Get the new FREE JFH MP3 compilation -- Vol. 13!
Get the new FREE JFH MP3 compilation -- Vol. 13!

JFH Music Review




Nicole C. Mullen
A Dream To Believe In, Volume 2



Artist Info: Discography
Album length: 11 tracks: 39 minutes and 54 seconds
Street Date: July 22, 2008


Nicole C. Mullen has been a household name in Christian music ever since her breakthrough hit, "Redeemer," back in 2000, and continued with another mega-hit, "Call On Jesus," as well as garnering a Dove Award for Female Vocalist. However, with her fourth release, Sharecropper's Seed, Volume One, Mullen decidedly showcased her own heritage with a series of more mellow, acoustic tracks. The album, nor any of its singles, fared too well with its audience, and with A Dream To Believe In, Volume 2, Mullen returns with a collection of both upbeat and slower tunes.

The theme of Sharecropper's Seed continues with this album: a theme of family and love towards people. Nicole has always been very vulnerable as an artist, and this album strongly highlights that. The record opens with a fitting, yet not really necessary, "I Have A Dream" intro, which features many different people of all backgrounds and ages, saying "I have a dream," repeatedly. The intro leads right into a funky "Look Like Me," something totally new for Nicole. "Look Like Me" is an upbeat track that returns listeners to her Talk About It album, and is the first song to quench those who were disappointed at all by Sharecropper's Seed. However, although Mullen has recorded many upbeat, urban-pop songs before, this one has a guitar-driven, rock flavor to it, which shows a completely different side of her. The song also talks about race, which is a topic Mullen has written about many times before. This new rock-driven style continues in songs like "Like A Lady" and "Like I'm In Love." "Yo Mama" is a slick R&B track, and serves as an ode to the caring mother of a friend. "Brainwash" uses clever lyricism to express the need to infiltrate worldly things, and even has a brief rap in the middle, similar to "This This" from her Everyday People album. However, the chorus seems a bit juvenile with its chanting of "I need a B-R-A-I-N-double-wash."

But those who are still longing for another classic Mullen ballad will sadly not find it here. "Start Over Again" and "Blessed And Broken" are the closest things to ballads on this album, though neither really has the power or punch of songs like "Redeemer," "Come Unto Me," "I Am," or "Call On Jesus." "There Is Still A Dream" is a cover of the song released a few years ago by Aaron Neville and Rachael Lampa for the One project. But Mullen's version doesn't exactly measure up, and her vocals don't soar like Lampa's did, although the "unity" theme of the song does fit well with this album as a whole. "Forever You Reign" could have been a great worship track, but its clichéd lyrics make it feel like just another routine worship song. The album closes with the techno-flavored "Work With Me." Although the song is definitely a fun one, there is no depth to the song at all, and the only lyrics are "Work with me now," and shouts of "Dance!"

A Dream To Believe In, Volume 2 will bring listeners back to Mullen's more upbeat material, but the album collectively just doesn't measure up to some of her previous work. Hopefully Volume 3 will provide a steady mix of everything we've come to know and love about Nicole C. Mullen.

- Review date: 7/22/08, written by Matthew Watson




(JFH Sponsor Spot)

Purchase Original Art Prints, Drawings, Buttons, Stickers, Bookmarks and more from JFH's own John DiBiase! Save for the holidays with code JFH20 at checkout!

 


. Artist Info: Discography
. Record Label: Word Records
. Album length: 11 tracks: 39 minutes and 54 seconds
. Street Date: July 22, 2008
. Buy It: Amazon.com

  1. I Have A Dream
  2. Look Like Me
  3. Yo Mama
  4. Feel Like I'm In Love
  5. Still A Dream
  6. Like A Lady
  7. Forever You Reign
  8. Brainwash
  9. Start Over Again
  10. Blessed And Broken
  11. Work With Me (Dance)
spacer     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)

 

 

                 
Purchase Original Art Prints, Drawings, Buttons, Stickers, Bookmarks and more from JFH's own John DiBiase! Save for the holidays with code JFH20 at checkout!

Search JFH




This Tuesday, October 29, 2024
SINGLES
Pipe Bomb Hate Club - Single [The Charon Collective]

This Thursday, October 31, 2024
ALBUMS
Neon Horse Habit of Creature - EP [Velvet Blue Music]

This Friday, November 1, 2024
ALBUMS
AWZY Sinners and Saints - EP [DREAM]
Forrest Frank Child of God (Deluxe) [river house]
Future of Forestry Symphonic Christmas (Live) (independent)
Influence Music It's All About You (independent)
The Kingdom Heirs No Better Time [Sonlite]
Limoblaze Young & Chosen (Power Pack) - EP [Reach]
Paul & Hannah McClure Christmas Morning (Re-Release) [Bethel]
Planetshakers Winning Team: Songs For Church (Live) [Venture3Media]
Skillet Revolution [Atlantic]
Sam's the Hero Charlie Cox - EP [Small Step]
Jim "Soni" Sonefeld Light of Joy - EP [Vere]
Ivan Theva Waiting Here for You - EP [Descendent/Provident]
John Van Deusen Anthem Sprinter [Tooth & Nail]
Phil Wickham Hallelujah! It's Christmas! [Fair Trade]
YWAM Kona Music Missionary Anthem - EP [Integrity]

SINGLES
Ayo Shamir, YP aka Young Paul Aaron Judge - Single (independent)
Gabby Barrett O Come, O Come Emmanuel (feat. The Piano Guys) - Single [Warner Music Nashville]
Brennley Brown Mary, Did You Know? - Single [Provident]
Lauren Daigle Then I Will - Single [Centricity]
Dreamers The Reason - Multi-Single [DREAM]
EJ Swavv I Hate Lucy - Single [Syntax]
Jess Ford This is My Jesus - Single (independent)
FYR FYTR So Simple - Single (independent)
Michael Monroe Pour It Out - Single [Provident]
Seph Schlueter We Sing (Joy To The World) [feat. Leanna Crawford] - Single [Provident]
Skye Peterson, Ben Shive Keep the Feast - Single [Getty]
SNT. VINCENT Confession - Single [Syntax]
Cyndi Thompson Silent Night - Single [County Line]
Thrive Worship Hark - Single [Integrity]
Tauren Wells Making Room - Single [Capitol CMG]

VINYL
Skillet Revolution Vinyl [Atlantic]

Next Friday, November 8, 2024
ALBUMS
Gabby Barrett Carols and Candlelight [Warner Music Nashville]
CXMMXNS CXMMXNS Chapter 1 - EP [Essential Worship]
New Hope Oahu There Is One - EP [DREAM]
Neal Morse & The Resonance No Hill For A Climber [InsideOut]
TAKE Time Bomb [Resuscitation Records]
Lauren Talley A Lauren Talley Christmas [Horizon]

SINGLES
Cory Asbury I Hope You Dance - Single [BEC]
Jordan Kauflin, Laura Story Approach, My Soul - Single [Getty]
Sam Bowman & GLADDEN Misfit Toys - Single [DREAM]
Wavorly Enemies - Single (independent)

VINYL
Michael W. Smith Every Christmas Vinyl [Rocketown]
Stryper To Hell with the Amps Vinyl [Frontiers]
TAKE Time Bomb Vinyl [Resuscitation Records]

DVD
Stryper To Hell with the Amps Blu-Ray [Frontiers]



For all release dates, click here!
 



Check out the new album from Taylor Holland Armstrong!



Listen to the new Single from Second Adam and the New Creations!

Check out depositphotos for royalty free images