The Michael W. Smith Project

The Michael W. Smith Project heavily drenched with keyboards and synthesizers, shows Michael as a virtual whiz on those instruments. (He just finished touring with Amy Grant, playing keyboards in her band.)

Beginning with an instrumental reminiscent of Bach, Smiths "Sonata in D Major" shows his classical training. But if the first song shows where his fingers have been, the next ones show where his heart is going: "You Need a Saviour," uptempo and nearly new wave, "Could He Be the Messiah," and "Be Strong and Courageous" all cookers.

One side two Amy Grant sings along on "Friends." "Great Is the Lord" with its chorus could soon join "How Majestic" as one of all-time great praise songs from contemporary Christian music. Michael, heavy on music but light on words, is perfectly complemented by wife Debbie, who writes the lyrics for Michael's tunes.

Projectis a powerful debut album full of energy, excitement, and the keyboard/synthesizer sound heard all over pop radio. But more than that, this album is full of the promise of a great new talent. -- Don Cusic (c) 1983 CCM Communications, Inc.