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

JFH Music Review


Marlene Brehm, Reach The Sky
CLICK COVER TO ENLARGE

Marlene Brehm
Reach The Sky



Artist Info: Discography
Album length: 10 tracks: 34 minutes, 33 seconds
Street Date: September 18, 2012


Moving to California to pursue a career in acting and music, Marlene Brehm landed some bit parts in shows like Without a Trace and 8 Rules for Dating My Teenage Daughter. Hot on the trail to produce with Grammy-winning producing teams, she turned to Dream Records for her musical debut, Reach the Sky. Even with renewed attention for serving God through her music, however, her first published result is lacking in almost every area, even down to the overtly Photoshopped cover artwork.

As a general rule, Reach the Sky features a garden variety of pop music with obvious influence from artists such as Kelly Clarkson, Christina Aguilera, and Jordin Sparks, but unlike these powerhouses, Brehm has yet to find her niche in the genre. While there's undeniable variety throughout the record, none of the styles here really strike a chord in making each song her own, and the album feels like a muddled mix of saccharine-soaked melodies that do little to satisfy. For example, "Only You," the album's first single, lingers on the simple message of the Lord omnipresence, but the catchy synth beats with sparse electric guitar licks feel more like the standard pop song than a true artistic statement. In the same vein of recent pop records from Holly Starr or Rachel Chan, Reach the Sky has an unauthentic feel that merely feels like Christian-y themes laid on top of an unaccomplished sound, and that's only a regrettable result that Brehm assuredly doesn't intend.

Even though Reach the Sky doesn't really work well as a total product, there's some thought-through songwriting that shows some promise for Brehm's overall approach. "Second Chances" was written about hope to those previously caught in human trafficking, while "Be There For Me" looks into the lives who depend on Christ's power to move (a soldier leaving his family for the battlegrounds, a family with a foreclosed home). These are the kind of themes that do make good subjects for songs, but it only grazes the surface of their potential, and this leads to a forgettable quality that doesn't do the artist's talent justice. But the least commendable track is "Beautiful Life," which closes out Reach the Sky with reminiscing about God's perfect plan for her life. While Brehm touches this topic with reverence ("since the moment I began, You've been moving mountains/and no one knows what I need more than You"), the song falls into some idealistic holes that aren't rooted in biblical truth ("Now I know that perfect love is out there, 'cause I found it in Your grace/and I know You'll send the one You've planned forever to be mine/and it's gonna be a beautiful life"). While believers should be in constant prayer about their future spouse to make a wise decision about marriage, there is no one "perfect" person, or "soul mate," out there for anyone. And because there is no "perfect love" on the human level, any marriage requires hard work and unconditional love to thrive.

Reach the Sky shows Marlene Brehm crafting a record dedicated solely to her love for Christ, and her Dream Records debut is full of good intentions that listeners shouldn't disregard. That being said, Reach the Sky's delivery is musically and lyrically average at best, and most material, save for "Beautiful Life," was worth a far better execution. With other much more interesting and accomplished pop efforts more worthy of attention, one can pass up Brehm's Reach the Sky without much trouble.

- Review date: 9/17/12, written by Roger Gelwicks of Jesusfreakhideout.com



(JFH Sponsor Spot)

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

 

. Record Label: DREAM Records
. Album length: 10 tracks: 34 minutes, 33 seconds
. Street Date: September 18, 2012
. Buy It: iTunes
. Buy It: Amazon Music (MP3)
. Buy It: Amazon.com

  1. Who You Are (2:48)
  2. Reach The Sky (3:44)
  3. Second Chances (3:41)
  4. Only You (2:45)
  5. Faithful To You (3:36)
  6. Love Like You (2:51)
  7. Forever Yours (2:46)
  8. Be There For Me (4:09)
  9. Right Here Right Now (4:24)
  10. Beautiful Life (3:54)

 

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