However, despite my personal dislike for the past two discs (Particularly Undone, as can be seen in the review on this site), I took the risk on MercyMe's latest disc, Coming Up To Breathe. And I was not the only one taking a risk. This latest disc represents a risk made by the members of the band, to break out of the mold they have, to some degree, been forced into. As lead singer Bart Millard states in the disc's liner notes, "What you hold in your hands is the result of MercyMe surfacing...surfacing from our concern from what others might think of us, and allowing ourselves to come up for air, catch our breath and breathe deep the grace and freedom of God...The music and messagoe of this album is all over the place and we love it!"
Fear not, lontime MercyMe fans. This "surfacing," as Millard puts it, is not a complete rebirth of the band. They have not suddenly become a metal band that's looking to rival Project 86. However, it is a change all around. The songs are all over the place musically and lyrically. The sole constant from song to song is Millard's vocals.
And this actually makes for a pretty good disc. The lead single, So Long Self, brings about a somewhat classical pop feel, while Last One Standing takes on a slightly edgy rock feel. The former has a catchy chorus with a great message behind it (Saying goodbye to the old self and welcoming in Christ to take over). The latter is the closest thing to a battle cry ever done by this band.
And the surprises on this disc never stop. One Trick Pony takes on a country/folk styling that is actually very similar to older Shania Twain tunes (Think Any Man Of Mine and see if you don't notice the similarities). But don't assume that if you hate country you will despise this song. On the contrary, the lyrics are incredibly strong and make the song completely worth more than a few listens. Coming Up To Breathe, the disc's title track and opening track, takes on a style that most MercyMe fans will be accustomed to and welcomes them into the disc in a pretty solid way. And 3:42 AM (Writer's Block) gives listeners a little taste of a brass section; a welcome addition to an already upbeat track.
Overall, Coming Up To Breathe, while not a complete overhaul, is definitely a far cry from MercyMe's recent projects. The mixing of so many different styles with their own provides an incredible backdrop for some very solid lyrics. To put it simply: the risk taken on this disc has most definitely paid off in the form of an excellent release.