Reviewed by Tony Cummings

The brilliance of Matthew West is that he is able to take spiritual themes that have been mulled over by countless thousands of songwriters and find new insights and imagery. In doing so Matthew, like an anointed preacher, will get us thinking "that's EXACTLY how I feel" or "I must get so-and-so to hear this." Matthew's music is truly God-breathed and even on its first play, I was already thinking "can't wait to hear the title track on the radio." Such thoughts sometimes get very personal. There's a special needs couple who've battled against numerous health issued who I know who'll be deeply touched by the song "Walking Miracles" ("We're walking miracles/We're living, we're breathing/Do you know that you're amazing/A one in a million masterpiece that's in the making"). Or then there's my friend who after a life of drug abuse and criminality is still struggling to get free after a series of steps forward and steps back but will find new hope when he hears "The God Who Stays" ("If I were You I would've turned around and walked away/I would've labelled me beyond repair/Because I feel like I'm beyond repair/But somehow You don't see me like I do/Somehow you're still here/You're the God who stays/You're the God who stays/You're the One who runs in my direction/When the whole world walks away/You're the God who stands/With wide open arms/And you tell me nothing I have ever done/Can separate my heart/From the God who stays"). This is an important album for Matthew. 'Brand New' is his first for his newly formed label Story House Music which is licenced to the Provident Label Group. But this is much, much more than a skilfully produced set of acoustic pop songs tailor made for airplay for every Christian radio station in America (the song here "Love On The Radio" is an absolute certainty to gain such exposure). 'Brand New' is an album of such depth and sincerity that it will surely touch the hearts of all who hear it. Like me and my friends.

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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