Get Your Music on Amazon!
Get Your Music - and everything else - on Amazon! All purchases made on Amazon through this link earn a commission for Jesusfreakhideout.com!

JFH Music Review




Bebo Norman
Big Blue Sky



Artist Info: Discography
Album length: 11 tracks: 46 minutes, 13 seconds
Street Date: May 15, 2001


This 27-year-old boy from Georgia released his successful national debut project Ten Thousand Days in 1999 on new label Watershed Records. The album did surprisingly well, debuting at number 3 on the Internet Sales Chart ahead of Backstreet Boys and Sarah MacLachlan. It sold more than 125,000 copies in the U.S. and became the top-selling new artist release in Europe for the year 2000. This May, Bebo Norman releases his sophomore national release which is bound to do just as well or better than its predecessor.

A little less folk and rootsy-oriented, Big Blue Sky, although still prominently just Bebo and his guitar (with some accompaniments), is more layered and more of a pop-oriented nature. It is evident that Bebo's lyrical and musical compositioning has changed. "The way I look at what a song should be has definitely changed," Bebo states in his official bio. "Even though I still enjoy a mysterious nature of very lyrical songs, I've begun to appreciate how profound a simple and repetitive pop song can be."

Big Blue Sky opens with the upbeat "I Am," which indeed is repetitive, but from the opening of the song, it's clear the album will be much easier listening. Songs like "Perhaps She'll Wait for Me" and "Where You Are" are more signature of Norman's earlier work. Primarily and often solely just himself and his guitar, these ballads are intimate and soothing. "Tip of My Heart" and "Underneath" are more up-beat acoustic pop tunes reminiscent of Steven Curtis Chapman's earlier work and Eli's current. However, one of the best, if not the best track on the record is "Break Me Through." Probably the most different sounding song on the album, Bebo's vocals float over a poppy bass beat with a soft synth creating a beautifully peaceful ballad. Slightly reminiscent of something that one might hear on the Newsboys' Not Ashamed record, the listener will likely be addicted after a couple listens. Bebo proves his versatility and makes it clear he has a lot to offer musically.

With each song and each album, Norman is continually reaching into the depths of the listener's soul lyrically, and musically further securing himself as a talented pop figure in the Christian music scene.

- Review date: 4/29/01, written by John DiBiase



(JFH Sponsor Spot)

Check out JFH's Lloyd in his first-ever childrens book!

 

Big Blue CD

Buy This CD Online


. Artist Info: Discography
. Record Label: Watershed Records
. Album length: 11 tracks, 46 minutes and 13 seconds
. Street Date: May 15, 2001
. Buy It: Amazon.com

  1. I Am
  2. Cover Me
  3. You Surround Me
  4. Sons and Daughters
  5. Perhaps She'll Wait for Me
  6. Tip of My Heart
  7. Underneath
  8. Break Me Through
  9. Big Blue Sky
  10. All That I Have Sown
  11. Where You Are
spacer Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics
Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics
Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics
Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics
Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics
Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics
Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics
Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics
Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics
Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics
Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics

 

 

go to main Album review page
go to Album review archive

 


(JFH Sponsor Spot)

 

 

                 
Check out JFH's Lloyd in his first-ever childrens book!

Search JFH



This Friday, March 28, 2025
ALBUMS
Steve Camp Fire and Ice (Remastered Collector's Edition) [Girder]
Lawrence Hancock Undefeated [LVP]
Red Rocks Worship The King Is Coming [Provident]
Edwrin Sutton The Savior 1.0 (Volume 1) [Blacksmoke]

SINGLES
Big Daddy Weave I've Just Seen Too Much - Single [Curb]
Disciple Resurrecting Reasons (feat. Decyfer Down) - Single [Tooth & Nail]
Good Weather Forecast Now I See It - Single [DREAM]
Ronnie Martin Ever Sing For Joy - Single [Velvet Blue]
Switch Love Like This - Single (independent)
Madison Watkins You Won't - Single [Provident]
The Young Escape Every Little Thing - Single [BEC]

Next Tuesday, April 1, 2025
SINGLES
Sleeping At Last Build - Single (independent)

Next Friday, April 4, 2025
ALBUMS
Faith Worship Arts Fill This House [DREAM Worship]
TAYA The Reminder [Capitol CMG]

SINGLES
Free Worship Haz Tu Voluntad - Single [BEC]
Hunter Plake & River Valley AGES Presence is Peace - Single [BEC]
River Valley Worship Great and Lowly King - Single [BEC]
Jordan St. Cyr My Foundation (Acoustic) - Single [BEC]



For all release dates, click here!
 

Check out the newest JFH Metal compilation - FREE!
Get JFH's 13th free indie compilation now!
Check out depositphotos for royalty free images