album 'Closer'. Three years in the making, the earthy singer-songwriter's new album includes co-writes with Brandon Heath, Joy Williams, Ben Glover and Josh Garrels. Released on CD in…
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