Michael W Smith - Live The Life

Reviewed by Trevor Kirk

We’ve had the enhanced CD Rom single (very entertaining indeed, worth eight squares for the Smitty Archive video clips alone); we’ve had the title track get mucho airplay on UCB (am I the only one who thinks it sounds awfully like “Place In This World”?); and now at long last, the full album, number 11 in an ongoing series documenting a musical odyssey that’s been going since the early ‘80s and shows no signs of running out of steam.  The underlying theme of this one is a call to live out what we believe, and to make a difference by talking less and doing more; or, in the words of St Francis of Assisi – “Preach the Gospel to all the world, and, if necessary, use words”.  Co-producing credits go to Mark Heimermann and Stephen Lipson; long time sidekicks Wayne Kirkpatrick and Brent Bourgeois help to write the songs; lots of talented guys and gals play and sing (and sometimes both), and the result is a classy slab of radio-friendly pop/rock that’s a delight throughout.  Apart from the title track, check out “Never Been Unloved”, which reminds me of a jazzed up version of Art Garfunkel’s ‘70s hit “Bright Eyes”; “Don’t Give Up”, an eminently danceable song of encouragement; “I Believe In You Now”, inspired by his conversion experience; and a rootsy (and sadly all too brief) instrumental piece “Song For Rich” dedicated to the late great Mr Mullins.  A pleasant surprise is “Let Me Show You The Way”, written by Smitty with Nik Kershaw; “Wouldn’t It Be Good” if we could have a CCM album from Nik, assuming that he has discovered the Way (and the Truth and the Life)?