Music Review: 2 by Michael W. Smith

Stars: 4 out of 5
Pros: Encouraging reminders in fun songs

Cons: This is 80's MUSIC!!!

The Bottom Line:

If you can get past

Dated production you'll find

Songs that are still good

Little Known, Dated Release from a Christian Music Giant

Michael W. Smith was not big on naming his releases when he started his recording career. His debut was entitled, simply, Project. But he called his follow up, simply, 2. Released in 1984, 2 may have been a big hit at the time (I wasn't following Christian music since I was only 9), but it is all but forgotten today. Very few of these songs are even mentioned any more, which is a shame because there are some gems here.

Now, before we go any further, let's get the drawback out of the way. The music here is dated. As I described it to my roommate, this isn't 80's music. This is 80's MUSIC! It frankly screams it at you from the first note to the last. Every song features synthesizers as the main instrument. Sometimes, the drums sound more like a pre-programmed drum machine then the real deal. There are times when it isn't as pronounced as others, but every song proudly takes its place firmly in 80's pop. This is a real detraction from the two instrumental tracks here. They are upbeat and fun, but just listening to the synthesizer can get old. I don't really mind on the other 8 tracks because the lyrics here are wonderful.

The disc opens with "A Way." It's a surprising mid-tempo opener. I say surprising because the first 30 seconds or so seem a little on the slow side. But it picks up for the chorus as Michael sings of the way God has of making him all he should be.

My favorite tracks are the next two, both having to do with the end times. "I Am Sure" is slightly slower then the first track. In it, Michael looks at the world around him and begins to worry about the future. (And that was the world of 20 years ago.) Yet he uses the chorus to remind us that the world will last until Jesus returns. It's a fun song that definitely makes me smile.

Following up in every regard is "End of the Book." This one is heavier on the drums and base the most others here, giving it a slightly sinister feel. That goes along with the words perfectly as Michael sings of spiritual warfare. He starts by reminding us that the day we became Christians, we became part of the fight. But he then reminds us to read the end of the Bible when life gets hard. After all, knowing we are on the winning side certainly helps with the small stuff along the way.

Michael W. Smith got his start as Amy Grant's keyboardist. She pops up here on two songs, most noticeably "Restless Heart." She is credited with background vocals, but she has a rather prominent solo during the choruses of this song about the possibility that anyone can change.

She's also a background vocalist for "All I Needed to Say." This is such a sad song, but I love it. I never have decided why the relationship ended, but it's a song about a relationship that ended without closure. It's an attempt to express those final thoughts and move on. This is one of the slowest songs on the disc and actually does feature some piano along with the synthesizer.

The disc closes with a Palm Sunday classic, "Hosanna." The chorus is based on the words spoken by the crowds as Jesus entered Jerusalem that day, "Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna!" The verses are short but bridge the gap between what they expect and why Messiah really came. There's a small group that helps with this song. It's a solid mid-tempo track.

The fact that the production is so dated will be a turn off for some. It doesn't bother me that much. And Michael W. Smith's fans will definitely be glad they tracked down 2.

CD Length: 36:42

Tracks:

1. A Way

2. I Am Sure

3. End of the Book

4. I'm Up

5. Glorious Grace

6. Musical Instruments (Instrumental)

7. Restless Heart

8. All I Needed to Say

9. Wings of the Wind (Instrumental)

10. Hosanna