Matt Maher: Alive Again

Matt Maher’s album, ALIVE AGAIN, so aptly named, is a breath of fresh air in today’s polluted airwaves, wherein “cool tunes”, per se, rule over substance, and mere noise have replaced real music, as these misguided and image-driven artists, in blind pursuit of relevance, continue to embrace bland formulas and popularity over their God-given talents and musical integrity.

This unpretentious, stripped-down music displays a genuine balance between substance and creativity, without the latter running amok solely for its own sake; take note of Maher’s vocal ease and Audrey Assad’s cool harmony in a couple of tracks, especially in "Garden". With its lyrical and melodic strength, this album is solid and certainly deserves some serious airtime in its entirety, though my favorites are "Alive Again", "Sing Over Your Children", "Hold Us Together", "Love Comes Down", "Letting Go", "You Were on the Cross", "Christ is Risen", and "Garden". Each track eloquently delivers a message that turns your thoughts to our glorious Creator who richly blesses, even with eternal life, which many of us would rather reject, instead of actively seek or honestly question God.

Pick up the album, if you care to nourish your spirit. The music is a gem for the jaded listener, and may very well make you feel alive again. Plainly put, it is food for the soul and the lyrics are included in the no fuss, yet artful insert.

"I was looking outside
As if love would ever want to hide”

“No scheme of man…
separatesUs from Your hand…”

“I flirt with the world…
But Your gaze stops my heart”

“Glorious beyond measure
Bending low to wash His traitor’s
feet…
Why would a king do such a thing?”

“Where were you when all that I’ve hoped
for
Came crashing down in shambles around
me”

“O death, where is your sting?
O hell, where is your victory?
O church come stand in the light
Our God is not dead
He’s alive! He’s alive!”

“Your love’s so strongI can’t recall
What was this thing
They called the fall?
…the mournful
rejoicing
Seeing through tears
Of peace overflowing…”