5th August, 2009

JUSTIN MICHAEL

Album: 10

Artist: MercyMe

Year: 2009
Label: ino
Web: www.mercyme.org

Enhanced: CD/DVD set.

In A Word: Crafted

"A must for all MercyMe fans, for those who need a hooky melody with a message and for people who love getting a free DVD with their albums!"

Ten years since I Can Only Imagine rocketed these six guys to worldwide number one status, this collection proves it wasn't a fluke. You can't listen to a mercyme disc without getting a melody or two stuck in your head and you can't listen without hearing a Gospel-driven message.

Their country rock stylings are comparable to that of Rascal Flats and the like and whilst it would seem easy to pigeon-hole the band, their 2007 effort All That Is Within Me certainly proved they were willing to take some musical risks.

Word Of God Speak, You Reign, Spoken For, So Long Self and one of my favourites, Finally Home, make this disc a worthy iPod walking partner. There's also bonus new tracks including the Fifties twist of Ten Simple Rules (nb: not their brightest musical moment!) and the big blues, harp-driven tunes of Only Temporary in which it's stated that our troubles "in light of all eternity are only temporary". And, of course, there's the re-recording of I Can Only Imagine with the London Session Orchestra at Abbey Road.

The DVD is a nice volume that, especially for all of us who have never seen them live, will provide some musical joy. Some vids seem a tad cliché and lack direction but on the plus side, there is the intrigue of the 'Fall 08' tour tunes filmed by only one camera. Lots of gigs, lots of shots, one video at the end. Works nicely. There's also insight into the band with interviews and the story behind I Can Only Imagine.

A must for all MercyMe fans, for those who need a hooky melody with a message and for people who love getting a free DVD with their albums!