"This album deals with what happens when you fall apart"
-John Mark McMillan
John Mark McMillan is a recording artist who wants to get real. He wants to get real about everything: his relationship with God, his pain, and God's redemption; and he wants to do it in a way that is dead-level honest. This is probably at least one of the reasons that adjectives like "genuine" and "honest" get thrown around a lot when people talk about his work. Of course, it's not McMillan's honesty that has garnered him so much at acclaim. Let's be honest: it's the music.
McMillan's melodies stay inside your head for weeks at a time, the rich fullness of John Mark's trademark voice reverberating key phrases long after the album stopped playing. And if his first album, Hope Anthology, Volume I was a little that way, his most recent album, The Song Inside the Sounds of Breaking Down is completely that way. Filled to the brim with standout songs, John Mark's sophomore release is one of those few albums that can be played in its entirety. From the fuzzed-out intro of "Londontown" to the quiet contemplative ending of "He Loves Us", The Song Inside the Sounds is a complete experience.
But don't take my word for it. Already, McMillan has been garnering praise from all kinds of places. Songwriter and Enter the Worship Circle Producer, Ben Pasley encourages music fans to, "Start your collection now with John Mark's latest album" saying that, "John Mark's southern rock tendencies and gritty songwriting are definitely a break from the ordinary." Grass Roots Music was equally as effusive: "Just the sound of John Mark McMillan's voice is enough to make me love this album, but add to it catchy songs, meaningful lyrics a definite indie rock vibe and you've got one album that shouldn't be overlooked!"
Thomas Torrey from WSLC Radio in New York said that, "John Mark McMillan achieves something rarely seen in Christian rock today. His music is emotionally genuine, borne from his soul, and it sounds good--the fresh poetry, hook-based anthems, and solid rock musicianship all please the ear extensively." And Matt Mungle host of the syndicated radio program Spin 180 intoned, “With so much fluff passing across my desk, it was a welcome relief to hear deep, thought provoking lyrics from a Christian artist.”
John Mark's albums are available now on iTunes, CD Baby, and on John Mark's website at www.thejohnmark.com. It was produced by Elijah Mosley and features James Duke on lead guitars, Al Sergel on drums, Andy Kurzweg on bass, and Joel Simmons ..s.
-Eric Hurtgen, God Section Editor, RelevantMagazine.com
Man,I don't ever do this, but I just really wanted to testify. I've been stuck on "How He Loves" for about the past 2 weeks. I finally got in on itunes, i heard it about 3 months ago before i moved from Texas back to NY to take care of my mom with cancer. It has been such a challenging journey, this song has TOTALLY ministered to me, I mean it's like the lyrics were really the words in my heart. This song really made me feel something rare, someone knows what I'm feeling. "...i know that I still love you God despite the agony." Brother John please help me pray for my mom Carmen.
wow i love ur music and what you do for our amazing god...i watched the video on youtube of the call in Nashville..WOW im tellin you what this nation is being shaked as we speak whether people think little or big its happening...i just love your music keep it up bro..GOD BLESS you, your band, this country, this nation, your family, i declare in JESUS NAME..AMEN..take care..Joe
John, 'How He Loves' IS a wave building in strength, and I pray, for the Glory of Christ and the honor of your friend, that when it hits land, it will cover the world with such a rich blanket of Salvation that more songs, and greater witnesses will rise up from the earth with Praises of the Savior dripping from their lips, and pouring forth from their hearts! God's Grace IS Sufficient, His Word IS True, & Jesus IS Enough-- ALWAYS! :) Blessings, my friend! -SRD
hey y dont u put that song on your profile, it goes, dont know the name, "I dreamed i kissed your feet, between the cigarette buds on the side of 14th street......." i wanna put it on my profile.
