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



Justin McRoberts
Deconstruction



Artist Info: Discography
Album length: 13 tracks: 48 minutes, 47 seconds
Street Date: March, 2008


Justin McRoberts creates another piece of engaging and thought-provoking folk art with Deconstruction, his sixth LP. The album picks up where Grace Must Wound left off, although this time around the singer's focus is on unraveling commonly held perceptions.

Because each of McRobert's albums sound so similar, it is easy to dismiss him as a one trick pony and label Deconstruction as "more of the same." However, to do so would be a gross oversight. What McRoberts does, he does well, and his songwriting continues to ripen with every new project.

Deconstruction finds McRoberts in a pensive mood, questioning issues such as gluttonous patriotism ("America and the Soul"), misguided music critics ("Deconstruction"), and man's ability to understand concepts such as love and forgiveness on his own ("Common Sense"). While listening to the album, I found myself comparing it to what is arguably Derek Webb's greatest work, Mockingbird. Like Webb, McRoberts is not afraid to speak plainly and openly about what he sees as problems within the Church, and he calls followers of Christ out on issues they may prefer to keep quiet. On the title track, McRoberts poignantly sums up a frustration that seems to be growing among artists who are Christian (as well as people like myself) by writing, "They say it's not about performance. They say it's all about the heart. But every critic with his pen or his computer talks about effectiveness and not about the art."

The only issue I have with McRoberts on this album is that sometimes his lyrics get lost within his arrangements and hypnotic voice. At times I found myself focusing only on the sound of the song and completely missing the meaning. Because McRoberts' voice is so powerful, it can overshadow his lyrics and the listener can inadvertently reduce the album to background music. That being said, if one takes time to soak in both the music and the lyrics, he will find Deconstruction to be a rich and rewarding listen.

- Review date: 2/22/09, written by Laura Nunnery of Jesusfreakhideout.com



(JFH Sponsor Spot)

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

 

. Record Label: None
. Album length: 13 tracks: 48 minutes, 47 seconds
. Street Date: March, 2008
. Buy It: JustinMcRoberts.com
. Buy It: Amazon.com

  1. Done Living (3:09)
  2. America And The Soul (3:54)
  3. A Hope Deferred (3:47)
  4. Driving By The Accident (3:43)
  5. Deconstruction (3:48)
  6. When It Don't Come Easy (5:00)
  7. Religion Poisons Everything (3:44)
  8. On The Night You Were Betrayed (2:53)
  9. Bullhorn Theory (3:43)
  10. Hope Is Where We're Starting From (4:43)
  11. Common Sense (3:25)
  12. Until There Is No Tomorrow (3:41)
  13. My Only Victory (3:23)

 

 

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
Anchor Hymns The Garden (Live) [Integrity]
Anike The Rap Pack - EP [Reach]
Mack Brock Beloved - EP [Centricity]
Eben Brusco Offering House - EP (independent)
Steve Camp Fire and Ice (Remastered Collector's Edition) [Girder]
Lawrence Hancock Undefeated [LVP]
The Heritage HOME [Bowyer & Bow]
Memphis May Fire Shapeshifter [Rise]
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]
Bongo Chico 1995 - Single (independent)
Kristin Chenoweth Live Like That (from "The King of Kings" Soundtrack) - Single [Angel Studios/Sony]
Disciple Resurrecting Reasons (feat. Decyfer Down) - Single [Tooth & Nail]
ELEVATION RHYTHM Sing Of Your Love (feat. Joe L Barnes) - Single [Elevation]
Good Weather Forecast Now I See It - Single [DREAM]
Lucy Grimble First Love - Single [Integrity]
JJ Hairston & Youthful Praise Lifted Up (ft. Tamela Hairston) - Single [Motown Gospel]
Jericko MANNA - Single [Syntax]
Kashh Kade RUNNING MAN - Single [Syntax]
Knaladeus Treasure (ft. C4 Crotona & Aciya Iona) - Single [Syntax]
Ronnie Martin Ever Sing For Joy - Single [Velvet Blue]
Miel San Marcos Digno De Adorar (Worthy Of It All) [feat. Waleska Morales] - Single [Integrity]
New Day Rhymes In Harmony - Single (independent)
Sam Purpose Turnaround - Single (independent)
Q-Flo & C4 Crotona The Plug Gotta Know God - Single [Syntax]
Smokey Robinson Three Little Birds / What A Wonderful World - Single [Gaither]
Sixpence None the Richer Julia (Live at Gruene Hall) - Single [Flatiron]
Sound Street I'm So Blessed - Single [Sonlite]
Switch Love Like This - Single (independent)
TKE3 LAHO 3MIX - Single (independent)
Madison Watkins You Won't - Single [Provident]
Wolves at the Gate Synthetic Sun - Single [Solid State]
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]
Silent Music Owl (independent)
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