Style: Modern rock-tinged worship; compare to Matt Redman and Chris Tomlin
Top tracks: “The Same Love,” “We Are Saved,” “Look Upon the Lord”
The heralded worship leader turns in another grand effort, the 13th album of a 20-plus-year career that’s spawned standards such as “Open the Eyes of My Heart.” Baloche’s moody vocals are reminiscent of Switchfoot’s Jon Foreman, which blends well with the album’s modern-rock vibe. The endlessly catchy title track, an anthemic ballad declaring God’s resilient love throughout history, is thematically central to the album. To that end, Baloche smartly mines strands of classic hymns (“Nothing but the Blood,” “Christ the Lord Is Risen Today,” “My Hope Is Built”/”The Solid Rock”) to augment his own push toward hymnal history. Pitch-perfect production, a heavenward focus—The Same Love delivers the goods.
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