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JFH Indie Review

JFH Indie Music Spotlight Review

Mac Powell and The Family Reunion

Mac Powell and The Family Reunion
Mac Powell and The Family Reunion

Street Date: Spring 2018
Style: Country / Southern Rock
Official Site: Official Website
Buy It: MacPowell.com



As the long-running Christian music staple Third Day winds down their farewell tour, Mac Powell has been working on his country-rock solo gig again. Mac Powell and the Family Reunion is the follow up to the 2016 solo sophomore project Powell produced, Southpaw, which was a bit less sacred and a lot more southern. With his country music, Powell is focusing on good, clean, and enjoyable music that pays homage to the music of the south he was raised on. If you haven't heard the first two albums Powell released in this manner, it may shock you to hear the voice you have heard on the radio in Third Day for over two decades layered over these tunes, but Powell pulls the transition off naturally and seemingly effortlessly.

The themes that run through the album are, as expected, much more country or rock than church or worship. A few of the tracks allow us to get a glimpse into Mac's life after Third Day. "Back Again" and "Going to California" paint a story of a traveling man who always comes back to the home that keeps him grounded, but "I Could Get Used to This" implies that he might be growing more fond of the home life and staying near his family. The song "Whoo!" is a celebration of the good things in life that make you want to shout. On "Watermelon Rind" and "Tiptoein'," you hear Powell lovingly reminisce about parts of his childhood in a way that warms your heart and brings a smile to your face. One of the best tracks on the album, "I'm Beginning to Wonder," is a very fun break up song about a woman that didn't treat him well and left him wondering if she ever loved him at all.

The musicality of the album is also very solid. Every track is enjoyable and catchy and is a throwback to older, popular country music as opposed to today's country-pop. Even though the album is a mere 34 minutes long, it hasn't worn out its welcome even after many listens. The rock and country guitar sounds (including steel guitar) frequently provide hummable and memorable riffs that open and punctuate the songs appropriately.

The album concludes with the beautiful song, "Heaven." With a slower tempo that is both introspective and celebratory, Powell contemplates the hardships of life and longs for a respite. The chorus has him acknowledging that this place does exist and it is ultimately Heaven, where even those who have died can be reunited with us. The song swells to an instrumental exploration of emotion culminating from longing to joy as Powell repeats the word "Heaven" to close the album.

With Mac Powell and the Family Reunion, Mac achieves another family-friendly batch of music to enjoy during the summer months. He proves that he can do country music as well as his peers in the genre and have a lot of fun doing it. While it might be different than what you are used to hearing from him, it is a great album that is well worth your time.

- Review date: 6/21/18, written by Mike Knipp of Jesusfreakhideout.com



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JFH Indie Spotlight Review . Record Label: None
. Album length: 10 tracks: 34 minutes, 13 seconds
. Street Date: Spring 2018
. Buy It: MacPowell.com

  1. Back Again (2:59)
  2. Flood Waters (2:51)
  3. Whoo! (Featuring Craig Morgan) (2:56)
  4. Watermelon Rind (3:15)
  5. Red on a Rose (3:00)
  6. I'm Beginning to Wonder (2:55)
  7. Going to California (2:48)
  8. I Could Get Used to This (4:03)
  9. Tiptoein' (3:41)
  10. Heaven (5:49)

 

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This Wednesday, August 13, 2025
ALBUMS
Various Artists Songs We've Been Trying To Tell You About (And Others We Haven't), Vol. 14 [JFH Music]

This Friday, August 15, 2025
ALBUMS
Mark Bishop Grandkids - EP [Sonlite]
The CCC Collective Brooklyn Culture (independent)
Equippers Worship Awe [DREAM Worship]
The Final Witness Beneath The Altar [Rottweiler]
Grammatrain Flying Collector's Edition CD [Girder]
Grammatrain Lonely House 30th Anniversary Edition CD [Girder]
Katy Nichole Honest Conversations [Centricity]
REFVGE REFVGE 1 [Syntax]
Relentless Pursuit Apocalypsis (independent)
V1 Worship Archives [DREAM]
Joel Vaughn Feel It - EP [DREAM]

SINGLES
ANTHNY no stages - Single [Provident]
Johan Åsgärde Coming Home - Single [Gotee]
Dave Barnes Everything But Mine - Single (independent)
Chris Caro Pain Pt. 3 - Single [Syntax]
Jeff Deyo There is a Fire - Single [NWN]
Drenae Dead Seed - Single [Syntax]
F'rael Pardon My Grace - Single [Syntax]
Jeremy and Adrienne Camp Worthy Of It All / I Exalt Thee (Jeremy and Adrienne Camp Version) - Single [Sparrow]
Linc Worship I Know - Single (independent)
Steven Malcolm All God - Single [Curb]
Jeannie Ortega Little Girl is Gone - Single [Syntax]
outr.cty Testin' Your Luck (ft. Selah the Corner & Dre Murray) - Single [Syntax]
Matt Redman Let Me See Jesus / Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus (feat. Charity Gayle) - Single [Integrity]
Rhymes in Harmony Beautiful Name - Single [Syntax]
Brandon Lake, Phil Wickham, & Elevation Worship So So Good (Live) - Single [Fair Trade]

VINYL
Grammatrain Flying Vinyl [Girder]
Grammatrain Lonely House 30th Anniversary Edition Vinyl [Girder]
Newsboys Going Public Vinyl [Girder]

Next Friday, August 22, 2025
ALBUMS
Lecrae Reconstruction [Reach]
Lizzie Morgan Not My Will [Provident]
Josiah Queen MT. ZION [Capitol CMG]

SINGLES
Dust and Grace Hallelujah - Single [MTS]
Good Weather Forecast Today (feat. Elijah Thomas) - Single [DREAM]
Roxanne Grace Try Again - Single [DREAM]
Mainstream Worship Invitation - Single [DREAM Worship]
V1 Worship Been So Faithful - Single [DREAM Worship]



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