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

JFH Music Review


Stephanie Smith, Stephanie Smith EP
CLICK COVER TO ENLARGE

Stephanie Smith
Stephanie Smith EP



Artist Info: Discography
Album length: 5 tracks: 15 minutes, 38 seconds
Street Date: November 17, 2009


Gotee Records' Stephanie Smith finally released her debut album at the very end of 2008, after multiple pushbacks (It was originally slated for a Fall 2007 release). And apparently she wasted no time getting back into the studio. This five-song EP comes almost a year after Not Afraid's release, but it's evident that Smith wants to come back strong.

While Not Afraid was mostly a slew of pop/rock songs in the vein of Superchick and Krystal Meyers, this new self-titled EP is a reinvention, if you will, of Stephanie's musical direction. Instead of the all-too-familiar pop/rock sound, Stephanie has gone with a full fledged "chick rock" style for this EP. Four of the five songs are very edgy, with a style more similar to Fireflight or Čowyn.

From the EP's get-go, the rollicking "Back To Innocence" and "Heart Attack" immediately show a more mature side of Stephanie. The honesty and vulnerability in the lyrics are a big highlight of the EP, picking up right where "In My Eyes" and "First Words" left off. "If You Really Want…" may seem like a misstep to some listeners, but it's actually a poppy, quirky track with some really bold lyrics about living the Christian life. The best song on the EP is probably the final track, "Joshua," which uses the Biblical story of Jericho as a metaphor for brokenness, with lyrics like "Come and break me down/Won't you march around these walls/Burn them to the ground."

Although Stephanie's genre of music may not be the most unique, her openness and boldness really set her apart from other CCM acts. Stephanie Smith's inner rocker really shines with this EP, and it's a direction I hope is kept for her sophomore album.

- Review date: 2/6/10, written by Matthew Watson



(JFH Sponsor Spot)

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

 

. Record Label: Gotee Records
. Album length: 5 tracks: 15 minutes, 38 seconds
. Street Date: November 17, 2009
. Buy It: iTunes
. Buy It: Amazon.com

  1. Back To Innocence (2:47)
  2. Heart Attack (3:46)
  3. Pieces Of My Heart (3:03)
  4. If You Really Want The World To Change (2:55)
  5. Joshua (3:07)

 

 

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 The Seventh Seal [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]
Blanca Right On Time - Single [Curb]
Landry Cantrell & Elenee sunshine & rainbows - Single [DREAM]
Colony House Atomic - Single [Roon]
Joseph Habedank Running to Me - Single [Daywind]
Lonnie Hunter Flow (Like A River) - Single [Uncle G]
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]
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]
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