AllMusic 's Johnny Loftus claimed " Though strong , the melodies on Awaken sometimes feel recycled , and its manicured instrumentation lessens the power of Grant 's singing voice . But the album is still a capable blend of Christian themes with mainstream pop texture , meaning it deserves the same accolades '' Deeper Life '' received . " David McCreary of '' CCM Magazine '' said " Confession time : As soon as I was assigned to review Natalie Grant 's new CD , a not-so-flattering , preconceived notion came to mind . Is n't she just another generic-sounding pop diva ? But after just one spin of her aptly titled '' Awaken '' disc , that thought was quickly relegated to ' oh-so-mistaken ' status . Following an eye-opening overseas journey and a recent time of spiritual introspection , Grant now releases her most poignant and intimately reflective project to date . Musically and lyrically , '' Awaken '' propels Grant to an artistic pinnacle that should give her some much-deserved street cred . Whether it 's through the powerhouse praise evidenced on the CD 's title track or the piano-driven disclosure of ' The Real Me ' , the album 's evocative arrangements convey the heart of someone who confronts reality head on and embraces social responsibility as an integral part of her faith . One hard-hitting issue Grant tackles is the harrowing problem of human trafficking , not exactly standard Christian music material . But after traveling to India and visiting the appalling red-light district there , Grant was shaken by the experience . Her cathartic rally cry of sorts is found on ' Home ' , a compelling magnum opus featuring the Prague Philharmonic Orchestra . Further admonition comes on ' What Are You Waiting For ' , a catchy , up-tempo track that issues an alert to Christians to abandon complacency and make a meaningful difference for eternity . Other weighty themes emerge , including self-esteem ( ' Make Me Over ' ) and personal tragedy ( ' Held ' ) . Also memorable is gospel-tinged selection ' Bring It All Together ' , a soul-stirring duet about restoration beautifully executed with country music legend Wynonna Judd . Throughout the disc , Grant 's robust vocal delivery shines through brilliantly . Moreover , full-bodied instrumentation and solid production enhance an already stellar effort . Clearly her finest performance , this release certainly bodes well for Grant 's continued fruitfulness . " '' Cross Rhythms '' s Stuart Blackburn left a more unfavorable review , stating " Natalie Grant has experienced some recognition Stateside with Dove nominations and all that . It is only fair to acknowledge that she has understood well the tastes of her home constituents . However , this side of the pond we will need more convincing . After a pointless intro track ( fashionable these days ) , '' Awaken '' gets out of bed with a generous slice of power pop . The comparison with Superchick and the like is inevitable . Even so , with Natalie 's versatile vocals and rock chick aspirations this album makes a promising start . Then begins the drift to the middle of the road . Clearly her producer secured a good deal with a string orchestra in the Czech Republic . Its lush sounds adorn much of the rest of the album , as Natalie 's voice becomes increasingly dramatic and overproduction smooths away any musical edge . Ironically herein lies ' The Real Me ' which is the strongest tune of the lot . It is a piano and strings affair , a considerable departure from the album 's original musical direction . Just to ensure something for everyone , the penultimate track is a six minute gospel extravaganza featuring country music star Wynonna Judd . It is a pity that Natalie did n't have the courage to pursue her opening rock convictions but then we are talking Tennessee . " Shaun Stevenson of JesusFreakHideout remarked " This time around , Natalie Grant has really outdone herself . The songwriting is superb , despite slightly formulaic at moments , and her vocal prowess shines through every high note . If you 're a fan of Natalie Grant , or of ballads or soft rock , then '' Awaken '' might just be the perfect choice . " The Phantom Tollbooth 's Michael Dalton declared " '' Awaken '' is an appropriate title for the latest recording from Natalie Grant . It reflects the change in her life and serves as a challenge to her audience . The catalyst for it all was an episode from her favorite TV program '' Law & Order '' . In a dramatic way it showed the horrors of human trafficking­ — the trade of persons across borders or within a country for the most inhumane , involuntary servitude . What Natalie saw stirred her to not only do something but gave her a passion to live more fully to extend her boundaries as a believer and an artist . Her new passion comes through loud and clear on '' Awaken '' . Like a number of Christian artists of late , her music on this release takes on a harder edge . She moves further from big voice , adult contemporary music toward a more modern rock/pop sophistication . The singing , the musicianship , the production , and the artistry are all first-rate . Many of the songs on '' Awaken '' are about living life to the fullest . About half of them are co-written by Grant , just another indicator of how much she has come into her own on this recording . Grant is bound to make new fans with this recording while retaining those who already appreciate her work . '' Awaken '' deserves a wide audience , and her work to help victims of modern day slavery is worthy of support . " '' Awaken '' was nominated for Pop/Contemporary Album of the Year at the 37th GMA Dove Awards . The album 's second single , " Held " , was also nominated for Song of the Year
37th GMA Dove Awards
37th GMA Dove Awards
Awaken (Natalie Grant album)