Last year, Phil Wickham emerged from typical youth group worship leader to nationally known worship artist. Debuting a self-titled album on INO Records and a voice that is to say the least a God-given talent. Expressing a unique vibrato vocal style, something that isn’t common in today’s worship scene, was something quite refreshing. The only drawback in my book was that most of the songs were slower than I wwould prefer. Something that Phil has definitely improved in his stellar sophomore release entitled, Cannons.
Recently in an interview with Phil I asked how he would describe the musical difference between his debut and his current release, Cannons, Phil responded with “I realized I just wanted to get up with the band and rock with a little bit, it was all kind of mid-tempo last record mid-to-slow.” This is biggest improvement to Cannons over his self-titled, you begin listening to a song and you can’t get enough of it.
Phil Wickham’s first radio single from Cannons is one of those upbeat songs and is a song that reminds me almost of a typical Maroon 5 styled beat. “I wanted there to be strong hooks something people can sing after hearing it once. It has that…After your heart, after your heart…and everybody remembers it. It’s also more of a song that is kind of a get up and fight, and get up and stand for what you believe in.” After first hearing this song I had to press-play again, I must’ve listened to this one song at least ten times in a row just getting a grip on the powerful message in the lyrics.
Another song that has a very powerful meaning behind it is “Beautiful.” Phil told me this song was written at a youth camp after the speaker gave a sermon on the vast beauty of the universe. Part of the song that sticks out to me is this beautiful picture of Jesus dying on the cross… “I see you there hanging on a tree / You bled and then you died and then you rose again for me / Now you are sitting on Your heavenly throne / Soon we will be coming home / You’re beautiful”… later Phil sings… “When we arrive at eternity’s shore / Where death is just a memory and tears are no more / We’ll enter in as the wedding bells ring / Your bride will come together and we’ll sing / You’re beautiful.” I really love the, “Your bride will come together and we’ll sing.” it simply paints a beautiful picture of Jesus dying, to Jesus coming back and taking his bride home in song.
My favorite song is what Phil describes as the Gospel in a song. The song is called “True Love” and is lyrically the best we’ve seen from Phil. “When blood and water hit the ground / Walls we couldn’t move came crashing down / We were free and made alive / The day that true love died, The day that true love died.” My favorite part is when the song progresses into the bridge when Phil starts proclaiming “Jesus is alive / He rose again.” “True Love” is a song you have to listen to over and over to emphasize the power and meaning of the song. It quite simply is how Phil describes it as the Gospel in a song.
Honestly, Cannons has to be atop the charts when it comes to song writing. I’m not trying to over emphasize this, but Phil has such an amazing God-given gift and talent. Wickham has so many powerful songs and messages. I’m extremely excited to follow where his songwriting takes him next. I strongly recommend this worship album to anyone looking for an album that will change their life. You will certainly be glad you did!
Article by Jeremy Koering
