I have to admit that before I popped in Nichole Nordeman's debut album, Wide Eyed, I had preconceived notions of what it would be like. (I know, I know - I broke the first rule of reviewing an album.) Since so many people had been talking about Nordeman, I guessed her album would be fairly derivative, described as (put on your best advertising voice): "Susan Ashton-like vocals mixed with a Cindy Morgan-twist here and there - all on top of Chris Rice style instrumentation."
To make this story short - I was dead wrong. I don't think that I have been more impressed with the originality or creativity of a new artist in the past several years than I have been with Nichole Nordeman. Resisting the temptation to imitate, she and her producers, Mark Hammond and John Mays, have created an album that takes chances musically, but still has a pop sensibility that should appeal to a wide audience.
The center of the project isn't the music, though. With all the words penned by Nordeman herself, the lyrics give this album its foundation. Each song is on an intimate level - things you probably wouldn't just start chatting about at work, but would rather wait to sort out with a trusted friend. Nordeman opens herself up and exposes themes that many Christians would be worried about bringing up in a "church" setting because people would perceive them as doubting. Questions pop up - would we have laughed and scorned Christ the same way we laugh and dismiss seemingly crazy people on the street? Why isn't there more concrete proof of salvation and the resurrection? Could we really handle it if we found out that our pain is more likely caused by us than by Satan? If you ask me, this is pretty heavy stuff to cover in an album that is supposed to give the general public a taste of what you can do. While I can't say that Nichole Nordeman is the top lyricist in Christian music, I can say that she handles her topics with maturity and hits the nail on the head more times than not.
It seems that Nordeman's voice is given the next priority. In most songs, her vocals are recorded with minimal effects and brought to the very front. Her skill as a vocalist is good and she moves around her melody lines smoothly. The closest approximation to her style would probably be Cindy Morgan in her recent post-dance/pop days.
The music complements both the lyrics and melody well. The arrangements are simple, but modern. As with the first track and radio single, "To Know You," many of the songs use drum loops and drum arrangements to create a rhythmic undertone for the guitars, keyboards, and bass. The style of the music is hard to define, but my best try would probably be art-pop/rock mixed with folk, jazz, blues, and classical influences.
A few of the songs stood out to me more than others. "Anyway" is a beautiful ballad with Nordeman accompanying herself on the piano. Things pick up with the funky "Is It Any Wonder," a slightly sarcastic, yet right-on look into people's false ideas.
"Burnin'" would have to be my favorite track. Exploring, through allegory, the thought of getting more than you asked for when it comes to faith, this song demonstrates a sensitivity and passion that I haven't heard in much of Christian music today. It's nice to see a Christian just as passionate about her world view as a secular artist is about theirs. It's also nice to see an artist put out an album that would rival the artistry of the secular world. Has the Christian music world found their Sarah McLaughlin or Jewel? Maybe, maybe not - all I know is that they've found a keeper.
Similar sounding releases
2002Kathy TroccoliThe Heart of Me
2000WatermarkAll Things New
2003Twila ParisHouse of Worship
1999Kendall PayneJordan's Sister
1998Cindy MorganThe Loving Kind
1998Jaci VelasquezJaci Velasquez
