Search - Jimmy Needham :: Not Without Love

Soulful and thoughtful

M. Wu | 06/02/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Yes, Jimmy Needham is a Christian artist, but his songs don't sound like everything else that plays on the local praise station. With catchy choruses, and non conventional song structure he sets himself apart in a good way. His lyrics deal with nuanced specific topics, and overall, it's a good album that's uplifting, thoughtful, and has atypical song topics that make you think. He sounds a lot like Jason Mraz, which to me is a good thing."

A Soulful Touch (4.5 Stars)

Kyle M. Lane | Jacksonville, FL USA | 11/11/2008

(4 out of 5 stars)

"The follow-up to 2006's Speak for Texas-native Jimmy Needham is nothing less than passionate and soulful. Needham has a way of speaking the truth using personal introspection, along with a mix of jazz and blues harmonics, R&B vocal style, and straight-forward songwriting approach completing a diversified yet catchy sophomore release through Inpop Records.



Although Not Without Love may not surprise many, it does inspire. Needham is very passionate about writing songs that are not just "songs" with a verse, a chorus, another verse, and a bridge, but he wants to bring about worship. He makes it clear that he does not listen to any style of music that does not make him want to worship God, and it's very clear on Not Without Love that he doesn't write songs just to be listened to, but they're to be experienced in our everyday lives.



The album starts off with an apologetic number which is the basis of the release explaining Needham's normally unsuccessful attempts in converting souls, and with a revelation beyond logic, love. The song has a normal swing of pop influenced soul with lightly distorted and affectionate electric guitar with Jimmy's usual acoustic swagger.



"We pass our paper facts all week, but they won't come around...There's only way they'll come, and it's love."



Jimmy is quick to subject to humility, and slow to boast. He gives light of this on "Hurricane" his desperation to be saved from the flesh. Needham mixes up his usual truth-bearing/melancholic redeeming numbers with a couple tracks about his fiancée (Firefly, Unfailing Love) that are extremely heartfelt. "Firefly" is definitely a poppier track with it's jovial melody, while "Unfailing Love" gets more to the core of his love for this woman. He even repeats his purpose for the song three times



"Be my wife, be my wife, be my wife."



Two of the last three tracks of Not Without Love again express anguish and angst-ridden need for saving. Both tracks (Rend, The Great Love Story) are more piano-driven which makes it easier to feel his longing for redemption. "Author" could definitely be used in churches as a traditional contemporary worship song, and is probably my favorite track on Love.



Even though Love is not a shocking, it is moving and a recommended purchase. You won't find many artists like Jimmy Needham; he is honest, compassionate, and personal, and it comes through on both releases thus far.

"

An honest attempt

J. Warren Benton | Elizabeth city | 09/23/2008

(3 out of 5 stars)

"Mr. needham has a great way of stringing words together. Sometimes he reminds me of Jason Mraz because he uses words better than most of the so called songwriters out there. This album is well produced. I think it is his best to date. Now I am just waiting for a live album because he is much better in person. I would love to hear him experiment with a little electic guitar.

"