Michael W. Smith's "A New Hallelujah": A Review
Posted November 04, 2008
By ChristianManifesto,
by C.E. Moore
Michael W. Smith has found his niche in worship music. First came Worship. Then came the aptly named Worship Again. Now, Smith returns with the album “A New Hallelujah.” And, while I like the album well enough, it’s really not new. With this release, Smith provides and amalgamation of fresh songs and songs that have been making the rounds for the past couple of years already. The album also features a few nice guest spots, such as the African Children’s Choir and Israel Houghton.
“Prepare Ye The Way” starts out the live event album on a solid number, but doesn’t necessarily break any new ground stylistically when compared to his earlier songs in the same genre. The next two songs “A New Hallelujah” and “When I Think Of You” both feature the African Children’s Choir. Both tracks rightly feature a decidedly African feel, but the addition of children don’t necessarily make the music stellar. “Mighty To Save” and “Shout Unto God,” both popularized by Hillsong United are done well enough, but they’re not as good as the originals. Given that the originals were also performed live, I’m not sure how things got lost in translation. Not bad. Not stellar. “I Surrender All” is the gem on the album, featuring lyrics sung in both English and Spanish. “Help Is On The Way” is also a notable addition to the project.
Usually, when I’m listening to a live album, I like to feel as if I were there. I know a live CD can never truly capture the electricity or the total energy of the event itself. Still, this latest offering really feels canned. Of course, this fact won’t stop the album from being a smash hit among worshiphiles and Michael W. Smith fans.
Overall, it feels like “A New Hallelujah” is a mixed bag. There are some tracks that are stellar. There are some that are just ho hum. The newer songs are the ones that really stick out. When it comes to Smith’s renditions of songs popularized by such artists as Chris Tomlin, Delirious, and Hillsong United, it felt as if things stumbled a little. It’s not a bad album, but it’s not as good as his previous two outings of this nature.
This review has been reprinted on NRT with permission from The Christian Manifesto. Click here to visit TheChristianManifesto.com today! View All Music And Book Reviews By ChristianManifesto | View ChristianManifesto's Profile
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