GRAMMY® nominated, multiple American Music Award, Billboard Music Award and Dove Award-winning band MercyMe is set to release inhale (exhale) on April 30.
The 16-song collection (produced by Tedd T., Brown Bannister and Jordan Mohilowski) includes "Almost Home," a stunningly poignant anthem that topped the charts for a combined total of 17 weeks. There's also the buoyant "A Little Love" featuring Millard's close friend Gary LeVox, lead vocalist for award-winning country super group Rascal Flatts. Disco legend and friend Gloria Gaynor lends her signature vocals to "Brand New."
inhale (exhale) is the latest chapter in MercyMe's creative adventure, and Millard admits this one was a long time in coming together. "It was two years and one month to the day that we started writing for this new record until we finally finished," Millard says. "'Almost Home,' which is the first single, will be out a year and a half before the record releases. We would have had it done a year or so ago, but when the pandemic hit, it slowed everything down. We practically re-wrote the album two or three different times."
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Let Yourself Be Loved| Posted April 29, 2021 What You Need to Know MercyMe has topped the charts for more than 20 years since they released their multi-platinum single "I Can Only Imagine," which is the most downloaded song in the history of Christian music. They have followed that up with hit after hit, including "God with Us," "All of Creation," "Beautiful," "The Hurt & the Healer," "Greater” and “Even If." Inhale (Exhale) has been one of my most anticipated albums of 2021. It has songs with inspirational story-style lyrics that will immediately cause you to worship and sing along with these ultra-talented musicians, lead singer Bart Millard, guitarists Mike Scheuchzer and Barry Graul, bassist Nathan Cochran, and drummer Robby Shaffer. The very relatable and transparent words of these songs perfectly depict our daily walks as believers wrapped around catchy songs. All the tracks really display the musical and lyrical excellence and intentionality of MercyMe. These are catchy melodies and biblically-based lyrics reflecting unashamed faith. Every song on this stellar collection displays the band’s heart of what they do, leading people in worship of our Savior, reminding us as believers that, “With all your strength/Sister run wild run free/Hold up your head/Keep pressing on/We are almost home.”
What it Sounds Like This band can really write a hooky and truth-filled chorus, and the single “Say I Won’t” is catchy, relevant and worshipful like their previous hit songs “Hold Fast,” “Flawless” and “Even If.” The song has an uplifting message based on the inspirational story of Gary Miracle. The chorus is very stirring and convicting, “I'm gonna run/No I'm gonna fly/I'm gonna know what it means to live and not just be alive.” “Let Yourself Be Loved” features Bart Millard’s tender and powerful vocals and takes listeners on an emotional and spiritual journey with every lyric sung about faith in our God and to live out the commandment to “love your neighbor as yourself.” In many ways, the main message of this album is to “let yourself be loved/See yourself as Jesus does.” If you’ve always liked MercyMe, this album will absolutely connect with you.
Spiritual Highlights “Say I Won’t” reminds us, “I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.” Other highlights include “On Our Way (feat. Sam Wesley),” “So Yesterday,” “A Little Love (feat. Gary Levox),” “Bright Side of Broken” and “Almost Home.” Poignant song “The Moment” is a stirring testimony song reminding us of our salvation day with a convicting declaration: “The fire in your bones will never let you down…Praise the Lord and say, here’s to the day that I met grace." Like previous MercyMe albums, these songs are all filled with spiritual truth. The hope of the Gospel is heard loud and clear, “Love is patient, love is so kind, because He loved us first we know…the world is going to know us by our love” in the standout “A Little Love.”
Best Song on the Record I'm really engaged by the emotional vocals and the deep, prayerful lyrics throughout the album. “On Our Way” is an upbeat and catchy song in the vein of “Greater,” and “Move,” which are among my favorite MercyMe songs. I find myself singing the worshipful lyrics throughout the day, “As long as we have hope, we have everything!” That theme is echoed in “Bright Side of Broken,” which will have you crying out, “It’s gonna be okay!”
“Almost Home” is an especially beautiful song. The faith anthem is the cry of my heart, “I know that the cross has brought heaven to us/But make no mistake/There’s still more to come/When our flesh and our bone/Are no longer between/Where we are right now/And where we’re meant to be.” There are several stand-out songs, and “Say I Won’t” is an uplifting offering of praise to the only One who has power to save. It is a very sing-able song, and I love singing, “The world's gonna hear/Cause I'm gonna shout/And I will be dancing when circumstances drown the music out/Say I won't.”
Final Word This new album demonstrates once again the passion and energy that have made MercyMe one of Christian music's most compelling acts. True to form, this new project Inhale (Exhale) reflects real life and emotion, from longing and struggle to breakthrough and gratitude, with front man Bart Millard’s forthright songwriting and intimate and unmistakable vocals backed by powerful arrangements and stellar musicianship. It derives its power from the fact that life and music intertwine so fully. These are very passionate worship songs sung with vocal sincerity and reverence with biblically based lyrics.
This has been my most anticipated album of 2021, and I’m pleased to say it exceeds my expectations as I could not “imagine” they could outdo themselves. This incredible band has once again released their newest best album. It has a very warm musical style that will immediately soothe your soul and cause you to worship and sing along with these ultra-talented musicians. The album has a comforting and cohesive theme as each song threads the message of how “I will be dancing when circumstances drown the music out.” This is sure to be one of the top albums of the year.
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