Customer Reviews

Pieces of a Real Heart

5 star:		(25)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
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Popularly known for its captivating recordings and live performances, Toledo, Ohio-based Sanctus Real's breakthrough album, The Face of Love, released in April 2006, landing at No. 2 on the Billboard Top Heetseekers chart and amassing a string of radio hits including the No. 1 songs "I'm Not Alright" and "Don't Give Up." While The Face of Love was inspired by real-life heartache and rediscovered joy, the band's fourth studio release, We Need Each Other, marked a completion of that healing process and is a call for unity. Award-winning band Sanctus Real gave fans an early preview of its upcoming, fifth studio album Pieces of A Real Heart with its brand new song, "Forgiven," which has already been a Top 10 hit at radio.

If you like the new, softer sounding "Forgiven," then you will absolutely love the entire new album. Personally, I'd say Sanctus Real's songs have matured along with the band members, similar to Switchfoot in that way. However, if you're looking for edgy rock songs like "Everything About You," "I'm Not Alright" and "Turn On The Lights" you won't really find them on this album with maybe the exception of "Take Over Me," which is one of the rockers on the album. If you liked radio hits "Something Heavenly," "Face Of Love" and "Don't Give Up," then you'll love this album, which is chock full of radio-friendly yet very personal and engaging songs including "These Things Take Time," "Lead Me" and "The Redeemer." "These Things Take Time" got me moving in a similar way to hit song "Don't Give Up." "The Way The World Turns" completes a trilogy of songs that all focus on the topic of faithfulness and the challenges in our walks as Christians to accept and give forgiveness, and also seeking Truth and Hope.

"Lead Me" is a surefire hit and is a musical response to Matt Hammitt's wife Sarah imploring him to be a better spiritual leader in their marriage and for their two young children. Having been married for 15 years and having three young daughters, this song moves me the most on the entire album. This song is a "must own" for all husbands, fathers and young men looking for an honest portrayal of the prayer of a Christian man asking God to lead their lives. I could see this song being a worship anthem for Promise Keepers. "The Redeemer," "Take Over Me" and "I Want To Get Lost" are another trilogy of songs that focus on the central themes of asking God to inhabit our inner being and truly allow the power of the Holy Spirit to sanctify us.

"'Til I Got To Know You," "Dear Heart," and closing song "Keep My Heart Alive" are another great trilogy of songs that focus on the theme of relying solely on the love of Jesus to truly mold our hearts and make us more like Him. "I'll Show You How To Live" is another personal song like "Lead Me," but written to Matt's children in the style of "Boys (Lesson One)" by Jars of Clay. For me, "Forgiven," "These Things Take Time," "Lead Me," "The Redeemer," "'Til I Got To Know You" and "I'll Show You How To Live" are among the best songs ever recorded by this great band. I ranked We Need Each Other my #2 album of 2008 and expect I'll find Pieces of a Real Heart in a similar position in 2010. Best overall album by one of the premier bands in Christian music.

CLOSING THOUGHTS
This album is very personal and engaging. If you like Leeland, MercyMe and Jars of Clay, then you will enjoy Sanctus Real, whose musical style I consider a great blend of alternative rock and worship. I expect multiple hit songs to emerge from this album. Sanctus Real has really hit the mark with Pieces of a Real Heart.

The Song "Lead Me" is one of the most powerful songs on marriage ever written! GET this CD, you will not be disappointed.

I orginally purcahsed this record after hearing 'Lead Me' on Air1. I was pleasantly suprised at how well the entire album is. Even my husband who doesn't really like Christian music enjoys the song Lead Me and the entire album. Currently the album is in the 16 year old sons room.
I am looking forward to more music from this artist.

I am very, very thankful I purchased this album - specifically the Deluxe Edition. As far as the musical feel goes, if you like Sanctus Real, you certainly won't be disappointed. The feel of the album is similar to their more recent albums, except better: it's "rock," but not in the obnoxious sense. Pieces of a Real Heart has a lot of songs that I'll listen to over and over - not just one or two good ones.

The thing I really like about this album, though, is that it has that extra "something" that separates good albums from great ones: quality, authentic subject matter. The songs are honest and hopeful, acknowledging difficult, real issues in life but seeking Christ in the midst of them. I would imagine that this album was as encouraging for the guys in the band to record as it is for us to listen to.

Argh...I don't have time to do a full review right now, but here are a few final observations:

* This is easily my favorite Sanctus Real album since Fight the Tide. I might even like it better than Fight the Tide.
* I would particularly recommend this album for people feeling dry in their faith, disillusioned (whether by unanswered prayers, politics, injustice, or otherwise), trapped by sin, or questioning their faith. There's a lot of hope in this album.
* It's also a good album for young adults seeking to maintain a meaningful relationship with Christ as they enter deeper and deeper into the "real world."
* In my opinion, the acoustic versions are just as good as the original songs. Depending on what mood I'm in, sometimes I actually prefer the acoustic versions to the originals. It's certainly worth spending the extra bit of money for the Deluxe Edition. For me, the acoustic songs aren't just extras - they're necessaries..

Hope this was helpful. If not, listen for yourself - it's worth it.

To get to the point, Sanctus Real has nearly abandoned their rock edge and in its place is an album filled with radio friendly pop/rock songs, with the exception of "Take Over Me". This is not a bad thing, in fact it is up to par with their other phenomenal albums.

Despite the lack of the anthemic songs such as "Everything About You", "I'm Not Alright" or a personal favorite "Sink Or Swim", Pieces of A Real Heart is still a refreshing listen. Songs like "These Things Take Time", "I Want to Get Lost", "The Redeemer", and "The Way The World Turns" are all upbeat songs and extremely catchy. "These Things Take Time", being the most upbeat song on the album, ironically deals with some heavy material. "I want to know why pain makes me stronger. I want to know why good men die. Why am I so afraid of the dark, but I stray from the light?... Tell me is it easier to doubt or harder to believe?"

The song "Forgiven" is gaining a lot of attention, and for good reason. It starts off with a banjo and a xylophone, quiets to a nice piano, and picks up for the chorus. It is definitely a highlight off the album.

This is arguably Sanctus Real's most personal album to date (the comparison being The Face of Love). In the song "Lead Me" Hammitt is essentially asking Christ to lead him so that he can lead his wife and his daughters. All of the songs off this album have potential to be heard on the radio, but for the song "Dear Heart" it is inevitable. The idea of the song is that Hammitt is writing a letter to his own heart, telling it that it has let him down. It's an interesting concept that turns out to be one of the highlights of the album. "I'll Show You How To Live" is another personal song to his daughters.

Musically this album isn't anything groundbreaking, but all of the musicians are seasoned players, and Matt Hammitts vocals are incomparable. He has arguably the best vocals in the Christian music industry, and definitely a strong contender for music in general. It is a bold statement, but I stand by it.

Sanctus Real always has a clear message of hope, even in difficult times. Their lyrics are always honest, hopeful, and clever. In my opinion, for lyrics to have all three of those qualities is difficult to accomplish, and therefore hard to find. Sanctus Real puts out gold every album, so be sure to pick up this commodity.

Both the music and the Lyrics are exceptional. The themes of forgiveness and asking God to lead us are central to Christians. I love this music and the band gets better with each effort.

This is my first album from this band, and they have a unique sound for this genre. I will check out their other albums too!

and it is really good. I like a lot of different kinds of music. Christian music is a little bit of everything, so when I picked this up I didn't even know what style of music they played. It kind of has a Jars of Clay sound. If you like Jars, you'll like this record. It is very good both musically and lyrically.

Highly recommended.

the product is fantastic but the seller took over two weeks to get it here. it missed christmas and it missed my husbands birthday. not sure i will use this provider again.

love this album. has great songs with upbeat tempo for those young and young at heart that love the Lord!