Reviewed by Jamie Maxwell

After 18 years and nine albums, you might imagine that a songwriter could go off the boil, letting complacency slip in and releasing endless collections of thrown-together, mediocre material. After all, with a world famous name wouldn't people still buy it? Happily, there is no danger of that with Matt Redman's new live album, whose opening bars confirm that this does indeed live up to the high standards we have come to expect from him. Recorded at LIFT - A Worship Leader Collective, a gathering in Atlanta of worship leaders from around the USA, the album captures the passion and atmosphere of a live event without sacrificing the polished feel of a studio recording. The title track stands apart from the rest, with a hymn-like quality which will surely stand the test of time. In fact there are a number of future classics here that one could imagine being sung for many years to come. "We Are The Free", "Holy" and "We Could Change The World" are sure to hit the Bible weeks hard this summer. The thing that has always set Matt apart from the rest is his uncanny ability to combine eminently sing-able melodies with profound, yet simple, lyrics. It's such a difficult skill, and it's one that few truly master. In short, '10,000 Reasons' is a masterpiece and his best since 'Facedown'.

The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms. Any expressed views were accurate at the time of publishing but may or may not reflect the views of the individuals concerned at a later date.

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