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JFH Indie Review

JFH Indie Music Spotlight Review



Calling Out Closer
Stars and Broken Hearts

Album length: 13 tracks
Street Date: March, 2008


Calling Out Closer... remember that name. This four man band out of Reading, PA is positioned to make some noise if they continue to put out music like this. This record is an honest, worshipful, thoughtful journey from front to back - solid from start to finish. This feels like the product of an older, more seasoned band with years of touring under their belts. Simply put, this band knows how to craft terrific songs. Though not every song on the record hits a home run, there are a number of tracks that will capture the listener.

The title track is a great example of the band's craftmanship. If this song were on the next project by say, Downhere or Mainstay, it would be a radio hit. While I don't really love the dual vocalist presentation, it all comes together in the chorus of, "You are the God of stars and broken hearts/ with majesty that falls/ with mercy for us all/ You are the God who's infinitely part/ of everything we are/ and everything we're not"

Lyrically, Calling Out Closer leans heavily toward a vertical, almost worship, vibe without resorting to the typical cliches that worship artists can lean on too heavily. Songs like "Suffer Me Gently" and "Name of Glory" have a beautiful Psalm-like quality about them. On the other side of things, tracks like "Pursuit" and "Death of a Pessimist" speak directly to the listener with a depth that is rare among unsigned artists. A song inspired by the work of the Invisible Children Project, entitled "The Child's Eyes Unseen," tells a heartbreaking story of a generation of Ugandan children losing not just their youth but their lives as well.

This is a band to put on your radar. Check out the record, and check out the band if they start to tour outside of Pennsylvania and New Jersey (and catch them at this year's Purple Door Festival).

- Review date: 7/22/08, written by Rob Tyson of Jesusfreakhideout.com



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. Record Label: None
. Album length: 13 tracks
. Street Date: March, 2008
. Buy It: CallingOutCloser.com

  1. Define My Fire
  2. Suffer Me Gently
  3. Never Fall
  4. Death of the Pessimist
  5. Burn In Me
  6. The Places We Are
  7. Pursuit
  8. Stars and Broken Hearts
  9. Something for Hope
  10. The Child's Eyes Unseen
  11. Broken Still
  12. Name of Glory
  13. Greatest Debt

 

 

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This Friday, June 27, 2025
ALBUMS
7eventh Time Down We Praise You [BEC]
The Browns 25th Anniversary: Better Days Ahead [StowTown]
Franni Cash Wild Child - EP [Capitol CMG]
Matt Crocker interlude [Anotherland]
Jimmy Fortune Songs of an American Dreamer [Gaither]
Roxanne Grace Road Trip - EP [DREAM]
JJ Hairston & Youthful Praise The Live Reunion: Washington, DC [James Town]
Kutless The Seventh Seal - EP [BEC]
Evvie McKinney It Ain't Over - EP (independent)
Rusty Shipp Capsized Empire (independent)
SEU Worship A Forgiving God [Provident]
The Shimmering Carnelians The Doorway (Version 2.0) (independent)
We Are Messengers A Thousand Times - EP [Curb]

SINGLES
Anchor & Braille Rattlesnake - Single [Equal Vision]
ANTHNY imposter syndrome - Single [Provident]
Blanca Right On Time - Single [Curb]
Landry Cantrell & Elenee sunshine & rainbows - Single [DREAM]
Eddie Clark Never Content - Single [Syntax]
Colony House Atomic - Single [Roon]
Megan Danielle Preachin' To The Choir - Single [Provident]
Drea LP & OnBeatMusic Don't Try Me (DTM) - Single [Syntax]
ELI GABLE Glory Bound - Single [Capitol CMG]
Joseph Habedank Running to Me - Single [Daywind]
Lonnie Hunter Flow (Like A River) - Single [Uncle G]
Kashh Kade HELP - Single [Syntax]
KB x KEANU Keanu's Song - Single [Provident]
Tasha Layton Singing In the Dark - Single [BEC]
Tasha Cobbs Leonard The Hand That Keeps Holding - Single [Motown Gospel]
Claire Leslie Thank God I'm Not Alone (from Claire's Phone) - Single [Capitol CMG]
Tim Lovelace Celebration of America Medley (feat. Charlie McCoy) - Single [StowTown]
Lecrae Tell No Lie (feat. Jackie Hill Perry) - Single [Reach]
LO Worship The Perfect Love of Jesus - Single [Integrity]
Patrick Mayberry Thank The Lord - Single [Provident]
Michael Monroe John The Baptist (feat. Chris Renzema) - Single [Provident]
Alexander Pappas A Great Awakening / Un Nuevo Despertar - Single [Integrity]
PEABOD Summer in Seattle - Single [RMG Amplify]
Rave Jesus Walk On The Water Remix (From The Chosen) - Single [Provident]
The Rocky Valentines Nat Song - Single [Velvet Blue]
Tommy Royale, gio. Like Dat - Single [Capitol CMG]
Saints In Exile & Cutright My Dead End (ft. Jeannie Ortega, Luc DiMarzio, Jericko) - Single [Syntax]
Emilie Weiss Take Care (Studio Sessions) - Single [BEC]

DVD
Jimmy Fortune Songs Of An American Dreamer DVD [Gaither]

Next Friday, July 4, 2025
ALBUMS
Chad Cory America [DREAM]
Tenielle Neda The Way Of Love [Wings]

SINGLES
Christian Back Now - Single [DREAM]



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