Produced by Marshall Altman, How Mercy Looks from Here is Amy Grant's first full studio album in ten years. Grant wrote all but one of the songs for the set, which features guest spots from James Taylor, Carole King, Sheryl Crow, Eric Paslay, Will Hoge, and Grant's husband Vince Gill, and the songs glow with the gentle redemptive wisdom that is her strong point as a songwriter and singer.
The difference between Alan Jackson's 2006 album Precious Memories and its 2013 sequel Precious Memories, Vol. 2 can be seen in the cover art as well as heard in its grooves. On the cover of the 2006 album is a sepia-tinted photo of Jackson sitting on the steps of an old church; on the cover of Vol. 2 is a crisp, clean color snapshot of the singer in a studio, consciously posing for the camera. Similarly, the firstPrecious Memories sounded old and dusty, as authentic as a small-town church, but this second volume is stark and bright, sounding as contemporary as the day it was recorded. This transparency doesn't hurt this collection of familiar hymns -- "Amazing Grace," "O How I Love Jesus," "Precious Memories," "When the Roll Is Called Up Yonder" are some of the featured tunes here -- but this does mean that the album doesn't feel quite as warm and cozy as its predecessor. Nevertheless, this is a reverent, resonant spiritual album distinguished by its sweet sincerity.
Matt Redman's deliberate and earnest approach to crafting meaningful worship music has made him a contemporary Christian favorite for over 15 years. His eighth album, 10,000 Reasons, strays little from the winning formula of anthems that are big enough to capture your heart yet simple enough to stick in your head. What endears the U.K. native once again is his utter command of lyrics, instruments, and emotions to create an ongoing worship experience. The album was recorded live for an audience of thousands of worship leaders during LIFT: A Worship Leader Collective in Atlanta, Georgia. By this point in his career, Redman had to dig deep to distinguish this record from the rest of his catalog. For the most part, he makes up for any lack of inventiveness with what he deems the "fire that burns inside," a line that rings out on opening track "We Are the Free." Redman is one of a handful of contemporary Christian artists in whom fans value consistency just as much, if not more, than pure artistry. His fans, along with those of Chris Tomlin, Casting Crowns, Hillsong United, and others, want to know what they can expect from these artists. That is why Redman, who bases all of his songs on scriptural themes, can continue to make hit collections again and again.
Based out of Waco, Texas, the David Crowder Band has managed to land a pair of Grammy nominations and eight Dove awards since their inception in the mid-'90s, and All This for a King: The Essential Collection dutifully captures the group's rise from contemporary Christian music neophytes to one of the most successful bands in the genre's history. The anthology offers up 14 tracks, including worship staples like "O Praise Them," "Everything Glorious," "No One Like You," "Here Is Our King," and "Our Love Is Loud," along with three remixes ("Shadows [Family Force 5 Phenomenon Remix]," "After All (Holy) [Capital Kings Remix]," and " No One Like You [The Digital Age Remix]"), and one brand new cut, the stirring country-folk hymn "This I Know."
