This Is (Not) An Album Review: A MESSENGER - Colton Dixon

I don't think this would classify as a review but as per usual, my little online home is all about my thoughts being put into words and I just want to share my random blurbs pertaining to this album that has been on massive repeat on my player in the past month. Let's just say I am doing my part of the "deed"; and that is, to glorify Him in ways that I can (which in this case, through writing/blogging.). A quick fact/reminder, though: one doesn't need to be a Born Again Christian to fully appreciate such songs. I am a Christian/Roman Catholic, by the way. Not that religion should divide us, really, it doesn't matter a lot at least to me. I believe our relationship with the One above is more important than anything else. So shall I start?


1) Intro. I may or may not be too hooked to The Walking Dead in the past days that listening to this gave me the feels, with the inaudible noises and honking horns all that didn't makes much sense to me until the 20 seconds count when I realised how it seemed to be the perfect intro for the next track (Noise). It reminded me of David Cook's Circadian (the first track off This Loud Morning) with the brilliant intro that most likely will give you hints on the contents of the album as a whole.

2) Noise. A catchy, perfect first song. A potential single, I think. My favourite lines were, "I need to hear Your voice / reminding me that at the end of the day / no matter what goes down I'll be okay / even through the noise." It is an eye-opener in a way that even in a world that's been exposed to all sh*t (secular songs, music-wise, material greed and bad stuff, etc.) and through our constant longing for silence, we could find peace in His loving presence.

3) I'll Be The Light got me with its lines, "when you're out of faith, I'll give you some of mine." It has inspired me to be more positive and be "the light" to whoever that I get to deal with everyday. That I may have my own sets of struggles but it should not stop me from inspiring the people around me to move forward... closer into Him.

4) You Are. I have loved this song from the first time that I heard it since it was released as a single early on and it still has not change since then. It is this worship song that is openly announcing His greatness and never ending love to each of us. It is very easy to love because of its straightforward lyrics that cuts through one's heart deep. It is this song that is going to open your eyes to the possibility of serving the Lord with whatever talent that He has given you. "If I have no voice, if I have no tongue, I will dance for You like the rising sun..."

5) Never Gone. I could never question the fact that this is one of the best tracks in the album and it is nothing but the best choice and I am glad it was released as a single. It is clearly relating to our relationship with God but it is not the preachy type. I believe some could even relate it to their loved one, their heroes or their families (people who inspires them) and that is what I like about the song/album as a whole.
It can go mainstream without sounding too preachy.



6) Love Has Come For Me. My problem with this album is that when you listen to it track-by-track you'll have this hey-this-is-my-favourite feels, and then you go to the next track and was like, no-THIS-is-my-favourite and it goes on and on. And that is exactly what I have felt listening to Love Has Come For Me. I believe this one could go mainstream and it would fare pretty well with the others. To me it sounded like a mix Paramore and Switchfoot without losing the Colton Dixon side. It is something that's very easy to relate with (I think my Valentine blog post could easily match the lyrics of this) and is also enjoyable to put on repeat.

7) Scars. I don't know why I find this song dark and yet it was the most enlightening song in the album. "Self indulgent, death by cry pride / Forgetting all that I've been given / But still You never left my side / Brought back to life, You healed the broken / With arms wide open.."

8) Rise. Another potential single. I keep on saying this, but to be honest, almost all the songs have that potential, apparently. But these are the dearest to me. I was actually hoping this could get a major airplay, at least in the country (we have actually tried to request for the song on RX 93.1. Who knows, right? They just might. wink) It is one of those heartfelt songs one would love to put on repeat.

9) Where My Heart Goes. One upbeat song that you would just want to sing along and worship/raise and clap/ your hands with. It fills my heart with joy by just listening to it. "..This is my song that I sing forever / You are my home You are what I treasure / I want You to be where my heart goes / And if it all breaks, if it goes to pieces / You are the one that I will believe in / I know you won’t ever let me go / I want you to be where my heart goes.."

10) This Is Who I Am. "A sea of faces all around / I see you sinkin' / I see you drownin' / But I won't let you pull me down / As I'm reachin' for deeper meaning.." And I won't apologize for being me.

11) In and Out of Time. "Future is waiting, it’s always pulling me / And present’s worth saving but the past is hunting me.."

12) Let Them See You. The most intimate song in the album. Maybe I was on a melody-person-mode when I came to listening to this track and right then I really could not figure why most of my friends who have listened to the album chose this as their favourite when mine at that time was (and still is) Love Has Come For Me. Not until I reached the chorus and how it has brought me to tears and I am not even exaggerating. No other words can express what I have felt that time. All I know is that there is a certain connection and I have felt it. Thanks to this song I was reminded of my mission/the very essence of my existence; to live in His will and to let them see Him in me.

13) Wake Up (Bonus Track) After a rather slow song, here comes this bonus track urging the listeners to wake up.... in a way that is as if saying, "Guys, I have shared Him to you through my music/singing, it is now time for you to wake up and do something for others and for your own sake." and I'd like to put it that way.

Last Valentine's Day, I was blessed to have spent it on a group date with my friends at the Smart Araneta Coliseum and have witnessed as Colton Dixon sang his heart out to the thousands of spectators in there. No doubt, most of the people came for Jessica (who's given superb performances, by the way) but that did not stop them from enjoying Colton's set. I just wished the crowd was a bit more responsive, but anyway, I did enjoy all the songs that he has played. When he sang Everything (in which I have tweeted early on that it is my favourite song and if he's to sing it that night I.... I...) and Meant To Live, I could not care less about the crowd anymore. He sang Noise and Rise from A Messenger and I was so blessed to having been able to hear him sing it effortlessly live.

I was hoping he'd do more banters in between songs. I kind of want to hear more about how he'd come up writing with these inspiring songs; the stories behind it. But then I thought, who need banters when the lyrics are powerful enough it can speak by themselves? All I can do is applause.

If I am to rate this album, I'd give it a 4.5 out of 5 and I recommend you listen to this non-stop, because I would and I really love it. :-)

And I believe the world needs more Colton Dixons.