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JFH Music Review


Sara Groves
Fireflies And Songs



Artist Info: Discography
Album length: 11 tracks: 67 minutes, 20 seconds
Street Date: November 17, 2009


If singer/songwriter Sara Groves is one thing, it is consistent. She pours her heart and soul into every song she writes, and her latest collection, Fireflies and Songs, is no exception. Teaming with renowned producer Charlie Peacock, Groves delivers what may be her most candid and mature album to date.

With Fireflies, Groves delves deep into the complexities of relationships, uncovering raw truths and exposing snapshots of grace. Marriage, a topic that is no stranger to Groves, takes center stage on "Fireflies and Songs," "Different Kinds of Happy," and "It's Me." The great thing about the singer is that she paints a true picture of both the pain and the joy that married couples experience instead of dumbing marriage down to an unattainable fairytale like so many songs do. One of my favorite songs on the album, "Twice as Good," celebrates intimate friendship. Other topics include childhood memories, anxiety, perseverance and suffering, and celebrating one's relationship with God.

Throughout Fireflies, Groves sticks close to the gentle folk music she has become known for. There are a few instances where songs seem to run together, but because the songs are so good, this is forgivable. Groves does flirt with bluegrass on "Setting Up the Pins," which makes for a pleasant change of pace. I would be interested to see her stretch herself even more, maybe into rock territory ala Jennifer Knapp.

Fireflies and Songs is an excellent addition to the Sara Groves catalogue. Those who enjoy mature song writing and soothing folk music will not be disappointed. Groves, much like singer/songwriter Andrew Peterson, has a knack for turning small moments from every day life into beautiful songs. Perhaps a line from the song "Setting up the Pins," sums up the album best, "It can feel simple but it's really profound."

- Review Date: 11/5/09, written by Laura Nunnery Love of Jesusfreakhideout.com



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JFH Staff's Second Opinion



Sara Groves is one of Christian music's best-kept secrets, a thoughtful singer-songwriter that creates some of the loveliest music you may have never heard. Once you dive into Fireflies and Songs, you find it is some of her most poetic, vulnerable, and transparent music to date. The highlight of this album is beautiful lyrics that draw the listener in with emotive, literate storytelling. The opening lines of the title track set the tone right away: "Thirty years ago I was a little girl / Riding in the backseat of a car / A woman sang 'you don't bring me flowers anymore' / I felt a sadness in my little heart." Many songs deal with the ups and downs of love, from the sweet love song "Twice as Good," to the heartbreaking "It's Me," a ballad that ponders the aftermath of anger and pleas for reconciliation. Songs like this don't resolve or teach a moral lesson, but instead bottle the emotion with a breathtaking, raw intensity. Musically, it's acoustic piano-folk with a stripped-down feel that lets the lyrics shine. A couple of musical standouts are "Setting Up the Pins," a delightful tune that sounds like a bluegrass jam, and "Eyes Wide Open," with its strong, dark beat to match its confessional lyrics. "Joy is in Our Hearts" wraps the album nicely on a tender, worshipful note. Sara Groves' music is a rare treasure; introspective, honest, and intimate. If you've never discovered her before, Fireflies and Songs is a great introduction for this songwriter's beautiful work. - Jen Rose of Jesusfreakhideout.com

 

. Record Label: INO Records
. Album length: 11 tracks: 40 minutes, 59 seconds
. Street Date: November 17, 2009
. Buy It: iTunes
. Buy It: Amazon.com

  1. Fireflies and Songs (3:25)
  2. From This One Place (3:40)
  3. Different Kinds Of Happy (4:16)
  4. Twice As Good (3:38)
  5. It's Me (5:28)
  6. This House (3:03)
  7. Setting Up the Pins (2:44)
  8. Love (3:12)
  9. Like A Lake (4:38)
  10. Eyes Wide Open (3:31)
  11. Joy Is In Our Hearts (3:30)
  12. This House (Video) **iTunes Only
  13. It's Me (Video) **iTunes Only
  14. Twice As Good (Video) **iTunes Only

 

 

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This Friday, November 14, 2025
ALBUMS
Emery White Line Fever (Remastered) - Disc One (independent)
JERICKO Ups and Downs - EP [Syntax]
Kings Kaleidoscope Asaph's Arrows II EP [BEC]
VIC LUCAS The Journey (Deluxe Version) [Syntax]
Ronnie Martin Evergreen Melodie [Velvet Blue]
NF FEAR - EP [Capitol]
Blessing Offor To All A Good Night [Capitol CMG]
Rave Jesus I MET GOD ON THE DANCEFLOOR [Provident]
The Young Escape Not Done Yet [BEC]

SINGLES
ADRIEL CRUZ & JAMIL Praying For My Enemies - Single [Syntax]
BILL B. My Lord - Single [Syntax]
Biscuits Drifting Off (Hayloft) - Single [Circle Back]
CUTRIGHT, ZIPPY, & QEW Pick it Up - Single [Syntax]
DRENAE Like U Do - Single [Syntax]
KNALADEUS, SELAH THE CORNER, & AYO SHAMIR Let it Be (ft. JOSEPH SD) - Single [Syntax]
LEXLY NIRVANA Perdoname - Single [Syntax]
Richard Lynch Why Me Lord - Single [MTS]
NEEDTOBREATHE Where You Call Home - Single [Omnivore]
Hunter Plake Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas - Single [BEC]

Next Sunday, November 16, 2025
ALBUMS
Bir Witness 26.13 (independent)

Next Thursday, November 20, 2025
SINGLES
The Rocky Valentines Happy Thanksgiving - Double Single [Velvet Blue]

Next Friday, November 21, 2025
ALBUMS
Drew Holcomb & the Neighbors, Ellie Holcomb I'll Be Home for Christmas - EP [Magnolia]
Joseph Habedank The Great Adventure: A Tribute to Steven Curtis Chapman [Daywind]
Andrew Marcus Christmas - EP (independent)
Stryper The Greatest Gift Of All [Frontiers]

SINGLES
Cliff & Antoinette Murray Happy Thanksgiving - Single [DREAM]
Jake MacAdam, Mark & Sarah Tillman Christ Has Come - Single [Ocean House]
Life.Church Worship A Thousand Blessings - Single [Ocean House]
Good Weather Forecast Little Christmas - Single [DREAM]

VINYL
Stryper The Greatest Gift Of All Vinyl [Girder]


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