Home: M : Michael W. Smith : Review

Worship Review

Michael W Smith has always wanted to record a worship album like this. On the EXODUS project he worked to create a multi-artist collaboration that focused on creating modern worship songs for the church. On his new album, WORSHIP, he is able to actually lead a live worship service that absolutely succeeds in putting the focus on where it's supposed to be: God. The song line-up is a good one. Newer tracks like "The Heart Of Worship" and "Open the Eyes of My Heart" are sung right along side classic songs like "Awesome God" and "More Love, More Power." Smith has led worship at his church for years, and that experience shines through here as he proves to be most adept at taking the spotlight off of himself (and the "all-star" cast in the choir) and directing it towards the One who was being sung to. The album flows well and though it's not really a "modern" worship album (musically it is more traditional) it's got all the passion and genuine spirit associated with the modern worship movement. The studio tracks included as a bonus are also superb (and Smith writes with his wife, Debbie, on "Purified," for the first time in years), and sit well along side previous Smith classics like "Agnus Dei" and "Great Is the Lord."

If you're a fan of Michael's you're going to pick this up automatically. Even if you're not, you should give it a listen. It doesn't rock and there's nothing particularly innovative here, but it's a real worship experience that brings you into the presence of God, and that's what it's really all about. WORSHIP is definitely one of the best of a growing number of worship album options. FIVE STARS.

Review by: Michael Janke