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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Another amazing album, October 30, 2008
My wife told me of a Bebo song that she liked and I went and bought the album. I loved his style so much that I bought every album in one go and I am amazed to say every one of those albums are now treasures in my collection of Christian music. Not one album is average. I love Bebo's music but also his words are deep, formed by one who doesn't just quote the scripture in song but conveys the experience of the traveler, the one who through experience has found the right path and now sings a word of encouragement to those who may also want to walk the same way. His music is great for those who want to be gently moved towards Christ and who appreciate fantastic music. I highly recommend any album to your readers.
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Brilliant Album, Top 10 of 2008! , October 10, 2008
I've been a huge fan of Bebo Norman for the past decade as he has consistently released songs that have touched me such as The Hammer Holds, Tip Of My Heart, Nothing Without You and I Will Lift My Eyes. He is a truth telling folk music style singer-songwriter like Rich Mullins, Derek Webb and Todd Agnew, all favorites of mine. Having recently changed labels to BEC Records, this is his first recording as a new father of his 1 year old son Smith and and it has quickly become my favorite album by Bebo Norman and it is one of my top albums of 2008!
Bebo Norman is richly loaded with personal themes of coming out of depression, prayerful reflection and hope-filled expressions of joy in Christ. This album stands out like Deep Enough To Dream by Chris Rice in that you can't help but root for this album and artist because you can immediately identify with the personal nature of the songs. The first track is a great example. Pull Me Out is a song about Bebo's battle with depression and calling out for God's grace. Hear It From Me is another standout song in that we can all relate to Bebo's prayer. Every song is truly brilliant and personal and the song I can't stop listening to is the first single Britney, written as an apology to Britney Spears for how our culture tells lies about what's beautiful and what will give life. Bebo says: "it is also an invitation to the truth about a God who is bigger than the pain this world leaves us in." It is one of the most amazing songs I've ever heard and as a father of 3 daughters, it wrecks me everytime.
Pick up Bebo Norman and you won't regret it. For me this is a 5 star album.
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4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Norman's CD: Fresh, Innovative and Prophetic, September 19, 2008
Prime Cuts: Britney, One Bright Hour, The Only Hope
In a xeric genre of overused clichés, simplistic answers and theological aloofness, Norman's self titled CD is a gushing oasis. In line with his repertoire of thought provoking songs such as "My Eyes Have Seen Holy," "Be My Covering" and "The Rebel Jesus," these new songs go beyond the veneer of spiritual truths. Not only are they Biblically informed, Norman has a way of applying God's word in stories that are fresh, engaging and piquant. Centering around the truth that God's has the ability to restore the spiritual vacuous Norman (via these songs) applies this doctrine to various facets of life including that of a troubled life of a superstar named Spears on the single "Britney." Vis-à-vis his earlier works which has a folk slant, this eponymous effort has a slicker pop sound with a frequent nod in the edgier rock direction. The ballads are also heavier with a thumping beat except for album closer "One Bright Hour." With just a sparse piano, "One Bright Hour" begins reverently before building up to a glorious majestic crescendo that so enhances the song's message of hope in view of God's coming kingdom at the end times.
Easily the highlight of the album is the aforementioned "Britney." Considering the recent moral plight Britney Spears has had been through, "Britney" is an open apology to the troubled singer of what the media has done: "Britney, I'm sorry for the stones we throw/We tear you down just so we can watch the show/Britney, I'm sorry for the words we say/We point the finger as you fall from grace." But the song takes a step farther with the offer that God has not given up on the troubled singer: "Britney, I do believe that love has come/Here for the broken, here for the ones like us." Delivered with sensitivity and love, this is indeed a magnum opus of how to minister without being preachy, how to reach out without being judgmental. Another song that deals with this theme of restoration of the broken is the heartfelt "Never Saw You Coming;" listen especially to the earnestness of Norman on this exquisitely written ballad.
Of late, no song captures the foolishness of not desiring God a poignantly as the ballad "The Only Hope:" "I want a crumb, but you are a feast/I want a song, but you are a symphony/I want a star, but you are a galaxy/And I have resolved that I'm much better off in what you have for me. Sounding very much like James Taylor with its guitar intro, "Not Living in the In Between" expresses the need for devotion to each other to be more than skin deep; a clarion call especially for today's western Christendom. However, not everything works: "Pull It Out" and "Hear It from Me" suffer from the anonymous guitar-laden rock confection that has been so prevalent in today's contemporary Christian music.
Norman's creative and thoughtful ability to convey Biblical truths are of the highest order. Further, his prophetic stance of not being afraid to speak to current situations is admirable. Nevertheless, at times the melodies of the song tend to trail behind. Also, the leaning towards a more rockish may give this disc a more contemporary edge. However, it also makes a few of the tracks sound like a million songs out there.
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