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

JFH Music Review


Chris Renzema, 'Manna Pt.1 - EP'
CLICK COVER TO ENLARGE

Chris Renzema
Manna Pt.1 - EP



Artist Info: Discography
Genre(s): Folk Rock / Pop
Album length: 7 tracks: 27 minutes, 25 seconds
Street Date: August 25, 2023


READER RATING:   


Chris Renzema is on a hot streak and it's being criminally overlooked. Yes, unfortunately, a large portion of the modern CCM fan base have missed his now four full-length albums spanning the last five years. His devotional pop with its incredibly poetic, yet relatable lyrics isn't a perfect fit for radio, but to not make the effort to chase down his work means missing out on one of the best songwriters in recent memory. Think of the heart-on-the-sleeve approach of song-crafting like Jon Guerra, John Van Deusen, Taylor Leonhardt, or even Rich Mullins (though let's not get too carried away), and you get a pretty good idea of what to expect.

Taking a similar approach to former labelmate Peabod, Renzema rolls out Manna Pt. 1, all but assuring a part two. The seven tracks will leave listeners and critics alike to playfully try and decide if this is an album or an EP. Either way, it's excellent, with some of the most arrestingly and refreshingly honest lyrics of the year. All this is set to primarily acoustic sonics with a smattering of electric-led moments for variety. My favorite overall song is "Faith?!" which saunters with a wailing organ, piano, and a muscular electric guitar groove. It's been on repeat since it was released as a single and is in the running for my song of the year. Lyrically, the bridge hits hardest stating reassuringly, "Stepping out onto the water/Not sure if you'll sink or stand/I think fear's pretty normal/When you've only ever walked on land/'Cause to leap into the unknown/Is to walk by faith not sight/We all get scared of what we don't know/And maybe that's alright."

Other biggest highlights are found in the callout of all humanity (himself included), on "Hereditary," featuring guest vocalist Jess Ray (of Mission House). The following lyrics hit like a ton of bricks, as Ray sings, "Well I've stood by in disbelief/Watching the pastor pull up in a sports car to preach/About how blessed are the poor and blessed are the meek/And I can't help but see the irony/'Cause that same impulse lives in me too/Put me in the garden, I've taken the fruit."

Additional lyrical nuggets can be found among the trio of "Holy Ghost," "God & Prozac," and "Manna (After All These Years)." This stands out from the former, "And maybe that's just divine irony/As you try to see the forest for the trees/That through crooked teeth the Gospel's preached." Then "God & Prozac," has these heartrending lines, "The better part of my twenties/Spent writing songs about God/On a Prozac prescription/Doesn't that seem odd?/'Cause I believe in a gospel/And a God who is good/But these chemicals don't/Always work like they should." Lastly, "Manna (After All These Years)" lays out the theme of the record succinctly where Chris and his acoustic guitar close the album singing, "Whether or not I recognize the miracle hidden in the mundane/Oh, the bread of Heaven's offered either way."

This is still a young man determined to lean into a hopeful trust that God is good even when life is seemingly not, and that's to be commended. Overall, this is another home run for Renzema and I truly hope there is a "Pt.2" that is as stellar as the first part. Regardless, this set of songs is top-notch and worth your time to sit with the lyrics to mine their layers of goodness. I highly recommend it.

- Review date: 9/15/23, written by Josh Balogh of Jesusfreakhideout.com



(JFH Sponsor Spot)

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

 

. Record Label: Centricity Music
. Album length: 7 tracks: 27 minutes, 25 seconds
. Street Date: August 25, 2023
. Buy It: Apple Music
. Buy It: Amazon Music (MP3)

  1. Not Giving Up On You (3:32)
  2. Hereditary (feat. Jess Ray) (4:02)
  3. Holy Ghost (3:53)
  4. God & Prozac (4:04)
  5. My Heart Is A Stranger (3:28)
  6. Faith!? (4:03)
  7. Manna (After All These Years) (4:25)

 

 



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