All the People Said Amen

Personnel: Matt Maher (vocals, acoustic guitar, piano, programming); Paul Moak (acoustic guitar, electric guitar, mandolin, piano, Hammond b-3 organ, percussion, programming, background vocals); Kenny Butler (electric guitar); Eleonore Denig (violin); Austin Hoke (cello); Richard Scott (drums).
Recording information: Detroit, MI (2012); Indianapolis, IN (2012); South Bend, IN (2012); St. Louis, MO (2012).
Photographers: Michael Wilson ; Kyle Trafton; Steve Ziegelmeyer.
All the People Said Amen is Matt Maher's fourth release over the last decade. Given the wide-ranging popularity of his previous praise & worship offerings, it made sense for the artist to deliver a live retrospective. That said, Maher was not merely content to revisit the past, but included four new studio tracks. Live and in-the-studio guitars, bass, drums, piano, violin, chamber strings, and a large backing chorus adorn these proceedings. The set's first single, "Lord I Need You," is a new cut which features Audrey Assad on backing vocals. It walks the line between the anthemic and introspective, and straddles contemporary country, rock, and CCM. The title track is a rollicking electric country rocker with an infectious hook in the singalong chorus. For a contemporary Christian recording, the live material is uncharacteristically loose and raw, giving the proceedings a kinetic feel and sense of immediacy (check the blasting guitars on "Turn Around"). Nashville usually bleeds out the energy, but not here. For fans, All the People Said Amen will prove indispensable. For the uninitiated seeking excellent songwriting and performances in the praise & worship genre, this is a prime example. ~ Thom Jurek