MercyMe put out their first major label studio album, ALMOST
HOME in 2001. It contained the mega-hit
‘I Can Only Imagine’. In 2002 they
followed it up with SPOKEN FOR which included ‘Word of God Speak’. Next up was 2004’s UNDONE (INO), produced by
Peter Kipley. At the time, the group’s
roster was: Bart Millard (vocals), Robby Shaffer (drums), Nathan Cochran
(bass), Mike Scheuchzer (guitar), Jim Bryson (piano/B3/synth), and new member
Barry Graul (guitar). UNDONE debuted at
#12 on the Billboard 200 and #1 on the Billboard Christian Albums Chart. It also won the Dove for ‘Pop/Contemporary
Album of the Year’. Reflecting on the
album’s title, in the liner notes Bart Millard writes: “While His plans came
together, our plans came unraveled. I
believe that is exactly where God wants us...undone. Incomplete.
Unsettled with what we think is best, and embracing Christ, who knows
what’s best”.
An adult contemporary song, ‘Where You Lead Me’, is the
first song on the album. It is one of
nine songs written by the band and Peter Kipley. It’s about spiritual surrender: “I’m drawn to
You/As long as my heart is beating/Where You lead me, I will follow/Where You
lead me, I’ll give my life away/Where You lead me, I will follow/Forever and a
day (2X)/I can’t deny Your very presence is my life/And why would I even turn
away?” ‘Everything Impossible’ is a pop
song of testimony: “I took a leap of faith even though You’re difficult for me
to explain/I know I’ll never be the same/You’re everything I cannot see/You’re
everything I cannot say/I know it all seems so illogical/But that’s okay/You’re
the love You give to me/You’re the love I give away/You are everything
impossible and that’s okay”. Dan Muckala
and Brad Russell are two of the co-writers of ‘Here With Me’ which was the album’s
first single and a #1 hit. It’s modern
worship: “You’re everywhere I go, I am not alone/You call me as Your own to
know You and be known/You are holy, I fall down to my knees/I can feel Your
presence here with me/Suddenly I’m lost within Your beauty/Caught up in the
wonder of Your touch/Here in this moment I surrender to Your love”.
‘In the Blink of an Eye’ was the album’s third single. It peaked at #1 on the Christian Songs and
Hot Christian AC charts. It’s a song of
reflection: “Sometimes I feel disappointed/By the way I spend my time/How can I
further Your kingdom/When I’m so wrapped up in mine?.../If I give the very best
of me/That becomes my legacy/So tell me, what am I waiting for?/What am I
waiting for?” ‘Unaware’ is about being
totally caught up in God’s love: “I am free at last/Unaware of my fears/Unaware
of my shame/Nothing else matters here/But glorifying Your Name/Unaware of
everything/Knowing You’re aware of me”.
‘Homesick’ was the album’s second single and the only song
here penned solely by Bart Millard. This
adult contemporary song longs for heaven: “In Christ there are no goodbyes/In
Christ there is no end/So I’ll hold on to Jesus with all that I have/To see you
again (2X)/And I close my eyes and I see your face/If home’s where my heart is
then I’m out of place/Lord, won’t You give me strength to make it through
somehow/I’ve never been more homesick than now”. Strings are used to good effect. Joel Hanson (PFR) is a co-writer on ‘When You
Spoke My Name’. It testifies: “Now when
I speak Your Name/I sing it like a sweet refrain/I have found a peace I can’t
explain/When I speak Your Name/Cause when You spoke my name/Oh, I swear the
angels sang/Peace came and stole my shame/When You spoke my name”.
‘A Million Miles Away’ is a pop/rock number about God’s
faithfulness: “I believe that You’re always here with me/You’re everywhere but
still within my reach/Cause how could You save the day/If You’re a million
miles away?/Who’s to say what you can’t see can’t be found?/There’s evidence of
Your presence all around/Cause how could You save the day if You’re a million
miles away?” ‘Caught up in the Middle’
is another pop/rock song. It’s a song of
desire: “I believe Your Spirit is alive and on the move/And I want to be caught
up in the middle of You/I wanna be a part of what I know You’re gonna do/Oh, I
wanna be caught up in the middle of You”.
‘Never Alone’ speaks of God’s faithfulness: “Someone tell me
how I stumble into doubting all the time/Some days I’m all together/And other
days I stand here asking ‘Why?’/Then a Voice comes calling out to me/’You’re
never alone cause I am with you and I will always be/I will hold you cause you
belong to Me/You’re never alone cause I’ll be with you for all eternity’”. The title track, ‘Undone’, is modern worship:
“When I am overwhelmed/Holding pieces of my heart/When I feel my world start to
fall apart/To the cross I run/Holding high my chains undone/Now I am finally
free/Free to be what I’ve become/Undone”.
‘Shine On’ is an adult contemporary track that begins with
these thought provoking words: “If we’re to be the light that shines for all of
man/Then how can we light the way/If we don’t go to them?/I believe to know
God’s heart/Is to meet them where they are”.
Last up is the quiet song of determination, ‘Keep Singing’, on which
Matt Slocum plays cello: “Another rainy day/I can’t recall having sunshine on
my face/And all I feel is pain/All I wanna do is walk out of this place.../I
gotta keep singing/I gotta keep praising Your Name/That’s the only way that I’ll
find healing”.
UNDONE is a combination of Christian pop and adult
contemporary music with doses of modern worship interspersed. The instrumentation and Bart`s vocals are
great! Fans of Steven Curtis Chapman and
Casting Crowns should buy this CD. God`s
love and care for us come through clearly on this project, as does our
responsibility to share God`s love with others.
A strong desire to be in God`s presence and ultimately heaven, is
conveyed. God alone is worthy to be worshiped. I`m rating UNDONE 88%. For more info visit: www.mercyme.org.