Customer Reviews

This Is Your Time

5 star:		(71)
4 star:		(18)
3 star:		(7)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Michael W. Smith's newest release, This Is Your Time, is, in my opinion, Smitty's best CD ever (along with his 1998 Live The Life release). A variety of musical contrasts abound on This Is Your Time; from the calming, Celtic-like "Rince De", to the driving and motivational "Worth It All". Hats off to Smitty for the title track, "This Is Your Time", the best one on the CD (and Smitty's best song ever-along with "Live The Life"). Along with "This Is Your Time", my favorites were: "Worth It All", a driving song about how being a Christian is worth more than anything, truly "Worth It All". I also enjoyed the soft pop sounds of "I Will Be Your Friend", "I Will Carry You", and "Everybody Free". The pleading (and rocking) "Reach Out To Me" is also an excellent song, exploring new musical ground for Smitty. The catchy and plain fun "I Still Have The Dream" was a special treat, and sure to please crowds with its rocking, guitar-driven energy. The two love songs written for Smitty's wife "Hey You It's Me" and "I'm Gone" are also a pleasure to listen to and show Smitty's devotion to his wife (something needed in today's divorce-prone culture)! The two songs for two of Smitty's children "She Walks With Me" and "Anna" are also well done and sure to be heartstring pullers, along with the final track "This Is Your Time (Reprise), an insturmental tribute to Cassie Bernall. Smitty tells us in this record to "live every moment leave nothing to chance...", encouraging us to "live the life" for Christ, for we do not know what tomorrow will bring. Overall, This Is Your Time is the best CD I have ever heard, musically, and, most importantly spriritually, with Michael W. Smith sending a clear Christian message of peace, love, hope and encouragement.

Some people have criticized this album for mixing Christianity with pop music, but others have complained that it needs to be more Christ-centered. Go figure. It just goes to show that it's impossible to please everybody. Maybe if the critics would be quiet long enough they would realize that this is, in fact, a flat-out excellent CD that compares favorably to any other Smitty album. The title track is so powerful it can give you chills, and will no doubt be an all-time classic. Only a zombie could not be moved by it. The rest of the CD, for the most part, takes on a slightly less serious mode, mixing bouncy, danceable, pop-rock tracks like "Worth It All" and "I Still Have The Dream" with peaceful and often sweet ballads like "She Walks With Me" and "Everybody Free". Smith includes several songs inspired by his family and friends, and I see this as a positive thing, that his thoughts are devoted to his loved ones instead of his career like many artists. Our society could certainly use Smitty's encouragement to love our spouses and children deeply. There are elements of MWS's past albums in this project, making any Smitty fan almost certain to love "This Is Your Time". If for some reason you didn't like Smith in the past, it's not likely you'll embrace the album; however, if you're unfamilar with his music, by all means give this album a chance. You would be very pleasantly surprised, because this is pop music at its best.

Current reigning Christian Artist of the Year, Michael W. Smith steps up to the plate for his thirteenth turn at bat. Thirteen must be his lucky number, because never before has he released an album so mature, yet fabulously fun, laced with such poignancy, as he has accomplished on This Is Your Time. As practically everyone knows by now, the title song, written by Smith and Wes King, is about Cassie Bernall, the modern-day Christian martyr from the Columbine High School shooting earlier this year. Smitty (who writes only music and then relies on others to translate his ideas and thoughts into lyrics, just in case you didn't know) calls King's powerful words "the lyric of a lifetime." I have a feeling he may be right -- this could easily become Smitty's new signature song for the next decade.

The most intriguing thing about this album is that for the first time ever, Smitty has a different lyricist on every song. And quite a repertoir of lyricists it is, too, including: Cindy Morgan, Dan Haseltine, Ginny Owens, Chris Rice, the already-mentioned Wes King, and Smith's wife Deborah D. Smith, among others. The usual mix of love songs and thought-provoking spiritual anthems are mixed with a pair of songs about two of Smith's daughters ("Anna" and "She Walks With Me") and the requisit instrumental. This time out, though, Smitty trades in the bouncy pop sounds found on Live the Life for more mature orchestration and sounds, harkening back to I'll Lead You Home. That's still my all-time favorite Smitty album, so I think it's a great direction.

Top Picks: The tear-jerking title cut, "Worth It All" (love that killer guitar riff on the bridge), the powerfully anthemic "I Will Carry You," the rock-tinged "I Still Have the Dream," and the amazingly poignant "Everybody Free" (who else but Chris Rice could write lyrics like these?).

Pros: Such a wealth of talent could only produce something this great. The variety of voices pulls together to form a surprisingly cohesive album. Cons: "I'm Gone," despite its great lyrics by Ginny Owens, doesn't really do anything for me. It's a little too Stevie Wonder for Smitty to pull off. The Verdict: Despite its one misstep, This Is Your Time still ranks among Smitty's very best efforts. A very worthwhile and enjoyable experience from an artist that only gets better and better.

From first track to last, this is an exceptional piece of work. I have listened to Michael for many years, and I fell in love with this record as quickly as each of its predecessors. "God's Dance" is a fitting opening for this album much in the vein of the opening track for "Exodus", Smitty's worship project on Rocketown Records. From there we segue into the high octane "Hey You, It's Me" written for Debbie, his wife. The energy continues into the next track "Worth It All" for the kids at Kanakuk Camp. The album moves from style to style in a sequence that never lets things get dull. For those familiar with the Christian Music Industry, this record offers collaborations with many of today's top notch songwriters including Cindy Morgan, Wes King, Chris Rice, Dan Haselstine (Jars Of Clay) and a host of others. As always, Smitty displays great instrumental prowess on each track along with a talent for great melodies that stay in your head for days! He gives the listener a glimpse into his heart with songs for his wife and children alongside declarations of his faith like "Still Have The Dream." The centerpiece of he album is the title track which will no doubt be considered a classic in Christian music circles and, hopefully, in secular ones as well. It is a beautiful and fitting tribute to Cassie, and it contains a message that has moved me in a way that no song prior has ever done. Smitty, you are truly a gift to all of us in the family of God. Keep up the INCREDIBLE work that you are doing for the kingdom. LOVE THIS RECORD!

This is a musician that had better never retire. I honestly don't think Smitty can make a bad CD. I felt that Live the Life had been the topper on his career. His best. I was wrong. His best will never be met as long as he making CD's. The next one just keeps getting better. The music is incredible. He mixes it up quite well. He is a tool of God in the music industry and I hope he continues to make music for many years....

Rince De

This song is a jolly song, something I really enjoyed on this album. It's a bagpipes song, and it's really fun. It's like a song you can hop and skip around too! This phrase called Rince De that means "God's Dance" and is pronounced "Rinkuh J," which I think is really cool.

Hey You It's Me

One of My favorites on the Album. It starts out with some piano and then some drums and electric guitar are added. Some of the words are a little hard to pick out, but once you read them, you know them. Then after the second chorus, you hear Smitty shout "Hey!" and the piano part from the beginning kicks in. Then Smitty sings the chorus two times and then sings something that isn't in the words. "Hey Baby it's you and Me, You know this is always gonna be. Here we are looking at the stars, Thinking how we have come so very far."

Worth It All

Okay, this is my favorite song on the album! It starts out with some electric guitar and then adds some drums and piano. The chorus is very catchy, you'll be singing this all day! Then when he finishes the two verse's and chorus' a guitar solo comes in and Smitty yells, "Yes I BELIEVE!" Then he sings the chorus three times again, each with a different ending of "all I know it's worth it all." Then Smitty makes a goofy exit.

I Will Be Your Friend

This is a sweet song about friendship. It start's out slow but then picks up. This is a song you'll be singing, every now and again. "I Will Be Your Friend, is not another Friend's or was it ever meant to be. You know honestly one day I was just sitting down playing and I wrote this song and I kept on Saying 'I'll Be your Friend for a Lifetime.' Smitty commented.

This is Your Time

This song was written for Cassie Bernall, the girl who said she believed in God and lost her life for it. This song actually brought me to tears, when I listened to it. It's amazing, because each time I listen to it I get chills. The bagpipes at the end where never in there. The song was recorded without them. Michael wasn't that satisfied with the song either. Then one night he woke up at 3 in the morning. "I don't wake up at three in the morning." Smith said. He recalled having a dream with bagpipes in them. He kept on hearing the bagpipes. So he started to rewrite the end. When he told Misty, Cassie's mother, she gasped. He asked what was wrong. " I thought I offended her." Michael said. She told him that her daughter loved bagpipes, and nobody knew that except her parents. This song is beautiful song, you'll get the same feeling over again, and again, peace.

I Will Carry You.

This song reminds me of a song that should be in movie like Roots, or Amistad. It's a nice song, but yet not one of my favorites. It's a peaceful song.

She Walks With Me.

A very Cute song. I loved it! Smitty's musical talents are super! The part where the song breaks for a musical part is beautiful. The song is written for his daughter Whitney, when she turned thirteen. Smitty says that he woke up one day, and thought he should write a song for her, especially at this stage of 13 years old.

Reach Out to Me. A very cool song. It starts out with Smitty singing the chorus with no music. Then the music kicks in. The words are a little hard to pick out sometimes. A very neat ending, Smitty sing's the chorus twice, and then you hear him singing, "oh, oh oh, oh oh." All in the background you can still hear him sing it when the chorus comes back in. You can also hear him say, "I need you about know. Reach out, reach out." A very cool ending!

I Still Have The Dream

Smitty begins the song by saying, "Come on Ray, buddy you can it now. Come on Ray. Come on. WHOOO!" The the song starts. He also added the concert stuff in it such as, "2 3 4" before every chorus. It's actually a very cool song.

I'm Gone

A song about how Smitty got married. It's actually quite funny. The sing is pretty short, so the ending, you hear him fooling around. Such as, "Hey baby I Love You! Ey! Hey Baby I Love you don't ya know?" Whistles, etc. It's a cute song.

Anna

A very beautiful song about his daughter Anna. It was inspired one day when she asked her Dad to watch her dance. Watching her moved him and he began to write the song. The Ending chorus is simply beautiful! I was choked up and she isn't even my daughter!

Everybody Free

A AWESOME Song, about Jesus' love for us. It uses an analagy of little kids, playing Hide and Seek, singing Ollie Ollie Everybody Free. A powerful message, intwined in a really neat song.

This is Your Time (Reprise)

A beautiful reprise of the song This is Your Time. Smitty does excellent piano playing, and the orchestra is beautiful. Some may find it boring, but I find it a beautiful reminder to live every moment and leave nothing to chance.

I love this CD! "Rince De" is a great opener, which follows "Hey You, it's Me", which is a very cool song. Next comes "Worth it All", yet another song with a catchy tune. Those three songs, as well as the title cut, are the ones on this CD that I like the best. His "slow songs" are beautiful, but the tunes on those are a bit dull. Certainly not as good as the wonderful "Live the Life" but definatly worth buying. Once again, MWS has a made an excellent albums. MWS fans should not be dissapointed by this wonderful musican's latest work.

MWS, affectionately called Smitty by avid fans, has given us an INCREDIBLE CD! He never ceases to come up with energizing rock songs, balanced with thought-provoking, touching ballads. The title cut, THIS IS YOUR TIME, is an exceptional piece! MWS has captured a young woman's final moments of life in a song. His lyrics force you to consider yourself lucky to be alive, and to make you want to be the best person you can with what time you have left. The subtlety was not lost here. None of us know when we are going to be called home, or under what circumstances that might happen. Cassie Bernall was blown away for believing in GOD. If only all of us were asked that question under duress. MWS has always been focused the youth crowd. He is the reason most of us have made it to 30. (Thank you, Smitty! ) This CD is rockin'! It also has ballads that move you, choruses of powerful voices with beautiful harmonies. The collaboration with other artists is fantastic. This CD is a MUST HAVE for SMITTY fans. I have not taken this CD out of the player to play Christmas music yet, it's THAT GOOD! I think it is the BEST MWS project yet. Can't wait for the concert! Hope to see you there singing along with the rest of us!

Well I can't stop listening to this CD either. Bagpipes have always been a favorite of mine and the way he works them in on "This is Your Time" just gives me chills each time I hear that tune. Also I love the irish feel of "Rince De." The building of the music in that tune is just traditional Smitty. The songs just have a way of grabbing you and before you know it, you're singing along with it either at home or in the car. The piano playing on "Hey you, Its Me" is great. I wish I had that much talent on piano. An amazing job once again. Congrats.

I JUST HAVE TO SAY I'VE BEEN LISTENING TO MICHAEL W. SMITH FOR A LONG TIME AND THIS BY FAR IS MY FAVORITE ALBUM. THE TRIBUTE TO CASSIE BERNALL "THIS IS YOUR TIME" IS TRULLY HEARTWARMING I HAD READ HER BIO RECENTLY,HER MOTHER WROTE THAT CASSIE'S FAVORITE INTRUMENT WAS THE BAGPIPE SO I THOUGHT THAT WAS REALLY SWEET. ALSO THIS SONG REMINDS US TO GET OUT THERE AND LIVE EACH DAY FOR CHRIST AS IF IT WAS OUR LAST. I ALSO ENJOYED THE OTHER SONGS "REACH OUT TO ME" HAS GREAT POTENTIAL FOR DANCE (FOR ALL THOSE WHO WERE BLESSED WITH RYTHEM). THE SONGS "IM GONE" & "ANNA" WERE WONDERFUL. IT REALLY SHOWS HOW MUCH HE LOVES HIS WIFE AND DAUGHTER. IM JUST REALLY PLEASED WITH THIS ALBUM AND I HOPE THIS REVIEW IS HELPFUL TO YOU