Get the new FREE JFH MP3 compilation -- Vol. 14!
Get the new FREE JFH MP3 compilation -- Vol. 14!

JFH Music Review


Our Hearts Hero, Love Is Breathing
CLICK COVER TO ENLARGE

Our Hearts Hero
Love Is Breathing



Artist Info: Discography
Album length: Love Is Breathing
Street Date: November 11, 2011


Our Hearts Hero has been on an interesting quest. They went from being an independent artist with a solid following to Gotee Records. After one album on TobyMac's label, the band was back to independent status. Undaunted, the band kept at it and have now released their first Christmas album, Love is Breathing. The album brings a sound of alt-rock with pop-punk sensibilities to its listeners.

A quick glance over the song titles and the album appears to be one made up of original songs; this is not true. Instead, the album is full of re-imagined traditional Christmas songs with one and a half originals; the title track is in fact the only completely original song with "Magi" being the half. "Magi" features original verses with the chorus of "We Three Kings." It should not take you long to figure the track listing out. You will easily be able to tell what song is next given the titles. For example, "Bells" is "Carol of the Bells" and "Joy" is "Joy to the World."

The sound itself is good enough and the changed rhythms and lyrical patterns are at times welcomed. "Glow," "Town," and "Come" are tracks that really benefit from the change. "Bells" is one of the best versions of the song with sung lyrics available, though it will be hard for any band to top August Burns Red's blistering instrumental. Songs like "Joy," however, suffer greatly. The track starts out with a sound eerily similar to that of the MxPx song "Well Adjusted" (of Pepsi Super Bowl commercial fame). It's not an exact match, but the similarity is overwhelming. Just as I started to forgive them for borrowing the guitar riff, the third verse started. The song goes from a rock tune to a Joy Electric-esque electronic sound. Unfortunately, only Joy Electric can pull off Joy Electric and the sounds do not mesh at all, especially with the old school punk sing-a-long chorus that immediately follows.

Another track that didn't fare well with the change was "Magi." The verses sound like something Matthew Thiessen wrote. It seems like a forced attempt to sound like Relient K from the guitars to the cheeky lyrics. However, the acoustic guitar and violin combination on "Away" strike gold on one of the better versions of "Away in a Manger" you will hear. In addition, the hip-hop/R&B vibe on "Come" doesn't really match the rest record, but it is strangely appealing and placed perfectly as the album's finale.

The covers are decent for the most part, but how did the original track turn out? The short answer is brilliantly. Drums and piano dominate the track that tells the story of Christ's birth through the eyes of one of the shepherds in the field. The chorus proclaims, "Love is breathing. Hope is screaming tonight in the Baby's cry." It goes on further to say, "Everything we know's about to change. He's laying in a stable in a manger asleep on the hay." The song is a different view of the Savior's coming and really hits home the importance and true meaning of Christmas.

Overall, the album is an enjoyable listen, but I can't help but think other artists have done most of the songs better. That being said, Love is Breathing is still worth picking up if you are a fan of Christmas rock tunes. You may want to skip around a bit, but you should find enough to make your Christmas a little merrier. Best of luck to this band in the future.

- Review date: 12/4/11, written by Michael Weaver of Jesusfreakhideout.com



(JFH Sponsor Spot)

Get the new FREE JFH MP3 compilation -- Vol. 14!

 

. Record Label: None
. Album length: 10 tracks: 33 minutes, 24 seconds
. Street Date: November 11, 2011
. Buy It: OurHeartsHero.com

  1. Glow (3:35)
  2. Bells (3:49)
  3. Magi (3:03)
  4. Town (2:47)
  5. Love Is Breathing (4:10)
  6. Joy (3:14)
  7. Away (3:04)
  8. Lord (2:44)
  9. Hark (3:41)
  10. Come (3:23)

 

Leave a Comment


 

 

go to main Album review page
go to Album review archive

 

 

                 
Get the new FREE JFH MP3 compilation -- Vol. 14!

Search JFH



This Wednesday, October 22, 2025
SINGLES
Phil Wickham Fear Has No Power - Single [Fair Trade]

This Friday, October 24, 2025
ALBUMS
John Allan untitled EP [Centricity]
Dan Bremnes The Villain - EP [Curb]
Clear Convictions Endure [Resuscitation]
God Behind Bars Music Live From Angola Prison Vol. 1 [Provident]
Fepeste This World Ain't Mine to Change [Velvet Blue]
gio. FINE BY ME [Capitol CMG]
Brandon Lake Amazon Music Songline [Provident]
Latter Day Exploits Within Consumed (Expanded Edition) [Charon Collective]
Tyson Motsenbocker Modern Worries [Tooth & Nail]
Smalltown Poets St. Augustine (independent)
Zahriya Zachary Rediscovery [Bethel]

SINGLES
29:11 Worship, Zion Rempel You Never Fail (feat. Emily Guy) - Single [DREAM]
Joe L Barnes Grief, Joy, Gratitude - Single [Provident]
Chad Cory, Zacardi Cortez My First Love (Remix) - Single [DREAM]
Leanna Crawford Beginning Of Your Grace - Single [Provident]
darthy Juniper Tree - Single [WieRok]
Emerson Day Midnight Hour - Single [Fair Trade]
Good Weather Forecast lows2highs - Single [DREAM]
Grace + Max Rich - Single [WieRok]
Jamie Macdonald You Can't Take My Song - Single [Capitol CMG]
Mercy Tribe Music The King is in the Room (feat. Ayiesha Woods) - Single (independent)
Mountains in the Sea You Never Fail (feat. Emily Guy) - Single [DREAM]
Seph Schlueter Already On The Way (feat. Benjamin William Hastings) - Single [Provident]
Tomb Slayer The Christmas Lamb (feat. Khristian Dentley & Sarah Whittemore) - Single [Tomb Slayer]
The Undertaking! All Smiles - Single (independent)

VINYL
Clear Convictions Endure [Resuscitation]

Next Friday, October 31, 2025
ALBUMS
Hope Deferred Darkness Remains [The Charon Collective]
Testimony of Apocalypse Agony in the Garden [Roxx Records]

SINGLES
Dreamers My Heart His Home - Single [DREAM]
Roxanne Grace Try Again - Single [DREAM]
Lock & Chi Do To Me - Single (independent)
John Long Simple Pursuit - Single (independent)
Warren Zeiders How Great Thou Art - Single [Warner]


For all release dates, click here!
 

Purchase Original Art Prints, Drawings, Stickers, Bookmarks and more from JFH's own John DiBiase!
Need proofreading and editing help? We've got you covered! Click here to learn more
Check out depositphotos for royalty free images