Brandon Heath Longs For Those He Loves on Reflective New Album, ‘The Ache’
Brandon Heath is a product of divorce, and some four decades later he’s still affected by his parents’ life-shattering decision. Through the lens of hindsight, he explores numerous shades of grief on “The Ache,” his latest LP.
The hitmaker started working on his eighth studio effort right as his mom was transitioning into palliative care. She passed away before the record was finished. Heath lost his dad in 2017. The reality of losing both parents within a six-year period left the eight-time GMA Dove Award winner reflecting on his childhood, the complicated road that led to forgiving his dad for walking out and the type of father he wants to be for his own two girls.
The collection’s title-cut and opening track attempts to bring context to the feeling Heath describes as “the ache.” Intensely autobiographical, the song explores the tension of a kid caught in the confusion of divorce. “I can’t tell if it’s hurt or healing, but I’m feeling the ache,” he sings.
Featuring a photo of Heath from 1982, the album’s cover art tenderly encapsulates all the innocence of that little boy he’s constantly trying to recapture on “The Ache.” Although the project explores nuanced subject matter, it’s far from a depressing listen. Heath’s signature pop flavors a good percentage of the 11 selections, including lead single “He Does,” a playful take on God’s availability to us as His children. In terms of sonic quality, the track feels like a sister offering to “See Me Through It,” his most recent No. 1.
The confessional tone of “How to Apologize” and the clever wordplay of “Lucky” also carve out carefree pop moments that keep his musings light and fun. Album standout “Highly Favored” brings some R&B funk to the mix, along with a well-placed feature from Ryan Ellis, but it’s on the more contemplative originals where the Platinum-selling singer truly shines.
The album’s crown jewel, “Gospel Truth,” showcases everything that continues to herald Heath as a songwriter’s songwriter: his penchant for storytelling, his courage to be vulnerable and his ability to plug it all into a good pop beat. In truth, Heath’s had “Gospel Truth” in his back pocket since 2020, but he plays it like a winning hand on “The Ache.”
The musical ace is followed by “Scars,” a raw mid-tempo ballad written just days after The Covenant School shooting took place in March 2023. The devastating tragedy hit especially close to home for the husband and father as his oldest daughter was slated to start Kindergarten at The Covenant School the following fall.
He briefly mentions his girls in the second verse of “Gospel Truth,” but whimsical track “Neverland” is fully dedicated to them. A song of deep commitment, Heath’s nod to Peter Pan simultaneously captures the love of a father and the wonder of childhood against production elements that immediately make you feel like you’re spinning on a carrousel in the midst of a fairytale.
In the wake of his mother’s death, heaven has also undoubtedly been on Heath’s mind. He yearns for eternity on the bittersweet “Can We Go Home Now” and wistful closing selection “The Other Side of the End,” whose ethereal quality leaves listeners both dreaming of what’s to come and marveling at what heaven will actually be like.
“The Ache” is one of Heath’s most introspective endeavors to date. Reminiscent of his earliest work, like his 2006 debut, “Don’t Get Comfortable,” and 2008’s landmark follow-up, “What If We,” the recording merges immediate earworms with unlikely hits. Yet, it’s been many of Heath’s “unlikely hits” that have earned him the most stripes as a songwriter through the years. Take, for instance, “I’m Not Who I Was,” a dark horse contender for No. 1 with no chorus and an uncomfortable amount of candor that unexpectedly gave the Nashville native his first chart-topper. So, word to the wise, never sleep on Heath’s perceived deep cuts; otherwise, you’re bound to miss the gold.
While “The Ache” provided a therapeutic vehicle for Heath to process his grief in real time, the record, as a whole, feels like he’s coming back to himself. Heartbreakingly beautiful, the project doesn’t just live in the nostalgia of the past, it gives significant glimpses of hope for the future — rooted in his faith, his family and the belief that being a child of divorce will only make him a better dad. Does he have all the answers? No. But that’s part of what makes his music so charming. It’s honest and sincere and relatable — just like the singer himself.
While a few of these new offerings might indeed wind their way up the radio charts, the ultimate treasure here is the depths Heath is willing to go in his storytelling. If he can find healing in his own story, there’s a chance others just might find it, too. And that little boy on the cover? He’d be really proud of the man he’s become.
