Artist: Sanctus Real
Album: Pieces Of A Real Heart
Year: 2010
Label: Sparrow Records/EMI CMG
Website: http://sanctusreal.com/
Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/sanctusreal
Twitter: @Sanctus_real
Buy: iTunes - Amazon - Official Store
Sounds Like: U2, Switchfoot, Foo Fighters, Jimmy Eat World
Rating: 5/5 ♥♥♥♥♥

When I first heard “Forgiven” last year, I said: “This is gonna be a very good album”. Fortunately I was right. Sanctus Real has earned itself an important place in the Christian market, with striking songs like “I’m Not Alright”, “Don’t Give Up” and “We Need Each Other” with which they received a Grammy nomination for best album gospel of the year. Anyway, this year “Pieces Of A Real Heart” preserves the essence of the band, but it incorporates a diverse instrumentation and musicality. Also shows flashes of joy and harrowing struggles these guys have experienced, in a refreshing level of honesty and unwavering commitment to think over their listeners with inspirational and above all, real songs. Working with renowned producers Chris Steven (tobyMac, Matthew West), Jason Ingram (Bebo Norman, Tenth Avenue North) and Rusty Varenkamp (Leeland, David Crowder Band, Mute Math), this album is the result of maturity and growth as composers, musicians and Christians.

“Forgiven” (first single) examines the theme of forgiveness in a simple and deep way. “The work of forgiveness is the key of our growth and maturity as disciples of Jesus” says frontman Matt Hammitt. It is a declaration of faith with open arms to receive the grace of God, through sweet vocals and a wise banjo: ““In this life, I know what I’ve been / But here in Your arms, I know what I am / I’m forgiven / And I don’t have to carry the weight of who I’ve been / ‘Cause I’m forgiven”. The impulsive “These Things Take Time” encourages us to remain persevering in our prayers, because God never fails his promise. The clean guitar and the dynamic melody stated us: “And I’m wondering why / Sometimes the truth ain’t easy to find / I want to know all the answers / But I’m learning that these things take time/ Yeah, these things take time”. There are moments when hope gets out of hand and doubt invades our hearts, that’s when our confidence embraces our faith in God, it tells us “The Way The World Turns” which has a thousand voices declaring: “Oh, it’s the way the world turns / Oh, and I keep on turning to You”. Predicted as the second single, “Lead Me” is inspired by the request of Sarah (Matt’s) to her husband and begs him to be a better spiritual leader in their marriage and with their children: “Lead me with strong hands / Stand up when I can’t / Don’t leave me hungry for love, chasing dreams / But what about us / Show me you’re willing to fight / That I’m still the love of your life / I know we call this our home / But I still feel alone”. One of my favorite tracks (if not the best) is “The Redeemer”, which reminds us that God unconditionally really has our hopes and dreams in his power, in his hands. With an incredible chorus, perfect harmonies and one of the best performances that Hammitt could show us: “But I’m still a dreamer, a believer / Oh, I’ve lost my faith in so many things, but I still believe in You / ‘Cause You can make anything new”. The album speeds up your pulse with “Take Over Me”, with a powerful guitar intro reminiscent Anberlin or Stellar Kart, and a message of holiness and surrender to God: “I want You to take over me / Oh, I want You to take over me / I don’t want to be part of the resistance / I want to be part of the release / So I want You to take over me”. The acoustic plucking becomes a formidable electric guitar on “I Want To Get Lost”, is the cry of our heart trying to caught in our lies, and we want to escape but we can’t. With an interesting and unpredictable chorus that says: “So I want to get lost, I want to get lost in Your arms / I want to get lost and lose my way into Your heart / ‘Cause there’s so many voices telling me how to get lost in this life / So right now, I want to get lost in You before I lose myself”. Electric pianos open “‘Til I Got To Know You”. Is infectious, relaxing, and talk about insecurities and questions that we as Christians have about the incomprehensible grace of God: “‘Til I got to know You / I was out of place ‘til You found a way to break through; it’s true / I was just a skeptic ‘til I got to know You / You (I was insecure; I had something to prove) / You (But now I know I am loved by You)”. The song concludes with a fun electronic sequence. “Dear Heart” is a letter written to our hearts inspired by Jeremiah 17:9 that sings: “Oh, heart, you’ve let me down / Chasing love where it can’t be found / Heart, we’ve fallen out / ‘Cause all of your emotions have led me to doubt / Tell me who’s going to save us now?”. With sweet banjos, guitars and a very interesting country/folk sound. The charming and explicit “I’ll Show You How To Live” shows us the voice of God as in Psalm 139:16 spoke us. He heard the sound of our first breath when we were still in the womb of our mother, and now he wants to teach us how to behave in life, walking by his hand and living in complete happiness: “So come with me, I’ll show you life even better than this / Come with me; I’ll show you love you didn’t know could exist / Better than your first crush / Better than your first kiss / Oh, I’ll show you how to live”. Finally, “Keep My Heart Alive” starts with pianos and violin in an atmosphere of worship, a call to believers to not allow the bustle of life blow out the relationship with our Creator: “I’m so tired of politics and all this bad news / I’m so tired of chasing the moment instead of chasing You / I let the world wear me down / I’m desensitized”.

This musical experience has been amazing. Each song has so much sincerity as talent, inspirational lyrics that penetrate your heart and make a change in your lifestyle. For those who have enjoyed Sanctus Real previous albums, and especially if you like bands like Switchfoot, U2, Foo Fighters or Jimmy Eat World, this album will easily become your favorite. And prepare your ears for March 9, the day that “Pieces Of A Real Heart” will be released worldwide.

Cuando el año pasado oí por primera vez “Forgiven”, me dije: “Éste será un muy buen albúm”. Afortunadamente no me equivoqué. Sanctus Real ha sabido ganarse un relevante lugar en el mercado cristiano, con impactantes canciones como “I’m Not Alright”, “Don’t Give Up” o “We Need Each Other” con el que recibieron una nominación al Grammy por mejor álbum góspel del año. De cualquier manera, este año “Pieces Of A Real Heart” que conserva la esencia de la banda, pero le incorpora una diversa instrumentación y musicalidad. Además nos muestra destellos de la alegría y las luchas desgarradoras que estos chicos han experimentado, en un nivel de refrescante honestidad e inquebrantable compromiso de hacer reflexionar a sus oyentes con canciones inspiradoras, y sobre todo, reales. Trabajando con los reconocidos productores Chris Steven (tobyMac, Mathew West), Jason Ingram (Bebo Norman, Tenth Avenue North) y Rusty Varenkamp (Leeland, David Crowder Band, Mute Math), éste álbum es el resultado de la madurez y el crecimiento como compositores, músicos y cristianos.

“Forgiven” (primer sencillo) examina el tema del perdón de una manera profunda y sencilla. “El trabajo del perdón es la clave de nuestro crecimiento y madurez como discípulos de Jesús”, dice el vocalista Matt Hammitt. Es una declaración de fe que recibe con brazos abiertos la gracia de Dios, mediante dulces coros y un acertado banjo: “In this life, I know what I’ve been / But here in Your arms, I know what I am / I’m forgiven / And I don’t have to carry the weight of who I’ve been / ‘Cause I’m forgiven”. La impulsadora “These Things Take Time” nos anima a mantenernos perseverantes en nuestras peticiones, ya que Dios nunca falla sus promesas. Las guitarras limpias y la dinámica melodía nos declara: “And I’m wondering why / Sometimes the truth ain’t easy to find / I want to know all the answers / But I’m learning that these things take time/ Yeah, these things take time”. Hay momentos en que la esperanza se nos escapa de la mano y la duda invade nuestros corazones, es ahí cuando nuestra confianza abraza nuestra fe en Dios, de eso nos habla “The Way The World Turns” que cuenta con un intermedio de mil voces declarando: “Oh, it’s the way the world turns / Oh, and I keep on turning to You”. Pronosticado como el segundo sencillo del álbum, “Lead Me” está inspirado en la petición de Sarah (esposa de Matt) a su esposo, y le implora ser un mejor líder espiritual en su matrimonio y con sus hijos: “Lead me with strong hands / Stand up when I can’t / Don’t leave me hungry for love, chasing dreams / But what about us / Show me you’re willing to fight / That I’m still the love of your life / I know we call this our home / But I still feel alone”. Uno de mis tracks favoritos (por no decir el mejor) es “The Redeemer”, que incondicionalmente nos recuerda que Dios realmente tiene nuestras esperanzas y sueños en su poder, en sus manos. Con una coro increíble, harmonías perfectas y una de las mejores performances que Hammitt nos ha podido mostrar: “But I’m still a dreamer, a believer / Oh, I’ve lost my faith in so many things, but I still believe in You / ‘Cause You can make anything new”. El álbum acelera su pulso con “Take Over Me”, con un potente intro de guitarra que recuerda a Anberlin o Stellar Kart, y un mensaje de santidad y entrega a Dios: “I want You to take over me / Oh, I want You to take over me / I don’t want to be part of the resistance / I want to be part of the release / So I want You to take over me”. El punteo acústico se transforma en una formidable guitarra eléctrica en “I Want To Get Lost”, es el clamor de nuestro corazón al encontrarnos atrapados en nuestras mentiras, y queremos escapar pero no podemos. Con un interesante e impredecible coro que nos dice: “So I want to get lost, I want to get lost in Your arms / I want to get lost and lose my way into Your heart / ‘Cause there’s so many voices telling me how to get lost in this life / So right now, I want to get lost in You before I lose myself”. Pianos eléctricos aperturan “’Til I Got To Know You”. Es contagioso, relajante, y habla sobre las inseguridades y preguntas que como cristianos tenemos acerca de la incomprensible gracia de Dios: “‘Til I got to know You / I was out of place ‘til You found a way to break through; it’s true / I was just a skeptic ‘til I got to know You / You (I was insecure; I had something to prove) / You (But now I know I am loved by You)”. La canción concluye con una secuencia electrónica muy divertida. “Dear Heart” es una carta escrita a nuestro corazón inspirada en Jeremías 17:9 que nos canta: “Oh, heart, you’ve let me down / Chasing love where it can’t be found / Heart, we’ve fallen out / ‘Cause all of your emotions have led me to doubt / Tell me who’s going to save us now?”. Con dulces banjos, guitarras y un sonido country/folk muy interesante. La encantadora y explícita “I’ll Show You How To Live”, nos muestra la voz de Dios tal y cómo en Salmos 139:16 nos habló. El oyó el sonido de nuestro primer aliento aún cuando estábamos en el vientre de nuestra madre, y ahora nos quiere enseñar cómo conducirnos en la vida, caminar de su mano y vivir en plena felicidad: “So come with me, I’ll show you life even better than this / Come with me; I’ll show you love you didn’t know could exist / Better than your first crush / Better than your first kiss / Oh, I’ll show you how to live”. Finalmente “Keep My Heart Alive” se inicia con pianos y violines en una atmósfera de adoración, un llamado a los creyentes a no permitir que el trajín de la vida apague la relación con nuestro Creador: “I’m so tired of politics and all this bad news / I’m so tired of chasing the moment instead of chasing You / I let the world wear me down / I’m desensitized”.

Esta experiencia musical ha sido sorprendente. Cada canción posee tanta sinceridad como talento, inspiradoras letras que penetran en tu corazón y hacen un cambio en tu estilo de vida. Para aquellos que han disfrutado de los anteriores discos de Sanctus Real, y sobre todo si gustas de bandas como Switchfoot, U2, Foo Fighters o Jimmy Eat World, éste álbum se convertirá fácilmente en tu favorito. Y Preparen sus oídos para este 9 de marzo, el día en que “Pieces Of A Real Heart” será lanzado a nivel mundial.