Michael W. Smith

Item: Worship
Author: Marc A.

Worship

(2001)

Reviewed by Marc A.

Discogs Apple Music TIDAL Amazon Music Spotify YouTube Music

Label Reunion RecordsReAL Magazine2001

adult contemporary ccm worship

Michael W. Smith once wrote that he does not consider himself to be a Christian artist. He just writes about what is on his heart, and it reflects his relationship with God. From the sounds of Smith's latest release, Worship, the relationship is going pretty well. Just imagine Michael W. Smith leading your church service. This is what you get on Worship.

Smith provides a good mix of old and new songs on Worship, some he wrote and some he didn't. None of them disappoint the listener. Perhaps the only thing missing are the somewhat rarely sung verses of Rich Mullins' 'Awesome God.' (Four and a half minutes of the same chorus is overkill, regardless of the song).

For this release, Michael W. Smith brought along an all-star choir, made up of some of the biggest names in Christian music. Here's just a sampling: Shaun Groves, Ginny Owens, Chris Rice, Greg Long, Cindy Morgan, Erin O'Donnell, Mark Schultz, Amy Grant, Phillips, Craig & Dean, Out of Eden, and two of the guys from Plus One. The centerfold picture in the CD booklet looks like a Christian version of We are the World. For the most part, the choir is superb, establishing itself just underneath Smith's voice in terms of volume. Occasionally, one of the all-star voices will cut through the rest, just to remind us that they are human and have the same problems controlling their diva egos like anybody else.

Worship is an album that I will probably bring out from time to time when I need to be lifted up. The problem with that philosophy is that it should be brought out with the intention of lifting up the name of the Lord. Such are worship albums. Sure, it is a good CD that any Michael W. Smith fan will enjoy, but something about recorded live worship makes me uneasy. I don't think that worship is like a science experiment, where it can be repeated again and again with the same results.

The bottom line: if you like Michael W. Smith, you should check out Worship. Decide for yourself if it's right for you.