Sanctus Real – Pieces of a Real Heart
Mar 5, 2010 CD Reviews
Posted by
wiegmake
Sanctus Real
“Pieces of a Real heart”
Sparrow Records
11 tracks @ 39:44
Grade = A
Sanctus Real returns with their sixth disk and they’re still going strong.
Lead singer Matt Hammitt says, “There’s a real depth here that I’m not sure we’ve ever had on any other album,” Matt shares. “We’ve always written about things that were important to us. But what really makes these songs stand out is that we’re getting older and have experienced so much more life. There’s a depth that naturally comes with age, and every couple years between albums there’s so much more growth spiritually, emotionally and even musically, and our music is evolving and progressing with life.”
According to the band’s PR, when it came time to choose a name that summed up the band’s newest work, the group was intentional about having the title really fit the pulse of the lyrics.
“At first it seemed a little cliché, but we knew we needed to have the word ‘heart’ somewhere in the title,” Hammitt says. “It’s because all these songs —every last one—are about the deepest parts of our being, our hearts, what we’re thinking about and things we’re living through. As we started thinking about all the different pieces of our lives, it quickly became apparent that these songs are definitely pieces of our real heart.”
The first single, “Forgiven,” has a fresh sound with its judicious use of the banjo. Frank in its honesty, the lyrics are exceptionally strong. With its focus on sin, “that devil just won’t let me forget,” and redemption, “I’m a treasure in the arms of Christ,” this is a contender for Song of the Year.
Equally as impressive lyrically is “These Things Take Time.” Its theme addresses “the big questions” many of us ask: why does pain make me strong? Why do good men die?
“Lead Me” is a very mature look at working for The Kingdom at the expense of those closest to us. Hammitt says the song is a response to his wife imploring him to be a better spiritual leader in their marriage and for their two children.
Hammitt says, “This is the first generation statistically that really believes that divorce and separation are just a normal part of family life. I want to do whatever I can to strengthen families and help them raise kids that have positive role models in moms and dads. And it starts with me.
“While I am committed to ‘death do us part,’ [my wife] made me realize that I was coasting in our marriage. As God is doing great things in my own marriage, I hope that ‘Lead Me’ can be a tool to open a dialog for struggling families, to help strengthen them in their relationships and enabling them to grow together spiritually.”
Other standout tracks include “Take Over Me,” which starts slowly then morphs into a sense of urgency, while “Dear Heart” would fit nicely sonically on Sgt. Pepper.
It’s easy to hear why these guys have real staying power.
Rob S.
Tags: Sanctus Real
