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JFH Music Review




Michael Olson
Where Fear & Faith Collide



Artist Info: Discography
Album length: 10 tracks: 39 minutes, 10 seconds
Street Date: February 13, 2007


While Michael Olson's debut Long Arm of Love might not have blown listeners away with its originality, it was the first glance at an artist who has many things going for him. Olson's clean, crisp voice and solid songwriting stirred up comparisons to the better-known Michael of Christian music and a younger Steven Curtis Chapman. With his sophomore release Where Fear & Faith Collide, Olson proves himself worthy of such parallels. But he also shows he's not merely a younger version of the two singers, playing a variety of styles and establishing his own sound.

Olson does his best work when he's not worried about how a song will sound on the airwaves (like he is with "On The Third Day"). "If You Can Stop The World" is catchy, and should also find success if released for radio, but doesn't display Olson's full capabilities. They are revealed most in the heart of the album where, after a rough start, it really takes off.

Olson does a little bit of everything; "Unchanged" sounds like a mixture of MercyMe and Starfield, while "Our First Love" is reminiscent of Five for Fighting - heartfelt and beautifully sung, it's the standout track of the album. It truly showcases Olson's talents and his ability to branch out beyond sappy pop songs like "On The Third Day." "God Is With Us" picks up the tempo and delivers a catchy, bold song of praise. "Tell Me Again" follows, slowing things down with soft violins and spot-on harmony. "Fear and Faith" is next, and though its chorus sounds unmistakably like some of Chapman's work, it's done so well that it's closer to a remastery than a rip-off.

Olson does hit a few potholes near the end of Fear & Faith. "Helpless" and "Everywhere" don't fare quite as well as the previous several songs, presenting little that hasn't been heard before. "Drawing Near" is better, but not quite the stellar finale one might anticipate after hearing "Our First Love."

Where Fear & Faith Collide is at times exactly what listeners might expect to hear, but often may surprise them by how mature and diverse it can be. It's a step up from Olson's debut, and while still leaving room for growth in the future, is one of the year's best albums of its kind.

- Review date: 2/11/07, written by Spencer Priest



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. Artist Info: Discography
. Record Label: Rocketown Records
. Album length: 10 tracks: 39 minutes, 10 seconds
. Street Date: February 13, 2007
. Buy It: Amazon.com

  1. On The Third Day
  2. If You Can Stop The World
  3. Unchanged
  4. Our First Love
  5. God Is With Us
  6. Tell Me Again
  7. Fear and Faith
  8. Helpless
  9. Everywhere
  10. Drawing Near
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This Friday, October 17, 2025
ALBUMS
ANTHNY DIARY ENTRY 1 [Provident]
AOH Music BEHOLD (Acoustic Live), Vol. 1 (independent)
Blanca Full Bloom [Curb]
Chris Blue Every Day Is Christmas [Gaither]
Geoff Moore and The Distance Foundations (Re-Release) [Girder]
Geoff Moore and The Distance A Place To Stand (Re-Release) [Girder]
Vince Gill 50 Years From Home: I Gave You Everything I Had - EP [UMG]
Nate Parrish Make Me A Mountain (independent)
Psallos The New and Better Way: Hymns of Hebrews (independent)
Anne Wilson Stars [Capitol CMG]
Megan Woods The Truth EP [Fair Trade]

SINGLES
Elevation Worship Jesus Be The Name - Single [Provident]
F'rael God's Wheel (ft. TRYBISHOP) - Single [Syntax]
Brandon Lake When A Cowboy Prays (Amazon Music Songline) - Single [Provident]
LEON Undefeated - Single [El Rescate Music]
No Vain Glory UNLEADED - Single [Syntax]
Park 7 The Hope Is On The Way - Single (independent)
Rave Jesus & Gracie Binion Need Your Love - Single [Provident]
REFVGE, Cyfë II & WAY? U P W A R D S ft. Bianca Silver & Josh LeCroy - Single [Syntax]
Rhymes In Harmony & MAYIA My Sister - Single [Syntax]
Rock City Worship Gravestone - Single [Capitol CMG]
Anton Scholl Born To Love You - Single [Near Kingdom]
Nathan Sheridan Don't Lose Hope - Single [WieRok]
SNT. VINCENT Feast of the Saints - Single [Syntax]
Vertical Kings Faith In Stereo - Single [Covenant]
Vic Lucas, Essence Natay & Ashleey Barnes Let it Rain - Single [Syntax]
Zane Vickery All Things New - Single (independent)
Aaron Williams Abide (feat. CAIN) - Single [Integrity]

DVD
Chris Blue Every Day Is Christmas DVD [Gaither]

Next Friday, October 24, 2025
ALBUMS
John Allan untitled EP [Centricity]
Dan Bremnes The Villain - EP [Curb]
Clear Convictions Endure [Resuscitation]
God Behind Bars Music Live From Angola Prison Vol. 1 [Provident]
Fepeste This World Ain't Mine to Change [Velvet Blue]
gio. FINE BY ME [Capitol CMG]
Brandon Lake Amazon Music Songline [Provident]
Tyson Motsenbocker Modern Worries [Tooth & Nail]
Smalltown Poets St. Augustine (independent)
Zahriya Zachary Rediscovery [Bethel]

SINGLES
29:11 Worship, Zion Rempel You Never Fail (feat. Emily Guy) - Single [DREAM]
Joe L Barnes Grief, Joy, Gratitude - Single [Provident]
Chad Cory, Zacardi Cortez My First Love (Remix) - Single [DREAM]
Leanna Crawford Beginning Of Your Grace - Single [Provident]
darthy Juniper Tree - Single [WieRok]
Emerson Day Midnight Hour - Single [Fair Trade]
Good Weather Forecast lows2highs - Single [DREAM]
Grace + Max Rich - Single [WieRok]
Mercy Tribe Music The King is in the Room (feat. Ayiesha Woods) - Single (independent)
Mountains in the Sea You Never Fail (feat. Emily Guy) - Single [DREAM]
Seph Schlueter Already On The Way (feat. Benjamin William Hastings) - Single [Provident]
Tomb Slayer The Christmas Lamb (feat. Khristian Dentley & Sarah Whittemore) - Single [Tomb Slayer]
The Undertaking! All Smiles - Single (independent)

VINYL
Clear Convictions Endure [Resuscitation]


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