MercyMe is back with ‘Lifer’
Their sound has tended towards a more positive, joyful theme
The band’s sound is Since they have just released their ninth studio album, “Lifer”, one might think that MercyMe would be struggling to keep their sound ‘current.’
However, the five-member band out of Greenville, Tex., is not having any difficulty with that at all.
“Lifer”, a 10-track project released from Fair Trade Records, is an album produced by David Garcia and Ben Glover. With this CD, band members Bart Millard (vocals), Mike Scheuchzer (guitars), Barry Graul (guitars), Nathan Cochran (bass) and Robby Shaffer (drums) have kept their familiar tone, but they have also updated their sound just enough to please fans and critics alike.
The prolific music makers who brought us “I Can Only Imagine” have tended towards a more positive, joyful theme in their last two projects. This is clearly seen in the title track of “Lifer” which opens the album. The dance tune sings about how nothing can separate believers from Christ and of the praise that is the natural result of that relationship: “And as long as my heart is
beatin’/ And my lungs are breathin’, I’ll keep on singin’ for you. Even right through the moment You call me home, I’ll still be singin’ for you, ‘Cause that’s what lifers do.”
Each of the 10 tracks on “Lifer” is well worth a listen, but there were three songs on the album that I found particularly striking.
“Best News Ever” with its light pop sound has a message of complete joy: “What if I were the one to tell you that the fight’s already been won? Well, I think your day’s about to get better. What if I were the one to tell you that the work’s already been done? It’s not good news — It’s the best news ever!”
“Even If” is a beautiful song of testimony. It opens with a simple accompaniment to Millard’s distinctive vocals.
“I know the sorrow, and I know the hurt would all go away if You’d just say the word. But even if You don’t my hope is You alone. You’ve been faithful, You’ve been good all of my days. Jesus, I will cling to You come what may, cause I know You’re able.” “Hello Beautiful” is a different track - one that doesn’t lend itself to toe-tapping or singing along at first. But, the image of breaking free from a prison of our sins is powerful and comes through clearly.
“Can you hear it? That’s the sound of me walking out of this prison cell that I’ve come to know so well. I used to play the victim, singing take these chains from me. They’ve long been broken - I was free and would not leave. Somehow I got too comfortable locked up here in this prison that I missed the doors wide open, more like ripped off of its hinges.”
I was looking forward to this latest release from “MercyMe” and, I have to say, “Lifer” did not disappoint. MercyMe has challenged themselves to stay ‘current’, but will still keep the loyalty of their many fans with this latest project. For myself, I have found a new favourite album I will be enjoying for a long time!