MercyMe
iTunes Originals

Reviews for
MercyMe
* The Hurt & The Healer
* The Generous Mr. Lovewell
* iTunes Originals
* All That is Within Me
* Coming Up To Breathe
* The Christmas Sessions
* Undone
* Spoken For


RSS Feed
MercyMe
The Generous Mr. Lovewell
2010 INO Records
11 songs, 43:07

Reviewed 2010-05-08
MercyMe gained fame with their song "I Can Only Imagine" in 2001, followed by "Word of God Speak," which in 2009 was named the Christian song of the decade. While reverting to their earlier rock sound with 2006's Coming Up Top Breathe, MercyMe has generally been known for an adult contemporary sound. Their latest project, The Generous Mr. Lovewell, hearkens back to a much earlier era of music, with hints of the Beach Boys and Beatles. After a very un-MercyMe-sounding "This Life" dance pop tune kicks off the record, the title track describes a fictious character who lives life as it should be lived:

Hey Mr. Lovewell, doing today what you do every day, no matter how small believing that it's all the same / come on, Mr. Lovewell, oh we could use a few more just like you, who care enough to give this life away

That's followed by "Move," a clap-driven BeeGees flavored tune that tells you this is not the MercyMe you've grown used to. At least, not at the beginning. The more expected MercyMe sound is predominant in the latter part of the CD, but the opening three tracks are definitely a new approach that may garner them some new fans without alienating their existing fan base (except for the hard-core Baptists offended by the dance theme of "Move"!).

"Beautiful" is a stand-out, musically and lyrically, making me think of my daughters and the love their earthly and heavenly fathers have for them. "Free" has a catchy, sing-along chorus that will likely be a concert favorite. The album closes with a mellow worshipful tune, "This So Called Love," that puts the right perspective on Mr. Lovewell and our desire to be kind to others:

But if all that we do is absent of Jesus / then this so-called love is completely in vain

The Generous Mr. Lovewell is a solid contribution from one of the biggest bands in the Christian music scene and will satisfy their fans while making them a few new ones.

Visit MercyMe.



Site Credits