Culture
Review

God and a Girl

Christianity Today September 1, 2008

Sounds like … the acoustic-based folk-pop of singer/songwriters like Kendall Payne, Sarah McLachlan, Jennifer Knapp, Sarah Masen, Aimee Mann and Bethany Dillon.

God and a Girl

God and a Girl

September 16, 2008

At a glance … with thoughtful and honest songwriting, Joy Whitlock’s impressive debut successfully relates her confessions and conversations with God, all expressed with an acoustic pop/rock style that occasionally demonstrates an impressively artful side.

Track Listing

  1. Cost of Being Free
  2. Faith Don’t Fail
  3. Don’t Look Down
  4. Behind the Scenes
  5. Holding On to Me
  6. Testify
  7. Not Through with You
  8. Beautiful
  9. Your Face
  10. In This Hour
  11. Traces of You
  12. Psalms
  13. Fake
  14. Day of the Lord

Joy Whitlock grew up a pastor’s kid in Mississippi, complete with the stereotypical rebellious streak. Dabbling with things like promiscuity and drug abuse, she left home at 17 to live with her older sister in Memphis. But then her life changed in 2004 after reluctantly accepting her mother’s offer to see The Passion of the Christ. By the time the film ended, she’d recommitted her life to Jesus.

All the while, the heavily-tattooed twenty-something had been developing her musical skills after seeing Sarah McLachlan in concert ten years earlier. Between local performances and a new outpouring of songs depicting her spiritual journey, she attracted the attention of Memphis-based Ardent Records, and soon performing and recording with label mate Todd Agnew before finally releasing her debut.

Whitlock describes God and a Girl as her conversations with God, relating the struggles and realities of her faith walk. Indeed, “Cost of Being Free” has an autobiographical feel, describing how she relies on Christ whenever she stumbles. “Faith Don’t Fail” shares how it’s hard to live her beliefs, and in “Testify” she admits her failings to her “Daddy.” Whitlock relates the other side of the conversation through “Don’t Look Down” and “Behind the Scenes,” expressing God’s love and support through all things, regardless of how far we stray.

Though influenced by McLachlan, the budding singer/songwriter more closely resembles the work of Kendall Payne, Sarah Masen, and Jennifer Knapp with her expressive alto and acoustic-pop style—certainly all good company to be associated with. How odd then that the album’s lead single is “Holding On to Me,” the only one Whitlock didn’t write and the most heavily produced on the album. Though not bad, it’s out of step with the rest of this album and feels tacked on. Other rockers on the album could fare just as well on radio; better still, the acoustic pop of “Beautiful” suitably reflects her sound, songwriting, and testimony.

This is a lengthy debut, running more than an hour with a few tracks that carry on too long. And though the mid-tempo acoustic pop style grows somewhat monotonous, Whitlock spreads out the highlights appropriately. There’s “Your Face” with probing lyrics about seeking to live for God, and the powerful “In This Hour,” relating how the “sanctity of suffering” can bring us back to the Lord, a sophisticated tune that demonstrates her potential as an artful songwriter. Once the album closes with the eerie-yet-celebratory apocalyptic alt-pop of “The Day of the Lord,” it’s very much apparent from the strength of this debut that Whitlock is one to watch.

Copyright © Christian Music Today. Click for reprint information.

Our Latest

Naomi Raine Isn’t Playing Games

The founding member of Maverick City Music is releasing new songs as a solo artist with an impressive roster of guests.

News

Shrinking Palestinian Christian Population Wary of Cease-Fire

“As people, we can live together … because this is what Jesus asked us to do.”

The Just Life with Benjamin Watson

Bakari Sellers: Building Power and Protecting Families

Leading with empathy while pushing for reform.

News

‘Is That the Same Charlie?’

Awarding Kirk the Medal of Freedom, President Trump questioned his widow’s emphasis on his willingness to forgive and love his enemies.

Public Theology Project

Gaza Has More to Do with Your Life Than You Think

Biblical references to Gaza show that once-hostile frontiers are a pathway of grace.

The Russell Moore Show

Beth Moore on Falling in Love with Ecclesiastes

It’s time for a Moore family reunion to discuss the most depressing book of the Bible.

Happy 76th Birthday, Joni Eareckson Tada!

First in a series called Long Obedience in the Same Direction.

Apple PodcastsDown ArrowDown ArrowDown Arrowarrow_left_altLeft ArrowLeft ArrowRight ArrowRight ArrowRight Arrowarrow_up_altUp ArrowUp ArrowAvailable at Amazoncaret-downCloseCloseEmailEmailExpandExpandExternalExternalFacebookfacebook-squareGiftGiftGooglegoogleGoogle KeephamburgerInstagraminstagram-squareLinkLinklinkedin-squareListenListenListenChristianity TodayCT Creative Studio Logologo_orgMegaphoneMenuMenupausePinterestPlayPlayPocketPodcastRSSRSSSaveSaveSaveSearchSearchsearchSpotifyStitcherTelegramTable of ContentsTable of Contentstwitter-squareWhatsAppXYouTubeYouTube