Album Review: Jonathan McReynolds – ‘Life Music: Stage Two’
Artist: Jonathan McReyonolds
Album: Life Music: Stage Two
Street Date: 9/18/15
Record Label: eOne Music
Genre: Soul/R&B
iPod Pick: Whole Feat. India Arie
Jonathan McReynolds since the release of Life Music in 2012 has become loved by artists even in the mainstream industry and garnered various prestigious award nominations. In fact India Arie who is featured on his new record has said she’s a fan of Jon’s music. On Life Music Stage 2, Jon utilizes more sultry melodies to serenade his listeners into his reality.
Strings dominate the ‘dirty laundry’ and ‘pursue’ lyriced Got My Love that sounds so folksy in its chorus it could be mistaken for something off a Colbie Caillat, Rend Collective or say The Lumineers record. It is sunshiny and very celebrative unlike the Jonathan we use to know.
Gotta Have You begins quite in a rush, sounding like something from a mixtape, a late 80’s underdog R&B artist recorded. Yet we hear the purity of Jon’s voice shining through.
Whole which features the much loved and amazing India Arie showcases some lyrical poetry and an easy to listen to tune. Jonathan starts the song by asking ‘what is the meaning of a bird if it has no wings?’ India replies by asking ‘what is the meaning of a life if it has no dreams?’
Maintain which features Chantae Cann starts with sweet strings. On it, the record kinds of bounce back to the pre-McReynolds lyricism we know. It is a song about being kept by God despite the struggles and temptations of life. It’s not clichéd, take that from me.
Pressure features honest and gray lyrics, which is latter turned into a prayer. It reads like a Jonathan McReynolds diary. The Christ Representers song adds some element of sweet pop to the record. It’s kind of anthemic using BGVs reminiscent of Joe’s ‘I wish’ or say ‘Ghetto Child’.
His voice soars a bit on The Way but somehow leaves us hanging somewhere in between getting us to wonder if it’s just cause tune wise it sounds like something we have heard before. Full Attention follows in the same vein with meandering lyrics about life issues and seeking God.
Limp begins with country chords bands and artists like Lady Antebellum and Carrie Underwood would use on a song. It builds into a chorus on living with imperfection in God.
All things Well the only seemingly declarative song on the record takes on more of a Israel Houghton (who is featured on the song) style than a McReynold style. To be honest, though a great tune, it seems kinda out of place on the album.
Corey Barksdale who was featured on the last song (the authentic and well-written Why) on Jon’s last record also is featured on the closing track of this one. The song Jesus is beautiful , talking about what the core of Christianity is and the transformation that comes with choosing Christ.
The songs on Life Music: Stage two are God focused either exclaiming praise or praying to a new level of faith or spirituality.
Download ‘Life Music: Stage Two’ here!
