Christy Nockels: Life Light Up

Mike Mahoney — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 03:44:48 +0000

Purchase Christy Nockels: Life Light Up –
Christy Nockels official site

SYNOPSIS
Joel: I fell in love with Christy Nockels voice when I first heard her with Watermark on the A Night in Rockettown CD. Then later I was treated to her passionate style in Passion. So when I heard this CD was coming out naturally I was excited. I have listened to this CD a bunch of times now and with my wife (a huge Watermark fan) and sadly we both walked away not too crazed with it. Don’t get me wrong its is well done, has some good cover songs and She can sing like an angel, but nothing on this CD is exciting. It all felt rather lukewarm to me. The songs written or co-written by Nockels are lacking in quality for such a seasoned songwriter. It just kinda fell flat for me.
Conner: I LOVE an incredible female vocalist and I’ve always put Christy Nockels in that category. For years, she’s been the soothing yet powerful voice on the Passion CDs, typically on stage with Tomlin and company and has leveled me with songs like Knees to the Earth, the Glory of Your Name, and especially the Hymns CD Praise to the Lord, the Almighty! Life Light Up offers us 12 tracks that are a good blend of musical styles that I think helps us get a glimpse of Nockels own personality apart from the Passion crew. I absolutely dig the variety from the orchestra sections to the samples and triggers she uses and everything in between. I doubt that the covers found here were unintentional they seem to fit the mood and theme of the CD so I assume she’s doing that with good intentions.
Mike: I’ve said this before: I don’t listen to a lot of female vocalists. That said, Christie Nockels has an amazing voice. But does she use it to it’s fullest? Christy has got some serious vocal chops. Her voice can be tender, emotional or powerful, and she does a great job matching the quality of the vocals to the songs. And she’s clearly a talented songwriter. But here’s the rub: it’s good, very good at times. But just that.Part of that is not her fault; on several of the tracks, her amazing voice is way to far back in the mix, noticably so on the otherwise great “A Mighty Fortress.” I would have appreciated less orchestration and more singing. And while her take on “Hosanna” is, by itself, a great track, I have two albums with Brooke Fraser singing it. If you’re going to cover a Brooke Fraser song, you have to change it up and not try to sound like her.Other songs on the record fare better, especially “No Not One,” “Song of the Beautiful” and the title track.
Al: Christy is a great vocalist and songwriter. These are songs of worship including some favorites (which she did not write) such as “Hosanna” and “Marvelous Light”. The album starts off great with “No Not One”, which she co-wrote with Brandon Heath, and then launches into the title track “Life Light Up”. There’s not really a dull moment on this album for me. I did not find a whole lot that immediately jumped out for church use apart from the cover songs – but after a few listens I found some.

BOTTOM LINE
Joel: It’s a well done CD that is just that and nothing more. I am not a fan of the cover tunes at all. I think “Marvelous Light” is not a great version. Again great voice, but this CD does not express the talent that she is. Rating: 2 out of 5 stars
Conner: Each listen grows on me a bit more however something falls a little flat. I’m not sure if the one thing that’s always stunned me (her voice) is a bit covered by the musicality or if it is the cover songs or what but something doesn’t feel right. Good song writing and musicality but there’s a missing piece. I don’t think that “Marvelous Light” or “Hosanna” actually compliment the CD, I wish I heard more of her material, however I do think “No Not One” is a cool alternative to Brandon Heath’s! Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
Mike: Amazing vocals, quality songwriting, so-so production. But a very good album, all told. A songwriter as good as Christy should skip the cover tunes.Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
Al: A great album from Christy. Her voice is fantastic. Her worship style is fresh and chirpy. Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

MUST HAVE SONGS

Joel:

Life Light Up
A Mighty Fortress

Conner:

Life Light Up
Choose
In Your Hands
You are Able

Mike:

Life Light Up
Song of the Beautiful
No Not One
A Mighty Fortress

Al:Yes, I have listed most of the songs on the album.

No Not One
Life Light Up
Choose
Hosanna
You Are Able
My Master
A Mighty Fortress
In Your Hands
By Our Love

SONGS FOR CHURCH

Joel:

Hosanna & Marvelous Light – Fraser and Hall. NUFF SAID!
A Mighty Fortress

Conner: Any of these have the ability to be used within a church environment. Perhaps the most congregationally friendly songs though:

Hosanna & Marvelous Light – Seriously though are you not already using these 2?
You are Able
Choose

Mike: Some of these songs (Hosanna, Marvelous Light) have been sung in churches for years, and this record brings nothing new to the table. A Mighty Fortress has a nice arrangement for contemporary worship. Also:

Life Light Up
Song of the Beautiful

Al:Congregational songs:

A Mighty Fortress
Hosanna
Marvelous Light
Choose
My Master

Special songs:

By Our Love

The Joint Review gives Christy Nockels: Life Light Up Overall Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

the joint review » Christy Nockels

Christy Nockels: Life Light Up