On her fifth album, JJ Heller keeps things sweet, simple and sincere. When I'm With You combines the empathetic songwriting touch of Sara Groves with the airy, playful spirit of Colbie Caillat. Heller's wistful, understated vocal style matches the diary-like quality of her lyrics and the homespun folkiness of her melodies. Her love songs - particularly
Tell It Again, Boat Song and
Until You Came Along - have a wide-eyed honesty about them that transcends any sense of calculation or cliché. The breezy shuffle
When I'm With You, addressed to her daughter Lucy, is especially winning. Heller's Christian outlook is most clearly revealed in
Kingdom Come (a humble, personal hymn) and
What Love Really Means (a meditation upon God's unconditional love). Among the more downbeat songs found here,
Olivianna deals with the death of a young child with sensitivity and a measure of hope. JJ's husband Dave's acoustic guitar work gives these tracks a warm, natural glow, enhanced by Mitch Dane and Ben Shive's uncluttered production. - itunes
CD Details
- Release Date: November 29, 2010
- Record Label: Stonetable Records
- UPC: 796745094229
- Number of Discs: 1
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