Lara Landon - Overcome Review

For her sophomore album, Overcome, the singer-songwriter songbird hit a sweet note, taking the listener on a musical ride from a place of hopelessness to a place of hope. Hope is something Landon clings to and bring to the lives of others. Music isn’t her only ministry, she also is the co-founder of a non-profit organization called New Reality International. New Reality International exists to provide holistic care to those suffering injustices and poverty worldwide. Her lyrics reflect her heart for the world.
Overcome is a heartfelt release that shows that Landon’s main focus is showing the love of Christ. Lyrically the album moves on an intentional journey from hopelessness to hope. Musically the whole album has an understated vibe, driven by piano and acoustic guitar with touches of strings, flutes, and a sitar sound thrown in to keep each track individualized. Landon has created an intimate album that brings the listener into the feeling of a hushed sanctuary....full text If there ever was an artist and an album that has captivated me and challenged my walk with God, it is Lara Landon’s sophomore album ‘Overcome’. The moment I saw the heard the music video of the lead single ‘I See God in You’, I knew the album would be special. From the first words of declaration and openness in ‘Better For the Breaking’ until the last piano note of ‘The Spirit of the Lord’, I became transfixed by Lara’s personal diverse stories and her powerful voice. Lara has an incredible gift, shown through her many different stylistic and musical genres, while constantly maintaining the integrity and message of Jesus Christ in her arrangements and melodies. I for one, as a listener, was transported on a emotional and lyrical journey of discovery into who God is, and so will everyone else who listens to the Nichole Nordeman like singer songwriter. Funding her album through Kickstarter , Lara has raised the bar, a feat that no doubt will occur in the years to come in this treasure littered with Holy Spirit moments....full text Overcome showcases an eclectic yet cohesive pallet of lush arrangements and melodic, piano-driven pop, venturing into the folk realm but ultimately more reminiscent of fellow female innovators Imogen Heap, Plumb and Kate Bush. It’s evident Landon was not afraid to explore new stylistic elements by incorporating Hebrew lyrics, Middle Eastern percussion and Spanish guitar. The songs are intentionally sequenced to tell the songwriter’s story, leading the listener through a musical journey from desperation to hope....full text OK, here is what I think: Lara has one of the best voices in the industry. Her vocals are strong when it need to be powerful, and soft when it needs to be soft. She plays with her voice and adjusts it to the lyrics very appropriately. You can’t get bored listening to her voice. I think her voice is really a gift from God and it’s very thankful she is using it for Him in return.

Here is what I was very grateful for when preparing for this review: Lara runs a blog and website. In there, she provides lyrics to her songs (from the previous album - hope lyrics from the new one will be up soon), she provides stories behind each song and videos. I was so glad that I can actually get to know the album so well before writing the review and thus provide the readers with the best info and quotes! Loved how active this woman is and that info needed is so easily accessible! Wanna visit her blog huh? You will be able to find Lara’s website and blog links down the road as you read. ...full text