Check out the new concept album from Rusty Shipp!
Check out the new concept album from Rusty Shipp!

JFH Indie Review

JFH Indie Music Spotlight Review

Wendell Kimbrough
CLICK COVER TO ENLARGE


Wendell Kimbrough
You Belong

Street Date: July 14, 2023
Style: Americana / Worship / Country
Buy It: Amazon




As a worship leader and frequent collaborator with The Porter's Gate collective of artists, Wendell Kimbrough has spent nearly a decade reimagining Psalms for the current worshipper. You Belong is his newest full-length project, and its ten tracks (like the two albums preceding) are drawn from a different Psalm each.

Isaac Wardell of the Porter's Gate takes on producing duties and helps capture the crackling organic energy that a live performance would bring. It's in these upbeat moments that Wendell and his vocals shine best. With a country shuffle here, a southern gospel piano line there, or an Americana styling, You Belong is as widely varied in genre and tone as the biblical Psalms they draw from. The band supporting is top-notch and each player breathes unmistakeable talent into each track.

Playful jubilation is heard from the first drum hit and piano of "The Lord's Become my Salvation (Psalm 118)" and rolls straightaway into the front porch hoedown that is "I Will Lift Up the Cup of Salvation (Psalm 116)." The extended instrumental jam outro was fun and my favorite musical moment of the whole record. Two downtempo highlights come from the title track "You Belong (Psalm 87)" and the gentle slide guitar found in "We Are Waiting (Psalm 33)." Lastly is the closer "Bring God's Children Home (Psalm 68)" which ends the album on a tender and wistful note.

All in all, You Belong is well done, but only half of it is arresting enough to keep me coming back. I found myself wishing for more of the extended instrumental jamming and uptempo moments similar to the great one-two punch of the openers. Additionally, after multiple listens, the album is largely missing the simplicity and immediate "hook" that congregations need. Granted, some might not see this as a downside, with the need to push churchgoers beyond the lowest common denominator. That said, perhaps a better application for the songs would be for individual devotional worship times.

Ultimately, regardless of this reviewer's experience with the album, Wendell Kimbrough is doing a great service for his congregation and the worldwide Church. You Belong fulfills a great need for theologically solid music and is worthy of a listen. This one could be for fans of The Porter's Gate, Shane & Shane, and Keith & Kristyn Getty.

- Review date: 7/18/23, written by Josh Balogh of Jesusfreakhideout.com



(JFH Sponsor Spot)

Check out JFH's Lloyd in his first-ever childrens book!

 

. Record Label: Integrated Music Rights
. Album length: 10 tracks: 37 minutes, 41 seconds
. Street Date: July 14, 2023
. Buy It: AmazonMP3

  1. The Lord's Become Our Salvation (Psalm 118) (3:34)
  2. I Will Lift Up the Cup of Salvation (Psalm 116) (4:05)
  3. I Will Not Hold Back (Psalm 40) (3:25)
  4. You Belong (Psalm 87) (4:22)
  5. Sing Sing Sing (Psalm 96) (3:20)
  6. Those Who Fear the Lord (Psalm 112) (3:55)
  7. We Are Waiting (Psalm 33) (2:52)
  8. We Rejoice (Psalm 65) (2:55)
  9. Know You Are Loved (Prayer of Humble Access) (4:47)
  10. Bring God's Children Home (Psalm 68) (4:23)

 

 

 

 

go to main Indie review page
go to Indie Review Index

 

                 
Check out JFH's Lloyd in his first-ever childrens book!

Search JFH



This Friday, July 25, 2025
ALBUMS
Anchor & Braille New Mexico [Equal Vision]
Bride Scarecrow Messiah CD Re-Release [Girder]
Olivia Lane Songs About Jesus (Deluxe Edition) [BEC]
Tasha Cobbs Leonard TASHA [Motown Gospel]
Josh Wright LEAD (independent)

SINGLES
Gracie Binion Easy To Please - Single [BEC]
Andrew Gonoude Closer To You - Single (independent)
Kings Kaleidoscope + Kings Kaleidoscope Hymns Amazing Grace - Single [BEC]
Tasha Layton Life In Me - Single [BEC]
Hunter Plake Down to Earth - Single [BEC]
Xander Sallows infinite - Single [DREAM]
Joel Vaughn Feel It - Single [DREAM]
Zauntee Jesus Down In Florida - Single [BEC]

VINYL
Bride Scarecrow Messiah Vinyl [Girder]

DVD
Jordan Smith The People's Hymnal DVD [Gaither]

Next Friday, August 1, 2025
ALBUMS
Crash Rickshaw Big Sir - EP [Velvet Blue]
McKamey Legacy Holding to Truth [Horizon]
Ordained Thunder Roar [Girder]
V1 Worship Archives [DREAM Worship]

VINYL
Disciple Attack! (Limited Run Vinyl) Vinyl [Girder]



For all release dates, click here!
 

Check out depositphotos for royalty free images