To some, various artist albums may be getting annoying; with the City On a Hill series, Essential's new God of Wonders album, and the list could go on. But others, like myself, enjoy having the selection of various artist recordings. And now you can add one more in that selection!
Inspired by Max Lucado's book with the same name, Traveling Light is full of some familiar artists. With names like Third Day's Mac Powell, dc Talk's Michael Tait, PFR's Joel Hanson, Amy Grant, Jaci Velasquez, and more, you'd think this album would be one of the best various-artists albums. Well, because I only have the 8 track pre-release, I can't give my full opinion, as the Michael Tait and Joel Hanson tracks aren't on it. But judging from the partial pre-release, it's a bit of a disappointment.
While it has some great/upbeat songs like the title track, Bryan White's "I Shall Not Want," Mac Powell's "Mountain of God," Russ Taff's "Let It Flow," and Jaci Velasquez's "In Green Pastures," the ballads don't seem as full... which unfortunately makes you feel like skipping them.
Again, I'm missing some tracks, but out of everything I've listened to I can tell this album is one that could have been awesome from start to finish, but didn't make it. Some songs just aren't that good. But for those interested, if I could just name my top three favorite songs on this album, they would be Mac Powell, Russ Taff, and probably Michael Tait once I hear it. Especially Mac Powell -- it is an amazing song! It may even be a reason to buy the album for you, just to have that song alone!
So in closing, don't go rushing out to pick this album up when it hits store shelves on April 16th [2002]. I would recommend you listen to some clips on the Internet, or listen to it in the demo section at your local Christian Bookstore first, then decide if you like it from there.
3.5 tocks
Other coverage for this album
The Phantom Tollbooth 2002Reviewed by Dr. Bruce L. ThiessenSeparating the devotional riches contained in Max Lucado's Traveling Light from the songs they inspired is like stripping the evergreen needles off of a freshly cut Christmas tree. It is clear that the two modes of expression fit together like hand in glove. What is not clear is which is the guiding hand and which is the warm, comforting glove. Max Lucado is a modern-day messenger of simple…The Phantom Tollbooth 2002Reviewed by Bert GanglThe parlaying of best-selling literary compositions into albums seems to be a fairly proliferative practice as of late, with texts as varied as Oswald Chambers' classic devotional My Utmost for His Highest and Bruce Wilkinson's contemporary best-seller, The Prayer of Jabez, receiving musical makeovers. Traveling Light, the fifth book by inspirational author Max Lucado to be set to music, stations…
