It’s been just over a year since my friend Jon recommended Phil Wickham to me. I vividly remember the phone call that prompted the dangerous attempt to scratch his name onto a post-it note with a pen severely lacking in ink… while driving on the freeway. Unfortunately, that is where Phil remained for me until recently, when I started hearing his name all over the place.

His new album, Heaven and Earth, was released just last week and has quickly found its way into the regular mix of music in my car. The album is passionate, powerful, and filled with understandable lyrics containing messages of truth and worship. His strong vocals, artistic electronic-pop feel, and soaring melodies are instantly likable and draw you into his passionate worship.

Wickham definitely goes exploring on this album. Each song is unique and seems to try something new. You can hear the intensity in his voice--he doesn't simply let the thickening instrumentation do the work. In fact, his voice more than anything gives insight into the true currents of his music. The genuine heart behind this album is refreshing and is one of the primary reasons Heaven and Earth is without a doubt one of the top albums of 2009.

PREVIEW & BUY THE ALBUM HERE!

The messages contained within his lyrics are thought provoking and encouraging. Eden challenged me to think back to the innocence of man before the fall, and I loved how Cielo invoked the challenge of not being able to bow low enough toward our God.

That being said, I was a little disappointed (but only mildly) with this album's continuity. Almost every song on Heaven and Earth is radio-ready, meaning that each song is able to stand alone. This provides for an exciting CD, but reduces the full album experience. I would argue that most of the CD’s tracks are interchangeable in order. However, there isn’t a wasted song on Heaven and Earth, and you won’t be let down.

I highly recommend this album, and have already been pointing it out to friends and family. Heaven and Earth is an excellent album, which I predict will be well received and will be around for a long time to come. I’ve already heard Safe on the radio, and expect to hear much more.

Liam Morris is a skinny Irish guy, exiled to Western Massachusetts, who specializes in business development and web/social media marketing.  He plays guitar (piano occasionally) and is "lead bad dancer" for the worship team at MercyHouse, a growing church on the campus of UMass Amherst.