NEW MUSIC
[ SELECTIVE HEARING | Robert Berman ]
MICHAEL W. SMITH THE OH HELLOS
A Million Lights Notos (EP)
like an older MWS album… well, I guess you’ll
have to go listen to an older MWS album.
Lyrically, Smith and company keep things
positive, as usual. Familiar co-writing friends
like Cindy Morgan, Wes King, and Wayne
Kirkpatrick keep Smith grounded in his previous
Christian music that sounds as good as the body of work. “Conversation” is an electronica- What makes siblings Brandon and Maggie
mainstream is everywhere today, but things infused plea for open communication in Heath stand out from the rest of the banjo
were different in the early 80’s when The troubled times. “I’ve been losing myself, trying plucking, gang-singing, indie folk crowd? First,
Michael W. Smith Project appeared, with its mix to prove you wrong.” 80’s CCM was also built there’s the expert musicianship, a welcome
of prog-pop New Wave and singer/songwriter on “God/girl” songs that could be interpreted respite in a genre that sometimes sounds like
ballads. Over the next decade, Smith was one in either a romantic or religious way, and a junior high pick-up orchestra. The production
of the superstars of a music scene gathering MWS offers plenty of that here. Jesus is the is tight; the fiddle sings, and twin acoustic
in excellence “you” encoded, but never invoked by name guitars shimmer in harmony on “Torches.”
and paving the way for the youth group throughout the album. For example: “You knew Second, thoughtful lyrics. Fans of Mark Heard,
phenomenon that bands like dc Talk, Jars of me better than I ever knew myself, and now the Rich Mullins, and Andrew Peterson will find
Clay, and Newsboys rode to prominence in the only thing that’s left is your love.” (from “Your much to love here. “On the Mountains Tall”
mid 90s. “Smitty” settled into elder statesman Love,” an atypically confessional track) The contemplates the paradoxical combination of
status for the last 20 years, releasing worship funeral theme of “Crashing Waves” (Smith’s intimacy and awe that Elijah experienced in 1
albums, hymn collections, instrumentals, and father died in 2015) is touching. Kings 19. “I know You want me to be afraid.
Nashville,
practicing
sonic
a string of Christmas albums. Now he’s diving
I know You want me to love You.” “Torches”
back into a much-changed world of modern Smith has always excelled at piano ballads, and explores the way we burn each other with
pop with a team of new collaborators, helmed this album is no exception. The beautiful “Hey, our words. “Constellations” cautions us not
by producers Brian Todd and Kyle Lee. Love” features an arresting duet with Jordin to be overconfident in human knowledge.
Sparks that’s not to be missed, and some nice The title track, “Notos,” takes its title from
Musically, it’s a thoroughly modern album, David Foster-esque changes, without Foster’s the Greek name for the wind of late summer
which means plenty of pop-drop moments bombast. Smith is known more as a tunesmith and early Autumn, which brought storms, but
and gang vocals. Elements from Coldplay to than a vocalist, but on “You Make Me Feel This also life-giving rain out of the Mediterranean
Maroon 5 to New Republic abound. None of the Way,” he reveals a warm baritone range that to the dry Grecian lands. Companion piece
innovative musical progressions that marked had me scanning the liner notes in vain for a “New River” is a glorious jig providing solace
Smith’s early career are here, but neither are we guest vocalist credit. “Who You Are” wraps it up in weathering life’s storms: “The river takes her
asked to suffer through a dozen tracks built on with a very U2-ish slow build to chiming guitar shape from every tempest she abides.” This
the “Don’t Stop Believing” chords. Apart from and steady eighth note bass. Smith saves the EP is biblically literate, poetically eloquent, and
too-obvious homages to Imogen Heap’s Hide best tracks for the end of the album rather than musically mesmerizing.
and Seek and fun.’s Some Nights, it all sounds front-loading them, as is the usual custom, but like a spacious album of modern pop anthems. for my money there’s not really a clunker track If you want to listen to something that sounds in the whole set.
58
February 2018
Robert Berman
Robert is a Sunday School teacher, music nerd,
and acoustic guitar enthusiast. He lives in rural
Tennessee with his wife and three boys.
WorshipMusician.com