Never one to shy away from clever word play or in-your-face topics, people have a way of connecting to his songs unlike any other artist out there, that being made clear by previous hits such as ?The Motions? and ?More?. Matthew West?s last album, 2008?s ?Something To Say? is proof how talented of a songwriter he is. Through his music, Matthew shows that whatever your story, Christ can be your hope and your healing.Īn Album With Layers | Posted October 05, 2010 It?s like a shoulder for the broken to cry on, and then it gently lifts their face and says, ?This is the hope you can have in Christ. You?ve been through a lot, but your story can have a happy ending.? That?s what this record does. But when they cross our paths, what should we do? We should leap out of our comfort zone, out of our own safe little world, reach out our hand and say, ?I know it hurts. It may be another follower of Christ or it may be someone who?s just searching for someone to love them. To me, it?s the model of how Christians should comfort those who?ve been through rough times. It tactfully covers issues like divorce and abuse, as well as a few tough questions people ask about life and the purpose behind it.Ībove all, this album offers hope in the midst of hurt. Inspired by the true stories of thousands of fans, The Story of Your Life digs into deep topics with a freshness and sincerity that?s often hard to come by. In what he describes as the ?sequel? to his 2008 album Something To Say, Matthew delivers a touching array of songs that will humble you, convict you, challenge you, and undoubtedly bring healing to many hurting hearts. What?s your story about His glory? Whatever your situation, you may be able to relate to the stories creatively portrayed by award-winning artist, Matthew West, in his new record. Highlights on the album include "Broken Girl," "Strong Enough" and "My Own Little World."Ĭlick Here To Read More From "The Year That Was: The Best Albums Of 2010!"Ĭomments ( 0) | Add Comment | Is This Review Helpful? Yes | NoĪ Shoulder To Cry On, a Hand To Comfort | Posted October 31, 2010 This is far from a heavy listening experience and knowing the source material came from true stories makes it an incredibly personal challenge to listen to the stories around us and usher hope wherever needed. And despite circumstances around us that may be clouding our view, there is a God who loves us and wants to grab our hand, and lead us out of the darkness. He is with us in the valleys as well as the mountaintops. It's right on par with the promise that God brings. With so many heavy topics, it's amazing to me how this album didn't turn out to be one of the most depressing albums I've ever heard, but through the entire album, West weaves poignant hope around these dark moments, shining light into the corners of these lives. Abuse, being forgotten, bad self-image, divorce and hate. The songs that emerged deal with the burdens that so many were carrying on their backs. For his fifth studio album, Matthew solicited stories from his fans, receiving an overwhelming amount of letters (over 10,000) from which he crafted the 11 songs of The Story Of Your Life. He emerged as a fantastic story teller, wrapping his personal experiences in accessible hooks and pop music. #7 Album Of 2010 | Posted December 21, 2010Ģ008's Something To Say established Matthew West as a great singer/songwriter in my book. “My Own Little World” perhaps serves as a capstone to the entire album, describing a person who lived in their own “little world” and then was awakened to the bigger picture of need and God’s work in the world.Ĭlick here to add a video. “Broken Girl” tragically recounts the countless stories Matthew received about sexual abuse – and describes the healing and redemption that Christ promises. The song “Family Tree” describes how Christ gives us a new identity and legacy and life, while “One Less’ chronicles the joy of adoption and helping those most in need. From joy to sorrow, struggle to victory, and life and death. And they covered a wide range of human experiences and emotions. The stories gave Matthew a window into what his fans had experienced in their lives. Radio stations, media outlets, and retailers caught the vision and helped spread the word of this unique album. When he opened up this opportunity to his fans, the message spread quickly – and soon almost 10,000 stories were submitted. Rather than write about what he was experiencing in his life, he asked his fans to submit the stories of their lives. For his new record, Matthew West did something unusual: He turned the microphone around.
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