Deeper
Artist: JJ Heller
Label: Stone Table Records
Release Date: October 11, 2011
Duration: 11 tracks, 32:57
By poor luck or bad timing, I had heard a great deal of JJ
Heller’s music without actually hearing her music. Then, one hot July afternoon,
I not only heard her music but watched both her and her husband David in
concert at a local festival. Her appearance, like her music, struck me as
natural and full of life. When she turned toward her husband showing her
profile she was indeed full of life, full of love, and carrying her second
child. Yes, this too is inherent to her music.
With songs presenting a heartfelt reality similar to Sara
Groves and a light, airy and innocent voice similar to Sarah Masen, Heller’s
vocals carry each of her songs to a higher level of personal interaction with
the listener. In Deeper, the couples emotionally laced songs shine featuring five acoustic versions of songs from When I'm With You and
seven new tracks. In October 2009, they made the difficult decision to
delay the release of Deeper, choosing 5 songs and moving from their original
acoustic format. This mainly acoustic, folk-style offering includes the five
previously released songs in their original form.
Readily apparent in each song are lyrics representing small
pieces of the couples faith, family, and life:
- “I Get To
Be The One” is a light, airy song dedicated to their newest
child with lyrics, ‘I get to be the one to hold your hand, Through
birthdays and broken bones I get to be the one…I don’t’ even know you, I
love you completely.’
- “In The
End” states, ‘Build your kingdom in the sky and say goodbye, In
the end’, with simplistic guitar highlighting a complex vocal arrangement.
- “Control”
has both piano and guitar providing foundation for lyrics, “Letting go of
the confusion, Oh control, It’s time to let you go...”
- “Red
Against Your Black” is a song of Christ’s salvation whose
terrific lyrics stay with the listener long after the song has ended. “When
you run away, I will bring you back, Oh, my red, Against your black.” The
play between organ, guitar, and clarinet is outstanding.
- “Someday”
states, “You will live in peace, May you see redemption on this
side of heaven” with piano and acoustic guitar.
- “Sunshine”
has electric piano and acoustic guitar with strings underlining lyrics,
“You are the sunshine on a rainy day, And if I have sunshine, A rainbow
is coming my way.”
- “Boat
Song”, a romping, relationship tune tells the story of caring
in a relationship with “If you were a boat my darlin’, I’d be the wind at your
back…”
- “Kingdom
Come”, with acoustic guitar and accordion is a reaffirming song
with lyrics, “Ashes, ashes we fall down, It always feels too soon, But
when we walk on golden ground, All will be made new, Halleluiah, all will
be made new.”
Additional cuts include:
- “The
Very Thought Of You”, a relationship song like a big band ballad of the
‘40s with piano and guitar.
- “When I'm
With You” was written for their first child. Here, it is presented in its original,
acoustic form with slight reverb on vocals.
- “No Fight
Left” has a harsh beat of acoustic guitar underlining the message
of letting go to God.
- “In The
End (Reprise)” is a short funeral-like organ reprise to the previous
song of the same title.
Beyond the tight, simplistic guitar and occasional piano,
strings, and various instruments, Deeper is a well-produced showcase for JJ
Heller’s voice. Deeper is a great gift from JJ and David Heller, sharing a bit
of their lives reflecting so well on our own.
JJ Heller will be appearing at the Cup ‘O Joy in Green Bay, Wisconsin on
Saturday, November 5, 2011, 2 Shows, 6:30 &
8:45pm.
SS Mertens
4 tocks
No comments:
Post a Comment