Reviewed by Allan Clare

MercyMe's first record label album, originally released in 2001, is getting a 2 CD 'Platinum Edition' release. The second disk consists of various interviews with the band and three different versions of the band's crossover classic "I Can Only Imagine". In other words, it's NOT worth buying if you already own the album. However, if it's relatively catchy, pop-rock you want (with the emphasis on pop) this is the album to get. "I Can Only Imagine" really IS a superb song, but it's indicative of the rest of the album that it stands out so much. Bart Millard is a fine country-tinged vocalist, and the rest of the band play well (gosh, I sound like my mother). What I'm trying to say is I found it all a little bit bland. After playing it many, many times for this review, there are only three or four tracks whose tunes I can recall. Even the rockiest track, "House Of God", doesn't have a lead guitar solo - despite the nasty riff, it all fades away into the general niceness.

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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