John Mandeville

The songs on We Belong to Heaven sound instantly familiar. And that will play to John Mandeville’s advantage.

The longtime songwriter has penned songs for everyone from Clay Crosse to Phillips, Craig and Dean, from Point of Grace to Avalon. Yet it’s this impressive turn keeping the attention on himself that will allow Mandeville to finally receive the accolades he deserves. The songs throughout We Belong to Heaven fit immediately onto Christian radio yet maintain the right lyrical twist, emotional sentiment or melodic charm to be worthy of your attention.

“Who Is Like You Lord” leads things off and is perhaps the best track on We Belong. The song pulses immediately with backing sample and synth and Mandeville carries the energy well with a song that highlights the greatness of God. “Glorify” follows soon thereafter with Mandeville’s tender tenor leading a thoughtful ballad marked by its honest refrain: “Lord, if Paul was the chief of sinners/Then I am the second in line.”

“You Are” and “I Want What You Want” maintain the same emotional resonance as “Glorify” and create a solid 10-minute mood with a worshipful atmosphere and vertical lyrics. The latter is a very simple worship chorus that should find a home in some acoustic worship circles or meditative church gatherings.

The title track leads out the second half with a mid-tempo AC number and surprises by the fact that it really moves nowhere. The listener is left waiting for the rising chorus, the epic response or a memorable moment. Instead, the song moves forward without any noticeable movement and is the most forgettable track on the album.

Still Mandeville more than makes up for it with tracks like “Who You Say I Am” and “You Alone,” the latter of which is a fantastic, simple refrain that keeps things minimal and brings the perfect mood for reflection on various characteristics of God.

With We Belong to Heaven, John Mandeville shows his talents extend far beyond penning songs for others as he holds onto some stellar tracks for himself.

Tagged as: John Mandeville, We Belong To Heaven

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