Matthew Smith and Indelible Grace

I have heard and read quite a bit of buzz about the Indelible Grace music ministry recently, so I thought it would be prudent to fill in my small collection of Indelible Grace CD’s with their other past releases and Matthew Smith’s new CD titled “All I Owe.” Though I am yet to receive Matthew’s new release, I’ve been really enjoying my Indelible Grace CD’s. It’s not an overstatement to say; I haven’t enjoyed an entire collection of music this much for a long time. I think I most enjoy the combination of acoustic/folk/rock with old hymn lyrics (some of which I am learning for the first time). Not everyone appreciates when we "music types" write new arrangements to these old hymns, but it has been an encouragement to me and may be to you also. Below is a clip of a post from Bob Kauflin on Matthew’s new CD “All I Owe.” You can go hear a sample of Matthew Smith’s music here at his myspace site.

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Matthew's new CD, All I Owe, is now available for pre-order. I was able to get a pre-release download and wanted to share my thoughts on the CD.

The project contains ten hymns:

1. Come Thou Fount Of Every Blessing
2. All I Owe
3. Thy Blood Was Shed For Me
4. None Among
5. His Love Can Never Fail
6. Jesus, I Am Resting
7. How Helpless
8. My Lord I Did Not Choose You
9. The Lord Will Provide
10. Nothing But The Blood

The instrumentation is a mix of contemporary styles, ably produced by Cason Cooley. Lots of acoustic and electric guitars, percussion, and great vocals. The sound will be familiar to those who know the music of Caedmon's Call and Indelible Grace. Matthew's strong, clear, and passionate voice carries each song well.

The lyrics are a feast. Some samples:

To celebrate the truth of justification:
Let the world their virtue boast
And works of righteousness
I, a wretch, undone and lost
Am freely saved by grace.

To remember God's sovereign care:
Though troubles assail and dangers affright
Though friends should all fail and foes all unite
Yet one thing secures us, whatever betide,
The scripture assures us, the Lord will provide.

To encourage us in our battle against sin:
Idols crowd my heart and mind
And demand I shed my blood
But the Lord, the risen Christ
Has secured me in the flood

To acknowledge God's gracious election:
My Lord I did not choose You
For that could never be
My heart would still refuse You
Had You not chosen me
You took the sin that stained me
Cleansed me, made me new
Of old You have ordained me
That I should live in You.

This last verse is from My Lord, I Did Not Choose You, perhaps my favorite cut on the CD.

The project also includes familiar but tasteful versions of Come Thou Fount and Nothing But the Blood. Some of the songs are great for congregational use, some great for private worship, all of them great for focusing our hearts and minds on the Savior who has bought us with his blood and redeemed us for his glory.