Warren Barfield - Worth Fighting For

Producer:  Charlie Peacock, Mark A. Miller, Jason Ingram, Rusty Varenkamp
Record Label:  Reunion Records
Website:  http://www.warrenbarfield.com

Warren Barfield was one of the most buzzed about new artists to hit the scene in 2003 before his label, Creative Trust Workshop, went under.  His brand of radio-friendly adult contemporary pop was a hit at radio, but it would be another three years before he was signed again - this time to Reunion Records.  His sophomore album, Reach, found the singer/songwriter stretching himself as a vocalist - embracing his pentecostal upbringing and bring a soulful edge to his music - much like you’d hear from Marc Broussard or Gavin DeGraw.  With the release of Worth Fighting For, one would assume that it would be an extension of where Reach left off.  However, it’s quite the opposite.  Worth Fighting For is almost nothing like his sophomore album and hearkens back his debut with even more made-for-radio and paint-by-the-number AC songs.  It’s not exactly a bad thing - Barfield pulls it off extremely well - recalling the likes of his own personal hero Steven Curtis Chapman, as well as acts like MercyMe or Chris Tomlin.  Songs like “The Singer Not the Song”, “The One Thing”, and “Say It With Your Life” are all great pop songs - but don’t do a whole lot to separate Barfield from the pack like his last effort.  Musically, Barfield seems more at home here despite a real lack of creativity - most notably on the ballads like “As It Is In Heaven” and album highlight “Love Is Not a Fight”.  Lyrically, again - Barfield lacks any real identifiable topics that would separate him from the back.  He’s still a creative songwriter - as displayed on “The Singer Not the Song”, clever “Reflect You”, and triumph “Love Is Not a Fight”.  One can’t review this album without mentioning “Love Is Not a Fight” - one of the most striking and original songs about divorce and marital issues to have ever been written.  It’s the perfect example of just how great a writer Barfield is.  Overall, Worth Fighting For is a strong album - it just doesn’t do a fantastic job of setting Barfield apart from the pack.  We’ve seen in the past where Barfield has shown great signs of true artistry - hopefully future albums can continue down that path.

Purchase Worth Fighting For.

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