` Jesusfreakhideout.com: Forrest Frank, "Child of God" Review
Get the new FREE JFH MP3 compilation -- Vol. 13!
Get the new FREE JFH MP3 compilation -- Vol. 13!

JFH Indie Review

JFH Indie Music Spotlight Review

Forrest Frank, 'Child of God'
CLICK COVER TO ENLARGE


Forrest Frank
Child of God

Street Date: July 26, 2024
Style: Pop / Hip-Hop / R&B
Buy It: Amazon Music



Who is Forrest Frank? Well, he is one-half of mainstream hip-hop/pop act Surfaces, perhaps best known for their smash song "Sunday Best." After multiple albums with his primary gig since 2017 and, his solo offerings since 2022, Forrest Frank now joins the Christian music arena in 2024. This is his first full-length album, titled Child of God, and is full of effective guest vocalist features including Tori Kelly, JVKE, Cain, Hulvey, and Caleb Gordon. Genre-wise, it's tough to nail down, so a new mashup genre I'll deem "pop-hop-bop" seems as appropriate as any. Regardless, his music has been described as a "feel-good time," and I can attest that's how I've left each listening session. This is happy hip-hop with moments of singing, R&B, and loads of positivity. Peabod is a fair almost-not-quite comparison, but Frank stands apart by leaning into the vertical worship genre a little more than his contemporary.

My main concern about the album before its release was previously having heard several of these songs before the full album drop. I was a little worried that there wouldn't be enough new material that could match the quality of the singles, or just enough new material period. A handful of albums utilizing this similar waterfall single effect have lost me by diluting the album experience, but with twelve additional tracks and three interludes saved for the album, it was a needless worry. All told, there's a great balance of old and new to keep me, and likely many other listeners, coming back.

The previously heard tunes -- "All the Time," "No Longer Bound," "Up!" "Good Day," and "I Lift My Hands" -- all act as good anchoring points within the tracklist, and remain the biggest highlights. However, over time, I could see the smooth track "Miracle Worker" with Tori Kelly, the danceable "Always," the catchy piano-led "Sunshine," the groovy "Life is Good," and the windows-down-sing-along with Cain, "Safe and Sound" join that cream-of-the-crop level.

All in all, aside from a long tracklist that still doesn't feel almost an hour long, and a song or two bearing a resemblance to one another, there isn't a bad tune present. You'll know within the first few songs of this album if it's right for you, but if you enjoy artists like Peabod -- the equivalent of sonic sunshine, smiling -- and are looking for a perfect end-of-summer soundtrack for good time activities, then this is going to be your jam. So whether you put the whole album on, or cherry-pick a few songs, you are going to want to roll those windows down, turn the music up, and party on!

- Review date: 7/30/24, written by Josh Balogh of Jesusfreakhideout.com



(JFH Sponsor Spot)

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


 

 

. Record Label: river house records
. Album length: 20 tracks: 58 minutes, 44 seconds
. Street Date: July 26, 2024
. Buy It: Amazon Music

  1. WHAT LIVING IS ALL ABOUT (2:39)
  2. NO LONGER BOUND (feat. Hulvey) (3:00)
  3. UP! (feat. Connor Price) (2:17)
  4. MORE THAN A FEELING (3:25)
  5. SAFE AND SOUND (feat. CAIN) (2:59)
  6. LIFE IS GOOD (2:48)
  7. MIRACLE WORKER (feat. Tori Kelly) (3:04)
  8. HEY GRANDAD (3:21)
  9. ALL I NEED (feat. Hulvey) (3:23)
  10. GOD IS GOOD (feat. Caleb Gordon) (3:28)
  11. ALWAYS (2:38)
  12. RICH MAN (3:16)
  13. HALLELUJAH (2:29)
  14. WELL DONE (feat. Sam Rivera) (2:17)
  15. GOOD DAY (2:51)
  16. SUNSHINE (2:59)
  17. NEVER GET USED TO THIS (feat. Jvke) (2:25)
  18. NEVER LEFT MY SIDE (2:33)
  19. LIFT MY HANDS (3:40)
  20. CHILD OF GOD (feat. Jonathan Pokluda) (3:14)

 

 

go to main Indie review page
go to Indie Review Index

 

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

Search JFH




This Tuesday, November 19, 2024
SINGLES
Mat Kearney Certainty - Single (independent)

This Wednesday, November 20, 2024
ALBUMS
1K Phew Let Go Let God: The EP [Reach]

SINGLES
Drew & Ellie Holcomb High Seas - Single [Magnolia]
Sleeping At Last Let It Snow - Single (independent)

This Friday, November 22, 2024
ALBUMS
Coqui I'll Still Have Christmas Day - EP [DREAM]
for KING & COUNTRY A Drummer Boy Christmas (LIVE) [Curb]
The Kingsmen Decades: Vol. 3 & 4 [Horizon]
Jonathan McReynolds Red & Green - EP [Capitol CMG/Motown]
NEEDTOBREATHE Acoustic Live Vol. 1 (CD Reissue) [Omnivore]
NEEDTOBREATHE Live From The Woods (CD Reissue) [Omnivore]
R.kitect Vicious Circles - EP (independent)
Run51 Let's Celebrate - EP [DREAM]
Van Zant Always Look Up [Frontiers Music]

SINGLES
7eventh Time Down I Speak Jesus - Single [BEC]
99 APEX Find A Way Freestyle - Single [Syntax]
Cory Asbury You're Still The One - Single [BEC]
Ashes Remain Lost Light - Single [BEC]
Paul Baloche Angels We Have Heard On High/Glorious (feat. Sarah Kroger) - Single [Integrity]
Elan Brio Sun Rays - Single (independent)
Amy Jay And So It Goes - Single (independent)
Jericko Holy Ground - Single [Syntax]
Reece Lache' Energy - Single (independent)
Vic Lucas Presha - Single [Syntax]
Cliff & Antoinette Murray O Emanuel - Single [DREAM]
Procyse, Dave A. You’re Not Free - Single [Polished Arrow]
River Valley Worship This is Our Jesus (feat. Moriah Christian) - Single [BEC]
Vineyard Worship Royal Son - Single [Integrity]

VINYL
NEEDTOBREATHE Acoustic Live Vol. 1 (Vinyl Reissue) [Omnivore]
NEEDTOBREATHE Live From The Woods (Vinyl Reissue) [Omnivore]

Next Thursday, November 28, 2024
VINYL
Van Zant Always Look Up Vinyl [Girder]

Next Friday, November 29, 2024
ALBUMS
Sixpence None the Richer Dawn of Grace (Deluxe) [Flatiron]
Thrive Worship Christmas, Vol. 2 - EP [Integrity]

SINGLES
ICF Worship Light of the World - Single [Integrity]
Selah Glory Hallelujah (feat. Mike Weaver) - Single [Integrity]
Slow Salvation The Ghost of Christmas Past - Single [Velvet Blue]
Uche Agu, Revival Today Worship Medley of Hymns - Single [DREAM]

VINYL
Sixpence None the Richer Dawn of Grace (Deluxe) Vinyl (Record Store Day Exclusive!) [Flatiron]



For all release dates, click here!
 



Check out the new album from Taylor Holland Armstrong!



Listen to the new Single from Second Adam and the New Creations!

Check out depositphotos for royalty free images