Get Your Music on Amazon!
Get Your Music - and everything else - on Amazon! All purchases made on Amazon through this link earn a commission for Jesusfreakhideout.com!

JFH Music Review


Jessa Anderson, Not Myself Anymore
CLICK COVER TO ENLARGE

Jessa Anderson
Not Myself Anymore



Artist Info: Discography
Album length: 11 tracks: 41 minutes, 37 seconds
Street Date: September 13, 2011


In the same vein as singer/songwriters Audrey Assad, Ginny Owens, and Nichole Nordeman comes newcomer Jessa Anderson. Boasting a charming pop-tinged soft rock façade, it didn't take long for her independent full-length record, entitled Not Myself Anymore, to fall into the hands of BEC Recordings; immediately impressed with its quality, BEC re-released her album with a brand new song and the smallest of tinkering, resulting in her debut as a signed artist, and it's an outcome that deserves a decisive ear.

As with many artists of this genre, Anderson's sound serves merely as the backbone to hold up the important messages she shares, inevitably lending itself to using potentially less-than-imaginative melodies. This is especially evident with "Fireflies," the new track to this edition of Not Myself Anymore. Obviously produced separately from the rest of the album, a bouncy piano base leads into a simplistic, ear-catching chorus. One could be quick to judge the album based on the radio-friendly feel of this track, but they would miss out on the otherwise comforting contemporary vibe of the album's whole. Her inclusion of pianos only gives her sound a more pleasing atmosphere almost akin to Norah Jones or Adele with an inviting "coffeehouse" approach. Anderson exercises her vocal talents quite effectively, as well, saving the impressive notes for when they can impact the song the most; they feel sweet and relatable, a perfect blend to pair with her lyrics at hand.

Not Myself Anymore lyrically ranges all over the spectrum; "Fireflies," "Worship the Lamb," and "Offering" are straight-up worship songs with varying degrees of excellence, but it's the tracks focusing on the reality of life's struggles that are executed the best. "Everybody Has Those Days" and "The Same Place" puts man's tendencies toward sin out in the open ("You made another big mistake/didn't anybody ever say, we all lie in the bed we make/'it's fine, we're all good inside,' or so you say/but we all come from the same place"), while the title track shows the aftermath of a broken relationship and a changed heart through the process ("But I can't seem to figure out why/I'm not myself anymore and I cry all the time/and you, you're unaccountably gone/you've got no explanation for leaving me alone/well maybe we shouldn't have let it go on for so long"). The most convicting track, however, is "Return," which urges listeners to take refuge in Christ and not in their grief ("Afraid of being hurt, we only give until it costs us something/so they won't see the worst, we tell ourselves it's better/they see nothing, but we diminish everything you are by hiding out inside ourselves/we need to return to you"). When Anderson's heartfelt songwriting holds little back, the listener can only empathize and lead themselves to self-application.

In her words, Jessa Anderson "always gravitated toward women who were writing their own music" and their accompanying honesty. Indeed, after closely examining Not Myself Anymore, her transparent style works to her advantage. Although her lyrical profundity varies from song to song and her musical approach isn't particularly inventive, those who invest the time can only benefit from Anderson's musical journey.

- Review date: 9/11/11, written by Roger Gelwicks of Jesusfreakhideout.com



(JFH Sponsor Spot)

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

 

. Record Label: BEC Recordings
. Album length: 11 tracks: 41 minutes, 37 seconds
. Street Date: September 13, 2011
. Download It: iTunes
. Buy It: Amazon Music (MP3)
. Buy It: Amazon.com

  1. Not What I Thought (3:34)
  2. Fireflies (2:46)
  3. Everyone Has Those Days (2:48)
  4. Worship The Lamb (2:58)
  5. The Same Place (3:26)
  6. Not Myself Anymore (4:05)
  7. I Won't Break (4:02)
  8. Moving On (5:00)
  9. Offering (3:55)
  10. Don't Know (4:09)
  11. Return (4:59)
spacer     Click For Song Lyrics
    Click For Song Lyrics
    Click For Song Lyrics
    Click For Song Lyrics
    Click For Song Lyrics
    Click For Song Lyrics
    Click For Song Lyrics
    Click For Song Lyrics
    Click For Song Lyrics
    Click For Song Lyrics
    Click For Song Lyrics

 

Leave a Comment


 

 

go to main Album review page
go to Album review archive

 


(JFH Sponsor Spot)

 

 

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

Search JFH



This Tuesday, April 15, 2025
BOOKS
Sandra McCracken and Tim Nicholson Maker of the Mountain [B&H]

This Friday, April 18, 2025
ALBUMS
Hope Darst In The Mighty Name (Live) [Fair Trade]
Richard Lynch Pray on the Radio: Songs of Inspiration [MTS]
Ronnie Martin Consume Like A Moth What Is Dear [Velvet Blue]
Myles Maestro Band-Aids on Broken Glass - EP [Syntax]
Sixpence None the Richer Live at Gruene Hall [Flatiron]

SINGLES
Azeekah Father I'm Sorry - Single [Syntax]
Doulos Worship Jubilee Song - Single (independent)
Drenae Can't Be Cold - Single [Syntax]
Fred Hammond, Khristian Dentley, Gabriel Preisser Via Dolorosa - Single [Tomb Slayer]
Ken Holt I Did Not Know - Single [MTS]
LO CLOUD Dreams Fail - Single (independent)
Mountain Climer Not Friends Anymore - Single (independent)
Autumn Nelon God Won't (feat. The Isaacs) - Single [Daywind]
Procyse, JusJames God Is Enough - Single [Polished Arrow]
R.kitect Intent 2 Distribute (Remix) - Single (independent)
Marvin Sapp Close the Door - Single [Elev8]
Stars Go Dim A Little Light - Single [Curb]


Next Friday, April 25, 2025
ALBUMS
PJ Bostic Hope In The Winter Stage (independent)
Megan Danielle Grace - Single [Provident]
Disciple Skeleton Psalms (Deluxe) [Tooth & Nail]
Smokey Robinson What The World Needs Now [Gaither]
Stephen Stanley trustfall [Capitol CMG]
UPPERROOM 1350 (Live) [Capitol CMG]

SINGLES
Big Daddy Weave Stranger No More - Single [Curb]
bodie SAY SO - Single [Provident]
Bongo Chico Wrongside Right - Single (independent)
Dan Bremnes Cortado - Single [Curb]
Mainstream Worship CHANGED! - Single [DREAM Worship]
Xander Sallows superficial - Single [DREAM]



For all release dates, click here!
 

Check out the newest JFH Metal compilation - FREE!
Get all of JFH's indie compilation now totally free!
Check out depositphotos for royalty free images