Album: Something Beautiful & New
Review by Wildy Haskell, Wildy's World
Singer, songwriter, musician, worship leader, teacher, coach, husband, father, grandfather... the marks of character herald each role in Eddy Mann's life. Perhaps the greatest surprise is that he has managed to undertake each of these roles with such compassion and excellence. Mann gave over his musical and songwriting talents to the service of God nearly two decades ago and has never looked back. Besides serving as worship leader at Gloria Dei Church in Huntingdon Valley, Pennsylvania for over fifteen years, Mann has released six albums of inspirational music. His latest, Something Beautiful And New shows a consummate professional and a distinctive talent in the midst of pure song craft, featuring ten smooth and compact pop/rock songs dedicated to the glory of God.
Something Beautiful And New gets started with "Forever Young", a low-key rocker with hints of Americana sounds in the mix. Mann's pleasant voice and unaffected vocal style work perfectly together amidst a theme that measures age in the arc of an eternal spirit. "All Are Welcome" is a gentle song of praise that intones the nearness of the Kingdom of God. The smooth pop arrangement is perfectly crafted; seamless and clean. "Goodness Prevails" is a blend of gentle pop and blues with a chorus you won't be able to get out of your head. Mann's sound here is gentle, but hardly passive, and the guitar work has a subtlety and completeness that's reminiscent of some of Eric Clapton's quieter moments.
"Without Love" is a quiet little pop tune that may catch you by surprise. You might overlook it if you’re not listening closely, but "Without Love" has an inherent catchiness that will work its way inside your brain. You won't be able to keep from tapping your toes, and the positive message is one you can get behind even if you don't catch the religious fervor of the songwriter. This is a potential hit for Contemporary Christian Music outlets, and if a name such as Jaci Velasquez, Amy Grant or Michael W. Smith were ever to record this it would be a Gold Record. "The Peaceable Kingdom" is subtle on the surface but contains incredible energy just beneath. The peace here is anticipated, but the anticipation bursts from every seam of the song. The chorus is a bit too repetitive, but the song would work well in a worship setting.
"Something Beautiful And New" is a gorgeous love ballad written to God; an entreaty and prayer for forgiveness and renewal. Musically and spiritually, this is a "Wow" moment, and Mann has crafted an uplifting melody to accompany inspiring lyrics. "I Wait On You" is a passive and pretty ballad about the patient wait for God's kingdom. The prayerful and quiet mien of the song speaks of a private conversation dispensed in poetic/musical form. Mann gets a gentle rock-a-bye feel from "All Is Of Grace", a quiet celebration of God's love. "Bring It All" quietly sets up the closer, "Everything We Do". The latter is a teach moment in song, embedding the entire 'What Would Jesus Do' concept in a seamless pop song with a great hook and a nice melody.
Eddy Mann shows himself eminently able to combine a distinctive pop sensibility with the courage of his convictions on Something Beautiful And New. From a musical perspective, Mann could write hits for pop radio without any difficulty, but he chooses to offer his talents instead to God than to the commercial marketplace. Something Beautiful And New combines both callings quite successfully, with songs that call to you musically, even if the message is not of your taste. Eddy Mann is a consummate songwriter, with a natural-hewn voice that puts the listener immediately at ease, and Something Beautiful And New is very much worth spending some time to get to know.
Album: Something Beautiful & New
Review by Arizzona, Unashamed Faith
To everyone who listens to Something Beautiful & New by Eddy Mann, my prayer is that it will bring you closer to the Lords presence, and everything you do. Be encouraged and stay in His presence and Spirit.
Eddy Mann is a worship leader, musician, songwriter, teacher, coach, husband, and father... whether you know him as one or more of these people, you know his heart; you know his love; you know his discipleship. As a musician and songwriter it was fifteen years ago that he made the decision to offer his creative gifts to God. Since then he has released five CD's and written countless songs for church. Love has also been constant in his vision. His love consists of hope, peace and understanding through the eyes of a loving heart and his newest CD Something Beautiful & New is no exception to that.
Something Beautiful & New is a 10-song album, and if you like soulful and message-driven songs, then you should enjoy this collection. The song “Goodness Prevails” is a great worship tune. All things work together for the good, which is framed by the spirit. I really enjoy this song and keep playing it over and over respectfully.
Eddy Mann’s mission statement? To inspire! To lift those filled with the spirit to new heights in their personal relationship with their God, and to reach those who have yet to be touched by His peace and understanding. It is my prayer that you will be moved to seek the truth. That the spirit will fill your heart, that you will know the joy of living the Word.
Mann’s charming singing voice and a playful spirit garners even the toughest messages of praise. What is gained by his worshipful heart and voice is an album full of songs that give praise and love most unconditionally.
When it comes to Inspirational music, Eddy Mann does not fall into the category of “the yester year artist." If anything, he may be a true legend! Something Beautiful & New by Eddy Mann is filled with great worship songs. An excellent stand out is “The Peaceable Kingdom” the vocals are simple but beautiful as a singing songbird. "It does not matter what I do, without love I’m nothing” are powerful words. While the overall sound of this album may be reminiscent of some modern worship, the songs contain an honest transparency that is hard to find. The same could be said of the song "All Are Welcome" as it recognizes the need for God to remind us all that we are all welcome at his table no matter what your situation may be.
Whether you are new to Praise and Worship Gospel music, or an avid listener, Something Beautiful & New will be a blessing, as it was to this reviewer, because it speaks to one's soul, and inspires a closer walk with the Lord through praise, worship and thanksgiving, making it the perfect pick-you-up album. If you are down before listening to this CD, chances are you will not be after experiencing, and soaking in the wonderful vocals and music. This CD is a treat to behold.
Album: Something Beautiful & New
Review by Dan MacIntosh, PopMatters
Eddy Mann’s Something Beautiful & New is a worship album with a purpose. Yes, Mann spends much time praising and worshiping his God. He also knows, though, that if The Almighty is to work effectively through His people, the chosen ones need to get along together.
The second song on this breezy pop album is “All Are Welcome.” This song is almost like the opening announcements at a church service, where the speaker welcomes one and all to the service. There is – or at least there should be – no prejudice in the congregation. That is what this song preaches against.
Two songs, which are back-to-back to each other, are “Without Love,” followed by “The Peaceable Kingdom.” The first song speaks of how nothing done in God’s name is truly of any spiritual value unless it is done with love. If brothers and sisters love one another, as the Bible commands them to, then they will get along peacefully. The latter track features one of the album’s best musical arrangements. It’s performed nearly like a chant. It also has a funky, and nearly a world music guitar riff that causes the tune to bounce along nicely. While Mann mostly avoids coming off like a preacher, he does make his point abundantly clear on this one. “People let’s go/And make a peaceable kingdom,” he encourages toward the track’s conclusion.
This album’s title track is a much more personal composition. “Something Beautiful & New” is an individualistic cry for forgiveness and restoration. Sung over a mostly acoustic guitar arrangement, along with a pretty female backing vocal, Mann seems to be saying – in so many words – that the peaceable kingdom he seeks must begin with the man in the mirror. No, that doesn’t mean there needs to be a whole lot of Michael Jackson-like bizarre behavior. Rather, Mann knows he needs to get his heart right with God before he can go out and remind others of their need for a more Godly lifestyle. It’s wonderful the way Mann sings this one song so slowly. It reveals how he is carefully measuring his every word. Such steps of faith cannot be taken in haste. It’s foolish to make quick promises you’ll never keep. It’s far better to take one's time, count the costs, and then make the commitment stick for good.
For the most part, guitars are rhythmically strummed and picked throughout. However, the slow-down that Mann begins with “Something Beautiful & New,” continues with “I Wait on You.” Mann sings this song over gently fingerpicked guitar. Its lyric is like a combination of a Psalm and a Proverb. Mann asks God to make him into a man of integrity. The integrity part sounds a whole lot like what Solomon wrote about in the Proverbs, whereas Mann’s commitment to wait on the Lord comes off a lot like the patient writings of David in the Psalms.
Mann is not any sort of show-off-y vocalist. Instead, he sings with a pleasant, sincere voice. It’s tempting, even for singers of spiritual songs, to go to great lengths to show what can be done with one voice. In contrast to many other more flamboyant vocalists, however, Mann takes a much more subtle approach. He’s more concerned with communicating than he is with entertaining. Even so, the songs he’s recorded are quite entertaining, indeed.
The slightly rhythmic “All Is of Grace” summarizes the whole point of this disc. Whether there is true and sincere unity in the body of Christ or not, God’s grace still reigns supreme. In other words, God calls us to create a peaceable kingdom among ourselves. The good news is that, even when we fall short of the mark, God is always consistently loving and forgiving.
Much worship music today is loud and rocking. Eddy Mann’s variety of worship music, however, is a throwback to when the style was much quieter and more meditative. Something Beautiful & New is an album that may not win you over upon first listen, or even the second or third time through. If you give it time, though, it is bound to grow on you. Eddy Mann’s heart is in the exact right place, and it shows.
