Meditations on God's goodness and divine attributes with an intelligent twist and a safer adult contemporary sound is an apt way of describing Nichole Nordeman's third release, Woven and Spun.
Straying from the alternative, at-times dark pop stylings of her previous efforts and exchanging the probing questions and lyrical fodder for more liturgical expressions of gratitude and praise might give some the impression that Nichole has run out of ideas and that she's simply settling for less. That's only partly right.
Take the opening track and leadoff single "Holy," for example. By the title one might imply that the song is simply a clichéd, tried-and-true worship ditty, but it actually happens to be a statement on how life's seemingly worthy pursuits leave a void in the human soul when the focus is not where it should be: "How many deaths did I die before / I was awakened to new life again? / And how many half-truths did I bear witness to / 'Til the proof was disproved in the end? /... What was meant to illuminate / Shadowed me still / But all You ever wanted / Only me / On my knees / Singing holy."
Especially noteworthy is the ballad "I Am," which, with its tender piano-and-orchestra arrangement and smart word parallelisms (something Nordeman is known for), humanly and delicately delineates her evolving perception of God, from the super-hero, elbow-healer images of her youth, to the more intimate declarations of faith that come with maturity and growth in grace.
Elsewhere on Spun, we find Nichole musing about how our aspirations are not what give us worth in God's eyes ("Take Me As I Am"), illustrating in very poetic terms the significance of the Cross ("Healed"), describing the things she wants others to remember her by ("Legacy"), and portraying an attitude of thanksgiving, whether in the midst of adversity or prosperity ("Gratitude").
As evidenced in the content of this new batch of songs, it's clear that Nichole doesn't want to be known as 'the artist,' but rather point to The Artist in her life. Is that a bad thing? Not necessarily, especially when your lyrics are above average and the primary focus of your craft is truly vertical. Yes, the overall sound sometimes comes off a little formulaic and fails to beatify what's been committed to paper. But in Nichole's case, her legacy doesn't consist of groundbreaking musical prowess, but rather the ability to inch a little closer to the heart of the Father. And in that respect, she's succeeded.
Andree's Score: 3.5/5
Other coverage for this album
The Rebel Base 2002Reviewed by Josh HurstBack in 1987, Sam Phillips sang that "answers don't come easy." Nichole Nordeman knows that. Never one to shy away from the difficulties and painful truths of life, the talented poet, singer, and pianist has quickly developed a reputation as one of the most profound and honest Christian lyricists around. Like Bono, Nordeman "wrestles the Angel" and searches her soul for answers to the mysteries…The Phantom Tollbooth 2002Reviewed by John WehrleNordeman's third release, Woven and Spun, strikes a new chord and a fresh melody with a strong recording. The worship bent album kicks off with a fresh groove called "Holy," which will make you want to hit the back button to listen over and again. But resist the urge, there are plenty of songs worth listening to on the album. Like all of her previous releases, Nordeman, once again, shows that she…Similar sounding releases
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