Hymned Again by Bart Millard
Reviewed by Dale Lewis
"...a
diversified smorgasboard offering the listener New Orleans influenced
horn-driven jazz to Texas blue-rock guitar to bluegrass to... country. "
Most of these hymns
on Hymned Again date back to the 1800s and talk about sharing one’s faith during the era when evangelism was
on the rise. Bart states, “These are the songs that were a huge part
of my upbringing.” As a pastor’s kid raised in The Salvation
Army with these powerful hymns, I would agree wholeheartedly!
Bart Millard, of the band MercyMe,
teams up with producer Brown Bannister as he did with the first release,
Hymned. Millard shares his passionate vocals
with a sweet, supporting line up of studio musicians. Hymned Again is a diversified
smorgasboard offering the listener New Orleans influenced horn-driven jazz
to Texas blue-rock guitar to bluegrass to . . . country. Don’t let
this scare you non-country fans from buying this CD!
One of my favorite cuts is “I Stand Amazed” performed as a simple
melody without the instrumentation consuming the powerful lyrics. It was
a needed reprise amongst all the other hymns. Others I liked were “What
a Day That Will Be,” “Victory in Jesus,” and “Leaning
on the Everlasting Arms,” which is showcased in a 1970s funk-soul arrangement.
The horn section has a Denver and the Mile High Orchestra flavor especially
on “What a Day That Will Be.” The clarinet and ukulele share
the spotlight also in these modern day arrangements.
Deep within there is a part of
me longing for the hymns of old to remain untouched — left as originally
performed for no better reason than out of reverence and respect for the
lyrics. And there is part of me that
thoroughly enjoyed these new arrangements, (well, most of them) . . . listening
to the joyful noise while drawing a new appreciation for the message of these
God-ordained lyrics.
Thanks Bart for stepping out again
and reminding us that the songs of the past need to find new life in the
present, (although I would consider deleting
that musical saw in “What a Friend”). I can’t wait to get
to heaven to sing these hymns, in whatever version, to God’s glory!
I might even pick up my trumpet and join in on the worship
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