Todd Agnew

On paper, this should be one of the strongest releases of 2009. After all, Todd Agnew is both a critical and commercial success. To this point he has proven himself to be both able to move product and release radio hits appeasing the masses and listening public. Songs like “Grace Like Rain,” “My Jesus” and “Our Great God” all held chart-topping abilities and introduced the talented now-Ohio resident to the larger Christian audience.

But he’s also proven himself quite a capable wordsmith. A passionate vocal delivery and solid songwriting chops continue to bring high critical marks with each album. As one of the strongest solo songwriters in the business, Agnew’s latest work is one of the most looked forward to this year.

But alas that is not the case after listening to Need. Frustrating as it is, since the album should be stellar. There are straightforward rock tracks, the usual acoustic ballads, piano-stomping gospel and a diversity never before found on an Agnew disc. But put together, it just crumbles from a lack of cohesiveness and the missing passion from previous efforts.

“Higher Ground” serves as the perfect example. The oft-sung chorus of “a higher plain than I have found/Lord, plant my feet on higher ground” is given an absolutely fantastic sway and soulful delivery. But breaking into this both before and after is this up-tempo, straightforward pop/rock delivery. The song moves both in and out into this fast-to-slow-and-back-again pendulum and it’s absolutely unnerving. Instead of an interesting creative license, it instead detracts from what would have easily been the pinnacle of Agnew’s release.

“Tell Me The Story” is just embarrassing in its Nickelback-tells-the-gospel song structure. Seriously, if you closed your eyes, you’d think Chad Kroeger had gotten saved while you were sleeping and the song’s flat from the outset. Other songs like “Written on the Wall” and “Gloria” are too easy – formulaic adult contemporary songs that Agnew’s proven himself better than on past releases.

Still, there are signs of life here and Need is hardly a horrible album. The punchy, summery strum of “Joy Unspeakable” is a great way to kick off the album. The fantastic country vibe of “Give Me Jesus” is buoyed by a male/female harmony and light guitar tones. And the piano work on “The Love of God” is terrific. That song in particular definitely hits Agnew’s best ever list.

So Need suffers from the weight of expectations – for a songwriter so talented as Agnew to release an album like this, you’d think he was in a hurry. But the fact is that it’s been a couple years since his last release – 2007’s Better Questions. Let’s hope the train hasn’t completely derailed and Agnew can get back to deeper considerations and inspired song choices.

Tagged as: Need, Todd Agnew

↓ 6 comments

#1 Aaron on October 6th, 2009 at 3:42 pm

I’ve always thought Todd was a good songwriter but a very below-average singer, relying on the bad assumption that people still want a Scott Stapp/Creed/Nickelback soundalike.

#2 mike on October 6th, 2009 at 4:27 pm

Texas resident.

#3 Chris Unthank on October 6th, 2009 at 10:38 pm

Man I’ve got to write a review for this tomorrow – and I’m not really looking forward to it…

#4 Shawn McLaughlin on October 26th, 2009 at 11:26 pm

I’m writing a review for it now and I’m not looking forward to it. Matt, you realize that Todd didn’t write Our Great God right? It was originally on “City On a Hill : Sing Alleluia” project and then a Fernando Ortega project. He and Mac Powell wrote it. I don’t think you implied his authorship, however.

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#6 American Airlines Promotion Code on August 29th, 2010 at 11:29 pm

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