WordJourney Magazine » Music Reviews

Reviewed: Michael W. Smith’s “Wonder”

Matthew C. Keegan — Sun, 28 Nov 2010 05:05:03 +0000

I’ve been following Michael W. Smith’s music since 1985, the same year I rededicated my life to the Lord. Some of his earlier works included “The Big Picture” and “I 2 Eyes,” and my personal favorites such as “A New Hallelujah,” released in 2008. Michael’s style has changed through the years, but I must say that his most recent release — Wonder — offers some of the biggest changes.

This 12-song compilation was released this summer; my younger son and I purchased a copy at a World Vision benefit concert where “Smitty” performed with Third Day and Toby Mac. That concert was amazing – some of the best known and gifted names in Christian music together on one stage. Michael performed several of his classics and told the audience about losing some people dear to him this past year, events which brought forth “Wonder.”

Powerful Songs

It is three middle songs in the set which give the listener an understanding of what Smith has been through – “I’ll Wait For You,” “Forever Yours,” and “Welcome Home.” These songs are at once hopeful, happy and sad, heart cries from a man who has clearly been transformed if not broken. These are songs of love for his wife, Debbie, and the loss of special people in their lives.

After the middle set is the title track song Wonder (Not Far Away) – a beautiful and upbeat reminder that God is, indeed, nearby. This song is positive, fast moving and happens to reveal that Michael’s voice is changing – he sounds older, but still polished – a far more mature man than the singer/songwriter we knew in his youth.

Rocketown Outreach

That should be encouraging to believers too – as much as Smitty has changed, he remains the same person who loves God, leads us in worship and shares his heart. Indeed, Smith is still very much involved with Rocketown, a Nashville ministry he founded in 1994 designed to reach out to teens, providing them with a safe place to receive counseling and encouragement, and to take part in Bible studies, discussion groups, service projects and more. Originally founded as a teen club, Rocketown has expanded into a coffee bar, indoor skateboard park, art and dance studios, and live entertainment facility.

You can download single songs or the entire CD from iTunes, but my recommendation is that you buy this CD for your personal library (Smith|$9.99). Smitty fans know that he is gifted and glorifies God – they’ll take delight in a music compilation holding true to that heritage.

Reviewed: Toby Mac’s Tonight

Matthew C. Keegan — Fri, 01 Oct 2010 10:41:54 +0000

So, why is a 52-year-old man listening to Toby Mac? Well, for one thing my youngest son, who will be ten this month, loves Toby Mac’s music along with DC Talk, the three-man group that helped launch Toby.

Another reason is that my birthday was in September and my wife presented me with a copy of “Tonight,” Toby Mac’s latest CD. Yes, it was released in February 2010, but we hadn’t picked up a copy earlier. We’ve been too busy listening to his previous release, Portable Sounds, and classic DC Talk music over and over again.

Mac History

Born Kevin Michael McKeehan and more recently known as Toby McKeehan, Toby Mac joined DC Talk in 1989 and stayed with them until they took a break in 2000. Since then, the three DC (as in Decent Christian) Talk members have released compilation CDs and may tour together in 2011. One of the three, Michael Tait, is now lead singer for the Newsboys. Kevin Max, the third member of the group, is a solo singer based out of Nashville.

Most likely you’re familiar with TobyMac and DC Talk given their widespread influence on contemporary Christian music. A number of Christian rap artists rose up in the 1980s, but none have reached the level of recognition enjoyed by Toby. The Grammy Award and Dove Award winning artist, who turns 46 this month, continues to sing a blend of hip-hop, rock, funk and soft ballads, pointing listeners to Jesus Christ and meeting them on their own turf.

Guest Artists

Mac uses hip-hop language throughout his music, terminology most of us “mature folks” wouldn’t understand. Passionate about racial reconciliation and winning the hearts of disenchanted young people, Mac crosses racial and cultural divides by working with leading artists such as Kirk Franklin, Mandisa, Israel Houghton, Siti Monroe and Beckah Shae. Skillet’s John Cooper lends his voice to the title song and Relient K’s Matt Thiessen can be heard on “Wonderin.”

Yes, the style of music certainly doesn’t suit everyone’s tastes, but I like it. On “Tonight,” there is something for everyone from the danceable “Funky Jesus Music” to the groovin’ “Tonight” title song to the beautiful and thought-provoking “City on Our Knees.” LoudNClear is a kid’s favorite as Mac’s now 12-year-old son, Truett, holds sway and as has been a custom does something to get himself into trouble.

Each of the 13 songs on “Tonight” offers a message and there is also a hidden fourteenth song, Funky Jesus Music Remix, that can be heard following some silence after the last song. Don’t take the hidden song seriously – it is meant to poke some fun at stereotypical church music.

Make A Difference

I first heard Toby Mac live at the 2007 Harvest Festival in Raleigh, NC, with my wife and our two boys. Along with my youngest son, Andrew, we’ll be hearing Toby Mac live later this month when he joins with Michael W. Smith and Third Day in Fayetteville, NC for the “Make A Difference Tour” benefitting World Vision. Jason Gray was just added to the tour and Max Lucado will be speaking.

Tonight is available at Christian bookstores, online at Amazon and can be downloaded via iTunes. Yes, I have a Mac (as in Apple) and a Shuffle, so I get to hear this CD while I’m working or when I take a walk. Toby Mac’s fourth solo CD may be his best one yet, a worthy compilation of contemporary Christian music.

Resources

Make A Difference Tour

TobyMac (Facebook)

TobyMac (Personal Website)

Christian Artist Compilation Benefits Haiti Relief

Matthew C. Keegan — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 05:05:14 +0000

Music never sounded so sweet. At least music belonging to a collection of songs found on a CD put together to benefit Haiti.

Healing 4 Haiti

Healing 4 Haiti is a “CD” featuring 13 Christian recording artists who performed 15 songs, music that will be released via iTunes on March 2 by Integrity Music. Net proceeds from the sale of the CD will benefit the relief work going on in Haiti following a devastating earthquake on January 12.

Healing 4 Haiti Music Compilation

Samaritan’s Purse, who has been providing clean water, shelter, medical care and other critical aid in Haiti will benefit as will the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association’s Rapid Response Team, who had chaplains on the ground within 24 hours of the earthquake providing emotional and spiritual comfort to survivors. Both organizations are headed up by Franklin Graham, son of the evangelist.

“What I saw while in Haiti is something we must keep in front of the minds and hearts of Americans,” said GRAMMY Award-winning artist Michael W. Smith. “The recovery efforts are going to take a long, long time so we want to do anything we can to raise awareness and to continue to support organizations doing good work in Haiti.”

Haiti Visit

Several of the artists featured on Healing 4 Haiti have traveled to the Caribbean nation located on the island of Hispaniola to witness first hand the work of the Billy Graham Association and Samaritan’s Purse teams.

The benefit compilation includes music from:

Flyleaf – Break Your Knees
Michael W. Smith – Come Together Now featuring 100 artists NEW
Jared Anderson – Carry Me NEW
Israel Houghton – The Power of One (Change the World)
Mary Mary – I Worship You
DecembeRadio – Love Can
Hawk Nelson – Shaken
The Afters – Falling Into Place
Canton Jones – Hello Sunshine
Lecrae – Beautiful Feet featuring Dawntoya
Kari Jobe – Healer
Carlos Whittaker – God of Second Chances
Lincoln Brewster – Everlasting God

Complex Work

Recognizing the complexity of the work needing to be done in Haiti Franklin Graham said, “The situation in Haiti will be dreadful for a long time and we intend to be there. This is one of the largest disaster responses in the history of Samaritan’s Purse.”

At this time it doesn’t look as if the music collection will be made available in stores, but that may change. Music can be uploaded to iTunes quicker than it can be placed in a physical CD, thus the iTunes route. Visit apple.com/itunes/download/ beginning this Tuesday for details.

Source: Samaritan’s Purse

Gospel Artists Collaborate on Behalf of Haiti

Matthew C. Keegan — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 12:29:31 +0000

This past Friday tens of millions of dollars was raised on behalf of Haiti thanks to a telethon called Hope For Haiti Now. That two hour star-studded event preempted most network shows in a bid to raise much needed funds to help people whose lives were shattered when a devastating earthquake shook their tropical island nation two weeks ago.

Are You Listening?

A number of Christian music artists have also been doing their part to help Haiti, coming together recently to record a song, Are You Listening? The song, written by Kirk Franklin as a tribute to Haiti eight years ago, but only recorded just this past week is a moving plea for help. “Artists United For Haiti” is itself packed with stars with BeBe and CeCe Winans lending their voices along with Shirley Caesar, Natalie Grant, Fred Hammond, Mary Mary, Jeremy Camp, Stephen Hurd, and so many others joining in.

The Gospel Music Channel (GMC) played the song over and over again on Friday evening just before the Hope For Haiti Now event started. “Are You Listening?” is available for download through Verity Records for just $1.29 with the proceeds going toward assisting organizations at work in Haiti including the Red Cross. You can also find the single through iTunes with major retailers such as Wal-Mart carrying the song after January 30.

Kirk Franklin Shares

Speaking about the song Kirk Franklin shared, “This initiative is so important because while we are asking America to give we know that many are giving sacrificially. The people of Haiti are very spiritual people with an unwavering faith and belief in God and still count The Lord as the main source and provider. We will continue to pray and stand with them. We hope this song will bring much needed support and awareness in an effort to raise funds in the near and long-term future.”

Click on the logo for more information or head over to Verity Records to purchase your copy.

O Holy Night!

Matthew C. Keegan — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 10:00:53 +0000

My favorite Christmas carol is “O Holy Night!” the work of one Adolph Adam who wrote the music in 1847 to correspond with the words of a poem – Minuit, Chrétiens (Midnight, Christians) – written by Placide Cappeau. Down through the years the song was translated to English and is believed to be the first tune played on the radio.

The carol’s majestic, somewhat hauntingly beautiful cadence is quickly recognized by listeners familiar with the tune. O Holy Night! penetrates my heart and quickly refocuses my wandering mind on the simplicity and wonder of the birth of Jesus Christ and the promise of salvation and peace found only in Him.

There are any number of performances of the carol that I’ve heard through the years including, most recently, an 11-year old boy who sang the song this past Sunday at our church with piano accompaniment. This youngster hit all the notes, remembered all of the words, and stirred the hearts of listeners.

Celine Dion offers a wonderful solo performance of the carol, perhaps one of the most stirring by one performer. When it comes to multiple voices being raised up, I think that the Celtic Woman performance at the Helix Center in Dublin is one of the finest. And it is that performance I offer to you here for your listening enjoyment.

Finally, but certainly not the last comment you’ll read on Word Journey, I want to thank all of my readers who have stopped by here during 2009. Merry Christmas and a blessed new year – may God draw you closer to Himself as you reflect on the wonder of his incarnation, an event that shifted history and later led to our redemption being made possible.

And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. (John 1:14 | KJV)

Photo: Alexander Kalina

More Beautiful You

Matthew C. Keegan — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 09:54:58 +0000

Once in awhile a song from a Christian artist seems to resonate with followers of Jesus Christ as well as with those who don’t know Him. Bob Carlisle’s 1996 hit — Butterfly Kisses (Shades of Grace) — hit the top of both Christian and secular charts, becoming a favorite of numerous women who were getting married at that time.

An Appeal To Women

I don’t know if Jonny Diaz’s “More Beautiful You” will have the same response as Bob Carlisle’s hit, but I can certainly see the song’s appeal for many women. Diaz croons imploring young women to examine their lives and avoid getting caught up in the world, particularly where there personal looks and character are at stake.

True, the name of God and Jesus Christ are not mentioned in the song, but I’m thinking that the song’s introspective message will have the listener looking deep within themselves.

Along with the YouTube video of the song, the lyrics are as follows:

Little girl fourteen flipping through a magazine
Says she wants to look that way
But her hair isn’t straight her body isn’t fake
And she’s always felt overweight

Well little girl fourteen I wish that you could see
That beauty is within your heart
And you were made with such care your skin your body and your hair
Are perfect just the way they are

There could never be a more beautiful you
Don’t buy the lies disguises and hoops they make you jump through
You were made to fill a purpose that only you could do
So there could never be a more beautiful you

Little girl twenty-one the things that you’ve already done
Anything to get ahead
And you say you’ve got a man but he’s got another plan
Only wants what you will do instead

Well little girl twenty-one you never thought that this would come
You starve yourself to play the part
But I can promise you there’s a man whose love is true
And he’ll treat you like the jewel you are

So turn around you’re not too far
To back away be who you are
To change your path go another way
It’s not too late you can be saved
If you feel depressed with past regrets
The shameful nights hope to forget
Can disappear they can all be washed away
By the one who’s strong can right your wrongs
Can rid your fears dry all your tears
And change the way you look at this big world
He will take your dark distorted view
And with His light He will show you truth
And again you’ll see through the eyes of a little girl

The Angelic Voice Of Mary Barrett

Matthew C. Keegan — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 14:52:51 +0000

I never heard Mary Barrett sing until very recently when my wife shared the embedded video with me, a tribute to her life as a singer, songwriter, but above all else as a daughter of the King of Kings, Jesus Christ.

My wife met Mary at a worship conference held at Sandy Cove conference center during the 1990s, recalling a brief encounter where the always beaming worship leader from Calvary Chapel Merritt Island (FL) was present to teach and inspire others.

Last November 10th, Mary went home to be with the Lord, after a lengthy battle with ovarian cancer. As the video clip clearly shows, her body was ravaged by disease and chemo treatments, but her spirit stood strong. Mary was working on an album completed just weeks before she died, the result being The Vanishing Point. Mary’s final work was released this past January and is now available online.

Mary’s music style is (was) both upbeat and worshipful. Personally, I don’t find myself being drawn to her, rather I find myself being drawn to Him, just as Mary intends for her songs to be sung. Thoroughly refreshing and awe inspiring, songs offered up to God in the way they should be — worshipful.

Throughout our brief lives we encounter many special people, some of whom we barely get to know but still manage to leave a positive impact on us. Though Mary is absent from her body she is present with the Lord, singing new songs to the One she glorified.

I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day

Matthew C. Keegan — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 13:40:04 +0000

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow penned a gripping Civil War Christmas Carol that spoke about the evil and hatred of that day as well as the promise that God would ultimately prevail. Today, we sing his song without the last two stanzas, a classical Christmas tune birthed from a heart in despair.

There are so many Christmas Carols that I enjoy and am glad to learn what was going through the composer’s mind when he or she wrote the lyrics long ago. One song, I Heart the Bells on Christmas Day, was written by that great poet, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, and has been sung regularly he penned it on December 25, 1864.

Yes, Longfellow’s epic carol was written on Christmas Day as it was a tribute to the temporary peace between warring union and confederate troops. On that day, both sides called a one day truce in the bloodiest war fought on our soil, with only the peals of church bells breaking the silence.

Inspired, Longfellow wrote the following words which properly spoke of his personal despair while reminding everyone that even in the midst of hatred and war, God will prevail:

“I heard the bells on Christmas Day
Their old familiar carols play,
And wild and sweet
The words repeat
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

And thought how, as the day had come,
The belfries of all Christendom
Had rolled along
The unbroken song
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

Till, ringing, singing on its way,
The world revolved from night to day,
A voice, a chime
A chant sublime
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

Then from each black accursed mouth
The cannon thundered in the South,
And with the sound
The carols drowned
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

It was as if an earthquake rent
The hearth-stones of a continent,
And made forlorn
The households born
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

And in despair I bowed my head;
“There is no peace on earth,” I said;
“For hate is strong,
And mocks the song
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!”

Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:
“God is not dead; nor doth he sleep!
The Wrong shall fail,
The Right prevail,
With peace on earth, good-will to men!”

Originally titled Christmas Bells, the last two stanzas were dropped after the war ended and peace prevailed.

Personally, knowing that the final two stanzas were the foundation for the song explains to me why Longfellow wrote what he did and the anguish in his soul mixed with the hope of the cross that stirred his heart that day.

For more information about the events surrounding Longfellow’s classic work, please visit What Saith the Scripture? for those details.

Photo Credit: Simeon Eichmann

Enjoying The Best of Passion (So Far)

Matthew C. Keegan — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 22:13:22 +0000

I enjoy Christian music in its many forms, which includes mostly everything from the liturgical to the contemporary. Though I’m not likely to utter a Georgian chant, I admire the many different forms of worship that is expressed by the Body of Christ, marveling at the scope and breadth of believers from around the world and down through the ages.

Contemporary Christian Music

I have a fairly good grasp of the origin of what is known as CCM — Contemporary Christian Music — having listened to Larry Norman (the father of Christian rock), Keith Green, 2nd Chapter of Acts, Mylon Le Fevre and others from a generation ago proclaim God’s goodness through songs employing a modern beat.

These days, Christian music has changed and I can honestly say that I like a lot of what I’m hearing. There was a period during the late 1980s to late 1990s when there just didn’t seem to be too many artists with a strong heart for God, though Steve Camp, Steve Green, Twila Paris and a handful of others I found to be particularly inspiring.

One CD given to me recently by my wife, The Best of Passion (So Far), has been getting a lot of playtime from me lately as I find myself listening to it in the car or at home. A collection of 30 songs — the two disc CD contains music from a variety of artists including the David Crowder Band, Charlie Hall, Matt Redman, Chris Tomlin, Candi Pearson Shelton, Kristian Stanfill, and others. Many of the songs we sing at church while others I have heard on Christian music radio stations, particularly K-LOVE.

The Passion Conferences

The album is from the Passion Conferences, a movement of college students that began in 1995 under the banner of CHOICE Ministries. Birthed at Baylor University, the movement has spread across the country and is now global, encouraging believers to hold fast to Isaiah 26:8 — Yes, LORD, walking in the way of your laws, we wait for you; your name and renown are the desire of our hearts. Those who are involved with the Passion Conferences are called the 268 Generation, a term pointing to that verse in Isaiah.

Music, of course, is a big part of the Passion Conferences and out of these conferences quite a few CDs have been produced. The “Best of” CD encompasses music from the first nine CDs produced, with three more having been released since its 2006 debut. I must say that I have never hear a more generous collection of quality Christian songs put together in one package as this CD offers. I find it a treat when you can get 12 good songs, but when you find 30 the blessings are abundant!

I haven’t included a sample of the music here, rather I encourage you to explore what Passion Conferences is all about and to hear some of these tunes yourself by clicking the links located in the fourth and fifth paragraph above. I hope that you find the music to be uplifting, worshipful music for Lord Jesus Christ.