Style: Bluesy pop; compare to John Mayer, Jack Johnson, Train
Top Tracks: “White Flag,” “Warm Heart in a Cold World”
Straddling the fence between the CCM music world and the secular, Dave Barnes has been praised by artists from Amy Grant to John Mayer for standing out as a talented singer/songwriter. Stories to Tell should uphold his reputation with its catchy, acoustic tunes, and positive outlook. Barnes’ songwriting is simple, both in structure and lyrics, and often employs too much repetition (a fault he shares with Mayer). However, some tracks—like “Warm Heart in a Cold World,” communicating deep love for his wife and family poetically and effortlessly—do stand out.
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