Prodigal Martha is the result of a singer/songwriter being literally silenced by God. Kate had surgery in April of last year to remove polyps from her vocal cords, and after that operation, she was not able to talk for a week, and then the following months only five minutes a day until she fully recovered. It forced her to do just what Martha of the Bible did--to sit at the Savior's feet and listen. This theme is very present throughout the album. The candidness of her lyrics and the sheer power of her voice (even after surgery) combine to make honest heartfelt songs. Some people have a natural gift to be able to sing, and then there are people like Kate Miner who have a divine gift of singing. Some contemporary Christian singers seem insincere in their songs, but when she sings lines like, "Jesus changed the tenor of the cross / from the sound of cold nails driven to the song of man forgiven," it doesn't sound as if she's preaching but rather speaking from experience.
All eleven of these songs are gems--bright shining gems. Dealing with the struggle common to us all--whether it's doubt, feeling overwhelmed, or unloved--there's something for everyone to connect with on this album. The heart-wrenching "Who Will Cry" deals with the utter crassness of human loneliness and its many forms: death of a loved one, homelessness, prostitution, infidelity, etc. This tune will surely pull the listener's heart strings. Her voice clearly expresses the hopelessness that so many who have to deal with these situations feel. To balance the album, Kate has included some encouragement: the tender "Hung The Moon" which exalts God's desire to please us and love us eternally is a fine example. The red-bull infused rocker, "Song In My Heart," is another, Kate shows us she is not afraid to rock out from time to time, which is a very good thing because she handles it astoundingly well.
Prodigal Martha is Kate's first release with Floodgate; I have to take my hat off to Mr. Tim Taber who did a wonderful thing by signing this extremely talented woman. This project will get you where you need to be at the foot of the Savior to just listen to Him. Prodigal Martha is a testament of how God consistently transforms human pain into glorious works of art.
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