What if We

Brandon Heath

What If We

Brandon Heath has been one of my favorite artists since his first release Don’t Get Comfortable. Well, I took his words to heart and was incredibly fidgety when I heard he was coming out with a new album. Now that it’s been released, I have can’t help but sit still and listen to this incredible album. I’m sure a couple of you are familiar with his most well known song right now, Give me Your Eyes, which is played on many stations around the country.

Strengths

I had the privilege of seeing Brandon Heath in concert just a few months ago, and one of the things that stood out to me was how much sincerity he performed with; this was not lost in his album. The depth and sincerity Heath sings with is one of the best attributes of his work. It’s incredibly touching to hear about him singing about standing on the streets of London and crying, praying for God’s understanding, and his experience with other hurting people. This is not a superficial album in the least bit.

Other strengths include his brilliant voice and the shift in style from his last album. You can still tell that this is the same guy, but something about this album is different. There is slightly a more rhythmic feel to some of his songs and you can tell that his musical maturity is growing. His voice clean and clear while the music is not muddled  or too overpowering. It seems that the balance between vocals and instrumentation is very well done.

When She’s Near

Here’s a link for a free download of Fiction Family’s new single, When She’s Near. Right click and select “Save Link as” to download.

When She’s Near

Rummaging for Acoustics

You may not expect to discover an incredible voice in a pub named after a cat, but after arriving only  to miss the first act, “hairball(ish)” is certainly the least likely way to describe Aaron Espe’s voice. Coming from a small town, Espe has managed to reach a much larger crowd (perhaps the size of a couple large towns) with his stunning acoustics in Songs from a Small Town.

I didn’t know what to expect upon deciding to go to the show at the campus “pub”, but after hearing just a few songs, I was glad I went. It was refreshing to hear a new voice, a voice that is not muddled like all of the other voices of the pop age that seem to blend together. His voice is intriguingly raspy, enough to bring it flare, but not enough to make it feel like sandpaper. But now that I think about it, “raspy” may not be the best choice of words, in light of how well he sings, but maybe “bark like” (tree bark) with a weathered and worn sound on top of vibrant and youthful budding would be better.

I would recommend checking this guy out. He may not be recognized by the celebrities of today, but Chester (the cat the pub is named after) certainly approves (and he’s one classy cat). Espe’s music has prompted me to rummage through the music sources I have in order to find more acoustic gems like this one. If you are from a small town, you may get along with this guy quite well.

Aaron Espe’s website