Customer Reviews

Postcards

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(1)
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Prime Cuts: Postcards, Deep, Oh What Love

What is a postcard? Due to its brevity, a postcard at its best, contains the most succinct thoughts of the sender accompanying by a snapshot of the place of pilgrimage. Without the cloak of an envelope, the postcard's message is immediate as well as perspicuous. Such a communiqué is the tenor of Cindy Morgan's 7th studio CD "Postcards." Offering snapshots of her life, faith and relationships over the last 5 years since her last album, this latest release is perhaps this 6 times Dove Award Winner's most bona fide effort. Musically, she has teamed up with Wayne Kirkpatrick. Kirkpatrick not only co-writes with Morgan on 4 tracks, but he also produced the disc. Kirkpatrick, who has helmed records by contemporary Christian acts such as Michael W. Smith, Kim Hill and Wes King, has expanded his services to country artists such as Little Big Town and Wynonna Judd. Naturally, those who are observant would detect a myriad of influences on "Postcards" from country to soft rock to adult contemporary pop to Appalachian folk.

Destined to be one of her signature tunes is the single and title cut "Postcards." A soft rock ballad coming from Morgan's pen, this deftly written number chronicles the sojourning of a 17 year old prodigal. Searching for meaning through running away and exploring options (including calling in vain on the name of Buddha), she finally comes to her senses in arms of Jesus. A poignant story-song told with great verve, Morgan's performance is pact with an emotional punch that ought to strike a chord with any listener. "Deep," the album's opening track, entrees a spiritual longing for Christ, a theme that pulsates through the album. With a clangorous beat and a driving melody, "Enough" is another amicable tune about the battle of works over faith in securing the pleasures of Christ.

Another aspect that is so rewarding in listening to "Postcards" is that Morgan knows how to dress her theology in denim. This means that she does not sing about God in abstraction, but she does relate the lofty to the humdrum. Inspired by her visit to a women's prison, "Where You Are" is about God's forgiveness for the perfidy; the genuineness of the song is brought out through the street-like pseudo hip hop flavor. And with great ingenuity, she takes the celestial praise of the king and dresses it up with simple rhetoric on piano-based hymn-like ballad "Oh What Love."

However, not everything works: the Appalachian leaning ballad "The River" just drags on and on without a coherent melody line. Also, "Mother," though a touching ballad about maternal love is compromised by its inferior melody. The same can be said about "Dig Up" and "Come Home." Overall, "Postcards" as a collection does have some that are ear grabbing and soul satisfying. Yet not all of them are as piquant as they could be. This is by no means Morgan's greatest CD, but there are enough snapshots and succinct messages that allow God to breathe His comfort, healing and presence to all who would have time to view a postcard.

after buying all kinds of other discs, just to hear a new song from cindy, there is finally a full disc of just her. except for her "paula abdul" sounding first two discs, i have enjoyed everything she has put out. her sound is never quite the same from disc to disc, but it is always makes me wish they were longer. she is such a talented singer and writer, her words are inspired and always honest. hope to see her live some day. a must have for anyone who wants some adult, meaningful music to listen to.

If a producer's job is to bring out the best in an artist, Wayne Kirkpatrick (Michael W. Smith, Amy Grant, Wynonna) succeeds admirably on Postcards, Cindy Morgan's debut recording on Reunion Records.

You can hear a producer's influence. Artists and producers like Charlie Peacock and Jeff Johnson leave a distinctive mark. The challenge for the producer is to draw out the uniqueness of the artist without being too obtrusive. The finished product should make the artist shine and that's the case on this release.

But Kirkpatrick's imprint is unmistakable. He has not only co-written four songs, but plays a variety of instruments and sings background vocals as well.

It's apparent from the two opening songs, which lean toward rock, that Kirkpatrick has helped Morgan to achieve a more modern sound. You still get the piano pop and ballads that you would expect, but some songs have more of an edge.

Scattered throughout are a variety of acoustic and electric instruments-some not so common. The list includes dulcimer, manditar, ukelele, Weisenborn, Harmonium, National Guitar, Wurlitzer, pencil guitar. They make for a more organic sound, and to top it off, Tom Howard adds string arrangements to some of the tracks.

Some of the finest and best studio musicians bring this to life, but Morgan's songwriting and vocals and the production make this one of her best recordings. The songs, which are loaded with personal reflections and spiritual content, strike a wonderful balance. They sound good and there is plenty of depth.

"Postcards" could easily become another number one song for her. "Mother" is a painfully honest summary of the struggles she has had with her mom. It tells the story of many mother and daughter relationships.

"Glory" is one of the highlights with its world-weary sentiments and the wistful look toward heaven on the chorus. "Oh What Love" is a quiet, pensive ballad. The inspiration came from a drawing titled "My Vision of Heaven" by her then four-year-old daughter.

"Eternal Sunshine" is high-energy and creatively offers an uncommon reflection: "Someone in the Universe / Is waking up to see / Eternal Sunshine." Cindy's layered background and harmony vocals make the chorus sound sublime.

The chorus on "Come Home" ought to lighten the load of those who feel estranged. "Come home / Haven't you fought long enough / On your own / Don't turn back / You're not the outcast / You're who we have been waiting on / To come home." This is a simple song with just ukelele, acoustic guitar, melodica and background vocals by Kirkpatrick. The ukelele creates a pleasant background for the longing in Cindy's voice.

The recording closes with "The River" another stripped-down song that has a gospel-feel. It's a call to come to the Father and "dive in like children do." Like so many of the songs, it offers encouragement and comfort for those who are burdened. As "Where You Are" reminds us: "You're never too late / You're never too lost."

Hopefully, this won't be the last collaboration between these two talented individuals.

I've been a fan of Cindy's from her first album, and I'm glad the 4-1/2 year wait is finally over. Cindy's music has meant a lot to me. Somehow she gives words to what I am feeling, or helps me work things through.

I'm enjoying Postcards, but it's taking me longer than most of hers. I would put it in the same category as The Loving Kind, her Easter-themed disc. Both of them are like a rich dessert - you can't just shove it in your mouth - you have to savor it and appreciate it over time.

My favorite so far is God Meets You Where You Are:

He came down to the Earth
Up to the Cross
You're never too late
You're never too lost
God meets you where you are

Other standouts for me are Postcards, Dig, and Mother, which has already made both me and my girlfriend shed a tear with it's honesty.

If you're a hardcore Cindy Morgan fan, you've probably already bought it. If you're not, start with Listen or Elementary, as they are more accessible on first listen.

That said, I'll be playing Postcards over and over for at least a week, and loving every minute of it, before I go back to my regular CD rotation.

At long last we who love the music of Cindy Morgan have a new project to enjoy!
A variety of styles, her great voice and a dulcimer hammer thrown in for good measure....what more could you want. This is a keepsake album which reflects incredible talent of a singer and songwriter! Welcome back Ms. Morgan!

I'm a long time Cindy fan, I listen to other CCM music, but Cindy Morgan plays the kind of music I would have loved to be able to write and sing. Everytime I listen to her music its a reflection of my own soul, my own struggles. The message and sound of 'Dig Up' is my favourite on the album. It reflects the style of her 'Listen' album, which is my favourite album of all time. All the songs on this cd is amazing, with the exception of 'The River' which doesn't really speak to me.

On Cindy Morgan's albums there's normally one song that completely captures the feelings and thoughts of someone who didn't have a perfect wonderful life. On her 'Elementary' album it was 'In these Rooms', that still have the power to get me in tears. On this album its the heartfelt message of 'Dig Up' that challenges one to re-evaluate one's selfperception.

No other artist ministers to me the way that Cindy Morgan does. In my opinion this is her best album so far after 'Listen'.

I love Cindy Morgan's music. My favorite album will forever be "The Loving Kind", but all of her albums are wonderful in their own way.
Like any artist worth her salt, Cindy Morgan has constantly experimented and changed her sound. She has tried different versions of music and alternative-ness. But one thing has not changed - her love of Jesus Christ and her love for her family. Like every other album she is unflinchingly honest and forthright on this one.
Great album.

I'm trying to no longer hold Cindy to the goal of out-doing her earlier triumph LISTEN (which I'm sure she herself isn't worried about). After LISTEN she made a smart play with THE LOVING KIND in creating an album with a similar sound, but with the unifying concept of each track being taken from the last week of Christ's life.

A few years later, Cindy decided to try embarking in a slightly new direction, rather than rehashing the same territory - a move that is often a big risk. The result was the inconsistent ELEMENTARY, which came off as a conglomeration of songs with no unifying theme. It seemed Cindy had an idea, but couldn't quite get it captured.

Well, I am pleased to say that with POSTCARDS, she has captured that new sound - this is in every way what ELEMENTARY was trying to be, but ultimately failed at. It is hard to put into words, but I think the word "unrestrained" might capture it. This album has been produced with a sound that feels nearly raw and as if each track was recorded on the first take. That doesn't mean to imply that it sounds bad - just not overproduced. Instead, Cindy's voice is just projected loud and clear into the proceedings, missed beats and all. Her voice catches a few times, and it merely adds to the realism of the CD, whereas others would push for every note to be dead-on perfect.

Each song is belted from the heart and several of them feel like personal glimpses into her own life. The track referred to several times below called MOTHER hints at a broken relationship between Cindy and her mother that Cindy would like to have healed, but has had to leave up to her Mom.

And the final track, THE RIVER, is such a fitting end to the whole - a very nearly creepy lament over those who need to come and find forgiveness in Christ and His baptism. Several have remarked on not liking this ending, but I rather enjoyed it - there is a place for more somber moods, and Cindy has provided a nice one here.

The only drawbacks are ETERNAL SUNSHINE and DIG UP - the former is a total throwback to Cindy's earlier sound and is out of place here, and the sound of the latter track, while fun in its way, reminds us of why ELEMENTARY just didn't work.

But all told, I like this bold sound - sound like Cindy just rolled up in her bare feet and crammed some talented people in the studio one Saturday and said, "We're not leaving today until we have each of these songs recorded!"

Cindy has shown us through the years that she refuses to settle into one rigid genre of music. With this album, I've lost track of how many times she has re-invented herself. Kudos to her for keeping her music fresh and giving other artists something to keep up with!

Bravo, Cindy - I hope I captured in words what you were trying to do here! I approve.

Perhaps the most underrated singer/songwriter in CCM's post-80s era, Cindy Morgan is still as strong an artist as ever. Although she's a fifteen-year, nine-album veteran in an industry with an average life-expectancy of fifteen months and one album, Morgan is not merely a survivor. She has matured and improved, experimented and learned, and never stopped taking risks.

Her clear, strong voice and breathtaking beauty had the label stuffing her into the Dance/Pop Diva mold on her debut CD - but her true colors shone through even then. The haunting, worshipful, self-penned piano ballad at its close ("How Could I Ask for More") marked her as a sonic and lyrical force to be reckoned with. That talented young woman has become a truly unique voice in the world of Christian music and "Postcards" shows how.

After a five year break between albums (Morgan became a mom again after her last), "Postcards" is a breath of fresh air. In addition to her piano-driven center, Morgan here tries her hand at roots music and semi-industrial pop to largely successful effect. And she continues to grow lyrically. On 'Enough' she really takes on a confrontational edge worthy of classic troublemaker Steve Taylor and the jaw-dropping honesty of "Mother" is a heartstopper. The urgency of approaching middle age really strips off the nonsense in one's life - and it sure show on this album.

This is certainly among her best albums and improves with successive listens.

Cindy Morgan has a unique way of delivering very catchy, unique tunes with poetic lyrics and inspirational messages. After 5 years away from recording (since 2001's "Elementary"), Cindy has returned with a gem of an album. "Postcards" takes everything we've loved about all of Cindy's previous material and combines it into one terrific assortment of songs.

Cindy's music also has had a unique way of evolving from album to album, and "Postcards" is no exception. Inspired by the dulcimer her husband gave her as a Christmas gift, the album's musical theme contains noticable elements of Appalachian style. This, interspersed with other songs on the album, give the album a unique and strong musical backbone.

What truly makes "Postcards" great is its lyrics. Poetic beauty mixed with deep, honest (at times, painfully so) spirituality, give this gem its shine. This type of honest, introspective songwriting makes this record perfect for someone wanting to dig a little deeper and who needs a good dose of personal food-for-thought.

It's a shame that this, being Cindy's return to recording, did not receive more publicity. That being said, "Postcards" is truly a diamond in the rough that you will want to play over and over again. Outstanding!

1. "Deep" 9/10: Dynamic, guitar-driven number that suberbly sets the tone and theme for the record... "deep / like the ocean you move me..."

2. "Enough" 8/10: Continues with the rock-ish theme of "Deep"... good number "hey there news man / do you have anything good to say? / so bad news sells more"

3. "Postcards" 10/10: Excellent ballad-ish number about a young woman's journey towards finding herself. With a couple steel guitar effects, this song would fit well on any country music station. "I'll get it together / so don't worry / I'll send you a postcard / from my journey to me"

4. "Glory" 11/10: Gorgeous, bittersweet ballad about heaven. Very moving. "The angels all rejoice when you are made brand new"

5. "Where You Are" 10/10: Catchy, fun, and surprisingly inspiring country/folk number "he came down to the earth / up to the cross / you're never too late / you're never too lost"

6. "Mother" 10/10: This one took a while to grow on me, but the raw, honest lyrics are refreshing coming from a Christiam artist. It goes to show that Christian musicians are not perfect and have their share of human struggles and emotions. "so speak to me kindly / and show some respect / and I promise / I'll show some to you /Oh, mother"

7. "Oh, What Love" 11/10: Gorgeous ballad about the unconditional and constant love of God. The acoustic guitar and dobro make this song very remniscent of Alison Krauss material. "Oh what love he has for you / not just when you're weary / even when you're strong"

8. "Eternal Sunshine" 10/10: Fun classic rock-sounding number about heaven inspired by a drawing of her then 4-year-old daughter. "Someone in the universe / Is waking up to see / Eternal sunshine"

9. "Dig Up" 10/10: Upbeat number with a cool piano hook throughout. An encouraging song for anyone who has struggled with poor self-perception. "Reach way down / Deep in your heart / see what you dig up"

10. "Come Home" 10/10: Great enjoyable ballad calling the outcast to come to Jesus. The ukalale on this one is an extra treat. Picture this song being played and sung on a beach surrounded by palm trees as the sun goes down. "You're not the outcast / you're who he has been waiting on / come home"

11. "The River" 10/10: Poignant, reflective piano/cello ballad that serves as a perfect closing number. A couple people have mentioned not particularly caring for this number because of its low-key, somber quality. However, I believe the song is a very appropriate approach to calling believers towards cleansing waters. "Let's dive in / like children do / and let our troubles / wash to the Father / he'll wash you clean and / make you new"

'Postcards' is an excellent effort from Cindy, perhaps the best one of her career, alongside 'Listen.' Cindy truly is the real deal when it comes to authentic, mature, top quality Christian music. Way to go, Cindy!