Capitol CMG / Sparrow Records
Release Date: July 26th 2019
Reviewed by: Jonathan Andre
Cody Carnes – Run to the Father (Single) (Amazon mp3/iTunes)
Track Listing:
Run to the Father
Cody Carnes. Husband to worship leader Kari Jobe. Singer-songwriter and artist himself. Artist of the popular radio hit and chart-topper ‘The Cross Has the Final Word’. Released one full album in late 2017, alongside releasing another song with wife Kari last year titled ‘Cover the Earth’ (a song co-written with fellow believer Daniella Mason- who’s ministering in the mainstream music circle!). And in my own opinion (but what do I know- I’m just a reviewer!), Cody Carnes has been instrumental in the reinvention of the worship genre of music, if ever worship was a genre to begin with. Just like artists gone before him, from Crowder, UNITED, Meredith Andrews, All Sons and Daughters and Phil Wickham, to Jesus Culture, Third Day, Chris Tomlin, Tim Hughes and Paul Baloche; Cody’s infectious joy and passion, alongside the actual songs that ooze out biblical truth and heartfelt anthems that can be sung in a variety of life settings, is what I believe will continue to bring Cody to give to us again and again, songs that stretch us in our own beliefs of what worship music should be like. Enter in ‘Run to the Father’, a song released this year, and on the back heels of powerful melodies like ‘Nothing Else’ and ‘Heaven Fall’, this song has a lot of living up to do- considering the acclaim and powerful response from listeners, for the other two melodies released this year, thus far.
And so with one listen to this new song by Cody, all fears and doubts of it ever living up to the songs set before, need not be a worry in the first place. Cody’s new song is by far one of my own favourites, of any artist, this year- yes, even topping Cody’s previous two hits in this year. Thematically and stylistically, the song is quite possibly one of his most mellow, as we contemplate the words sung by Cody about running to the father as we are. As said per CCMMagazine.com, Cody’s song reminds us all, that ‘…there is always an open door into the welcome invitation of the Father’s love. It’s available to every person. We accept that invitation when we say ‘I need You.’ This is an ‘I need You’ song. It celebrates the grace that never runs out and recognizes the freedom and security that’s found in the arms of the Father. I pray this song reveals the love of God for you in a deeper way today…’ Sombre and reflective, heartfelt and true, this new song by Cody is hopefully what is indicative of, in the upcoming new album. Precise and articulate, Cody has made it a habit to produce songs for the church, and maybe, just maybe, a song like this, can sneak into the Sunday morning worship service setlist, into the future. As this is a peek into what the new album will bring, then with the hearing of this song, and the songs prior, I am quietly confident that such an album like this will be as good, if not better, than The Darker the Night / The Brighter the Morning. Well done Cody for such a spectacular tune, can’t wait to see what the finished album will be and how it will look like, whenever that arises.
Score: 4.5/5
RIYL: David Leonard, Crowder, Urban Rescue, Kari Jobe