Michael W Smith - I'll Lead You Home

Reviewed by Tony Cummings

In my book this is the CCM star's most mature recording. Gone is his dalliance with the glittering pop prizes. Themes here are of more important things. Here is an album that resonates with spiritual reality, an honest confessional of failure as well as hope in a mighty Saviour. The poignancy of gentle reflective ballads like "Straight To Your Heart" and the trilogy "The Other Side Of MeTBreathe In MeTAngels Unawares" are achingly moving while a tremulous new musical setting of the Lord's Prayer "As It Is In Heaven" is passionately heartfelt. But this isn't an album solely of understated, musical introspection. The opener "Cry For Love" with its ricocheting rhythm and its plaintive chorus and a finale which even includes a Black Ladysmith Mambazo-style backing chorus, and "Breakdown" where in between samples of a Martin Luther King sermon and some thunderous cross rhythms of programmed drums features Michael intoning the failures of secular America are both destined for mucho radio play. "Someday" has some delicious Dann Huff guitar work and a joyful duet with Susan Ashton, while elsewhere there's a blistering black gospel whoop up of the old hymn "Crown Him With Many Crowns" and "Calling Heaven" has another programmed groove guaranteed to connect with today's youth. A fine album which deserves every one of the million or so sales it will generate.