Brodiee

Artist: Phil Wickham
Album: Heaven and Earth
Release Date: November 17th 2009
Album Rating: 5/5 stars

It’s been over a year since Phil Wickham’s amazing live worship album Singalong and two long years since his last studio album
Cannons. Now comes Wickham’s third studio album Heaven and Earth. After being pushed back twice it has finally been released for all the world to hear. But most importantly, for me to hear!

After almost a year of waiting words cannot describe how happy I was to finally get my hands on this album. I had very, very high expectations. To my surprise this album exceeded those expectations! If it wasn’t considered unprofessional there would be a very happy smiley face right here.

Eden starts the album off nicely! It’s about how Adam (as in Adam and Eve) must have felt after sinning against God and no longer having the innocence he once had or the relationship with God he had and how he must have missed it. “I want it like it was back then/I want to be in Eden/To be naked and
unashamed/In a sweet down pour of innocent rain/I want it like it was back then/I want to be in Eden…” It’s a very addictive song, once you listen to it you can’t stop.

The title track (Heaven and Earth) is one of my very favorites. It was inspired by C.S. Lewis’ “The Chronicles of Narnia: The Last Battle.” And I can’t get enough of this song. I melt every time I hear it. It’s about laying down your life for God and going the extra mile for Him. The music just fits the lyrics so perfectly.

The Time is Now and Hold On is where Wickham’s talent and true potential shine through.

Out of all the songs on the album The Time is Now is the one that really stands out, it’s absolutely amazing. The violins and cellos are simply superb, unlike anything Wickham has ever done before. It‘s about letting go and taking a stand.

Hold On is light synthpop believe it or not! And it suits Wickham very well. The song is about holding onto to the Lord through the darkness because no matter how weak you are His love is strong and He will get you through the night because “there is mercy in the morning light.”

The first single on the album Safe featuring MercyMe’s front man Bart Millard. I admit that lyrically it’s nothing we haven’t heard before but the chorus (You will be safe in His arms/You will be safe in His arms/’Cause the hands that hold the world are holding your heart/This is the promise He made/He will be with You always/When everything is falling apart/You will be safe
in His arms..) and Bart Millard are good enough for me to love it! It’s a good reminder to anyone who has ever felt alone that You are not alone! God
is with you always and you are safe in Him. Bart Millard and Phil Wickham are just great together!

I’ll Always Love You and Cielo are the most intimate songs on the album.

The first twelve seconds of Cielo have a very oriental feel, something you don’t hear everyday. The song is so pure and sincere.

Musically I don‘t like how I’ll Always Love You off, but it picks up right away and the chorus is just wonderful! Forever I will tell you/Yeah I’ll scream until it hurts/That I can’t live without You/You are Heaven, I am Earth/And even from the moment/That You saved my life I knew/That I’ll always love You…” There is no way you can’t love it.

Heaven Song is without a doubt my favorite song on the whole album. It is beautiful and simple. It’s about longing for heaven, longing to be with the Lord and join the angels to “sing my heaven song.“ This one brings tears to my eyes every time I hear it. Its impacted me in a great way. Heaven is something I think about a lot and for my feelings, (and the feelings of many other Christian’s I’m sure) to be captured in a song, well, it’s wonderful!

Phil Wickham gets better and better with each album. His heart and love for God are obvious in every song.

The only disappointment is that Great In My Life, Sun and The Moon and Love, Love, Love did not make the album. And there wasn’t a duet song with Bethany Dillon, still waiting for that.

Overall Phil Wikham has outdone himself once again (yes that’s possible.) This album is unique, original, and unlike anything Phil Wickham has ever done before. It’s definitely my favorite album of 2009, no doubt. I for one cannot wait for his next album.

I could literally go on and on about how great this album is, but this review is long enough so I won’t. Just buy it! You won’t regret it, honest!