Shaun Groves - 'White Flag'

I'm going to take a deep breath and promise to try not to carry on too much but it won't be easy. What can I say: I feel in love, I dropped to my knees, I ran into the streets to beg strangers to listen to Shaun Groves' amazing new CD.

Shaun Groves has been serving as co-pastor to students in his home church, teaching extensively on the Beatitudes. As happens to teachers, the material seeped into his own soul, and it spills out delightfully all through White Flag, a veritable feast of spiritual truth put to great music. He spreads a rich table of songs permeated with his own heart-deep apprehension of the Matthew passage. That's the crux of what makes this project so superb: Groves doesn't write and sing only of what the passage says, but of what it has come to mean in his own life and heart. It's a distinct and powerful difference, manifesting beautifully in the passion and sincerity of these songs.

There's not space here to comment on each song, but 100% of them are a full meal. Take your time with them, giving opportunity to move past entertainment and into teaching, inspiring. Take special note of tracks 1,2, the breath-taking title track, all of the last four, including the hope-filled Lennonesque "Peace Has Broken Out," glorious enough to bring me to tears. A final rave: this is one of the year's best. Bon Apetit!