SOVEREIGN: Michael W. Smith
By Rhonda Frye
Michael W. Smith released the highly anticipated worship album, SOVEREIGN on May 13, 2014. This collection is the three-time GRAMMY® and multi-Dove Award winner’s first studio worship album studio in six years. This new album marks the first release with new label partner, Sparrow Records and Capitol Christian Music. “You Never Let Go” is the first selection to hit radio air-waves.
Smith’s tradition of piano-led musical excellence carries into this record as expected, but the theological truth of the lyrics is what makes this album stand out. Smith brilliantly presents the deep subject of the superiority of God and delivers it in a compact and manageable way. The songs subtly tell the listener what God is like. Lyrics such as, “Faithful Forever,” “Perfect in Love,” “Perfect in Wisdom,” and “Reigning High Above the Heavens,” are a few examples of how Smith accurately paints a picture of God.
When confronted with the truth of who God is, the proper response is worship. Smith indirectly invites listeners to worship with lyrics like, “I lay Me Down,” Hide Myself,” or “You’re the Only One That Matters.” The compilation of new music is great for private worship, but many songs are singable and useful to the church for corporate worship.
The sovereignty of God is perhaps the most difficult of God’s attributes to wrap the human mind around, but this album captures the supremacy of God and leads the listener to the throne-room in awe of it. Sound theology set to memorable melodies that calls for heart-felt worship is exactly what the church needs today. My personal favorites are “Christ Be All Around Me,” “Sovereign Over Us,” and the duet with Kari Jobe, “The One That Really Matters.”
SOVEREIGN made a top 10 Billboard 200 debut, and claimed number 1 on the Christian/Gospel Album and digital sales charts as well as the Praise & Worship charts. SOVEREIGN is available world-wide everywhere music is sold.
