Written by: Stacey Papanikos (7/10/2011)

My first thought after hearing Dara MaClean’s voice was “Wow, this girl can sing!” Dara’s vocal pitch and style are very similar to that of, Francesca Battistelli and Kerrie Roberts. With upbeat, catchy lyrics and strumming and picking, Dara is sure to have you singing and dancing along before the end of the song! Sharing her testimony through song, Dara sends the message of hope, encouragement and love. But the strongest message that flows from song to song is definitely love. I love her short testimony, “I love love and I’m so in love with the Author and ultimate definition of love, Jesus Christ! He is the only one worth every part of me, including my heart. My life is not my own, it’s committed to His divine and matchless plan.” The following are a few of the tracks that I enjoyed along with the lyrics…

“Suitcases”. “How can you move when they’re weighing you down? You carry your burdens, heavy like gravity, just let them go now, there’s freedom in release, You can’t run when you’re holding suitcases it’s a new day, throw away all mistakes, open up your heart, lay down your guard, you don’t have to be afraid…just run!” Another favorite! I love the catchy beat and most of all, I love the message! How can we ever move on in our lives and grow and experience every thing God intended for us if we are holding onto things of the past or grudges or whatever it may be?! Just give it to God and let it go and be lifted of those burdens!

“Yours Forever”. “I was so close to giving up, lost all hope in love, so far from home…Thank you for finding me when You did, You changed my life, now I believe that love is all that I’ll ever need, I promise my heart and all that I am, I’m Yours forever my love.” This is probably my favorite song on this album. Dara expresses how thankful she is for the day she excepted Christ into her life. That experience of who she was and for the first time realizing, “Hey, this is love! Real love! This love changed me and if it can change me, it can change others and it’s all I will ever need!” This song definitely took me back to the day when Christ came into my life! What a song! What a blessing!

“Unreachable”. “You’re not too far away, you can’t fall too far to save, sounds unbelievable, but you’re not unreachable, just take the hand of Grace, your sins have been replaced by something beautiful, you’re not unreachable, stop running, where you going? Give in to love! You’ve been waiting to be rescued from your shame but He was there before you called His name!” This is such a great witness! Sending the message of hope, encouragement and love! What a thought…He was there before you called His name…

If I had to sum her up in one word, it would be love! I really enjoyed Dara’s album but I do think it’s lacking a little bit in creativity. But nonetheless, if you love Francesca Battistelli or Kerrie Roberts, you definitely want to check out Dara MaClean! July 12th!

4/5

Released: July 12, 2011

Label: Fervent Records

Track Listing:

  1. Suitcases (3:33)
  2. You Got My Attention (3:01)
  3. Unreachable (3:01)
  4. What Love Looks Like (3:00)
  5. Free (3:09)
  6. Yours Forever (3:41)
  7. Nothin’ That You Won’t Do (4:04)
  8. The One (3:15)
  9. Had To Be You (3:08)
  10. So Good To Me (3:24)
  11. Gratitude (3:06)
  12. Home (3:52)

12 Tracks, 40:14

Buy on iTunes

More from Dara Maclean:

  • Dara Joy (2006)
  • You Got My Attention (2011)
  • Wanted (2013)

Visit Dara Maclean’s Official Site Here