Pop Ownership
Posted April 18, 2017
By MaryNikkel_NRT, Staff Reviewer
Matty Mullins made his first entry to the Christian pop world in 2014 with a self-titled solo project that found him venturing far from the sound he had been known for as lead singer for hardcore frontrunner Memphis May Fire. That first set of songs still held moments that reminded of his heavy music background, but with his sophomore follow-up Unstoppable, Matty Mullins is fully claiming the Christian pop sound with an ease that makes it feel like he's been in the genre for years.
The songs on Unstoppable range in theme from confessional to worshipful. "I Choose You" claims the sovereignty of Christ over heartache and regrets. "Christ Be Magnified" is an upbeat, electronic track centered around the almost creed-like plea "be magnified, Christ be lifted high / the heartbeat of our praise is to glorify Your name." Bringing a funky bass groove to the table, "Brand New Fire" celebrates the new life we experience through Jesus.
Beneath these rich, genuine expressions of faith, the album musically reminds of recent hits by artists like David Dunn, Colton Dixon and Danny Gokey, boasting powerful and versatile vocals at the fore to lead a pop sound heavily marked by smooth electronic beds. Although you can hear acoustic guitar lending texture to tracks like the vulnerable "Until I Need You," this album is unabashedly pop. "The Best Is Yet to Come" is delightfully hooky, displaying Matty's mastery of the melodic and even breaking out some horns.
Even in the slightly more mellow "You Can," the musical flow runs towards the upbeat with the same confidence that marks the hope-focused lyrics. That message of redemption is never offered flippantly however: the singer brings evidence of his own struggles with crippling anxiety, depression and the challenges of touring life to the table as he honestly questions "is there redemption in this valley? / 'Cause everything's unclear, and I'm surrounded by my fear. / I can't move this mountain on my own, but You can."
One of the reasons Matty Mullins was able to achieve such a polished sound on only his second project in this genre is the carefully selected team he surrounded himself with. Co-writes with industry veterans like Pete Kipley and Matthew West mark these songs with a sense of seasoned maturity, while enlisting the vocals of fresh chart-topper Jordan Feliz for "Unstoppable" aids in maintaining all the zeal of a new artist.
The Bottom Line: Unstoppable works so well because it unashamedly, enthusiastically claims both its pop musical identity and its complete reliance on the message of hope we have through Jesus Christ. These songs convey the sense that Matty Mullins knew exactly what they were supposed to be, and that he found great joy in bringing each track to completion as a work of passion and worship. The result is an album that is in turn a true joy to listen to.
Song to Download Now:
"Unstoppable (feat. Jordan Feliz)" (Get it on iTunes here.)
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