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 Indie Review

JFH Indie Music Spotlight Review



Sandra McCracken
Red Balloon

Artist Info: Discography
Album length: 10 tracks
Street Date: September 30, 2008



There's not a great amount of good Christian folk music around, so whenever an artist appears who can craft quality folk songs, it's a special thing. Sandra McCracken is in no way new to this game, as she has already recorded five albums, and collaborated on a joint EP with singer/songwriter husband Derek Webb. Not only that, but she has occasionally lent her songwriting skills to Caedmon's Call. However, forgetting all that for the moment, how does Sandra McCracken's latest release Red Balloon stand?

Something immediately obvious when listening is the raw, almost under-produced sound of the entire album. Being used to hearing CCM singers being horribly over-produced by their record labels, it almost comes as a relief for me to find one whose music isn't polished to an attractively glossy sheen. The reason behind this is that the entire album was recorded in Sandra's home - starting with the basics, then keyboard, background vocals, bass, drums and other various sounds were added over the months until each song developed into its current "shape and form." And rarely do those songs disappoint. Highlights include opener "Guardian," folk-rocker "On the Outside," the catchiness of "Lose You" and its toe-tapping, banjo-twanging chorus, and "Big Blue Sky" with its clever musical arrangement. Red Balloon is not perfect, but it's hard to point to any specific "offender" that ought to be cut from the track listing, as all of the songs are good in their own right.

To answer my initial question, Red Balloon not only stands, it flies. Lyrically, it doesn't shy away from Christian themes; in fact, some of the songs could almost be considered gospel. Crafted with an almost indie-folk vibe to it, Sandra McCracken's latest release is a keeper. Here's looking forward to hearing more like this in the future!

- Review date: 2/24/09, written by Adam Dawson of Jesusfreakhideout.com



(JFH Sponsor Spot)

Try Pop Culture Coffee!

 

. Record Label: None
. Album length: 10 tracks
. Street Date: September 30, 2008
. Buy It: Amazon.com

  1. Guardian (3:49)
  2. Storehouse (3:54)
  3. Lock And Key (3:43)
  4. The Tie That Binds (3:19)
  5. Saturn's Fields (4:01)
  6. On The Outside (3:44)
  7. Halfway (3:55)
  8. Lose You (4:02)
  9. Big Blue Sky (3:12)
  10. The High Countries (4:48)

 

 

go to main Indie review page
go to Indie Review Index

 

                 
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