Reviewed by Giles D Morrison 'Only God For Me' is labelled as Acoustic Worship, stating that "It is amazing how simple praise and worship can be. A pure heart and a good guitar can lead us into an acoustic worship experience that will enrich our lives and bring us closer to God." Recorded live at the 1998 Songwriter Summit in Mobile, Alabama, 12 Integrity songwriters showcase their best songs. Under these circumstances, despite the introductory rhetoric, it's safe to assume that it's not just one bloke with an acoustic at the mic. In fact, while acoustic guitar is prominent, only Lincoln Brewster sings "More Faithful Than I" otherwise unaccompanied. All the other songwriters take advantage of the top class band, mostly made up of the songwriters themselves. So, ignore the Acoustic Worship label as entirely irrelevant. If I were to try and categorise the style of music I'd have to suggest something along the lines of born again Bruce Springstein meets Bryan Adams, live. This is an album of "infectious melodies and inspiring lyrics." Original, exciting and varied, the live recording encompasses an energy and spirit that a studio recording might have lacked. There is an engaging immediacy and sensitivity in each song, drawn from the sense of shared worship between the musicians and audience. There is energy and joy, but not unbridled triumphal-ism. This is not an album of individuals promoting their songs, but a group of musicians sharing their gifts in worship.
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