By BRUCE DENNILL
Matt Maher: Saints And Sinners
One of the premier Christian songwriters around today, Matt Maher has taken much of his inspiration for this latest project from writers in other contexts and historical eras. So there are, every so often, phrases and sentences that have a ring of familiarity – most obviously the Prayer of St Francis (in Instrument, a co-write with Switchfoot’s Jon Foreman) and Sons And Daughters (based on a Martin Luther King speech).
Speaking of sons and daughters, Leslie Jordan and David Leonard of roots worship duo All Sons & Daughters appear on two of the collection’s best tracks. Land Of My Father is a chugging country-rock number that could be a hit for the likes of Lady Antebellum, while the closing Rest sounds – pleasingly – like it was recorded live, with all the singers gathered in the same room.
Like some of his popular peers – Third Day’s Mac Powell and Jars of Clay’s Dan Heseltine spring to mind – Maher has a very distinctive voice, an instrument that not only makes it easy to recognise his music but which imbues, by its tone, his lyrics and melodies with a certain character.
And in Because He Lives (Amen), Maher has a surefire congregational favourite that is likely to become a fixture in worship sets in coming years.
A Future Not My Own 7.25
Deliverer 7.00
Glory Bound 7.00
Land Of My Father 7.25
Everything Is Grace 6.75
Sons And Daughters 7.00
Firelight 6.50
Instrument 7.00
Abide With Me 7.25
Because He Lives (Amen) 8.00
Rest 7.75
Rating: 7.159