In 1988, Rich Mullins released his third album, Winds of Heaven, Stuff of Earth, which featured the most well-known track of his career and one that remains a classic today, "Awesome God." The following year, Mullins released a new project, perhaps overshadowed by its predecessor but an even stronger release in and of itself, Never Picture Perfect.

The album opens with the short acapella, "I Will Sing." It serves as a nice intro style track that makes way for "Hope to Carry On," a relatively straightforward song that draws upon biblical imagery to highlight the hope that believers have through Jesus in this life. "While the Nations Rage," arguably the best track from the first half of the album, takes inspiration from Psalm 2 and reflects on the steady hope of Jesus in a turbulent world: "Where are the thorns that drew His blood? / Well the thorns have turned to dust / But not so the love / He has given / No it remains / In the hearts of the children / Who will love while the nations rage." "First Family" comes closest to a title track with the words "never picture perfect" coming from a line towards the end of the song. Rich shares the story of his family dynamic growing up, narrating the beautiful moments that existed despite the hardships they faced. "Alrightokuhhuhamen" and "Higher Education and the Book of Love" round out the beginning part of the album, with the latter contributing the most unique song on the record (in some ways positively, in others negatively). "Higher Education..." thematically focuses on navigating the challenging years of high school and college, rejecting the empty philosophies of the secular world, and clinging to the greater truths of the Christian faith.

While the front half of the album holds its own, the greatest strengths of Never Picture Perfect come on the back side of the album. Ironically, following a jarring transition after "Higher Education..." come three of the album's shining tracks that all flow beautifully from one into the next, making them function like inseparable parts of the same song: "Bound to Come Some Trouble," "The Love of God," and "My One Thing."

"Bound" becomes the album's unrivaled highlight as Rich reminds the listener that difficult moments will come in life, but they can turn to a God who knows what they are going through and walks with them in those times. He sings, "I know there's bound to come some trouble to your life / Reach out to Jesus / Hold on tight / He's been there before and He knows what it's like / You'll find He's there." The song embodies the feeling of Rich sitting in a chair across from the listener late at night, looking them in the eyes, and sharing a great encouragement like he too feels their pain and cares about them on a personal level. The heartfelt honesty of Mullins comes through clearly, and the result is one of the greatest songs Mullins ever wrote. A gorgeous instrumental section ends the track and leads right into "The Love of God," which continues Mullins' reflection about the depth and richness of God's sacrificial love for His people. "My One Thing" follows and features the most prominent hammered dulcimer on the album, while "Somewhere" closes the album on a strong note and shares a more futuristic angle of the message from "Hope to Carry On." The album includes a reprise of "The Love of God" to end the album officially, but this reviewer could take it or leave it, considering "Somewhere" would serve as a more than fitting end to the album itself.

While Never Picture Perfect may not have some of Rich's most well-known songs or be the first Rich Mullins album someone would name, it offers a great collection of songs that come together and highlight the messiness of life, God's provision and love in the midst of that messiness, and the future glory beyond this life that we await as believers in Christ. Even though Rich is no longer on this earth, his music lives on -- and he now experiences that future hope he wrote about during his time with us.

- Review date: 2/11/26, written by Noah Schmidt of Jesusfreakhideout.com