Free Album Download & review: Josh Garrels 'Love & War & the Sea in between'

This is probably the best christian album I've heard. It's not a 'worship' album as such, but it's by a man who clearly loves Jesus and lives a life to God. You can listen to it by just clicking the tracks below or download it free here. Don't let the fact that it's free deceive you, this is an amazing album.

The thing that makes this album great is the mixture of styles that integrate so well together. He's hard to put into a pigeon's hole, he seems to flap between them but in terms of sounds like, there's a little Jason Mraz scat, there's Jack Johnson's make-you-smile summer folk sounds, there's a little hip hop beats and some electronica layering production that listeners of bonobo or four tet might recognise. And it just really works as an album. There's an emotional journey he takes you on. The only advice I'd give is that because there are 18 tracks you might not get to the later tracks and they're worth it so press on!

And then there's the lyrics, which are for me just flat out great! He talks about the eternal things with lyricism and poetry that's never stale or cliched but also raise your eyes up to the heavenly realities. For me there's also a real prophetic power to his lyrics, I find myself stirred and wakened from the sleep of worldliness listening to him. (check out 'Farther Along' & 'Revelator)

Stand out tracks for me (and they're changing because they're growing on me) are 'Farther Along', 'Rise', 'Revelator'.

Incidentally, I love Sufjan Stevens 'Seven Swans' and Enter the Worship Circle 'First Circle', Misty Edwards and United Pursuit Band.