kevindavis's Music and Book Reviews
Kerrie Roberts [Time For The Show] | Posted March 26, 2013 Staff Reviewer
Florida native Kerrie Roberts has been listed alongside power vocalists including Kelly Clarkson and Natalie Grant: unassuming girl, huge voice. Memorable and dynamic yet intimate. Kerrie is uniquely emotive and soulful. With the release of her sophomore album,Time for the Show, Kerrie addresses themes of empowerment, strength, encouragement and joy delivered on waves of vibrant and contagious music ranging from high-energy pop to signature ballads beautifully expressed through tender, undeniable piano/vocal performances. This album Includes the powerful single "Finally Home" plus "Masterpiece," "What Are You Afraid Of," and more.
“Time for the Show” is the best opening track of any album this year, rivaling “Rolling in the Deep” by Adele as an opener that sets the pace for an album. It has that same rollicking tempo and provides insight into Kerrie’s mindset and submission to God as a believer, especially in the hooky chorus where Kerrie emotionally cries out to God, “It’s time for the show, turn up your light, it’s time for the show, let it shine, because you know who you are and know Who your heart belongs to, they need to know, this perfect love, it comes through us, don’t wait another minute let’s go, it’s time for the show.” She clearly loves our Lord and Savior Jesus with all of her heart and wants to celebrate that fact with every song. In her great new EDM song “Sing,” Roberts belts out, "And I sing out loud, no I won’t be quiet, I sing and shout, I can not be silent, You put the music in my heart, I’m screamin’ now, I feel like jumpin’ feel like dancin’ for You now, can’t keep this Spirit under lock and key, I need to set it free, no I won’t be quiet I won’t be silent now!" I sing that line along with Kerrie’s gorgeous and powerful voice at the top of my lungs and I find it so uplifting in this troubling time where the earth is groaning, the economy is failing and the only thing that matters is to “sing Praise our God, praise our God, let His praise be heard.” Amen to that!
"What Are You Afraid Of" includes the personal and confessional lyrics “You scream at the top of your lungs, when no one’s listening, being the basket case over anything, giving your whole world for love and the boy says no, so what are you afraid of, show ‘em what you’re made of, the shadows that you’re scared of, are usually your own, they’re not the great unknown, you don’t have to wonder, you’re not going under, Grace has got your covered, God is in control, go on and let it go, what are you afraid of?”Amen! I’ll admit that although I’m normally drawn to the Brit-pop, alternative rock and singer-songwriter genres, these two ultra-catchy electronic dance-pop songs have won me over to that musical style, mostly due to the personal lyrics. The mainstream music charts have been dominated by Lady Gaga, Katy Perry, Britney Spears and others who make the subject matter of their songs as edgy as possible to draw in listeners. Unfortunately as a father of three young daughters who love dance-pop style music, there haven’t been many edifying songs I can offer as wholesome alternatives to those artists, until now. I literally dance in my chair, my car, or while I’m walking around when I play these incredible songs. Electronic pop music has made a big mark on the music scene and Kerrie brings a vocal sincerity to these ultra-catchy pop songs which could easily be featured in mainstream music alongside those top-selling mainstream artists. I’ve been enjoying the powerful and moving ballad “Finally Home” since the single released and from the moment I first heard the song, I’ve been impressed by Kerrie’s emotive and strong vocals. I hear an even deeper yearning for God in the song and throughout this incredible album. Those opening tracks are the strongest of any album I’ve heard this year.
As if the beginning of the album isn’t impressive enough, Kerrie takes it up a notch vocally with the middle tracks, especially“Middle Of It All” and “Masterpiece.” “Middle Of It All” features Kerrie passionately praying directly to God these profound lyrics—“I’m afraid, but I’ll trust You, so I will run into the middle of it all, and I will come when my heart hears Your call, no I won’t hide behind the safety of the city walls…I will run into the middle of it all.” “Masterpiece” is a perfect pop song. I hang on every note of Kerrie’s compelling message—“You know Jesus holds your heart, He made you a work of art, You’re a masterpiece, even if you don’t believe…when I look at you I see, you’re a masterpiece.” This song challenges listeners to drop the masks we all wear to try to cover up our insecurities and lay them at the feet of Jesus and includes the encouraging lyrics “I wish you could picture you from Heaven’s view.” Kerrie clearly understands the Truth of Psalm 139:13-14—“For You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother’s womb. I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, And that my soul knows very well.”
I love the passionate vocals and strong messages of the songs, especially "Not Real Yet" with the piercing and confessional chorus, "Say that You love me, tell me You want me, I want to believe it, hear it, I’m listening, wish I could see You, wish I could touch You, Lord I need You hear next to me, please remind me, help me feel it, it’s not real yet." The power ballad “In Your Sight” is totally inspiring and is a great reminder as Kerrie prays, “I will rest, knowing You are holding me, I believe You will never say goodbye, I close my eyes, unafraid of what I can not see, because I am always In Your sight.” We need to have that type of faith that Jesus describes in the Bible, “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” Amen. “Wake Up” and“Like Jesus Loves” close out the themes of this album: Trusting God, loving Him and loving others as He loved us. All of the songs are catchy, exciting and worshipful. After listening to the album, I am stirred with compassion to love people as Jesus loves us.
CLOSING THOUGHTS
Kerrie Roberts has the greatest voice wrapped around extremely hooky dub-step electronic dance musical arrangements I've heard this year. Her vocals are so strong and pure. Musically and lyrically, her album Time for the Show is brilliant. I feel like I'm eavesdropping on Kerrie's prayer time during many of these songs and as I get caught up listening to Kerrie's excellent vocals, I start praying along with her. My favorite albums all have that impact on me. This is one of my favorite albums of the year. Kerrie Roberts is my choice as "the voice" in Christian music. Time for the Show is a five star “Masterpiece” that brings me closer to God.
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