Barlowgirl - Love War (11 tracks) +Album Reviews +Used CD available for Swap

BarlowGirl [Love & War]

Kevin R. Davis | Perkasie, PA | 09/08/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Since releasing their self-titled debut in 2004, Rebecca, Alyssa and Lauren Barlow have continuously inspired fans with such intimate portraits, as with their sophomore set, "Another Journal Entry" and with such bold challenges as 2007's, "How Can We Be Silent". For BarlowGirl the focus is always on sharing what God has placed on their hearts. They continue to do just that with "Love & War". According to Becca Barlow: "I think there are two continuous messages that we are trying to get across on this album: One is that time is short and we don't have time to not follow the Lord. We don't have time to do the things we desire to do. It's time to be bold and follow the calling God has in your life. The second message is that it's all about being in love with the Lord and about that relationship with Him. If we don't have that relationship with Him, we can't have the boldness."

The first several songs build on the love and war theme with the upbeat opener "Come Alive" with the cry to "wake up, get out there's no time to waste now" which really gets to the heart of the matter including the charge to "be the change we've all been waiting for". "Open Heavens" keeps the theme of waking up going with the lyrics "can you feel the Spirit move you, calling all hearts to wake". Both songs really grab me and fire me up to stand up for God and for my beliefs. Then, first single "Beautiful Ending" hit me even harder with the challenging "it scares me to think that I would choose my life over You, My selfish heart divides me from You, It tears us apart". The song is beautiful and encourages me to live for God. If you are looking for this album's "Never Alone", "I Need You To Love Me" or "Here's My Life", this is it.

"Stay With Me" keeps the theme of love going with the encouragement that "all I need is Your love pulling me". "Our Worlds Collide" is also about love and the girls share how God has filled their hearts with love. The personal nature of the songs really draws me in as I have 3 daughters and want nothing more than for them to know the Love of God. "Love Is Marching" is another call to action with the very convicting lyrics "so when we breathe our last...... can we say we have lived for more and did we live to die for love".

"Running Out Of Time" brings back the war theme and makes me think about the choices I make and how I spend my time. "Time For You To Go" is the most rocking song on the album and possibly one of the most challenging songs with the lyrics "Isn't it nice to know, That the media will sway our votes, cause seriously we've got to see, that they choose what we know, our morals get thrown away, for the next big thing we've got to see". The song finishes with the bridge reminding us that we've got to think for ourselves. "Sing Me A Love Song" is another personal love song that really paints a picture of BarlowGirl's spiritual walk with the bridge "cause You are what I need, all that I want is You with me". The most challenging song for BarlowGirl to write was "Tears Fall." The beautiful ballad focuses on BarlowGirl's pro-life stance. "Tears Fall" is extremely moving and is filled with emotion including the cry "God forgive us now". The album ends with "Hello Sunshine" with an upbeat melody and optimistic cry to "let my eyes see the beauty".

From opening song "Come Alive", I was hooked by the theme and catchiness of this album, the best overall album by BarlowGirl in my opinion. From the standout first single "Beautiful Ending" to the gorgeous "Tears Fall" and the rocking "Time For You To Go", this album delivers with BarlowGirl's signature blend of excellent harmonies and great musicianship. "Love & War" has been in heavy rotation for me and is one of my top 5 albums of 2009."

A Top Notch Album

S. Peek | Rocky Mountains, USA | 11/16/2009

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Barlowgirl has again put together an album with solid Christian lyrics and a great sound.

This one has songs that range from rock to a much lighter sound. There is some real diversity in type while maintaining a consistent theme. The focus of this album is that time is running out and it's time for Christians to make their mark. The message is a challenge that gets the listener's attention.

There are many very good songs on this CD. I particularly like 'Running Out of Time' and 'Beautiful Ending'. The latter is really a must have song for any fan of rock in general and/or Christian rock in particular. This is well worth getting."

Another Journel Entry part2

eddie baggett | 09/25/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I thought the album before HCWBS was not only a great christian album and great album in all. One of my all time favorites. And was hoping they would continue with that style and do a HCWBS part2 kinda. But they did AJE part2. But I do love AJE and I wasnt dissapointed at all. And I remember more of their fans not thinking as much of HCWBS so it's the right diretion for the band. Great christian messages with the same upbeat rock. Worth it's cost. I just wonder if their will be an expanded editon later down the road????"

BarlowGirl displays

EarlKid | 09/17/2009

(4 out of 5 stars)

"In "Love & War," BarlowGirl could've delivered a mindless replica of its previous albums. But the artists made the right choice: They used this opportunity to take the next step in their musical evolution. This album marks the end of the band's teen days.

This CD reflects a sense of maturity and sensibility that give the band credibility as a long-term centerpiece of the industry. It has the feel and sound of BarlowGirl's previous albums with the lyrical maturity and melodic grace of industry veterans. The album is still undeniably rock-centric, but the Barlow sisters never take it too far. It's still grounded in rock-pop, but it cannot believably be criticized as teen pop. It's better than that. Smarter.

The first single, "Beautiful Ending," is a must have. Excellent touch. "Sing Me a Love Song" avoids cliche and accomplishes a catchy sound.

The hidden gems, however, are "Open Heavens" and "Tears Fall." "Open Heavens" weaves together rock and soft pop seamlessly. But "Tears Fall" is the stunning piece of the album. A major surprise. It's a soft ballad that steals the spotlight on the album. It almost hints at the band's future direction and continued musical evolution."

They've Done It Again!

S. Metz | PA | 09/08/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I got hooked on BarlowGirl with their first two albums, BarlowGirl and Another Journey Entry. They were both full of upbeat, catchy tunes and beautiful ballads all with strong, personal lyrics. I have to admit, How Can We Be Silent was a disappointment for me, with most of the songs being slower, and they just didn't get to me like the previous albums. So when I heard that BarlowGirl was coming out with their fourth album, I hoped that it would not be a sequel to How Can We Be Silent.

And it defintely isn't. Many of the songs are fast and fun and just overall lighter than How Can We Be Silent - at least as far as the melodies go. The lyrics are as beautiful and meaningful as they have always been, and there are songs on the album for almost every stage a Christian can go through with God...the good times, the hard times, and the hopeless times. They also focus on the war between the world vs. God and who is getting our attention, which is something all Christians need to be reminded of. The slow songs are absolutely beautiful, and the harmonies in this album are awesome as always, but BarlowGirl never lets us down in that sense. I can't even decide what my favorite songs are at this point because I love all of them. BarlowGirl, you've done it again."

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