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



Sarah MacIntosh
The Waiters The Watchers The Listeners The Keepers & Me



Artist Info: Discography
Album length: 12 tracks: 48 minutes, 3 seconds
Street Date: Fall, 2007


In 1999, the three Meeker siblings, otherwise known collectively as "Chasing Furies," made their debut rather impressively with their alternative rock offering, With Abandon. With a national record deal on Sparrow Records and a growing fanbase, anyone who'd been taken by this trio's introductory project expected nothing less than an extraordinary career in music before them. Unfortunately, the Chasing Furies fans were wrong...

The siblings went their separate ways, and the oldest of the two sisters, Sarah, married and has since been known as Sarah MacIntosh, pursuing music rather quietly in the independent realm as well. Along with a little-known hymns project, Sarah teamed with Luna Halo vocalist Nathan Barlowe and her husband Jonathan for two collaborative full-length projects for their church. However, 2007 saw the dawn of a new venture for Sarah as she recorded what she considers her first official solo project of original material... and what a venture it is!

The bravely and awkwardly lengthy-titled record, The Waiters The Watchers The Listeners The Keepers & Me, is unofficially a worship album, but can certainly be viewed as one. However, given MacIntosh's delectably artistic approach to the songs, it wouldn't do the record - or Sarah - justice to call it a worship album. Elements of the release may remind some Chasing Furies listeners fondly of what they've missed about the group, but Sarah's approach to music is as fresh and pleasing to the ears today as her initial band was nearly a decade ago. The heart of The Waiters..., etc. is that of worship and the freshness that lacks from most projects in the worship genre today is what gives this album an infectious passion. There's a beauty to MacIntosh's writing that makes even the simplest declarations - like "There's nothing small about My Jesus" (in "My Jesus") - just plain delightful.

"Where You'll Find Me" is a wonderful album opener, also serving as MacIntosh's answer to anyone who may claim they just can't find God in this world. The chorus, which has a touch of celestial bliss, proclaims, "Stars, that's where you'll find Him / Trees, listen they're shouting / We are made by Him who created the heavens / Leaves can't cease their clapping / Wind, twirling and dancing / They never stop their praise to our King of Glory." MacIntosh's worship is oftentimes the kind you'd want to plug into during quiet time with the Father, some of the best kind of worship time you can experience.

Following the acoustical "My Jesus" and the declarative "Did You Know" is one of the more unabashed worship tracks, "More Than Hands," which, seasoned with melody and passion, Sarah simply sings, "Holy Holy / Lord God Almighty is He / We know who You are!" The crisp feel of the album brings to mind the refreshing sense that the group Leeland has brought to modern worship, which makes the beautiful album highlight "Pick Up Your Cross" particularly intriguing as Leeland Mooring himself aids in providing background vocals for the track (not to mention Sarah's sister and fellow former Furies member, Rachel as well)! "Sunshine," which features the line from which the album title was pulled, is distinctly less direct in lyrical approach as MacIntosh takes a poetic reflection on Matthew 25:13. And just when you might think you've heard the best tracks on the album already, the alt-folk-pop of "Too Much" (complete with a sweet guitar solo from Jonny), the Chasing-Furies-esque "Keep Watch Over Me," the quirky almost-Enya-meets-Eisely anthem for putting aside the old self "Stop! Stop!" (which captures the inner struggle quite nicely), and the prayerful acoustic gem "Father" take the album out as memorably as it began.

It's hard not to get excited about new music that moves you. Sarah MacIntosh's The Waiters The Watchers The Listeners The Keepers & Me does more than that as she breathes passion, life, and beauty into modern worship, wrapping it of so meticulously in an alt-pop/rock package that makes it all the more enjoyable to listen to. The only downside to Sarah MacIntosh's solo debut - besides the fact that you might not find it in stores! - is that she is yet another of the too-few artists who has upped the ante when it comes to what we can expect from worship music, while songs this good just don't come around as often as we'd like them to...

- Review date: 2/1/08, written by John DiBiase



(JFH Sponsor Spot)

Try Pop Culture Coffee!

 

CD

Buy This CD Online

. Record Label: Horizon Music
. Album length: 12 tracks: 48 minutes, 3 seconds
. Street Date: Fall, 2007
. Buy It: Amazon.com

  1. Where You'll Find Him
  2. My Jesus
  3. Did You Know
  4. More Than Hands
  5. Pick Up Your Cross
  6. Sunshine
  7. Be Glorified
  8. Too Much
  9. Keep Watch Over Me
  10. Stop! Stop!
  11. Just Tell Me
  12. Father
spacer Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics
Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics
Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics
Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics
Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics
Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics
Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics
Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics
Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics
Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics
Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics
Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics

 

 

go to main Album review page
go to Album review archive

 

 

                 
Try Pop Culture Coffee!

Search JFH



This Tuesday, June 3, 2025
SINGLES
Sixpence None The Richer The Needle and the Damage Done - Single [Flatiron]

This Friday, June 6, 2025
ALBUMS
CCV Hollow (Deluxe) (independent)
Ben Fuller Walk Through Fire [Provident]
Hopeful. The Wild One - EP (independent)
Christy Nockels King Who Never Sleeps; Anthems for Rest [The Fuel]

SINGLES
7eventh Time Down My Will - Single [BEC]
Bill B. & Cyrus Sonata Kevlar - Single [Syntax]
Elan Brio I'm Satisfied (ft. Henry Israel) - Single (independent)
Aaron Cole NOBODY BUT GOD - Single [Provident]
Equippers Worship Living in Freedom (Live) - Single [DREAM]
Good Weather Forecast Pray - Single [DREAM]
Ic3rd & EJ Swavv Woke Up (ft. CJ Emulous & George.Rose) - Single [Syntax]
King David tha Vessel Consistant - Single (independent)
Brandon Lake Daddy's DNA [Provident]
Myles Maestro Flood (ft. Ace Savage & Shruumi) - Single [Syntax]
Mell Omii Wave - Single [Syntax]
Kevi Morse Mr. Pilot - Single [Syntax]
River Valley Worship Time For Revival - Single [BEC]
Roy Tosh Everything's Gonna Be Alright (feat. PEABOD) - Single [RMG Amplify]
Solachi Voz All I Need - Single [Syntax]
Emilie Weiss Genesis (Studio Sessions) - Single [BEC]
Ayiesha Woods I Have Hope - Single [Backsider]

VINYL
Ironwrath Master Storyteller Vinyl [Girder]

Next Friday, June 13, 2025
ALBUMS
Coqui Death to Your Ego [DREAM]
King's Hammer To Speak In Tongues - EP [Rottweiler]
Brandon Lake King Of Hearts [Provident]
Joel Vaughn Feel It - EP [DREAM]
War of Ages Eternal (15th Anniversary Edition) [Facedown]

SINGLES
CalledOut Music Worthy of It All - Single [Integrity]
Equippers Worship Garment of Praise - Single [DREAM]
Mainstream Worship Near - Single [DREAM Worship]



For all release dates, click here!
 

Check out depositphotos for royalty free images