Search - Kim Hill :: Broken Things

Hill Takes the "Broken Things" of Life to the Divine Potter

T. Yap | Sydney, NSW, Australia | 03/02/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Prime Cuts: Lover of My Soul, Just the Same, You Don't Belong Here



Age is not anything but a number. Kim Hill has taken such an adage and made it her coda as expressed throughout her 13th studio CD. Instead of mimicking her peers a la Sheila Walsh and Kathy Troccoli, who embraced middle age by recording quieter worship CDs or lullabies, Hill goes back to her roots by recording a Christian rock disc recalling her debut "Brave Heart." Part of the success of such an enterprising venture comes with the import of veteran producer Paul Ebersold (who has worked with Third Day and 3 Doors Down, acts noted for their raw rocking abandonment). But, such a rejuvenated foray does not mean that this project is by any means juvenile. Rather, its youthful grooves and snarling guitars mask lyrics that mine the depths of the theme of what the Lord can do with brokenness. Not only are the insights of Hill and her cohorts of writers (including Jill Philips, Kate Miner, Marc Byrd among others) perceptive but they are the outcome of an incisive and ruminative study of the Scriptures.



Unlike some Christian music products which whitewash reality into a spurious caricature, Hill takes life by the bull's horns. On "You Don't Belong Here," Hill tackles the touchy issue of divorce, a rare fleet in contemporary Christian music. Perhaps autobiographical in nature, considering Hill's recent divorce, this former Dove winner sings with panache over its brooding soft rock guitar driven melody. "Deeper," co-written by Nashville's stalwart writer Rodney Clawson (whose credits include Big and Rich, Gretchen Wilson and Shannon Brown), brings out a bucolic charm that we have not heard since Hill's country album "So Far So Good." Despite its roiling 80s-sounding drum beat, "A Million Pieces" is a stark confession of a woman who has no one to turn to but the Lord. Such a faith-filled abandon packs a big punch for all of us to surrender our pride to God.



Perhaps the most moving piece is Kate Miner's "Just the Same," a jut-jawed piano ballad that gives expression to the longing of our hearts: what can we do to please God? In child-like simplicity, Hill responds with a haunting appeal: "The lesson that I'm starting to learn/You just want my heart to return." Such transparency over a heart-tugging tune makes one wish that the album has more of such piano-ballads. Unfortunately, not all the songs are that stellar: Though "Shelter" is a pensive worship ballad, it does not bring anything new to the table. And a few others like the Bryan-Adams-esque "Here Inside of Me" and the choppy "Clean" border on average.



Nevertheless, "Broken Things" is a shoulder above the many rock-edged Christian records out there on two grounds. First, it comes from a 40-something who sings not just lyrics on a page, but this a seasoned rock chic who knows what she's singing. Second, Hill never eschews life's toils and tribulations, but in the knowledge of the promises of Scripture, she faces them squarely. And to this end, she triumphs. Not with canned answers, but Hill takes our broken things and lays them before the Potter; the only one who can take our brokenness and mend them again."

Broken Things by Kim Hill is a departure from her recent wor

Michael Dalton | Eureka, CA United States | 10/30/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"For nearly a decade Kim Hill has been involved in a series of worship recordings, beginning with Focus on the Family's Renewing the Heart series in 1998. Prior to a Christmas recording in 2004, her last release, 2003's Surrounded by Mercy was in the contemporary worship format that has become so popular.



Broken Things comes as a bit of surprise, though a welcome one, with a clean rock sound that hearkens back to her earlier days. Hill has always sounded good singing folk/rock, and this recording is no exception. Her voice is strong and right at home in this setting.



The lyrics speak in particular to women struggling with emotional issues, but anyone will be able to appreciate the hope and comfort offered in songs that alternate between adoration to God and stories and reflections on our broken condition. God's grace and goodness are a recurring theme, providing a welcome musical meditation. Fortunately, the music doesn't take a back seat to the lyrics.



I don't know if Hill has ever sounded better. What you get is a modern sound with classic rock influences. "A Million Pieces" includes the jangly guitar sound pioneered by Roger McGuinn, former lead guitarist of the Byrds. "Lover of My Soul" starts with a lone electric guitar reminiscent of the classic, "House of the Rising Sun," before Kim and then later the band join in. You can here shades of Crazy Horse, Neil Young's old band, on "Here Inside of Me." There's enough variation to keep it interesting and plenty of hooks.



For the most part, the backing consists of electric and acoustic guitars, bass and drums without too much production and adornment. Producer Paul Ebersold (Third Day, Sister Hazel, Three Doors Down) has done a wonderful job of blending new and old, electric and acoustic. One of the strongest songs is the beautiful piano ballad of "Just the Same," a Kate Miner song that ends the recording. This is nothing fancy--just a solid collection of songs that lean toward rock.



Hill deserves credit for taking a risk, when she could have come out with another contemporary worship recording that could have just been one among the many.

"

Brave Songs for Broken Hearts

The JuRK | Our Vast, Cultural Desert | 02/08/2008

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I was a big Kim Hill fan after hearing her CD, BRAVE HEART, and then ran out and got her first two CDs, KIM HILL and TALK ABOUT LIFE. All great contemporary Christian music that I still listen to. I first saw her when she opened for Amy Grant in the 1990s and later saw her in her own shows and she sounds great live.



When I heard that BROKEN THINGS was a sort-of sequel to BRAVE HEART, I was all over it and had to order it from her website after amazon said they couldn't get it for me (they must have worked that out if they're printing our reviews for it!).



The first couple of times I listened to this disc, I didn't get the broader range of sound and energy I got from BRAVE HEART but I did listen to the lyrics and I found BROKEN THINGS to be a more mature work. I did a search online and went to Kim's website to find articles about her own difficult struggles (I discovered the trauma of going through a divorce as a Christian about the same time she did and I would heartily recommend you read her magazine interview linked via her website).



This is what I love about any music: artists who look inside themselves instead of trying to figure out which way the winds are blowing in the music biz. Kim has done that with BROKEN HEARTS and I look forward to hearing where she goes next. The songs here are for the battered and the bruised who still stubbornly hang on to their faith because they know the storm will break and the sun will rise tomorrow.



The mirth and youth of BRAVE HEART may be tempered where Kim ended that CD with an outtake of her laughing as she tried to hit the high notes in "Mysterious Ways," but she closes BROKEN THINGS with the wonderful "Just the Same," reaching for grace and understanding while still hitting the high notes."