The Basics of Life by 4Him combines the best of upbeat gospel with heart-felt ballads to create an empowering, uplifting, and life-changing Christian album that is good for any age. Notable songs include "When It Comes to Livin'," an upbeat tune encouraging us to make the best of our only life; "Livin' in the Lion's Mouth," a slower song with a great message about firm faith, with soulful vocals; and the title track, a 3/4 waltz urging us to return to our Christian foundations, with string arrangments and great harmonies.

This album was debatedly 4Him's breakthrough album, and after just one listen, you can see why. The upbeat songs are enjoyable and uplifting, and the ballads will put you in a certain mood, specifically "Through His Eyes," a song about yearning to see the world through the eyes of God. The last few songs of the album, and "Built on Amazing Grace," are the shortcomings of the album, with a combination of repetition and strange lyrics, but even those songs are still somewhat enjoyable.

As for the 4/5 rating, it lacks a bit due to sounding somewhat dated. The keyboard sounds are trademarked from the 90's, and the vocal arrangements are kind of the same. "Head over Heels" in particular is a very strange way of communicating our feelings for God, but it's still catchy overall. As a whole, The Basics of Life encapsulates top-tier Christian Contemporary and Gospel combined as an album that can be enjoyed by any age range.