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From the Vault...
07/25/2010
#1213 |
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info
Michael W. Smith
"Stand"
© Reunion Records
Year of Release: 2006
Rating:
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track listing
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Cover Me
Open Arms
Come To The Cross
How To Say Goodbye
Be Lifted High
Oh Lord You're Beautiful
Grace
The Stand
Come See
In Silence
Escape Your Love
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Michael W. Smith related sites:
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Michael W. Smith
"Stand"
Now, THIS is CHRISIAN Music...
Previously, our Christian album reviews reflected on Metalcore Christian music:
Norma Jean, and
August Burns Red.
Although both of these bands have "spiritual" lyrics, they're really hard to understand, with their loud music,
and screaming singing. Don't get me wrong, there is nothing wrong with telling your Christian beliefs in song.
It's just the fact that it's best to try and understand the singing, with understandable music. Yet I do give
credit to another rocking Christian band, Petra. Their music is more hard rocking, yet it's not loud heavy metalcore
music as NJ and ABR. And Petra's lyrics you can grasp without being distracted by the loudness and screaming as
mealcore music. Again, it's just how one interprets the Christian meanings, through different sources of music.
Now, we take a look at one of the many popular Christian artists/bands to surface. Michael W. Smith has been
around for many of years. (13 number one albums on the Billboard Christian Albums chart.) As you listen to his
music, it's soothing, it's powerful, it's spiritual, and easy to listen to, and refer to.
The opening track, "Cover Me" is probably the most "rocking" song from the album. The lyrics are
encouraging: Although you may be down in times, God will cover you to see you through. "Open Arms" simply
moves through the passion of the "love that knows no boundaries, tell me, where is the love, Open Arms, we need to be."
"Come To The Cross" tells how if you have a sin, there is room for everyone on the cross: "Everyone can come
to the cross, It doesn't matter what you've done." "How To Say Goodbye" is similar to how one leaves the nest
to pursue his/her own pursuit. "Here I stand, arms open wide, I've held you close, kept you safe, till you could
fly, Tell me where, the road ahead is gonna bend, and how the harness up the wind, and How To Say Goodbye."
"Be Lifted High" is probably my favorite track from this album -- It's just something about it, the
music is so peaceful, the lyrics simply states that Sin has been left behind, and God has now taken yourself into
his hands. Beautiful.
"Oh Lord, You're Beautiful" is a beautiful song, yet the music sounds a little sad. It just sounds
much different than the other songs previously heard, and this song really doesn't have a lot of lyrics. Yes, the
Lord is beautiful. "Your face is all I seen, For when your eyes are on this child, You're grace abounds to me."
"Grace" is another soothing, gentle song, and also has a sad feeling in a way. The lyrics state that one
was lost, and God found him/her, and Grace helped that person throughout the years to become a better person.
"The Stand" is powerful, where one Stands and awaits what God will provide. "With arms high and heart
abandonded, All I am is yours." Powerful stuff. "Come See" is how I would interpret The Beatles if they
took a chance at Christian music. The piano on this song is quite similar to "Let It Be." Speaking words
of wisdom, Come See, Come Near, Come Live, Come Rest, Come See, Come Home. "In Silence" is a song of hope,
despite where one may cry out, do not be in silence. "Sometimes we're loudest when the doors are shut and no one
can see our face, But it seems we're quiet when someone needs a touch of Heaven's Grace. We are all God's children,
We need to tell of all we've been given." Powerful words there. The album closes with "Escape Your Love,"
a good moving song, on how we can't escape (God's) love.
A powerful and moving album -- Michael W. Smith's Stand brings peace, hope, comfort in the music and
lyrics. This album is worth repeated listens. I've already listened to this album twice before putting together
my words for this review. I also look forward in reviewing more of Smith's albums, and the other popular artists
in Christian music, who are just as powerful in their lyrics, and their soothing music, and just as popular as
Michael W. Smith.
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Reunion Records
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