Debut Letter to God
This debut album comes right from middle America. Buried in near the ‘thumb,’ Karen Brokaw of Standish, MI has been busy writing songs from her heart. The daughter of a chaplain and minister, Karen has put together an album full of songs that reflect the grace of God. Dear God is filled with simply penned lyrics, but tell stories that have the potential to move a seeking heart.
Dear God is in the category of whether or not it should be considered a full length album or a really long EP. We’ll go with a short full length album, since seven original tunes fill up 33 minutes of listening time. Dear God does feel longer than 33 minutes, due to some meandering melody lines and slower ballads, however there are some real gems that shine through. “Battle is Yours” is an excellent song that really blossoms with a memorable chorus, intimate verses, and a weighty bridge that brings additional meaning to the chorus. The song titled “Running,” reminds a bit of some of Rebecca St James’ earlier work. Driving guitars push forward with edge and bite, with themes of pressing into God. Also worth mentioning is “Grace is Enough.” This song tells the story of a few individuals with day to day problems ranging from poverty to relationship issues, pointing them to finding Jesus.
All in all, Dear God shows excellent promise of a budding songwriter and storyteller. While it is a debut, there are some key elements of songwriting that often not found in the beginning start of a songwriter, some nice imagery, some good melodic phrasing, make for a good start. Which is not surprising, seeing that Karen Brokaw has spent four years working on her songwriting craft in pursuit of what she feels led to pursue.
Recently, Karen was featured on WNEM during the Mid-Michigan Music Awards Preview, sharing some original music and her heart for the art of songwriting.
Check out this album, keep an eye on this one, she’s writing promising material, and if she is diligent in honing the skills, she’ll be putting out albums full of songs like “Battle is Yours.”
Click the image below to purchase Dear God
