|
Movies •Books •Music •Food •Tv Shows •Technology •Politics •Video Games •Parenting •Fashion •Green Living •more >

Lunch » Tags » Untagged » Clear the Stage » User review

"Clear the Stage" is arresting and unforgettable.

  • Mar 24, 2012
Rating:
+3
On Clear the Stage, Jimmy Needham sacrifices a little of his blue-eyed soul for a more pop-oriented sound. He loses a little distinctiveness on some tracks, but retains the R&B influence that is a trademark. Writing about family life also makes his fifth studio release the most personal.
 
It starts with “I Will Find You,” a quick-tempo song with an equally speedy rap towards the end. Jeremy Lin, the celebrated point guard of the New York Knicks, was asked what music he listens to before a game. LeCrae was one of two artists (the other being Hillsong), that he focused on, mainly for his lyrics. LeCrae’s lightning-fast words of testimony are a highlight of this track. This is the funkiest song that Needham has ever done.
 
“Stay,” is a duet with Lizi Bailey on a delicate guitar-driven ballad. It’s about remaining near to God where “fears have no voice at all.”
 
On “If I Ever Needed Grace,” I treasure the thought that we never need God’s help more than when embarking on marriage and starting a family. It is recognizing the need to rely upon God in any and all situations.
 
“Daddy’s Baby Girl” is a whimsical ode to his first child. “In the Middle” was written as a comfort to Needham’s wife, who suffered through a series of miscarriages. It is a soulful declaration of unconditional love and commitment.
 
“The Only One,” with its emphasis on finding satisfaction in Christ alone is the ideal intro to the closing title track. It might be hard to find a more arresting and unforgettable song than “Clear the Stage.” Ironically, it is the one song that Needham did not write. Needham’s restrained vocals however, make the song his own, reflecting the brokenness that the song encourages:
 
Clear the stage and set the sound and lights ablaze
If that’s the measure you must take to crush the idols.
 
The words of the closing stanza are like a hammer:
 
Anything I put before my God is an idol.
Anything I want with all my heart is an idol.
Anything I can't stop thinking of is an idol.
Anything that I give all my love is an idol.
 
Few songs have the potential to spark revival but this is one of them. It is the cornerstone of this release, ending it on a somber note, but it can lead to that Godly sorrow that produces change.
 
Needham incorporates a variety of music styles that are held together by his R&B-leaning vocals. He gets co-writes from the aforementioned guests and heralded producer Ed Cash. Needham chose to have his touring band perform the songs live in the studio rather than using session musicians, which judging from their versatility and sound was an excellent move.
 
This may be Needham’s best and most mature recording to date, and the way he sings “Clear the Stage” is worth hearing.

What did you think of this review?

Helpful
3
Thought-Provoking
3
Fun to Read
3
Well-Organized
3
Post a Comment
About the reviewer
Michael Dalton ()
Ranked #152
I live in Eureka on the coast of Northern California. I am about 250 miles north of San Francisco. Our redwood trees are some of the tallest in the world.    I like books, music, movies, … more
Recent reviews by mdalton
Mark: The Beginning of the Gospel (Biblical Imagination Series)
Card's insightful commentary inspires these songs.
a review of Mark: The Beginning of the Gospel (Biblical ...
Mark: The Gospel of Passion (Biblical Imagination)
From Scandalon to commentaries, Card inspires deeper …
a review of Mark: The Gospel of Passion (Biblical ...
Robin Good & His Not So Merry Men
Biblical purists need to relax, and "There is no God …
a review of Robin Good & His Not So Merry Men
see more reviews
About this product

Wiki

Clear the Stage, the third album from Inpop artist Jimmy Needham, sees Needham paired with award-winning producer Ed Cash (Chris Tomlin, Laura Story) for his most compelling and vulnerable collection of songs to date. As the title cut implies, Clear the Stage is a call to absolute dependence on God. From the lead single, "If I Ever Needed Grace", to the anthemic "My Victory", the idea of acknowledging our need for God's mercy and grace is woven like a thread throughout the album. Musically the album visits much that is familiar to fans of Needham's previous albums but also pushes the envelope with songs like the funk-infused "I Will Find You" featuring guest vocals from LeCrae.
view wiki

Tags

Add tags

Details

First to Review

""Clear the Stage" is arresting and unforgettable."
© 2013 Lunch.com, LLC All Rights Reserved
Lunch.com - Relevant reviews by real people.
()
This is you!
Ranked #
Last login
Member since
reviews
comments
ratings
questions
compliments
lists