Francesca Battistelli ‘Own It’ Album Review

Francesca Battistelli
Own It
(Curb Records)

Christian music’s top pop songstress is back with her first full-length album in four years, Own It, an empowered set of songs that Francesca Battistelli says are all about stepping into all God has for the listener. Those anthems are readily apparent from beginning to end—from the life of “Freedom” detailed in the album closer (“I am meant to run just like a child/like a river rushing wild always”) to the rejection of fear found on lead single “The Breakup Song.”

Musically, Own It holds plenty of tricks up its sleeve. The fun, even slinky groove of “The Breakup Song” is balanced by the more polished pop refrains of “Royalty” or “This Could Change Everything.” A more worshipful tone is established on “Defender,” which features guest vocals from Steffany Gretzinger, while “Let The Light In” eventually builds into a pulsing synth number after starting much softer.

On Own It, Battistelli not only sounds great but confident. Four years is a long wait, but it’s hard to ask for more from her latest pop gem. She’ll be owning the top of the charts for the foreseeable future.

–Matt Conner