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JFH Indie Review

JFH Indie Inspection Review

Jonathan Tekell

Jonathan Tekell
Love Me to Pieces

Street Date: March 30, 2018
Style: Acoustic / Worship
Official Site: Official Website
Buy It: iTunes
Buy It: AmazonMP3



Jonathan Tekell is a singer/musician/songwriter with a wide variety of musical influences driving his writing style. Tekell's musicianship dates back to his high school days when he learned a lot of music theory as he progressed. However, God challenged Jonathan with a surgery on his wrist to repair ligaments -- crippling his ability to play music. Tekell channeled his musical gifts into writing music when he could not play; God eventually used this to set up Jonathan's current platform and his album, Love Me to Pieces. Tekell has a rather interesting voice that may take time to grow on some, but I found myself drawn to it from the start. Think of a pop/punk singer doing some more tame acoustic and pop music; at times there are even shades of "Weird Al" in his vocals and melodies. (This is certainly not meant as an insult as I'm a HUGE fan of Mr. Yankovic.) Jillian Tekell, Jonathan's wife, also makes several vocal appearances on the record. Her voice is quite beautiful and blends with his quite nicely.

Most of the album is acoustic (and piano) worship based, but there are some other genres interspersed throughout. "We Leap For Joy" adds in an electro/pop sound to the mix, "Gather My Heart" has a rock and roll feel with overdriven guitars and leads (along with a lot of strings), and the title track is steeped in hip-hop. While stylistically the album is a bit all over the map, the message of each song is cohesive: they are all written to lift the name of Jesus and draw people to Him. Love Me to Pieces is an album that may not speak to everyone's tastes, but there are some truly good songs present. I'd recommend "More Thankful For You," "Playing the Enemy," "Stir Me Up God" (the single version has some cool differences) and "Communion." The Tekell's prayer for the record is simply "that people would meet Jesus in these songs, and that these songs would change people's lives, because when we truly meet Jesus, we can't help but be changed." As a musician, I can't imagine the thoughts Jonathan Tekell had after surgery -- not knowing if he would ever be able to play again. His story is one of perseverance and God's healing powers.

- Review date: 4/8/18, written by Michael Weaver of Jesusfreakhideout.com



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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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