Reviewed by Tony Cummings

It says something about Cross Rhythms and particularly Midshipman Rimmer’s ability to spot potential hits that CR gave editorial space to MercyMe (a review of their ‘The Worship Project’ independent album) before Nashville’s CCM magazine. Now that the whole world and a dog has caught up on the fact that Bart Millard is an exceptional songwriter and an appealing vocalist, it’s going to surprise few Christian music buffs to report this is beautifully crafted pop rock with truly inspiring lyrics. To my ears this is a huge improvement on their ‘Spoken For’ with a crisper and more dynamic production than its US pop chart maker predecessor. Listen to the magnificent string arrangements on the haunting mid tempo “Here With Me” with almost a Coldplay vibe to it. Catch the way the rock guitars burst in on the opener “Where You Lead Me”. In fact throughout the addition of an extra guitarist Barry Groul (Jaci Velasquez, Whitecross) to MercyMe’s line up gives the band new guitar texture and depth. The piece de resistance to the album is of course “Homesick”, where over the billowing violins of the London Symphony Orchestra and a rock solid rhythm, Bart delivers a vocal which deftly avoids the maudlin as it muses on a loved one now in Heaven. It also contains the memorable line in the chorus “In Christ there are no goodbyes.” Another “I Can Only Imagine”-like hit single? I don’t know about that but it’s every bit its creative equal.

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