I'll Lead You Home

by

Michael W. Smith

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Michael W. Smith (also called Smitty by his fans) has become one of the most enduring Christian artists, putting him with such company as Stephen Curtis Chapman and Bryan Duncan. This 1995 release has Smitty's fingerprints all over it, bringing us his usual mix of pop songs and musical interludes.

Each of the 14 tracks on this album clearly show where Smitty's heart is: pointing to the Lord. The wide range of messages found on this album will result in one or more of them hitting the heart of all who listen.

His most popular album since his 1990 effort, "Go West Young Man," this CD is a must for all Smitty fans and a good one to start with for those who have never heard of him before.

Amy Grant & Michael W. Smith. In my day, they were THE contemporary Christian artists. Since then Amy has found a successful secular outlet and is taking her moving songs of faith, life and love to a broader audience. Salt and Light to The World. And traditional Christianity attacked her for it.

Traditional Christianity would much rather keep contemporary Christian artists in their own little sub-genre to "preach to the choir" forever.

Thus, in contrast to the Amy Grant model, MWS has found it necessary to make his music even more appealing to the audience he has never lost, i.e. the choir. He tried to make a mainstream album (Change Your World) which only made a moderate impact. So I guess his reasoning is to take the same old message back to the folks who've accepted it for decades.

Case in point: I've never heard MWS mention anything to do with "traditional family values" in his music 'til this album. And it colors it for me. Was it really necessary to take a stand on abortion in a pop music album? Did such a statement enhance the package? Instead of being salt and light to a world who may never hear his music, he's gonna give the Traditional Christian world just want they want to hear.

But he's still a great musician. His singing has always lacked, but he makes great music. Maybe he should produce. That's why I gave the album 3 stars.