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JFH Music Review




Michael W. Smith
Michael W. Smith 2



Artist Info: Discography
Album length: 10 tracks: 36 minutes, 40 seconds
Street Date: 1984


Michael W. Smith followed up his classic debut Project with another equally impressive effort: his sophomore album, simply entitled Michael W. Smith 2. Following much the same blueprint as Project, MWS2 finds Smith offering another strong mix of upbeat pop songs, melodic anthems, and powerful ballads.

Instead of working primarily with his wife Deborah, Smith opts this time for a series of co-writers, including Gary Chapman, Mike Hudson, and frequent collaborator Amy Grant. The results are fairly consistent as the album starts off with two of Smith's most recognized songs from the '80s: "A Way" and "I Am Sure." The former is a mid-tempo, yet powerful song about the restless search for assurance that precedes faith, while the latter is an optimistic glance towards the impending return of Christ. Both songs are melodically brilliant and spiritually relevant, a combination that - more than twenty years later - still makes Smith's songs an enjoyable treat to listen to. The rest of the album, meanwhile, is equally impressive: "I'm Up" is a vibrantly joyful song in both its outlook and its sound, "Restless Heart" is an engaging duet with Amy Grant, while "Hosanna" remains one of the best and most enthusiastic worship songs of Smith's career.

Overall, MWS2 is a successful second effort for Michael W. Smith and is a testament to his impressive consistency. Unfairly overlooked by most fans (perhaps the most overlooked album of Smith's career!), MWS2 is a classic Smitty album in every sense. Striking twice in a span of two years is no mean feat, but as we all know, he would continue to deliver over the next two decades, hitting the stratosphere of Christian music like few before him (or since).

- Review date: 2/10/07, written by Sherwin Frias



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. Artist Info: Discography
. Record Label: Reunion Records
. Album length: 10 tracks: 36 minutes, 40 seconds
. Street Date: 1984
. Buy It: Amazon.com

  1. A Way
  2. I Am Sure
  3. End Of The Book
  4. I'm Up
  5. Glorious Grace
  6. Musical Instruments
  7. Restless Heart
  8. All I Need To Say
  9. Wings Of The Wind
  10. Hosanna
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This Friday, October 3, 2025
ALBUMS
BASECAMP Beautiful Like the Truth [Polished Arrow]
Pat Barrett I've Got A Fire [Capitol CMG]
Elan Brio Millennium Funk (independent)
Kristene DiMarco MEMORADUM - EP [Bethel]
Heath McNease Autumn Sessions, Vol. 2 (independent)
Mystical Death Carnation EP (Remastered) [Rottweiler Records]
Matt Redman Life & Breath [Integrity]
Thrive Worship Jesus Song - EP [Integrity Music]
Bay Turner Better Days - EP [Centricity Music]
John Van Deusen As Long As I Am In The Tent of This Body I Will Make a Joyful Noise Pt. 1 [Anotherland]

SINGLES
Gabby Barrett Ain't Supposed To Be - Single [Warner Music Nashville]
Mark Bishop Time To Let Go and Let God - Single [Sonlite]
Franni Cash Church Clothes - Single [Capitol CMG]
ChristianXXII & Futuristic Already Won - Single [DREAM]
Damian Back To You - Single [DREAM]
Dex the nerd who loves Jesus Salvation - Single [Syntax]
Drenae To the Cross - Single [Syntax]
Emerson Day This House Won't Fall - Single [Fair Trade]
Chris Ekiss Life's Biggest Questions - Single [Provident]
The Forerunner Manifesto (independent)
for KING + COUNTRY World on Fire (feat. Taylor Hill) - Single [Curb Records]
Forrest Frank JESUS IS COMING BACK SOON (feat. Josiah Queen) - Single [River House]
Vic Lucas Make a Way - Single [Syntax]
No Vain Glory MOVE YOUR BODY - Single [Syntax]
Nathan Oswalt MAKE UP YOUR MIND - Single (independent)
Drew Parker Blame Jesus - Single [Warner Music Nashville]
Razzie SHORTCUTS - Single [Syntax]
Shamash The Gulf Between Us - Single [Rottweiler]
Anne Wilson Carry Me - Single [Capitol CMG]
Zahriya Zachary Stay - Single [Bethel]

VINYL
Bleach Live/The Lost Show Vinyl (independent)

Next Friday, October 10, 2025
ALBUMS
Citizens m us eum [Anotherland Records]
Jesus Culture Send The Fire: Live From London [Capitol CMG]
Tasha Layton Life in Me [BEC]

SINGLES
Holly Brand One Thing He Wouldn't Do - Single [Integrity]
Chosen Road Daddy Was a Navy Man - Single [Thoroughbred]
Drakeford Writing on the Wall - Single (independent)
Amy Jay Back to What's Natural - Single (independent)
Run51 Song Of My Soul - Single [DREAM]
Zane Vickery Name (Live at Greenbriar) - Single (independent)
Vineyard Worship & Dreaming The Impossible Praise You For Eternity - Single [Vineyard]


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