We enjoy getting new music that we can all enjoy as a family.  That’s why we have enjoyed “I’m All In” so much!

About I’m All In

For Robert, I’m All In is more than the name of his third studio album, released July 26 from thinkaboutit records. It has become Robert’s life motto as he responds to God’s calling to live fully committed to Him. In addition to writing and recording I’m All In and playing on a summer tour, Robert also leads regular Sunday morning worship at his 800-member Orlando, FL church. And he’s done it all as a high school senior.

“All of the songs have something to do with things I was going through my senior year,” Robert said of I’m All In, “preparing to say goodbye to friends and not really knowing what would come next, but finding comfort and peace in the Lord’s plan for my life. The Bible talks about how the eyes of the Lord are searching to and fro throughout the earth, searching for someone whose heart is wholly His, someone He can strongly support. This CD is me saying, ‘I’m all in.’”

Creating I’m All In was a powerfully personal experience for Robert, who teamed with veteran songwriter Jason Ingram (Tenth Avenue North, Sanctus Real, Bebo Norman) and legendary producer Matt Bronleewe (Jars of Clay, Michael W. Smith, Steven Curtis Chapman) on the album. The result is a collection of songs that enthusiastically and energetically worship God while wrestling with what it means to be a Christian in a world full of difficulty and joy, anxiety and excitement.

My Review

I’m All In is more techno than I noticed from the EP – but the sound is very complimentary to the music rather than driving the songs.

The way the album is laid out, Robert seems to ‘settle in’ as you listen. I have no idea what order the album was recorded in, but it felt to me like, for the most part, Robert was more comfortable with the later songs. For me, the album got better as it went!

“I’m All In” is the title track starts the album with energy and passion. It’s a great up-tempo song, very radio-play worthy, with a pop feel, and showcasing Robert’s sweet vocals. My kiddos like this song a lot.

“Who R U” poses the question to the listeners (rather than to God) – “Who are you?” The lyrics express a strong faith, and a call to faith for those listening. “This ain’t no game we’re playing here… You are either hot or you’re cold, either yes or you’re no, will you stay or will you run, will you come. You’re either in or you’re out, either soft or you’re loud, when He calls for his own, I wanna be known. “

“Light the Way” brings a surprisingly mature message and echoes my own experience of walking in faith with the Lord: “When I can’t see my next step, your love will light the way. When the path I’m on is all but gone, your love will light the way.” It includes a great passage of scripture put to the tune of the song “Your ways are higher, your ways are greater, your ways are not our own, your ways will lead us home.”

“Maker of the Stars” felt like a Toby Mac song from the first listen. This one has GREAT sound, and I hope to hear it getting some radio-play time. Again, a catchy tune, with heartfelt lyrics, that has the feel of a familiar song, while still being new and fresh. It was kinda funny to me, though, because it started with quite a techno feel, and ended with a more acoustic guitar feel – nothing predictable here, but in this case it’s a good thing!

“Be Lifted Up” is probably my favorite song on the CD. It is a fantastic, heart-felt worship song, completely focused on lifting up the name of the Lord. It feels like I already know this song, and even though I’ve never heard it before, it resonates with my spirit, and I just like it a LOT!

“Stranger in This Land” has a solid pulsing beat that keeps pushing it forward – this song is going somewhere! It has a key phrase “He is my Identity” and that ties Robert’s EP “Identity” to the new album in a cool way. These themes run throughout, but this phrase really jumped out at me, especially since there’s a huge youth conference that happens here in our city called “Identity” as well. ☺ It’s a great song, too, identifying the feeling we often have as Christians – that we don’t quite belong here.

“Silent Cry” is a bold statement in the cover of a beautiful song. The song never says the controversial ‘A word’ (abortion) but clearly is speaking out on behalf of the unborn. “Stand up, it’s time, listen to their silent cry…. Life is a gift, not a choice that you get, no mistake ever made, made a life to erase.” It’s a simple message – we can no longer pretend it’s not happening, and nothing is going to change unless someone cares to make a difference. There’s no condemnation in the song at all – just a call to listen to the silent cry of those who never get even one chance at life, and to unite on behalf.

“Sing for Joy” has a very comfortable feel about it – a tune that is new but easy to pick up. I enjoy humming harmony along with it.

“Greater is He” – Robert seems very at home with this song. His singing on this one is possibly the most natural of all the songs on the album.

“Dead to Sin” – this one made me smile tight away, initially because the beat in the background reminded me of my first little electronic keyboard. I had that keyboard in the 80’s, and it probably had about 25 keys with a built-in beat-maker that went ‘bok-a-chik-a-bok-a-chik-a….’ – that’s what the beat reminded me of. It sort of had the same feel, to me, as “Pop Goes the World” – very upbeat, fun, and easy to listen to. The message of this song is very celebratory, with the final phrase of the chorus “I’ve been set free!” repeated twice. This is a great song!

“I Will Trust in You” is a soothing song, with a catchy tune that I found was sticking with me even after the very first listen. “I will trust in You, You have never failed me; I will trust in You, Your way is everlasting.” GREAT lyrics, just for the simple powerful truth they convey. It’s a great song to end the album with.

One thing I feel quite strongly is that I’m All In is a great tween/teen album, though not exclusively for that age range (I quite enjoy the album myself). My kiddos enjoy the songs, enjoy the feel, and enjoy having music that sounds like what other kids their age are listening to, but with a distinctly Christian message. The lyrics are unbeatable for having a solid Christian worldview, but not being preachy. Robert’s songs seem to just come out of a life of a solid faith, and the lyrics are a natural out-flowing of that faith. They ‘fit’ him, even if he didn’t write all of them. The songs are well-suited to the faith questions and life-stage of young people. I think it would be a great gift for anyone aged 10-25. We’re all enjoying this CD a lot!

Find Robert online at the following places:

WIN IT!

Giveaway: One lucky It’s OK to be WEIRD! reader will win a copy of Robert Pierre’s new CD, “I’m All In”.

To Enter: Mandatory – Tell me if you’d like to win the CD for yourself and why, or if you’d like to win the CD for someone who you know and why (1 entry).

Bonus Entries:

• Follow this blog on Google Friend Connect (see sidebar).
• Follow @OKtobeWEIRD on Twitter and Tweet this giveaway using this “I’m All In” CD Giveaway Tweet (you can tweet this once a day for extra entries, and leave a link to each tweet in a separate comment.)
• Like It’s OK to be WEIRD on Facebook. {1 entry}
• Follow It’s OK to be WEIRD on Networked Blogs {1 entry}
• Subscribe to It’s OK to be WEIRD! by RSS Feed or email {1 entry}.
• Blog about this giveaway, with a link to this giveaway post, and my blog title linked back to me {for 3 extra entries}
• Stumble, Digg, +1 or comment on any of my non-giveaway posts;

Leave a comment on this post for EACH entry (1 entry per comment).  Be sure to leave your e-mail address so that I can contact you if you win!

Giveaway closes Monday, August 22nd at 9:00pm MST! Open to US and Canada.  The winner will be selected by random.org and notified by email, and will have 48 hours to reply back before a new winner is selected. Good Luck!

Note to contest entrants: if you subscribe via EMAIL, in order to be considered for the giveaway, you MUST verify your email when the confirmation message arrives in your mailbox.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”