(Photo : Matt Maher)

Matt Maher's latest album cover of "All the People Say Amen" is most telling.  A closer inspection of the cover reveals that it is a menagerie of old tour posters, handwritten lyrics from song writing sessions, candid photos with fans and even his very own wedding photos.  Each item was purposefully chosen as the story behind each piece forming a collage that makes up who Maher is today.  "All the People Say Amen" is a retrospective record where Maher pauses to take stock of God's shaping in his life by re-recording nine of his best known songs from his past three albums.  These formerly released songs were recorded live over Maher's various tour settings, with three of them recorded before a college-aged crowd at the University of Notre Dame.  But this record is far from just a nostalgic throwback to the past. Rather, teaming with Paul Moak (Third Day, Mat Kearney) at the helm, there are four new studio cuts interspersed between the live ones.  And they find Maher co-writing with some of the best song writing scribes including Hillsong's Mia Fieldes and other fellow peers such as Christy Nockels and Kristian Stanfill.

Of the four new songs, "Lord I Need You" has been christened as the lead single.  It does not take a genius to figure out why "Lord I Need You" was chosen.  Featuring the gentle sweep of the guitar in its acoustically driven verse before exploding into an anthemic worshipful chorus, this paean is definitely going to be a worship classic in time.  However, if "Lord I Need You" sounds familiar, it is because it was first cut was first cut by Chris Tomlin at the famed Passion Conference not too long ago.  Similarly, "Burning in My Soul" (led by its co-writer Brett Younker) was first premiered at this year's Passion Conference.  In a culture where we like to keep God and religion at the peripheral, "Burning in My Soul" is a desperate plea for God to be our all in all.  Personal favorite is the title cut "All the People Say Amen" which has a rustic country backing exhorting us that we are not alone when we are in our pain.  While the Mia Feldes' co-penned "Mighty Fortress" has a hymn like feel calling to mind Martin Luther's original of the same titular.  It is one of the quieter moments on the album that decelerates us from our fast paced life for some worshipful pandering before our Father.

Other than Audrey Assard, Matt Maher is one of the few worship artists that comes from the Roman Catholic Church.  Maher certainly blows to smithereens our often misconceived caricature that worship within the Catholic Church is quietly turgid and soporifically dated.  Listening to how Maher stirs the crowd to echo each word with him the glorious truth of the resurrection of Christ on "Christ is Risen" is refreshing.  And regardless of how many times we have sung Maher's signature hit "Your Grace is Enough," it still warms the heart that in our helplessness God's grace is enough.  It is also good to see some of his lesser known songs making the list including "Adoration."  Here Maher really incorporates his Catholic roots as he sets to music the thought provoking prayer of Thomas Acquinas.

But there are a few songs that don't work well in the live worship format. "On My Way," for instance, has that Hank Williams Jr. bluesy country rock that works better as a solo cut.  Also, "It is Good" with its "lie lie lie" tag line sounds more like a grating fraternity chant than reverent worship.   Other than such quibbles, "All the People Say Amen" is a vital release for a twofold reason.  First, unlike many greatest hits collection where hits are blindfolded included.  Here, Maher gets the premium treatment when all his biggest songs have been re-interpreted and re-performed.  Second, for those unacquainted with Maher, this collection is great introduction to some of the great songs of the church where God reeives His worth-ship.  And to this end, may all God's people say amen!