Carstairs Considers....: Music Review: Songs 2 by Rich Mullins

Tuesday, May 7, 2013

Music Review: Songs 2 by Rich Mullins

Stars: 5 out of 5
Pros: More great songs from a gifted song writer

Cons: A few tracks that don't hit the other's high standards

The Bottom Line:

Presents nothing new

But casual fans will like

Having these songs, too

A Second Collection Shows Off More of Rich Mullins Great Songs

I am always torn when it comes to best of collections for artists I love. Usually, I don't need the disc. This is especially true in a case like Songs 2 where there are no new songs. And yet, I wind up buying and enjoying them anyway.

Of course, in the case of Songs 2, my purchase made a bit more sense. I really didn't start getting into Christian artist Rich Mullin's music until after his death in a car crash in 1997. When this CD was released in 1999, there were still some big holes in my collection. So it proved to be a way to plug those temporarily.

As the title suggests, this is a second collection of Rich's hits. The original (unsurprisingly entitled Songs) contains the songs that Rich is best known for. But as any true fan knows, there just isn't room for all the great songs on a single CD. Songs 2 really does fill in some of those gaps.

Honestly, there are several songs on here I am surprised didn't make the first CD. My personal favorite on here is "Growing Young." Rich could write a powerful lyric, and that's the case here. This is a song of repentance from someone who has seen too much pain and aged too much after turning from God. It has echoes of the prodigal son story in it, and those songs always appeal to me. The song is piano based but includes a nice selection of drums and guitar as it gets started.

There are another couple songs that I missed on the earlier collection. "Here in America" is a fun upbeat song. It actually starts with the musicians talking about how they aren't ready to record the song, then the song plays without a hitch. (I've always wondered what those spoken tags were for in this and other songs). This song has the tiniest tinge of folk to its guitar base as Rich praises God for the beauty of nature, specifically in America. There's nothing deep, but it is still a favorite.

"I See You" is another Rich Mullins classic. It has an incredibly long intro before the song starts into it's almost chant like quality. Guitar and keyboard provide the minimalist music. The emphasis is on the drums. Rich sings one line and a choir repeats it. The song starts out with images of Israel's wandering in the wilderness and then transitions to remind us that God is still all around us.

Casual Rich Mullins fans will be surprised to see "Step by Step," one of his signature choruses here. The reason is simple. The chorus was later incorporated into "Sometimes by Step," which appears on Songs. The track here is just the chorus that has been sung countless times in churches across the country. But you've never heard it like this. It actually opens with bagpipes and then a young boy singing the familiar lines. Once he's done, Rich does come in and sing them as well.

Rich would occasionally record an a cappella song, and one of those made it here. "I Will Sing" has haunting harmonies as Rich reminds us of those who are persecuted for being Christians.

Back in the fun songs department is "Where You Are." You've got to hear the rhythm to fully get it, but it is unique. Musically, the guitar is the predominate instrument here. While the song is fun to listen to, you can't help but be reminded by the lyrics that God will be with you as you go through hard times.

"Brother's Keeper" is a song that took years to grow on me. Just a case of truly listening to the lyrics. Against a guitar driven pop musical landscape, Rich sings about being "my brother's keeper/Not the one who judges him." The difference between judging others and helping them overcome sin is a very fine line, but this song really does point it out.

There are a couple songs in this collection that make me wonder why they were included. "Home," "Somewhere," and "The Love of God" are okay songs, but they don't truly show off his best lyric of music ability. Then again, maybe I would feel differently if I had followed his career while he was alive. Since I jumped in at the end, I am probably missing some historical significance to them.

"Be with You" is an appropriate song to end this disc. In it, Rich sings of his desire to spend eternity with God. The focus is on piano and Rich's voice, which make the lyrics really stand out.

Since this disc was recorded after Rich's passing, there are no new tracks or other bonus material. That will make the true fans hesitate to purchase Songs 2. But those who are only casually fan of the late, great Rich Mullins will find many gems on this great collection.

CD Length: 57:48

Tracks:

1. Step by Step

2. Where You Are

3. I Will Sing

4. Hope to Carry on

5. I See You

6. The Just Shall Live

7. Somewhere

8. Growing Young

9. Brother's Keeper

10. Home