Album Review: “Life Story” by the Erwins
- Life Story is a long-awaited and much-needed addition to the Southern Gospel charts. With seamlessly blended harmonies, an enchanting message of hope, and solid stories of a Savior’s love, this album shines a light into your darkest days.
The family that sings about God together – joyfully proclaims the Good News of God’s hope together. And the Erwins do this with incredible flair, joy, musical skill, and an unmatched warmth.
The Erwin* siblings made their official music debut in 2011 with “What Really Matters” and have since released seven recordings, earned a Dove award and a Grammy nomination, and achieved chart-topping status.
The siblings, Keith, Kody, Kris, Katie, and Katie’s husband, Logan – are up to their old tricks again with a brand-new, highly contagious Southern Gospel album, Life Story. Katie says it best when she explains, “This album is full of songs for the Church, which means there’s something for all ages and backgrounds. We have prayed over this project for almost three years now, and these songs are sung from the bottom of our hearts—they truly tell our Life Story.”
MUSIC AND PRODUCTION
Produced by StowTown Records, Life Story is musically tight, harmonically rich, and reflects a deep warmth in every song. While the clear Southern Gospel / light country foundation provides a cohesive framework for the album, the thick and rich harmonies, soaring melodic lines, and sparkling vocals give the album an enchanting, uplifting flair throughout, reminiscent of the thrill of a Broadway show.
Contributing to the songwriting are Michael Farren, Jason Crabb, Joel Lindsey, and Rodney Griffin, to name a few. Within the songs, you’ll hear a standard Southern Gospel band, thundering percussions, dynamic horns, smooth-as-silk strings, vintage synth, and the Erwins’ perfectly blended voices.
NOTABLE TRACKS
Taste and See. “Taste and See” immediately draws you in with a heavy percussive start and an open invitation to give God a try and see how good He is. Perfectly blended harmonies and a joyful proclamation invite us to dine at God’s table.
Still Telling My Story. This song is a testimony of overcoming, with a little bluesy feel and a theme of personal encouragement.
Back to the Garden. With a splash of vintage keys and a story told through the Garden, Back to the Garden encourages us to draw closer to Christ:
“Anyone who has lived the Christian life long enough has probably gone through periods in their walk when they felt as if God was nowhere nearby,” says Kris Erwin. “Overwhelming situations in life can cause us to take our eyes off our Heavenly Father and focus on the distractions of the obstacles in this fallen world. ‘Back To The Garden’ has helped me recognize that as we live this life, God never pulls away from us. We are as close to God as we choose to be, but our desire for Him can never match the depths of His love for us.”
Joy Is Gonna Come. It’s a promise not to be missed – “Joy is Gonna Come” is catchy, quick, and a fun listen.
Fighting for You. “Fighting for You” gives a new twist on the Easter resurrection story. The Champion who defeated death not only loves you; He’s fighting for you.
BIBLICAL FAITHFULNESS
It wouldn’t be Southern Gospel without the themes of forgiveness, the washing away of sin, and God’s love. But the Erwins keep these Biblical themes fresh and authentic, grounded in reality and brimming with actual hope- a far cry from the sanitized song lyrics you might find in the artists of the past. The warmth and agape love the Erwins portray is as palpable as the walking bass lines boosted on Bose speakers.
The Erwins don’t just sing a compilation of biblical songs; instead, they sing a life story intertwined with the love of Jesus, presented in a charming musical package.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Life Story is a long-awaited and much-needed addition to the Southern Gospel charts. With seamlessly blended harmonies, an enchanting message of hope, and solid stories of a Savior’s love, this album shines a light into your darkest days.
MORE
The heavy percussion of “Taste and See” is a beautiful contrast to the sweet harmonies overtop. Sprinkle more of this enticing style throughout future albums.
LESS
Don’t be afraid to ease away from some of the traditional Southern Gospel themes and share even more of how God pours out His love personally in your lives.
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