Love in Between

Personnel: Matt Maher (vocals, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, piano, programming); Paul Moak (acoustic guitar, electric guitar, baritone guitar, piano, Hammond b-3 organ, programming, background vocals); Tyler Burkum (acoustic guitar, electric guitar, banjo, background vocals); Eleonore Denig (violin); Cara Slaybaugh (cello); Tim Lauer (harmonica, piano, Hammond b-3 organ, Wurlitzer organ, programming, background vocals); Jeremy Lutito (drums, percussion, programming, background vocals); Ametria Dock, Natasha Williams, Jason Eskridge, Tony Lucido (background vocals).
Audio Mixer: Shane D. Wilson.
Recording information: The Smoakstack, Nashville, TN.
Photographer: Matthew Priestley.
Letting a bit more gutsy, dusty music into his heart, CCM artist Matt Maher continues to evolve on The Love in Between, an album that would play just as well at any given heartland bar on Friday night as it would after worship on Sunday. Of course the Christian message is still the same, although sometimes more subtle than before, as the secular struggle plays a larger role than ever with Maher's sad muse being the economic downturn of 2010/2011. It's a topic that drives the country-flavored "Turn Around" and the Springsteen-styled "Woke Up in America," the latter of which also recalls the tense rebellion of Maher's fellow Canadian Bruce Cockburn. Even though the big, dramatic rock moments and the sociological storytelling might throw some returning fans, his love for his fellow man shines through, so the driving force remains the same even when it's not always called out by name. ~ David Jeffries