Customer Reviews

Stop & Listen

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Bethany Dillon's Sparrow Records debut stood out, because at only 14, she was a serious writer and artist creating her own material mature beyond her years, with an authenticity of expression and an ability to own the emotion in her music. Similar to Amy Grant and Rebecca St. James, Bethany has grown up as an accomplished artist in Christian music. Bethany is now 21 and married to Shane Barnard of the group Shane & Shane. "Stop & Listen" is her newest studio album. Each of Bethany's first three studio albums impressed me, particularly her singing voice. "Waking Up" really took it up a notch in my opinion with standout songs "The Kingdom", "Let Your Light Shine", "Top Of The World" and "When You Love Someone".

First song "Get Up And Walk" impressed me so much I had to listen to it again immediately. According to Bethany, she read this St. Augustine quote she'd scribbled down a couple months before, "To this you answered me that you are my God, and with a mighty voice you speak to your servant in his interior ear, and break through my deafness." This inspired me to begin singing the words that start "Get Up and Walk." The song is catchy and biblical, which really sets the tone for this great album. First single "Everyone To Know" is next and is my favorite song on the album. This song is deceivingly light-hearted sounding, but behind it there's a very confronting commandment. I often forget what a commandment it is to share who Jesus is in my life and what He's done. I think it's a pretty common sentiment among American believers not to want to be too pushy with their faith. Just like "Let Your Light Shine", this song convicts me to share the Gospel.

"I Am Yours" is based on the story of Hosea and how he was challenged to have faithfulness in extreme circumstances. Title song "Stop & Listen" is another favorite of mine on the album and is based on the story of Mary and Martha in Luke 10. You can take away a clean house, a finished "to-do" list, or a perfectly ordered life, but you can't take away the good portion of sitting at His feet and listening to what He has for you. "Say Your Name" challenges me to focus on my prayer time and pray to be known by God. "So Close" continues that theme of taking time to be near to God.

"Reach Out" is the story of the woman who touched the hem of Jesus' garments and was healed by her faith. "Deliver Me" is Bethany's personal prayer about her insecurities and her confessions of pride and lack of love. "The Way I Come To You" keeps the personal prayer going where she acknowledges our freedom from sin which comes from God's mercy and grace through Jesus and how we are "forever changed". Closing song "In The Beginning" comes from Isaiah 55 and Bethany wrote it while writing for "Glory Revealed II".

Bethany's ability to put the words of the bible to song is truly a gift and the melodies and messages of "Stop & Listen" are all catchy and convicting. My favorites are "Get Up And Walk", "Everyone To Know", "Stop & Listen", "Reach Out" and "Deliver Me". If you like piano-based music like Ginny Owens, Meredith Andrews and Nichole Nordeman, then you must check out Bethany Dillon.

I am a diehard Bethany Dillon fan so the fact that I love this album isn't a surprise. With that said, I was surprised by how much truth and depth Bethany managed to pack into this record. One of her hallmarks is, of course, her lyrical depth and quality. This go round she does not disappoint by bringing the listener perhaps even deeper than she has before. On top of that the music is beautiful. Her voice is unique and rich and her sound is stirring but soothing. Bethany is certainly using her talents in a way that glorifies the Lord. Her music, as brilliantly displayed in this album, actually has real substance which sadly, can't be said for a lot of Christian artists. If you've only got [...] skip lunch today and give your spiritual life some nourishment. Buy this record! :)

Bethany Dillon continues in "Stop And Listen" to do what she does best -- sing and write. In fact, her writing has more depth this time around. Christian themes abound . . . resting in and attending to the Lord, witnessing, finding time for the Lord, and the courage to get up and walk and speak and see life through new eyes. This CD provides ample evidence that she's growing, she's maturing. As to her voice, it's ethereal (and enhanced to be that way on "I Am Yours"), charming, tranquil, even-tempered, almost Colbie Caillat-like. Having heard her live (she's sounds incredible live), this is as sonically close to reality as any CD has been. Production on this project puts her voice on center stage where it belongs. Song selection is consistent, and you don't have to skip over a track packed with crunchy power chords because there's no blasting -- only consistent, stripped-down, balanced songs. I would give it 4 1/2 stars because of the song sequencing. Other than that, I would say it's a strong CD, her most consistent to date, and would recommend it without hesitation.

Another amazing release from Bethany Dillon. Like the album title says..you should really Stop & Listen. The title track "Stop & Listen" is amazingly good. You should be hearing this track on any number of radio stations. Nothing but good things to say from top to bottom. Other tracks that caught my ear where "Everyone To Know", "So Close" and "Get Up To Walk". This album is money well spent. Thanks Bethany!

Bethany Dillon's lyrics always get me. It's as if she knows exactly what I need to hear when I listen to her cd. The music itself is fun and entertaining to listen to. It keeps me going and wanting more. Like her previous three cds, Stop & Listen is a must-have for all Bethany Dillon fans.

I am never let down by Bethany's spiritual maturity and how much she's grown emotionally since becoming married and becoming One with her husband. I still enjoy listening to 'Beautiful' on her revolutionary c.d. Bethany dillon, old school Carman, dctal, casting crowns, third day are probably the Christian singers/bands I can never get tired of.

I really like Bethany Dillon's Imagination album, so I bought this album hoping for more of the same. I'm a bit disappointed because the musical quality of the songs on Stop & Listen is not quite the same, even though the musical style is similar. I honestly don't like writing reviews that are less than 4 stars, but I feel that the high number of positive reviews on Amazon convinced me to buy an album that I regret now. I would have preferred to buy tracks 1, 4, 8, and maybe 10. Here's my track-by-track analysis:

1. Get Up and Walk - This is a majestically orchestrated song that, without being particularly fast, will get you moving to its constant beat. The melody is beautiful too, especially the pre-chorus. 9/10

2. Everyone to Know - Not a bad pop song, but a bit simple musically. Having heard songs like "Airplane" from Imagination, I know she can write songs that stand out more than this. 5/10

3. I Am Yours - This is a vehicle for showing off Bethany Dillon's voice, but the melody plods along with a repetitive rhythm, and it doesn't redeem itself with anything interesting in the instrumentals. 4/10

4. Stop & Listen - Catchy and upbeat, with lyrics that we can all relate to. 8/10

5. Say Your Name - A more melodic song with a singable chorus. 7/10

6. So Close - A ballad with instrumentals that add motion. This song doesn't stand out too much but it's pleasant to listen to. 6/10

7. Reach Out - I used to hate this song because the chorus annoys me with the extended "reeeeach outs," but now that I've listened to it a few times, I have to say the concept is pretty cool--a song from the point of view of the woman who touched Jesus's clothes to receive healing. The rhythms in the instrumentals are pretty catchy too. Still, that chorus... 6/10

8. Deliver Me - This is a great worship song. For any other song I would say the instrumentation lacked interest, but for a worship song, it's appropriately unobtrusive. There's a beautiful section in the middle where her voice soars, and a dramatic build-up at the end of the song. 8/10

9. The Way I Come To You - A waltz-tempo ballad. Again, suffers from a bit of a plodding rhythm in the melody. 5/10

10. In The Beginning - Similar style to So Close. The melody of the chorus is quite pretty, with a descending series of notes following a high note to start. 7/10

11. Everyone To Know (Acoustic Version Feat. Shane Barnard) - I don't think this really adds much to the album given the original song, but if you like Shane & Shane I suppose you might find this interesting just from the added vocals. 5/10

I've noticed that a lot of reviews praise the depth of the lyrics, and I'm not disagreeing with them. But if you listen to songs mostly for the music in them, I would recommend Bethany Dillon's "Imagination" as an alternative.

Great CD! She is such a talented vocalist and sings about things we all can relate to.

I have another CD of Bethany Dillon's that I like a lot more, but it took time to grow on me. Perhaps that all this one need too.

You know let's face it...there really were no classics coming from this chick after the first album...she may have a powerful voice, but that doesn't always mean that her songs of choice are going to have any meaning or impact behind them...she may have one or two songs on here that are decent, but other than that all the rest of the songs on this album are forgettable...sorry to say, but some artists one have one moment of 15 minutes of fame, and this one's time is sadly up...