One Song at a Time

Ever since I first heard "Hold me" on the radio I have been CRAZY about Jamie Grace music! (And we both have Grace in our names too!) "One song at a time" features fresh, and happy music that you can listen to over, and over, and over without getting tired of it. This is Christian music unlike any I have heard before. It's upbeat, and just sounds...happy! If you want a new way to worship the Lord with your voice, and you heart I HIGHLY recommend this albumb.

Spend any time at all with Jamie Grace, and it's obvious that she's special. Her infectious smile, bright eyes and her expressive way with words are all tell-tale signs: this is one unique girl. But the effervescent spirit in this young woman is even more powerful and compelling than what can be seen. Her contagious joy and message of hope can only be understood in the context of her story. And her struggle. Hailing from Atlanta, Georgia, Jamie Grace learned two powerful lessons: one, that ministry is a way of life; two, that life is good, even when it's hard. Diagnosed with Tourette Syndrome at age 11, her young life became a series of heartbreak and challenge, a long season of physical exhaustion, emotional stress and spiritual doubt. Then one day, inspired by the powerful testimony of Tammy Trent on the Revolve Tour, Jamie Grace came to a life-changing conclusion. "I heard Tammy speak and I thought, `I've cried enough. It's time to accept my joy.' It was just the long process of finally realizing that, even with Tourette's, I still have something to do with my life. I love to sing. I have a story, and I've got to share it."

One Song At A Time is one of my most anticipated full length albums of the year. On the heels of Jamie's massive number one hit song "Hold Me" featuring TobyMac from Jamie's Hold Me EP, I didn't know how she could possibly follow-up on that type of introduction as an artist. It was well worth the wait, and this is not only one of the best debut albums I've heard, it's also one of the top albums of the year. To call Jamie the next big thing in Christian music may be an understatement. Just like her mentor TobyMac, her album is accessible well beyond just the Christian music market. This year has seen a remarkable amount of female artists dominate in all music markets. From Colbie Caillat, Adele, Taylor Swift and Lady Gaga to Laura Story, Francesca Battistelli, Mandisa and Natalie Grant, you can add Jamie Grace to that impressive list. I love the joyfulness of "Hold Me." My youngest daughter Bethany just turned 5 years old and she sings "I love, I love, I love, I love the way You hold me" when she's walking around in the grocery store. I'm really moved by the lyrics, "Just when I feel this crazy world is gonna bring me down, That's when Your smile comes around." As God's children, it brings me such comfort to think of Him smiling down on us. "With You" and "1945" are great examples of the many autobiographical, comforting and catchy songs on the album which is chock-full of hits, including the follow-up single "You Lead."

One of Jamie's strengths in addition to her soothing and strong vocals are her infectious and engaging lyrics. "You Lead" is a great follow-up to "Hold Me" with the electronic pop arrangement by producer Chris Stevens, and the prayerful and sincere chorus "You lead, I'll follow, Your hands hold my tomorrow, Your grip, Your grace, You know the way, You guide me tenderly, When You lead, I'll follow, Just light the way and I'll go, `cause I know what You got for me is more than I can see, so lead me on." She further demonstrates her commitment in the lyrics: "And I...know my God is still God and You got my back." Jamie is truly a "God Girl" and is a wonderful role model for any age girl. Being a father of three young daughters, I heartily recommend Jamie's songs and her ministry GraceTalk where she conducts Bible studies and talks about her unashamed commitment to Jesus. She wrote my favorite lyrics on the album in "God Girl,"--"And when my ears start hearin' what people say, Hurry up find love `cause times tickin' away, well I'm not bein' lazy, I just waiting for, still waiting for the right boy, `cause I only want to listen to Your voice, so I'll be listenin', always listenin' to You everyday." Amen to that! With our societal pressures to date and lose our innocence, it's so refreshing to hear a godly girl proclaim that she's in love with our Savior. The song connects to the biblical Truth found in Song of Solomon 2:7 (MSG): "Oh, let me warn you, sisters in Jerusalem, by the gazelles, yes, by all the wild deer: Don't excite love, don't stir it up, until the time is ripe--and you're ready." That's what Jamie's all about, loving God with all of her heart, expressed in one catchy song after another. "Show Jesus" and "Come To Me" are also upbeat, catchy and filled with biblical Truth. I am a ballad guy, and I am excited that Jamie delivers two of her strongest songs as prayerful ballads, "Holding On" and the gorgeous closer, "Not Alone." These are both piano based songs with Jamie revealing her heart. I can't help but get emotional listening to Jamie yearning, "His arms are holding you, His love will see you through, When you try not to cry but to take it, All the stress, and the hurt and heartache, You may feel pain, But not as great as His name, You're not alone, No you're not alone." God loves you so much. Lean on Him and He'll give you strength. These songs are all for God's glory. To You be all the glory. "Lord, I love the way You hold me." Amen!

CLOSING THOUGHTS (Staff Review, NewReleaseTuesday)
Lord thank You for amazing Christian music artists like Jamie Grace who love You and want to glorify Your Name through their songs. Thank You for giving Jamie the gift of song-writing and singing so that she can give her offerings of praise and worship back to You, One Song At A Time. This great debut album not only assures Jamie Grace of a Best New Artist nomination, it could even win her the award.

"Ready to Fly" is very short, but it has these lovely crackling sounds it the background, like it was recorded in the 1940's. It would probably be at home on the "O Brother, Where Art Thou?" soundtrack. I don't really glean a lot from the line, "There's a feather in my hair and a wing around my neck/ I'm ready to fly away", but it does sound very poetic.

My favorite song: 1. "Hold Me" is so very peppy and happy. Even though tobyMac is barely used on this track, that works out all right because it puts the focus on Jamie. I love the acoustic guitar, the clapping sounds, and quick line delivery. The lyrics look so normal:

"I love the way You hold me
By my side You'll always be
You take each and every day
Make it special in some way",

but the way Jamie says them really captures a certain innocence and sweetness of attitude that I think we miss a lot when we're praying to the Lord.

"With You" brings more acoustic guitar (plus electric piano and kiddie-xylophone, I think?) and thoughtful phrasing, with a pretty chorus. It's covering the same thematic material from the previous song, the need to get away and focus just on God. It's the sort of intricate, appealing girl-music that I used to associate with the soundtrack of The Gilmore Girls. "Show Jesus" has a funkier beat, kind of like Natasha Bedingfield's "These Words", and it talks about how believers can just simply radiate the love of God. It made me ashamed of how rarely I genuinely show love to others, but the song is also inspiring--I'll be replaying this one a LOT. "Come To Me" is about the Lord's invitation to come to him for rest from our burdens.

"God Girl" is bouncy and confident, with some ukulele in the background, if I don't miss my guess. "Holding On" features some nice understated piano and violin, and the song has a sadder tone, about sticking to your faith during adversity. Tune-wise, it sounds like something The Fray would sing. "You Lead" picks up the pace, and has a sing-a-long chorus with some soaring strings in the background. "One Song at a Time" is fun and creative, and I like how the rhythm doesn't reminded me of any of the other songs on the album. "1945" sounds like a Polynesian island melody of some sort, and it's about nostalgia for a simpler time. Oh gracious, this song is catchy. "Not Alone" is slightly bluesy and could be one of the serious numbers in a Broadway musical. It reminds us again that Jesus loves us completely and never abandons us.

I needed a bit of an "up" CD, and this was certainly it. Jamie Grace has a knack for great lyrics that are honest and open about her faith in Jesus as well as being clever and nicely phrased. There wasn't a single song that felt like filler, and I was uplifted and engaged by each one. I'm totally into this artist now, and I hope y'all will check out her work.