Echoes – Matt Maher - CMADDICT.com

Echoes – Matt Maher

Kevin Thorson

October 16, 2017

Release Date: September 29, 2017
Label: Essential Records
Genre: Pop / CCM
Reviewer: Michael Tackett, CMADDICT.com
Rating: 4.5/5

Purchase Links:
Amazon – https://www.amazon.com/Echoes-Matt-Maher/dp/B0743LV5GS/ref=sr_1_1?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1508184117&sr=1-1
iTunes – https://www.jesusfreakhideout.com/cdreviews/Echoes.asp

Review

Matt Maher, a leading musician and lyricist for over a decade, has returned for his sixth solo record Echoes. As a noun, the word “echo” means “a close parallel or repetition of an idea, feeling, style, or event.” As a verb, it means “to be reminiscent of or have shared characteristics with.” After listening to the record, it’s clear why Maher chose this title. The album carries a profound lyrical message, proclaiming the struggle of seeking a Savior through life’s challenges while extending grace to others—even those we may not agree with.

The current state of affairs in the USA and around the world is not lost on Maher. In “Clean Heart,” he begins with the line, “Woke up this morning / The whole world was yelling.” The track reflects on self-examination before engaging in conflict. Later, he sings, “We measure our mercy / When mercy is a flood.” That single lyric carries immense weight and demonstrates why Maher is regarded as one of today’s great CCM lyricists.

Alongside the deep lyrical content, the record also offers worship-filled tracks that paint a picture of a God who defends His people and comforts those who struggle. Songs like “What a Friend” and “Won’t Let Me Down” encourage listeners to lean on God and lay their burdens down. In “What a Friend,” Maher sings, “… Everybody knows sorrow, devastation / But we can lay our burdens down … What a friend we have in Jesus.”

In the CCM landscape, it’s refreshing to see an artist address current events while also encouraging listeners to act, think differently, and remember that God is present, loving, and defending His people. In “Echoes Two,” Maher sums up his prayer with the words, “Bind us together as one / We would find the greater good / Searching for a common ground … I hear the echoes / Follow the Echoes.”