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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


 
  
StarsandBrokenHearts
READER RATING: 
/ 5.0 (0 votes)

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 Wednesday, April 8, 2026
ALBUMS
FORREST FRANK x PARTY WAVE DAWN PATROL [Riverhouse]
Freedom Church Upstream [Dream Worship]
Vince Gill 50 Years From Home: End Of The Night [UMG]
Grace Graber PUNK X PRAISE Vol 1 (independent)
Hulvey COULD BE TONIGHT [Reach]

SINGLES
The Band JAREN just look at HIM - Single (independent)
Mark Bishop Oh Yes You Will - Single [Sonlite]
bodie OBSESSED - Single [Provident/Sony]
Annie Bosko God Winks (moments) - Single [Quartz Hill Music]
Building 429 Give Him Praise - Single [The Fuel]
Tate Butts Brought Me This Far - Single (independent)
Chris Caro Perspectives - Single [Syntax]
Micah Christopher Well Water - Single [Integrity]
Collective Dust Simon Says 'Circle Pit! Circle Pit!' (Ft. PROJECT XENON) - Single [Charon Collective]
Jason Dunn Hope - Single (independent)
EJ Swavv Back in Black - Single [Syntax]
Roxanne Grace Old Friends - Single [Ocean House Music]
God Behind Bars Music Outlaw (feat. Stephen McWhirter) - Single [Provident/Sony]
GVTH DVDDY Doom Kitty - Single [Velvet Blue]
Humble Kings The Nights - Single [Small Step]
I.A.N. I AM NEW (ft. Project Pat) - Single [Syntax]
Jenn Johnson Mad at God - Single [Bethel]
David Leonard Time - Single [Provident/Sony]
Marty Magehee Screen Time - Single (independent)
Michael Gabriel Monroe By The Love - Single [Provident/Sony]
Lloyd Nicks A Little More - Single [Curb]
Matthew Plante GOD FIRST! - Single [Dream]
Razzie MOONWALKER - Single [Syntax]
Mike Rogers He Touched Me - Single [Gaither]
Sleeping At Last An Honest Mirror (Philautia) - Single (independent)
We Are Messengers Halfway Home - Single [Curb]
Tauren Wells Sunday Morning (feat. Pastor Mike JR) - Single [Capitol]
Josh Wilson Who's My Neighbor? (feat. PEABOD) - Single (independent)

Next Thursday, April 16, 2026
SINGLES
A.G. McIntosh Better Than the Last - Single (independent)

Next Friday, April 17, 2026
ALBUMS
Paul Baloche Yes, We Believe [Integrity]

SINGLES
Brothrly Quiet - Single (independent)
Josh Grove New Life - Single (independent)
V1 Worship Sing Over Us - Single [Dream Worship]
Matthew West Jesus is King - Single [Provident]


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