A full, unique worship experience that rings true as a passion and not just as a cash-in on today's popular worship 'market.'
Worship Again opens fabulously with building synths playing the melody line of 'Make Us One' from Smitty's Exodus project. Strong beats, moody bass and a highlighting piano create a holy atmosphere, and then the well-known worship song 'Step By Step' by Beaker bursts out of the build-up. While the crowd applauding Smitty's entrance has been mixed a bit high-end and sounds like rain, it is disruptive to the build-up. What is exciting about Smitty's rendition though is the 'Alleluia' addition he's made to this song, and mixed in here (and throughout the CD) are the crowd singing and clapping along.
Fresh on this disc are some worship songs that aren't as familiar including two new tracks written by Smitty, 'You Are The Lord' and 'I Can Hear Your Voice.' Smitty also gets a chance to put in one of his instrumental pieces, 'The Sacred Romance.' Critics of this disc have suggested it as merely a sequel of Smitty's first Worship disc, evidenced by the campy 'Again' title and the repeated use of the front and back cover images. However, this CD is much more than that. It is a full, unique worship experience that rings true as a passion and not just as a cash-in on today's popular worship 'market.' Smitty has always appreciated good instrumentation, and with variety and talent on this disc a rich, full sound is created that not a lot of other worship leaders handle quite so proficiently. From his trademark piano, acoustic guitars, and strings to bagpipes, solo violins and wind instruments, this disc is a delight to listen to and a good worship experience.
Besides the opening track, there are a few more songs on this disc that are beyond expectation. Chris Tomlin's 'The Wonderful Cross' is a unique song because it takes Isaac Watts' original hymn and puts a contemporary spin on it. Smitty adds crystal synths to the mix that fit in well, although he doesn't build the song to the same passionate height that Tomlin does. The best song on this album is 'I Can Hear Your Voice,' which Smitty co-wrote with his wife Debbie and his daughter Whitney. A peaceful piano melody opens the track and lush strings float gently above, hauntingly. Like trickling water, the verses are simple with Smitty's vocals over a running piano line, and the yearning chorus is brought to life by angelic female vocals. One of the shortest tracks on this album 'I Can Hear Your Voice' is nevertheless the most beautiful and it stirs the soul: 'I can hear Your voice / As You sing over me / It's Your song of hope / Breathing life into me / I can feel Your touch / As I come close to You / And it heals my heart / You restore and renew.'
As with Smitty's previous worship disc, Worship Again closes with a couple studio renditions of popular worship songs, 'Lord Have Mercy' which is also included live, and Tim Hughes' 'Here I Am To Worship.' Tim Hughes' 'Here I Am' is a powerful worship song and Smitty's recording is tasteful. However, again it would have been nicer to have two original Smitty songs and not to repeat tracks already in the live section. The last track is a bonus cut, Smitty's patriotic 'There She Stands,' a 9/11 tribute with Smitty's piano work at its quietest and noblest.
