Hold on to You

Sounds like … rootsy pop/rock in the vein of Dave Matthews Band, Mercy Me, Jeremy Camp, Building 429, and Third DayAt a glance … a fighting spirit fuels a dynamic collection of pop/rock anthems on Hold On to YouTrack Listing It Is Time More Than I Am Open Wide Hold on To You On My Knees A Moment With You Armor You Are My God Can You Hear Me Sleep in Peace Lift Me Up

Singer/songwriter Chris Dickson is a survivor. Not only did he did he have a debilitating brain tumor, but the condition was supposed to prevent him and his wife from ever becoming parents, a lifelong dream of his.

In a testament to the power of prayer and God's healing power, Dickson beat the odds. Not only is he tumor free, but Dickson and his wife are also the biological parents of two little girls.

Though Dickson's trial-ridden story certainly had a happy ending, he hasn't lost touch with the difficult times endured before those miraculous events. In fact, Dickson remembers those times of depression all too well. "Depression is real, and it hurts," he says. "It's so bad because it can be caused by physical and spiritual factors."

Ultimately, it's Dickson's powerful back-story that breathes new life into the well-traveled territory of his music. Even if you're a relatively new Christian music fan, chances are you've heard a song or two about God helping us through those inevitable rough patches. But in light of Dickson's testimony, those familiar themes take on new significance as expressed in tracks like "It Is Time" and "More Than I Am."

Not only does his powerful, pleasing vocal delivery—a cross between Mac Powell (Third Day), Dave Matthews and Jeremy Camp—drive the message home, but Dickson's lyrics aren't cut from the typical clichés either. For instance, on "Can You Hear Me," Dickson doesn't exactly mince words in his despair: "Darkness surrounds me/I hear You call to me and I think/How can I answer/When all I feel inside is broken/Shattered to pieces/I'm speechless from the anger I feel."It's that Psalm-styled lament combined with the reverent joy of songs like "A Moment With You" and "You Are My God" that provide welcome solace and rejoicing to anyone going through a particularly trying time.

Thankfully, such solace comes with pleasing musical accompaniment. Though Dickson isn't exactly reinventing the wheel with his chosen pop/rock template, the sturdy production from John Seymour (U2, Dave Matthews Band), the tantalizing pop hooks, and the aforementioned lyrics still make Hold On to You a project worthy of attention as a much-needed reminder that someone else has endured hard times like yours.

For more information about Dickson, check out www.christiandickson.com.

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