Michael Sweet Him Dog & Pony Records Praise & Worship 08-01-2006

SCORE 75%

When Jesus was on the cross, He faced more than just the physical agony and suffering of being brutally slain by his peers. He was also berated and belittled by jeers from a crowd which included members of every societal class including one of the two thieves who were subjected to the same capital punishment. The other thief, however, realized who Jesus was and simply requested that He remember him in the afterlife. It was an earnest and heartfelt request which Jesus acknowledged, promising that they would be together in paradise that very night.

Michael Sweet offers a collection of heartfelt renditions of some of his favorite hymns with his latest project, Him. Citing his own excitement and spiritual growth upon discovering the deep and rich lyrical content from a hymnal, Sweet wanted to pass along that experience to his listeners and fans with this release. Selecting ten of his personal favorites, Sweet initially recorded this album independently a few years ago with the title Hims, but felt it worth re-issuing on a broader scale. Since the songs are re-worked hymns, it's not surprising that they all have a worship focus to them, covering such aspects of God as His healing power ("Giliad") and His faithfulness ("I'll Remember You"), as well as simply praising His name ("Alleluia").

Many of the songs feature an enjoyable and fresh approach, but the overall impact of the album finds a bottle neck when it comes to the production. The album feels like a cheap recording, as if very little effort went into cleaning up the nuances of the recording process. Him also seems a bit dated - perhaps it would've worked better in 2003 on the cusp of the "boom" of hymns projects within the industry - but it does still have some strong moments. And throughout it all, one can not help but be amazed by the strength and control of Sweet's vocals, even after almost 25 years of recording.

Fans of Stryper, the band for which Michael Sweet serves as front man, Sweet's previous solo pursuits, and contemporary arrangements of classic hymns, will most likely find this album endearing. It does have a tendency to grow on the listener, given the proven charm of Sweet's vocals. Him is certainly a decent enough album to lend an ear.