Just in time for the Easter season, Cracker Barrel Old Country Store® and Michael W. Smith announce the release of Hymns, Smith’s newest album, which will be available on March 24 exclusively at all Cracker Barrel Old Country Store® locations and online at crackerbarrel.com.
The digital album will also be available for purchase at select digital retailers.
This is the first time in his legendary career that Smith has recorded an album of traditional hymns, including many that he sang in church when he was young.
Click here to add a video. Click to add lyrics if not listed.
Foundation Songs| Posted June 02, 2014
What is there to say about Michael W. Smith? He's a GRAMMY and Dove award winner, has countless albums, and is known to multitudes of people around the world. He's been making music for over thirty years and his songs are still being sung in churches every week. The man seems to never lose his passion for music, and his fans seem to never lose their eagerness to hear what's next from Smitty.
That being said, Michael recently released an album made up entirely of traditional hymns, many of which he grew up singing. The album was sold exclusively at Cracker Barrel, and found itself at the top of the charts in the first week.
Well-known favorites like "The Old Rugged Cross," "How Great Thou Art," "My Jesus, I Love Thee" and "Near The Cross" make this record start off on a strong note. The acapella beginning to "Were You There?" shows off Smith's vocals and proves he's just as good as he ever was.
With the beautifully done "It Is Well" and "Wonderful, Merciful Savior," Smitty goes back to his roots of worship. Closing out the record, we find a Southern spin on "Victory In Jesus," and "What A Friend We Have In Jesus" that's sure to make you want to tap your feet and sing along.
Closing Thoughts:
Smith stayed true to the origin of these songs on this record. While I think it would have been fun to hear him put more of a spin on some of them, I respect that he wanted to honor the traditional background. Hymns was solid and only goes to further show that Michael W. Smith just can't make a bad album. Fans of Smitty are sure to enjoy these songs, as we're already seeing by the feedback. Michael can now add a hymns album to his collection, and a good one at that!
Song To Download Now:
"What A Friend We Have In Jesus" (Get it on iTunes here.)
a wonderful musical experience!| Posted May 16, 2014
It's because of my mom that I have a love and appreciation for traditional hymns. Music in general, really. She'd sing them to me from her hymnal while I'd sit on her lap in her rocking chair, typically at the end of the day before bedtime. Later over the years when she had a piano, and I was too big for her lap, she'd play them and sometimes I'd sing along.
This album reminds me of those fond memories growing up, and while there's many Christian musicians and singers out there, Michael W. Smith is one of the few that hold to tradition.
In a modern age of punk rock and electronic disco music, also known as dubstep, it's refreshing to hear albums like this that embrace the classic hymns in a simple and traditional way with a piano and stringed instruments. Real down-to-earth-instruments, and not computer generated synthesizers.
Overall, this album carries a bit of a country backwoodsy twang, and while Michael hasn't any specific country albums, he has a good voice for it. He is a West Virginia country boy after all.
Though Michael has already recorded a modern pop/worship version of The Wonderful Cross, on Worship Again I like that he included it here in the traditional rendition. These days it's always rendered with the shortened name and extra chorus written in by Chris Tomlin. It adds to the song and while shorter song titles can be a plus, sometimes it's good to go back to our Christian roots.
Another of my favorite tracks is Victory In Jesus. It's because of His love and sacrifice that we're here. The whole essence of the Christian faith is in that song, and the fact that GOD loved us to let his only Son die, just so we wouldn't have to live in eternal separation even though it's what we deserve. It's up to us to spread that message of hope and love, and I like how the song has a sort of hoe-down feeling like when celebrating an old-fashioned barnraising. Communities used to be tightly knit so when a need arose, or there was an event to celebrate, people came from miles around. Fits the idea of Jesus' love to a 't'.
It's quite fitting that it was released in time for Easter as every song proclaims GOD's perfect love, sacrifice, and devotion. He is always there, and always will be.
Here's hoping Smitty keeps with tradition and does a Hymns Again or rather Hymns II, to stay with the theme.
Hymns| Posted March 25, 2014
I am so excited to see Michael W. Smith doing this album....there is so much scripture and deep heart rendering words in these songs :~) I feel that Michael W. Smith is an icon in the christian music world...Bless you Michael W. Smith!
Hymns| Posted March 25, 2014
Michael W. Smith does it again with the classics, this time, Hymns. This album contains a lot of my favorite classic hymns. The Old Rugged Cross will be joining the playlist on my radio show and CPOP Radio. Looking forward to his new album.
to add lyrics if not listed.
