Reviewed by Matt McChlery

Jon is a Chicago-based singer/songwriter who has put together an outstanding collection of 11 songs with the potential to encourage and nourish. Jon is a member of Vertical Church Band who are the worship band from Harvest Bible Chapel in Chicago. However this album is not a worship project, although the songs do have a worshipful undercurrent. Rather, it is a passionate, exuberate explosion of originality and artistry. There is no overarching concept to the album although "Every Little Song", which is an ethereal and delicate number, does provide some cohesion to the package as we are invited into the conversation between artist and Creator where every little song is a heartfelt expression of love. As Jon says, "every song is an offering and every song is an attempt at writing faith-based material in a way that stays true to the faith and true to my sense of art." The album is jam-packed full of though provoking lyrics and deliciously catchy hooks that are expressed in a refreshingly original way. "Nothing Better" is a pop-tastic track that I can imagine becoming a toe-tapping summer anthem. Jon displays some impressive vocal gymnastics and the seamless blend of acoustics and layered synths pack a joyful punch. Another highlight is "Rolling, Rolling, Rolling" that has a pulsating foot-stomping beat that blends well with the intelligent songwriting. Thoroughly recommended.

The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms. Any expressed views were accurate at the time of publishing but may or may not reflect the views of the individuals concerned at a later date.

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