Music review: Michael W. Smith – 鈥楢 Million Lights鈥�
With 鈥淎 Million Lights,鈥� Michael W. Smith continues to offer words of encouragement and hope by shining a musical light on the darkness that seeks to divide and conquer us.
I first became a fan of Smith way back in 1990 with the purchase of 鈥淕o West Young Man鈥� with its crossover hit 鈥淧lace in This World.鈥� Over his career, Smith has garnered three Grammy Awards, 45 Dove Awards and has sold over 15 million albums.
Smith鈥檚 new material radiants with a progressive feel that leans heavily on synthesizers and electronic dance beats infused with infectious pop seasoning that give the 60-year-old singer鈥檚 messages a fresh and youthful tone.
God鈥檚 wondrous presence is relayed on the title track with Smith singing, 鈥淎 million lights/Hanging on the world tonight/I see them reaching down/Dancing on the evening tide.鈥�
Seeking a unifying solution for the divisive issues that continue to alienate brother from brother and sister from sister, Smith proposes a love revolution that encourages the building of bridges instead of burning them down to worthless ashes.
Songs such as 鈥淩evolution鈥� and 鈥淐onversation鈥� describe the importance of getting back to face-to-face interaction that consists of listening, understanding and respect as we build a strong bridge across the divide that separates us.
鈥淐rashing Waves鈥� delivers a clear message of hope when all seems lost. Smith sings about that glorious moment of feeling God鈥檚 love crashing all around with the power to roll the stone of despair away, making the pain and frustration a fading memory.
On 鈥淪omething in My Heart,鈥� God鈥檚 unconditional love serves as the spark that stirs the heart by providing the realization that we are never alone and equipping us with the power to cast away fear and to keep pushing on in pursuit of our dreams.
The theme of light continues on 鈥淟ove Always Wins鈥� with Smith describing the true power of love and the promise of deliverance from the darkest of shadows singing, 鈥淵ou know the light is gonna find us/Love always wins.鈥�
Smith鈥檚 uplifting messages shine brightly over 13 tracks that will hopefully help us find our place in this world.
Clint Rhodes is the 缅北禁地 music reviewer. He can be reached at clinton43@me.com.