Written by: Jay Wright (7/12/2011)

Anthem Lights is not your ordinary pop group. Not only is their music awesomely rooted in Scripture with extremely catchy music, this group is actually a vocal quartet! The amazing vocals from all four talented singers – Kyle, Caleb, Alan, and Chad – will definitely leave you coming back for more of this outstanding pop!

The radio single “Can‟t Shut Up” opens Anthem Light‟s debut very strongly, with catchy fill-ins and full- fledge guitars, as the group sings about shouting out all God has done for us. Especially enjoyable about this opening track were the electronic fill-ins in the pre-chorus, plus its fullness: “This is why we get up and sing (we can‟t shut up)/ We‟ve Got everything that we need (we can‟t shut up)/ Love has come and now we are free/ we can‟t shut up about it…)” Immediately following, “I Wanna Know You Like That” is a bit stronger than the album‟s opening track. Talking about David and “a Pastor far away,” this inspiring track speaks of craving a stronger relationship with the Lord.

“Circles” and “Can‟t Get Over You” follow as a slower set of songs, with more solemn lyrics. “Circles” talks about straying from our firmness in the things of God and breaking our own heart in the process, while “Can‟t Get Over You” is a beautiful worship song asking God to take us closer. As a love song to God, it was a bit difficult at first to decipher the direction of the track, but through the second verse, it‟s obvious that Anthem Lights sings this love song to the Lord because “I can‟t get over the way Your love stays the same, Oh Lord.” This slower set of songs was entirely enjoyable, and as always, the vocal variation was extremely enjoyable.

“Stranger” was an immediate sensation with its booming drums and pop sound, in this track about how the world is not our home, stating “I won‟t be home „til I‟m with You.” Not slowing things down, “Outta My Mind” is very creative lyrically, as Anthem Lights sings of how we exist for Jesus, not for ourselves: “Get me outta my mind and into Your heart/ it‟s not about me, it‟s not about me/ so I‟m gonna start playin‟ my part in Your design/ now is the time/ get me outta my mind.”

The upbeat and harmonious “Lifeline” was enjoyable, while “Lighthouse” was probably the highlight of Anthem Light‟s debut project for me. Starting very seriously and haunting, the track suddenly explodes into dance pop that makes you get up from your seat and sing along. Even with the extremely catchy pop, the lyrics of this track speak of shining your light so that the whole world “can see the lighthouse and find their way back home.”

Beginning with whistling, “Freedom Into Slavery” speaks of how often we as Christians turn our freedom in Christ Jesus into slavery, when there truly is no reason. The piercing bridge with the guitar riffs was very enjoyable in this hard-hitting track. The slower, but still strong “Where the Light Is” is an encouragement to those who feel like they are lost in the dark – that where the light of God is, darkness can‟t stay: “Where the light is, darkness can‟t be found/ where the Lord is, darkness must be bound.” This track put an excellent ending to Anthem Light‟s debut project.

4.5/5

Released: May 10, 2011

Label: Reunion Records


Track Listing:

  1. Can’t Shut Up (4:10)
  2. I Wanna Know You Like That (3:22)
  3. Circles (3:54)
  4. Can’t Get Over You (3:25)
  5. Stranger (4:27)
  6. Outta My Mind (3:45)
  7. Lifeline (2:50)
  8. Lighthouse (3:31)
  9. Freedom Into Slavery (3:51)
  10. Where The Light Is (3:51)

10 Tracks, 37:01

Buy on iTunes


More from Anthem Lights:

  • Yellow Cavalier EP (2009)
  • Anthem Lights EP (2011)
  • Anthem Lights (2011)
  • The Acoustic Sessions EP (2012)
  • You Have My Heart (2014)
  • Covers Pt. III (2015)
  • Escape (2014)
  • Covers (2014)
  • Covers Pt. IV (2015)
  • We Got You Covered Vol. 1 (2016)
  • Hymns (2017)
  • We Got You Covered Vol. 2 (2017)
  • Painted Skies (2017)
  • We Got You Covered Vol. 3 (2018)
  • Hymns Vol. II (2018)
  • Worship (2018)
  • Christmas Hymns (2018)
  • Disney (2019)
  • The Wedding Album (2019)
  • Hymns Medleys (2019)
  • Hymn-Capella (2020)
  • Icons (2020)
  • Inspired (2021)

Visit Anthem Lights Official Site Here