Reviewed by Tony Cummings

As you'll know if you've read the Cross Rhythms feature on him, Matthew West is a class act. His 'Happy' album debut was a huge US CCM hit (though strangely unreleased in the UK). Now here's the follow up. Although some may find it a bit too "Nashville safe" for their edgy tastes, the truth is this is hugely impressive, intelligently crafted pop. With crisp production from Kenny Greenberg and Jason Houser - I love the soaring strings of the title cut - the arrangements continually bring out the expressive edge of Matthew's voice. Lyrically too 'History' is full of good things. "The Day Before You" is a song Matthew wrote for his wife and already recorded by the double platinum Rascal Flats, the Beatlesque "Out Of Time" with its memorable opening lines "So you're hungry for a taste of the other side/Where the grass is thick and green," and the haunting "The Last Ones" inspired by a 10 year old girl diagnosed with Down Syndrome are all gems. Matthew West is a new Christian hitmaker you feel sure will be around on the scene for a good few years.

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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