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JFH Indie Review

JFH Indie Music Spotlight Review

Wendell Kimbrough
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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



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. 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)

 

 

 

 

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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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