Album Recommendation #2 - Jimmy Needham's Nightlights!

This will probably be one of the easiest album recommendations I'll ever make. Jimmy Needham's Nightlights is one of those records where you get hooked on the first listen, and then you don't listen to anything else for a month.

At least, that's what happened to me (I played in on my office computer so often that my colleague could sing along after a while).

Needham's a relative unknown in the CCM world - up until now.

His first album with a major Christian music label, Speak, was pretty obscure. But it was his sophomore effort, Not Without Love, that started getting the attention of critics and listeners alike. The combination of his soulful melodies and perfectly crafted lyrics got everyone buzzing.

Night Lights is his third and most successful album yet, garnering critical acclaim and earning him legions of new fans (yours truly included).

His music can probably be best described thusly: the lyrical and musical genius of Jason Mraz mixed in with the unapologetic, straight-up Gospel of Billy Graham.

Here's one example of his poetry (I don't know, but lyrics just doesn't seem to do justice to his writing):

This is grace at its best

This is taking a rest-

less messed up heart

And having You clear it

(from Yours To Take)

 And another one of my favourites, from the song Part The Clouds:

 We might as well just fold our hands

If we can't call a spade a spade

'Cos we will miss the heart each time

If we won't ever shoot them straight

Pleasantries

Shading me

(ed note: Pleasant Trees. Shade. Geddit?)

And you too long

Let's part the clouds

And show the world the Son

Brilliant writing matched with a bluesy, folksy style makes for utterly great listening - rainy day outside and cup of hot chocolate optional.











That's right, 5 iPods for this absolute work of art. That means you need to make space in your CD collection right now.


Here's a track off the album for if you really need to preview - his first radio single Yours To Take. (Sorry, youtube doesn't allow embedding for this video - probably due to copyright issues.)


And as a bonus, here's Hurricane, a deeply personal worship song from his previous album Not Without Love.

Watch out for the full review of Lincoln Brewster's Real Life, coming in hot within the next 24 hours!