Published Thursday 30th October 2008

Michael W Smith - A New Hallelujah
	STYLE: Pop RATING OUR PRODUCT CODE: 49645-14847 LABEL: Reunion 602341013321 FORMAT: CD Album ITEMS: 1 RELEASE DATE: 2008-10-27 RRP: £12.99
Reviewed by Tony Cummings At long last a high profile worship release has looked beyond the confines of the American church to present worship with something of a global flavour and on this set the CCM star is to be congratulated for carrying off the occasional musical flavourings of the world Church so effectively. The title track with the African Children's Choir is a delight while the Spanish delivery by Coalo Zamorano on "I Surrender All" is another highlight. Recorded on 20th June in Houston, Texas with more than 12,000 worshippers, the album demonstrates far more vocal fire and musical ingenuity from the singer/pianist than on Michael's previous two big selling but musically patchy worship albums. The title track, penned by Michael with wife Debbie and friend Paul Baloche, is surely destined to impact the world Church while overall the mix of new material and ancient favourites is deftly done. So often live worship projects abandon musical quality in favour of ambient noise atmosphere, but here the balance is just about perfect. 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. Interested in reviewing music? Find out more here.
Product Description
Recorded live on 20 June in Houston, Texas, with more than 12,000 worshippers in attendance, artist, composer, author and worship leader Michael W. Smith recorded his third highly-anticipated worship album A New Hallelujah. “Since my last world tour a few years ago, I’ve been looking forward to recording a live worship project that refl ected something more global than I’ve ever done before; a collection of songs and voices to translate what I experienced that year. I had hoped for an evening of worship that refl ected the corners of our nation, and the world; I think we captured that. My great friend Israel Houghton, the world renowned African Children’s Choir, an incredible young worship leader named Coalo Zamorano and a 250-voice choir elevated the songs to amazing moments of praise and worship. It was more than I could have hoped for,” shares Smith. The title track was penned by Michael, his wife Debbie and friend Paul Baloche and the album was arranged and produced by Michael. With several new songs that Michael wrote especially for this project, as well as familiar ones such as Mighty to Save and I Surrender All, A New Hallelujah offers a uniquely moving worship experience for both fans of his highly-successful Worship albums, as well as those who are just discovering his music for the first time.

Reader Comments

Posted by Don in state of Delaware @ 12:09 on Nov 30 2011

I was watching CCM videos on a newly discovered channel; and lo & behold I see and hear this awesome, fantastic song by Michael. I just love the song wholeheartedly, the cd title song "A New Hallelujah". Once again, Michael delivers another handful of worship songs for the millenium years. Michael & his wife Debbie have always written some of the best loved CCM songs ever; worship songwriter Paul Baloche assisted in the writing of this wonderful song, thanx to all 3 of them.
"Mighty To Save", "Majesty", & "The River Is Rising" are other cd notables worth mentioning. Michael also does a cover version of Chris Tomlin's "Amazing Grace
(my chains are gone). Nearly 70 minutes of music on this cd, well worth the buy. Lead singer and songwriter for CCM group Delirious?, Martin Smith co-
wrote the wonderful "Grace"; a cd favorite.
Michael has been recording some of the best well loved and memorable CCM songs for nearly 30 years!
GOD Bless! -Don

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Posted by John Fagbola in London @ 19:48 on Dec 19 2008

This is probably one of the best worship CDs I have ever heard. Since I bought my copy here, I have listened to it almost every day! I wish Micheal would take-on more worship projects like this in the future. This is what he was born to do. At 51, he has finally accepted that he was born to lead the Church to worship. I hope he will title he next project as: Born to Worship.

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Michael W Smith - A New Hallelujah

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