Get the new FREE JFH MP3 compilation -- Vol. 14!
Get the new FREE JFH MP3 compilation -- Vol. 14!

JFH Indie Review

JFH Indie Music Spotlight Review

Harbor & Home
CLICK COVER TO ENLARGE


Harbor & Home
Hold On To Love

Album length: 12 tracks: 40 minutes, 19 seconds
Style: Southern Pop/Rock
Street Date: October 2, 2020
Buy It: iTunes



Harbor & Home is a Minneapolis-based band that specializes in southern pop/rock. Forming in 2013, the band has released several albums and EPs of both original and live recordings. Now they're back in 2020 with their third official studio album, Hold On To Love.

After a short intro track, Harbor & Home wastes no time introducing the listener to their brand of southern pop rock. There are a lot of artists making this kind of music, much of it uninteresting and unmemorable, but H&H's melodies and songwriting make for an enjoyable ride. The band's sound ranges from boot-stompin' Americana to blues rock to country, and it rarely falls flat. Tracks like "Hold Me" and "Rock Bottom" are energetic and lots of fun, bringing to mind acts like The Lone Bellow. The title track is a really sweet country ballad with an addicting whistling melody, and the closing track, "Not Coming Over," is a heart-wrenching acoustic ballad. You can feel the pain in Kaleb Williams' voice as he passionately shouts "'Cause you're not coming over / I can't see you no more / so I'm locking all the doors."

Just before "Not Coming Over," we're treated to two of the most out-of-place-feeling, yet very enjoyable, tracks. "Lies" drops almost all of the southern and folk sounds, opting instead for a jaunty, piano-based tune. If this were the only song you heard from Hold On To Love, you wouldn't really have a good idea of what the album sounded like as a whole. The same can be said for the following track, "You Tear Me Apart." Borrowing from the new wave sounds of the '80s, "You Tear Me Apart" heavily reminds me of bands like Tears For Fears, incorporating some synth and keyboards, and making for one of my favorite songs on the album.

Hold On To Love is more than just the album's title, it's also the major theme. Again, "Lies" shows itself to be the major outlier of the album, as it deals more with combating thoughts of inadequacy and hopelessness. But love and relationships are covered nearly everywhere else. Not every song is a love song, as mentioned above in "Not Coming Over." And the songs about lost love and relationship troubles are emotional and feel authentic. But then there are the tracks like "Hold On To Love" that try to remind the listener about what's really important in life: "I don't need money / I'd go broke today just to be your man."

As far as music is concerned, 2020 has been a stand-out year, and Harbor & Home has been a surprise hit, having not heard of them before just a few months ago. Hold On To Love runs the gamut of emotions and provides a lot of quality music to go with them all. Fans of Nathaniel Rateliff and the Night Sweats, The Lone Bellow, and maybe even NEEDTOBREATHE may be interested in what Harbor & Home has to offer.

- Review date: 10/6/20, written by Scott Fryberger of Jesusfreakhideout.com



(JFH Sponsor Spot)

Get the new FREE JFH MP3 compilation -- Vol. 14!

 

. Record Label: None
. Album length: 12 tracks: 40 minutes, 19 seconds
. Street Date: October 2, 2020
. Buy It: iTunes

  1. Intro (0:50)
  2. Follow Me Home (3:21)
  3. Hold Me (3:11)
  4. Two Faces (2:34)
  5. Hold on to Love (4:23)
  6. Long Way Down (3:40)
  7. Stand Up (3:31)
  8. Rock Bottom (3:49)
  9. In the Dark (4:21)
  10. Lies (3:48)
  11. You Tear Me Apart (3:48)
  12. Not Coming Over (2:58)

 

 

 

go to main Indie review page
go to Indie Review Index

 

                 
Get the new FREE JFH MP3 compilation -- Vol. 14!

Search JFH



This Tuesday, September 9, 2025
DC3 Bake Off - A COLORS SHOW - Single (independent)
Former Ruins In Your Field - Single (independent)
John Van Deusen Hallelujah Story - Single [Anotherland]

This Friday, September 12, 2025
ALBUMS
Jervis Campbell Good Grief! (independent)
Demon Hunter There Was A Light Here [Weapons MFG]
Roxanne Grace Try Again [DREAM]
Ellie Holcomb Far Country [Capitol CMG]
Sower Contemporary Christian Machine - EP (independent)
twenty one pilots Breach [Fueled By Ramen]
Phil Wickham Song of the Saints [Fair Trade]

SINGLES
BASECAMP Under the Blood (feat. Knaladeus) - Single [Polished Arrow Music]
Dan Bremnes Find Yourself - Single [Curb]
Matt Hammitt Days God Gave - Single (independent)
Amy Jay Margins - Single (independent)
The Undertaking! Forever Remember - Single (independent)

Next Friday, September 19, 2025
ALBUMS
Sho Baraka Midnight of a Good Culture (independent)
Influence Music One True God (independent)
LO Worship Songs For the Anxious Heart [Integrity]
Mainstream Worship Dwelling Place [DREAM Worship]
Lauren Mann Heaven - EP (independent)
Mat & Savanna Just How Strong You Are (independent)
Joel Vaughn TBA [DREAM]
Zane Walls Dry Bones - EP [DREAM]
Zach Williams Jesus Loves [Provident]
Paul Wright GOD SONGS (independent)

SINGLES
Frankie Orella Like This - Single (independent)
John Waller & WallerCo & Eric Lee Brumley Surprise Me - Single [DREAM]


For all release dates, click here!
 

Join honey and save on online purchases!
Need proofreading and editing help? We've got you covered! Click here to learn more
Check out depositphotos for royalty free images