If you are like me, you hadn’t heard of Gungor before now. That was until the release of their most recent album Beautiful Things. The band formally known as “The Michael Gungor Band” is led by the husband and wife duo Michael & Lisa Gungor and includes Brad Waller & Josh Harvey. Beautiful Things is the follow up to their debut album Ancient Skies. Frontman Michael says, “This album is an expression of hope that God will make beautiful things out of the dust in our lives. That God will somehow use us, use our obedience and love, our feeble human effort, and build Himself a kingdom.”
Michael Gungor’s voice bears a strong resemblance to Jack Johnson and Ben Harper and this album includes various styles including folk, blues, & rock. One thing that I love is the arrangement on this album, which is done by Michael himself. You will hear great sounds ranging from the traditional (guitar,drums,bass,keys) to the unique (cello,violin, flute, organ & strings).
Keys Songs:
• Dry Bones: What a great opening song, this song explains how God creates us and How He will create us new. That when we cry out for Him, He is there and saves us.
• Beautiful Things: My favorite song on the album. The elegant lyrics tell it all “You make Beautiful Things, You make beautiful things out of the dust.” It explains to us that even when WE feel that we are just the dust on earth and there isn’t any hope left, WE can have hope in Jesus. He makes all things new. He will find what was lost.
• You Have Me: A beautiful song that tells of Jesus’ love “I’ve wandered heaven’s gates, I’ve made my bed in hell, You were there still.”
• We Will Run To You: A song that tells of each our path’s when we are living of sin & we then come to realize we have turned from Jesus. We then ask for the Lord’s mercy and return. Asking “Break us and recreate us now, Lord have Mercy. Oh, bring us back to you.”
Other Notables: Heaven feat: Israel Houghton & Cannot Keep You
This album was truly a pleasure to listen to. In the CCM mainstream, it is a delight when something new and not the norm catches your attention and truly gets you moving toward the cross. I look forward to what the future holds for Gungor. I hope that they can continue to grow and expand on what they have established thus far. So go to i-tunes or amazon and take a listen.
8/10