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

JFH Music Review


John Waller, Explosions of Light
CLICK COVER TO ENLARGE

John Waller
Explosions of Light



Artist Info: Discography
Genre(s): Pop / Contemporary / Worship
Album length: 11 tracks: 38 minutes, 6 seconds
Street Date: January 25, 2019


READER RATING:   


One of the first big-ticket worship album releases of 2019 comes from CCM veteran John Waller. Having garnered much fame from his radio hits "The Blessing" and "While I'm Waiting" (both excellent offerings), it's clear that Waller is hoping to strike gold once more with his latest endeavor, Explosions of Light. As his eighth studio album since going solo, Explosions lays bare the common struggle artists often face at this point in their careers: relevancy.

Opening with electronically-charged "You Say I Am," Waller's intentions become clear right off the bat. The lyrics fall short of Waller's past offerings, with the song essentially repeating the lines "because You are who You say You are / I am, I am who You say I am." Discerning between the opening track and the follow-up title track is somewhat difficult, but at least a slight lyrical improvement is in order: "Come Jesus, light the fire in the night / You are explosions of light / light darkness with Your glory / You are explosions of light."

The third track, "Awakening," seems to be neatly ripped from Francesca Battistelli's playbook. This is neither good nor bad, but it does come across as somewhat cliché. "Epic" is a generic-sounding worship piece, but it's well-crafted and superior to many of its contemporaries. At this point, thankfully, Explosions of Light vastly improves. "Mama's Prayers" is a sweet Waller-esque song which carries a slight country vibe and lovely lyrics. "Mine" is a clever and sweet folk-rock song and is one of the recommended album highlights.

The next two tracks, "Comeback" and "When God Says No," don't stand out as particularly memorable songs, but they're enjoyable and harken back to Waller's earlier projects. "Good News" is an excellent worship song, and the contemplative "I Choose You" is a beautiful piece with carefully constructed lyrics: "I choose You / all of my attention, affection, all my devotion's for You / If everybody's worshiping something, I choose You." The closing track, "Here's My Yes," sounds similar to some of Chris Tomlin's best pieces and is worth a few listens. I'm often not a fan of the contemporizing and insertion of traditional hymns into modern worship music, but Waller does an exceptional job of just that here with "'Tis So Sweet."

In summary, Explosions of Light is one of Waller's shortest offerings to date. This, in addition to an overreliance on synthetic and electronic elements, greatly detracts from what the album could have been. Frontloading the album with fewer standout tracks also causes the gems later on to fall by the wayside. Ultimately, Explosions of Light is an acceptable album which neither raises nor lowers the bar for the remainder of 2019. Current and past fans will find some enjoyable tracks, but this likely won't serve as an adequate entry point for new listeners.

- Review date: 1/24/19, written by David Craft of Jesusfreakhideout.com



(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!

 

. Record Label: Radiate Music
. Album length: 11 tracks: 38 minutes, 6 seconds
. Street Date: January 25, 2019
. Buy It: iTunes
. Buy It: AmazonMP3

  1. You Say I Am (2:53)
  2. Explosions of Light (3:36)
  3. Awakening (2:49)
  4. Epic (3:55)
  5. Mama's Prayers (3:53)
  6. Mine (3:01)
  7. Comeback (3:20)
  8. When God Says No (3:45)
  9. Good News (3:00)
  10. I Choose You (3:41)
  11. Here's My Yes (4:13)

 

 JFH Album Sample Player

 



Leave a Comment

 

 

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