Check out the new concept album from Rusty Shipp!
Check out the new concept album from Rusty Shipp!

JFH Music Review


Citizen Way, Love Is A Lion
CLICK COVER TO ENLARGE

Citizen Way
Love Is A Lion



Artist Info: Discography
Genre(s): Pop / Pop Rock
Album length: 11 tracks: 41 minutes, 7 seconds
Street Date: October 18, 2019


READER RATING:   


While there probably isn't a rule etched in stone or listed in a handbook somewhere saying as much, most musicians, whether they are consciously aware of it or not, tend to order the songs on a given project so that the first few cuts are among the strongest. This is certainly the case with Love is a Lion, the third effort from the Chicago-area trio, Citizen Way. With a pop sensibility as sweeping as it is melodic, it's hard to imagine a more rousing album (or concert) opener than "The Lord's Prayer." Just as impressive is "Love Has Won," a loping, folk-tinged anthem of hope to the lonely and hurting.

Unfortunately, like so many of their contemporaries, the CW collective spends the next seven slots in the running order churning out one mostly nondescript, made-for-radio pop/worship number after another. To the group's credit, the title track does rise ever so slightly above the average value thanks to its infectiously terse tribal rhythms. And "Hallowed Be Thy Name" is likewise blessed with a modestly engaging light funk vibe. By and large, though, the second section of the record is saddled with a lethargy and repetition that ultimately serve to bring its encouraging opening momentum to a virtual halt.

Thankfully, the proverbial ship is righted, for the most part, by the two closing compositions. The beautiful piano-based ballad, "Be Still," takes the best aspects of Christian pop over the past four-plus decades and distills them down into a single four-minute piece that is as evocative as it is timeless. And the decidedly old school lyrics found on the joyous Bart Millard-assisted gospel rave-up, "WaveWalker," ("I'm a wavewalker/ dancing on water/ When the devil tried to shake me/ I just pray harder") are just the sort of soulful infusion that inspirational pop radio needs here in the latter half of 2019.

Top 40 listeners will likely enjoy the album from start to finish given the high quality of the opening and closing song pairs together with the fact that the remainder of the release is roughly on par with the bulk of what they hear on radio. For everyone else, though, the best approach would be to skip the middle portion of the record - aside from perhaps "Hallowed Be Thy Name" and the title cut - and focus their attention on the tracks at either end.

- Review date: 11/15/19, written by Bert Gangl of Jesusfreakhideout.com



(JFH Sponsor Spot)

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

 

. Record Label: Fair Trade Services
. Album length: 11 tracks: 41 minutes, 7 seconds
. Street Date: October 18, 2019
. Buy It: iTunes
. Buy It: Amazon.com (CD)
. Buy It: Amazon Music (MP3)

  1. The Lord's Prayer (3:53)
  2. Love Has Won (4:22)
  3. Mountains (3:11)
  4. God You Are Good (3:40)
  5. Peace Like A River (3:16)
  6. The Hope Song (4:03)
  7. Love Is A Lion (3:24)
  8. You Loved Me Anyway (3:35)
  9. Hallowed Be Thy Name (3:52)
  10. Be Still (4:37)
  11. WaveWalker (feat. Bart Millard) (3:14)

 

 JFH Album Sample Player

 



Leave a Comment

 

 

go to main Album review page
go to Album review archive

 

 

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

Search JFH



This Friday, June 27, 2025
ALBUMS
7eventh Time Down We Praise You [BEC]
The Browns 25th Anniversary: Better Days Ahead [StowTown]
Franni Cash Wild Child - EP [Capitol CMG]
Matt Crocker interlude [Anotherland]
Jimmy Fortune Songs of an American Dreamer [Gaither]
Roxanne Grace Road Trip - EP [DREAM]
JJ Hairston & Youthful Praise The Live Reunion: Washington, DC [James Town]
Kutless The Seventh Seal - EP [BEC]
Evvie McKinney It Ain't Over - EP (independent)
Rusty Shipp Capsized Empire (independent)
SEU Worship A Forgiving God [Provident]
The Shimmering Carnelians The Doorway (Version 2.0) (independent)
We Are Messengers A Thousand Times - EP [Curb]

SINGLES
Anchor & Braille Rattlesnake - Single [Equal Vision]
ANTHNY imposter syndrome - Single [Provident]
Blanca Right On Time - Single [Curb]
Landry Cantrell & Elenee sunshine & rainbows - Single [DREAM]
Eddie Clark Never Content - Single [Syntax]
Colony House Atomic - Single [Roon]
Megan Danielle Preachin' To The Choir - Single [Provident]
Drea LP & OnBeatMusic Don't Try Me (DTM) - Single [Syntax]
Joseph Habedank Running to Me - Single [Daywind]
Lonnie Hunter Flow (Like A River) - Single [Uncle G]
Kashh Kade HELP - Single [Syntax]
KB x KEANU Keanu's Song - Single [Provident]
Tasha Layton Singing In the Dark - Single [BEC]
Tasha Cobbs Leonard The Hand That Keeps Holding - Single [Motown Gospel]
Tim Lovelace Celebration of America Medley (feat. Charlie McCoy) - Single [StowTown]
Lecrae Tell No Lie (feat. Jackie Hill Perry) - Single [Reach]
LO Worship The Perfect Love of Jesus - Single [Integrity]
Patrick Mayberry Thank The Lord - Single [Provident]
Michael Monroe John The Baptist (feat. Chris Renzema) - Single [Provident]
Alexander Pappas A Great Awakening / Un Nuevo Despertar - Single [Integrity]
PEABOD Summer in Seattle - Single [RMG Amplify]
Rave Jesus Walk On The Water Remix (From The Chosen) - Single [Provident]
The Rocky Valentines Nat Song - Single [Velvet Blue]
Saints In Exile & Cutright My Dead End (ft. Jeannie Ortega, Luc DiMarzio, Jericko) - Single [Syntax]
Emilie Weiss Take Care (Studio Sessions) - Single [BEC]

DVD
Jimmy Fortune Songs Of An American Dreamer DVD [Gaither]

Next Friday, July 4, 2025
ALBUMS
Chad Cory America [DREAM]
Tenielle Neda The Way Of Love [Wings]

SINGLES
Christian Back Now - Single [DREAM]



For all release dates, click here!
 

Check out depositphotos for royalty free images