Nse Ette`s review for The Generous Mr. Lovewell:User Rating: I was a bit skeptical about getting MercyMe`s new CD as it seemed to me they spent lots of their time after their "Almost there" CD attempting to make another "I can just imagine", their mega-selling classic while remaining creatively stagnant. After reading a few reviews which stated this was rather experimental, I decided to get it and I`m glad I did.
This CD actually sounds in places like the process of an entirely new/different band.
Most of the lyrics touch on love, especially as the album concept centers on some fictional bloke Mr. Lovewell whose capacity to know is to be emulated. A few songs are their typical anthemic Worship ballads; the #1 Coldplay-style "All of creation" (with catchy singalong "Oh o o" refrain), and "But You remain", but almost everything else is a musical revelation.
Opening is the buzzing synth/Rock "This life", followed by the Punk/Pop "The generous Mr. Lovewell", then the truly experimental bouncy clap-filled "Move" (with jangly guitars and a bridge that sounds like the Bee Gees popped by), and the haunting midtempo "Crazy enough" with a groovy bassline (which poses the crazy notion of changing the earth by loving our brother for nothing in return, sung in a laid-back lower register that reminds me of Kevin Max from dc Talk), the latter two are my favourites.
"Beautiful" is simply that, and starts off with quivering guitars and electronic flourishes transforming into an anthemic Rocker. "Back to you" is lilting and Reggae-tinged. "Free" is tempo-shifting U2-style quivering/pulsing Rock, "Won`t you be my bed" a majestic ballad, and end is the brief atmospheric ballad "This so called love" which tells us that if all we do is absent of Jesus, then this so called love is entirely in vain.
The harmonies are lovely, the musical diversity a delight. MercyMe sound like a lot coming into their own.
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