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Josiah Queen, 'The Prodigal'
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Josiah Queen
The Prodigal

Artist Info: Discography
Street Date: May 24, 2024
Style: Acoustic / Folk
Buy It: Amazon Music



When people ask me "where is all the good Christian music?" I usually tell them it's hiding in plain sight in independent artists like Floridian Josiah Queen. After a few singles gained some traction on Christian radio, Queen's first full-length, The Prodigal, shows an artist primed to cement himself as a mainstay in his genre. His acoustic folk stylings may not break any auditory boundaries, but his songwriting wit, coupled with his heart-on-sleeve lyrical bent, is something desperately needed in the CCM world. Bringing to mind such storytellers as Jason Gray and Brandon Heath, Queen's ability to relate biblical parables and stories to everyday life encourages in much the same way as a healthy Sunday sermon.

Opening to a simply plucked banjo, "Garden In Manhattan" grows to a short thesis statement that couldn't be more clear or concise... "Oh God, use me where you have me." To flesh out this theme, Queen uses paradoxical scenarios that are at once striking, compelling, and easily understandable... "I'll be a garden in Manhattan/be a river where it's dry/if my friends can't find the road I'll be a roadside welcome sign/Sunshine in Seattle/be a cool breeze in July/light in the darkness." The following track, "In The Fire," is a toe-tapping, almost bluegrass tune (though sincere), and again it's the wordings that set it apart, this time applying the biblical story of the fiery furnace, with poignant one-liners that deserve mulling over... "they grabbed my wrist and clenched their fist and threw me in those flames/on my shoulder was the hand of another man/He said just five words/'I'm there through the worst.'"

"Fishes and Loaves" was one of the first songs I heard from the Tampa native, and I was immediately drawn to his vulnerable delivery and aforementioned biblical applications... "Oh my child let go/I know you're uneasy/but I'm in control/I don't need that much for Me to show/I'll make the most of your fishes and loaves." The emotional "Things That Matter" is an introspective look at how the hustle of everyday life can make us forget our true purpose in Christ... "Help me see the world through Your eyes/till what breaks your heart is breaking mine/slow me down this world is moving faster/but I don't wanna miss the things that matter."

I was pleasantly surprised to find the back half of the album just as strong as the first. "Die a Beggar" uses light orchestration in the chorus to bring a different, more weighty atmosphere, repeating a single-line motif to show that "it's impossible" to serve both God and money. "Altars Over Stages" treads into rock territory in its latter half, serving as yet another highlight, this time gleaning insights from John the Baptist, showing that it's no insignificant feat to perpetually shine a light onto Christ. The western-meets-EDM "Take Me Home" continues this relentless call to humility, pleading God to "Teach me, Lord, teach me/to love You like I am a child/I've been overthinking/complicated my own life." "I am Barabbas" is the last of the biblical illusions, giving an eye-opening look into an oft-forgotten biblical character, comparing the infamous robber to our sin-riddled lives, concluding that "I am Barabbas, Your friend." These hard-hitting one-liners, coupled with catchy melodies and a convicting vocal delivery, prove to be an unstoppable formula that wholly elevates its otherwise subdued platform.

Time precludes me from mentioning all the little nuggets of spiritual wisdom hidden in this album. Year after year, I'm amazed at what independent artists are able to accomplish, and Josiah Queen may just be this year's diamond in the rough. Do yourself a favor and give this an attentive listen. Look for The Prodigal near the top of my year-end list.

- Review date: 6/16/24, written by Joel Zaloum of Jesusfreakhideout.com



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. Record Label: None
. Album length: 11 tracks: 35 minutes, 21 seconds
. Street Date: May 24, 2024
. Buy It: Amazon Music
. Buy It: Amazon.com (Vinyl)

  1. Garden in Manhattan (2:35)
  2. In The Fire (2:53)
  3. Fishes and Loaves (3:37)
  4. Things That Matter (3:06)
  5. The Prodigal (3:13)
  6. Die a Beggar (3:53)
  7. Altars Over Stages (3:10)
  8. My Promised Land (3:15)
  9. Take Me Home (2:55)
  10. I am Barabbas (3:22)
  11. Who I Was (3:00)

 

 

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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]
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]
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]
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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