Thirty something reader, writer, and music lover who believes all people should have the freedom to espresso themselves however they choose. This community is born out of an equal love of reading, writing, and the power of faith and coffee.
Released on April 14, 2015 by Island Records is the Debut Album by Shawn Mendes. Ask me two weeks ago who Shawn Mendes was and I wouldn’t have been able to fully tell you other than that he was a singer who became famous from Youtube. Despite his cliché Justin Bieber road to fame, he may be able to give Justin Bieber a run for his money. From the Life of the Party, I instantly fell in love with Shawn’s voice and songwriting style. His songwriting style can be compared to that of Ed Sheeran and his vocal talent could be likened to that of Gavin Degraw. Every song on this album is worth a listen, and Shawn Mendes is definitely meant for something big.
Charlie Puth’s back and stronger than ever with his new album, Voice Notes.
Inspired by recordings via the app of the same name, all songs on this album were created and produced by Charlie himself.
So I have good news and bad news. The bad news is that I have to push the album release date. I’m producing this album all myself and with that comes a lot of work, and in my opinion, the album is not perfect yet. However, it will still come out this year, and soon.
Listen to the entire album by clicking here to follow an exclusive playlist I made via Youtube.
Song by Song Review
The Way I Am: Starting out the album strong with pop musicality this is my favorite track because it has the musical genius of a Michael Jackson song but beside the overall unapologetic message but the rocking guitar chords in the background of the entire song.
The first time I heard it it had instant Tom Cruise in Risky Business vibes:
Attention: Bass guitar chords carry the pop musicality of this track and the catchy lyrics of one of those attention seeking exes who can’t seem to get that you are over them.
L.A. Girls: A song about losing focus on the one girl who’s important because you fooled around with girls from Los Angeles. My favorite part of this track is the breakdown.
How Long: A song about the confrontation when a girl realizes her man was creeping but told from the guy’s perspective. Musically, it’s fun and dancy with jazz elements.
Done For Me ft. Kehlani: An R&B track about the unfair plight of one-sided love
Patient: A slow jam that Charlie is famous for, asking for his lover to be generous with their patience.
If You Leave Me Now: This album has amazing collaborations stacked up, and Boys II Men add an incredible vocal layering, and harmonies to this song which helps to give it that heart and soul r&b musiciality
Boy: An electropop musicality creates the atmosphere of a song discussing a relationship where someone older or more experienced makes you feel innocent and juvenile.
Slow It Down: A track about not wanting to take advantage of a girl because you don’t have true feelings for her.
Change ft. James Taylor: An acoustic guitar gives this a street performer feel, and a timely message:
Why can’t we just get along?
Somebody Told Me: A fun and dancy musicality contrasts the lyrics discussing the heartbreak of the one you love being in love with someone else.
Empty Cups: Sultry sythesized bass guitar chords hint at things heating up between you and someone at a party
Through It All: A gospel-like musicality with an encouraging message
God only knows I’ve been through it all
Overall, this music video accurately depicts how I look while listening to this album. It’s such a well put together piece of music, I truly hope Puth gets accolades this year for this album.
This book had me hooked from page one. I wanted to know what happened to the main character Sofia and why she was hellbent on revenge but it was easy to see that betrayal, sabotage, and utter adultery were just a few themes that left Sofia on the path to give all those who wronged her a pure unfiltered taste of revenge.
Also enjoyed how it was told in first person perspective so you could see everything from Sofia’s point of view. Great read from a young talent.
Bethel Music is a household name in worship music but they also have a group of nine kids that write and produce worship music relaunching as Bright Ones but still with the same magnified amount of talent.
Hard to believe the kids featured are only between the ages of 12 and 16.
Young or old, Bright Ones will remind you of the light within you, who you reflect, and cause to dance and sing in reverent worship.
Song by Song Review
Bright Ones: EDM-musicality mixed with lyrics that remind the listener that God’s love shines from within us.
Get Your Hopes Up: Based on Psalm 30:5, reminding all who believe that they are living in the goodness that he brings
You’re Gonna Be OK: A strong musical letter to all those going through various battles reminding those facing feelings of depression and anxiety who goes before them, and you’re gonna be ok.
No Longer Slaves: An EDM style to the popular acoustic Bethel Music worship song.
We Dance: My favorite song on the album because it’s got a dancy feel to it, and it creates an image of the worshipper dancing with the Lord instead of just dancing for our Great King.
Let My Life: A worship piano ballad that switches to an EDM dance jam that cries for the believer’s life always be a reflection of your love, Lord.
Never Gonna Stop: A worship song about God’s love chases after our hearts relentlessly, and even through the wild parts of our life story.
Spirit Move: A worship song making the listener aware of the Holy Spirit’s presence in the midst of their day to day life.
Magnetic: An in-depth musical moment that uses imagery of God’s love being a magnet pulling us closer to him the more we believe in it
He Loves Me All The Time: A song that revels in the fact of God’s unconditional Romans 8:38-39 love for each of his children, and nothing can change that fact for all time.
Who You Are: Based on Isaiah 9:6, we can thank God for all he is in our lives through Jesus.
For The One: A song that reminds the believer they are a beacon of light pointing others to God & His relentless love for them.
Tell The Nations: A great conclusion to a strong debut from young people who are wholeheartedly passionate about spreading the good news about how Jesus saves.
Lang Leav returns with a second book of poetry that is made to sit beside your bed on the nightstand almost like a sort of dream-catcher to sing you to sleep when sleep is hard to come by.
Lullabies showcases a stronger writer as Leav’s poetry in this collection is very melancholy but highly emotive.
One of my favorites in this collection is Her Words because it is a poem about a girl who writes, need I say more.
When I was a junior in college, I finally had my own room for the first time in my life.
Naturally, I was excited for how I would decorate my sacred dwelling since the choice was solely mine.
I decided I wanted to have a poetry wall in one corner of my room and who’s poetry was showcased along the long wall near my door but the Tumblr poet, Lang Leav. Soon after this, I found out she was publishing her first poetry book and I was totally stoked for her as I had followed her literary career from the ground up.
Boasting hand-drawn artwork and poetry from the author, Love & Misadventure is a book anyone who is hopeful for love despite all their misadventures and mistakes in love should own, and wants to reminisce every emotion that entails.
I admit to Instagram stalking Nikita Gill and her poetry.
The first time I ever read a poem by Ms. Gill I was in awe.
Then, a few months later, NetGalley sent me an email blast to tease new books
Normally, I delete them without reading because I have a queue of 80 books, do I really need anymore books?
The voice in my head always whispers, “Yes!”
This time I was glad I opened it as I had the chance to read Nikita Gill’s book Wild Embers.
Since this National Poetry Month, I figured this was the perfect time to share my review and reaction to Wild Embers.
Basically, it is a well-rounded book of poetry. There was only like five poems I did not read but skim so that to me says that the sparks I was ingesting lit a fire within me that I felt the burn within each sinew of my bones.
And I remembered my identity: a supernova burning bright to discover pathways and planets uncharted, in order to make a new way for those that come after me.
My absolute favorite poem in the collection was this one because it made me cry which sometimes leads to a clearer perspective:
I definitely came around to seeing her talent more so with her second poetry collection The Sun and Her Flowers
With this collection, Rupi discusses some of the relationship she delved into in Milk and Honey but in more of a metaphorical way with talking between the lines about the aftershocks of love (especially love that doesn’t last) instead of a literal way with imagery of sex.
It is apparent that Kaur believes sex equals love in some shape or form, but she does do a fantastic job of discussing society’s perception of using sex to get someone to love you, when they are all wrong for you.
Discussed in this poetry collection are themes of love, grief, self-abandonment, honoring one’s roots, and empowering oneself.
My favorite poem in the entire collection was “What Love Looks Like” because of the word choice Kaur uses to poetic describe love by using dialogue she may or may have actually had within the walls of a therapist’s office.
So many women have daddy issues because their dad didn’t give them love in a healthy way which makes young girls go out for looking for love in all the wrong faces, and almost becoming society’s biggest joke because of it.
Love sometimes gives us all rose-colored glasses but the worst part of heartbreak is having to remove them and come to terms with the reality that you fell in love with an idea of someone who didn’t really exist. And that hurts you more than them because you almost feel as though you can’t trust your own judgement anymore for a while.
Known for her unique vocals and powerful stage presence, Ledger has been working ardently in preparation for her solo launch, enlisting the talent of Skillet’s Korey Cooper along with GRAMMY Award winning songwriter and producer Seth Mosley to produce the six-song project.
Ledger co-wrote each of the songs on the project from a raw and vulnerable place, inspired by her own personal experiences with love, heartache, anxiety and “the fight – to not let these things hold us back and stop us from living.” As her cardinal endeavor, LEDGERis a collection of songs that personify the tension between fear and boldness. [To listen to the entire EP, click the hyperlinked name above]
Song By Song Review
I’m Not Dead Yet: With trademark versatile Christian heavy rock musicality and powerhouse vocals, Ledger is screaming for the enemy to realize every tactic that he brings against her is not valid, and challenges him with a fiery chorus and anthem like lyrics:
Jen has said the song is about overcoming one’s hardest challenges and showing the world that you are strong. She wrote this because of the anxiety and panic attacks that had suddenly started happening to her in the past few years.
Warrior ft. John Cooper:
The musicality and figher-like anthems on this album make it a great accompaniment for any workout or just a pump up song before doing something you thought you could never possibly do. Remember, you can do all things through Christ, friend!
Bold: My favorite song on the album because I feel it fits who I am as a person and all I relate to the lyrics about remembering who my identity is in, and that I am called to be bold in Him:
Foreigner: A song that details that feeling of not belonging that follows those within the faith because many are called but few are chosen. It’s because this Earth is only a temporary dwelling while heaven is our home.
Ruins: A piano ballad that showcases how broken you feel when a love ends, and the heartache that sets in after that, and how we must bring our ruins to the one who mends them back together.
Iconic: A rock ballad that will shake you from head to toe about how God’s love shakes you up for the better, and his love is practically so unthinkable it is iconic.
All in all, I am honored to have the chance to listen to Ledger because it encapsulates every moment within my faith journey where I had to decide if I was going to give into fear or continue the fight.
Ledger EP is available everywhere today April 13. Pick it up if you need an empowering pick-me-up.
The Smart Cookie Philes 