Awaken - Natalie Grant

It's 6 AM and the alarm clock

Awaken - Natalie Grant
By: Brenten Gilbert
courtesy of CM Central

It's 6 AM and the alarm clock is buzzing. Barely opening your eyes, you reach over and clumsily punch at the snooze button for nine more minutes of sleep. Every morning, for as long as you can remember, this cycle continues. Maybe you've been having a good dream. Maybe you're not a morning person. Maybe you're just too comfortable. Whatever the case, sleep, an important part of our life, is something we don't like to wake from. However, life isn't lived until you're awake.

Natalie Grant returns with her fifth album asking simply to be woken from her life of slumber. Awaken promotes putting your faith into practice and working to change the world instead of shutting yourself up in a dreamlike state and ignoring or complaining about your surroundings. The forty-four second intro that begins with the sounds of the static-filled search for a clear radio station and ends with a harmonious orchestral presentation serves as a suitable introduction to the concepts that follow on the album. We are often groggy and disconnected when we first wake up, but when we "tune in" to God's will our lives can become "something beautiful." Since this condition exists in all of us, Grant encourages her listener to get started right away. Tracks like "What Are You Waiting For" and "Live For Today" remind us that we can't take anything for granted and that we should press on towards the goal of furthering the Kingdom of Heaven. Awaken also explores the ideas of being genuine in who you are ("The Real Me"), letting God direct our paths ("You Move Me"), God's acceptance of us ("Home"), and the omnipresence of God ("Captured").

Musically, Awaken finds a balance between aggressive pop with a touch of rock and a whole lot of soul. Natalie Grant's vocals are stunning, transitioning without hesitation between octaves and tempos. Ballads like "The Real Me" and "Held," a definite standout track, showcase the tender side of Grant with amazing control and strength of tone while tracks like "Something Beautiful" show off a sassier sound. The closing track, "Bring It All Together" rounds out the presentation with a silky performance that oozes with soul.

Natalie Grant delivers another solid project vocally and musically with Awaken. Fans of pop music with a slight tinge of rock bite will really enjoy this release. Grant's vocal adaptability holds the entire project together nicely, creating a thoroughly entertaining listening experience.