Caleb + Kelsey – God Gave Me You: Country Love Songs

The Fuel Music

Release Date: January 11th 2019

Reviewed by: Joshua Andre

Caleb + Kelsey– God Gave Me You: Country Love Songs (Amazon mp3/iTunes)

Track Listing:

  1. The Way You Love Me / The Kiss / Breathe [Faith Hill]
  2. Bless The Broken Road [Rascal Flatts]
  3. Somebody Like You / You’re My Better Half / Better Life [Keith Urban]
  4. From This Moment On / You’re Still The One [Shania Twain]
  5. Jesus Take The Wheel [Carrie Underwood]
  6. What Hurts The Most / Here Comes Goodbye [Rascal Flatts]
  7. God Gave Me You [Dave Barnes]
  8. Need You Now / Don’t You Wanna Stay [Lady Antebellum, Jason Aldean]
  9. How Do I Live / I Need You [LeAnn Rimes]
  10. From The Ground Up [Dan + Shay]

Here’s something you probably don’t already know, or maybe do, about me- as a lover of CCM and all the different types of music associated with that, I don’t usually go out of my way to listen to music that is vastly different. Metal music is a big no-no, while rap music is an acquired taste (a few songs here and there is fine, but I don’t think I could last an entire album…). Yet for me the country genre is the genre that I am most confused by. Music-wise the big sweeping guitars and the anthemic guitar strums remind me of pop music in general, yet lyric-wise, I always thought I couldn’t connect with songs about relationships, particularly since I am single at the moment, and haven’t been in a relationship before. How could I possibly relate to and identify with many of the country songs heard on the radio and in albums? Well along the way a few years ago, my outlook changed, and I opened myself up to listening to country music with the perspective of viewing these songs as allegories and examples of all the tiny ways God loves us and then some more. By viewing these songs as something of the eternal rather than of the material and the here-and-now, I’ve come to appreciate country music albums more and more- I even reviewed Carrie Underwood’s Cry Pretty last year, and rated it quite high too!

Enter in Caleb and Kelsey’s God Gave Me You: Country Love Songs– a cover album of 10 songs originally sung by country artists and about love, being in love, or what to do when you’re ‘out of love’. With Caleb and Kelsey both singing in perfect harmony, this is one of those country albums that will make you a fan even if you weren’t prior to listening. If you’re not familiar with Caleb and his wife Kelsey, you can read my review of their Christmas album here– and now that you’ve all caught up on who these two young children of God are, let me just say that even though the music is simple, there’s just something about these songs that make me have goosebumps, that makes me want to press ‘repeat’. With all of these songs projecting the notion of the positive emotions and feelings the one feels when in love and that one want to always keep feeling; we are met with tracks that we all long to proclaim and declare over all of our relationships in our lives. Oh how we long to have better more satisfying and fulfilled relationships with our spouse, friends, children, parents, extended family; and Caleb and Kelsey have expertly delved into such relevant topics with poise and grace that you can’t help but be amazed at how they’ve delivered these songs, especially “Jesus Take The Wheel”, “God Gave Me You”, and “From The Ground Up”, all of which are my personal favourites. I could go on and on and tell you all about each track, but I guess that’d be pointless, right? Why don’t you just listen to spotify and youtube and make your own judgement…

Sky’s the limit for Anthem Lights, and for each of the individual members- especially the dynamic duo of husband and wife Caleb and Kelsey. What does that mean for the duo, when Anthem Lights are still going strong? Well first of all, I reckon albums will continue, and as long as these guys are enjoying themselves, they will continue for a long time yet. I’m not quite sure how often albums will release, but I know, on the strength of this project and albums previous, that future albums will be thoroughly enjoyable. So what are you waiting for? If you’re a fan of country music, or even if you aren’t, there’s something for everyone here. So just sit back, take a listen and enjoy; you won’t be disappointed!

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_nR5QyrlfmEmYVber4vf4bqRKomWg1tPr0

Score: 4/5

RIYL:  Carrie Underwood, Jana Kramer, Lady Antebellum, Keith Urban, Trace Adkins, Brad Paisley

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