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White Flag
Artist: Shaun Groves
Label: Rocketown Records
Time: 12 Tracks/ 45:24
When Michael W. Smith launched Rocketown Records one of his first artists was a then unknown singer-songwriter named Shaun Groves. Groves first CD enjoyed success in the stores and on radio with songs such as "Welcome Home". Unfortunately, his second project did not enjoy the same success and people viewed it as a sophomore slump, some even wondering if Shaun Groves was a one hit wonder.
Groves returns with White Flag an album birthed out of his study of the Beatitudes. It is rare to see a concept album that focuses on one topic, such as this. If one finds a concept album rooted around a more general topic such as love or pain.
The album is helped by the fact that Groves is a writer that holds nothing back, pulls no punches. What you get from Shaun Groves is straight-forward honest lyrics that are rare in CCM today. One of the best examples of this comes with the first song that looks at "What's Wrong with This World". The obvious answer would be that there is so much evil all around us, but Groves sees something different. In this song, Groves says that what is wrong with the world is...him. He is what is wrong with this world. Wow...what a different way of looking at things. In response to this revelation, he calls out "Change my heart God, Change my heart God, Change my heart yeah" The tempo of the album shifts from the rocking first track to the slow contemplative "Sad Song." "Amen," the third track picks things up some as Groves calls out:
Christ have mercyFinally Groves hits a point of surrender in his life on "White Flag." "Amen" begs for strength and for the Lord to help and "White Flag" follows that up with a promise of surrender. After that change, Groves realizes that this world cannot give him what he "Craves." In the fifth track, he sings that there is nothing beneath the sun that will give us what we ultimately want. Groves sings "Only Spirit, second birth can satisfy my constant thirst." "Hummingbird" is the cry of someone caught up in the busyness of this world and yet realizing that there is more out there.
Lord have mercy
Holy Healer
Strength within
Pass me not
Forsake me not, Lord
Amen
The album slows down for "Heaven Hang On" which looks at the stories of two people whose lives are not what they should be. One of the more haunting verses of the song calls out:
Lord, surround them with angels"Bless the Lord" is a cry lifting up the name of God with all that the singer has. It is a cry of total commitment as he sings "I want to give you all of me." "Only" is a promise of complete focus on God, a promise to never turn from God. The piano-driven "My Enemy" describes a change of heart from wanting to smite one's enemy to praying that they are filled with peace and mercy. This is a great illustration of turning the other cheek. "Peace Has Broken Out" describes a change that suddenly takes place when peace breaks out finally across our cities and world. The album closes with "Narrow" a song that reminds us that the way of the cross is not always easy and full of blood shed but in the end Groves says he has given up the world:
And send out Your saints
Shake us all loose
rom our pulpits and pews
o hold and to help up the faint
For my share of blessing and beauty and bloodshedIf you want a fun, light album to listen to, then this is not the album for you. If you are up for an album that will make you think and may even drive you back to the Beatitudes then given this album a spin. Groves has delivered one of the meatiest albums of the year.
And wonders and woes
The wonders and woes of the narrow
Of the narrow
Burton Wray December 30, 2005
