Get the new FREE JFH MP3 compilation -- Vol. 14!
Get the new FREE JFH MP3 compilation -- Vol. 14!

JFH Indie Review

JFH Indie Music Spotlight Review

Michael Hughes Watson

Michael Hughes Watson
Wait EP

Street Date: May 17, 2019
Style: Acoustic Pop



There have been several times in my personal walk with Christ where I greatly desired to listen closely for what God was trying to communicate to me. Whether through the Bible, His Spirit, or other Christians, I was ravenous to know what He wanted me to know. With his latest EP, Michael Hughes Watson (former frontman of Above the Golden State / Nations) taps into that desire to hear God and know Him more. Although 10 tracks officially, Wait offers three new, fully produced songs with instrumental and acoustic versions (as well as a ukulele version of one track) to give the listener different dimensions of the tunes. Watson blends a musical style reminiscent of recent Matthew Perryman Jones with a voice that could, at times, easily be mistaken for Phil Wickham.

All three tracks build on the desire to hear God speak. Opener "Hanging Onto Every Word That You Say" finds a list of spiritual conditions Watson wants to be in so he can be more attentive to the Spirit's work. For instance, he sings, "I want to move slow enough to hear/Feel weak enough to draw near." The music is driven by a bouncy, driving acoustic guitar and gives off a peaceful, poppy atmosphere. "Words of Life" offers praise to Jesus for being the only source of spiritual life and nourishment with synthesizers and programming taking center stage musically. The title track slows things down as Watson expresses to God that He is ready to hear Him speak.

These three songs are strong enough to stand on their own and the additional versions only add slightly to their value. The instrumental tracks simply remove any vocalization and don't add anything to help you track the melody. This isn't bad if you want to use them as a "song special" in church or need ambient background noise, but otherwise they can be skipped. The acoustic versions are also hit and miss. "Hanging Onto Every Word That You Say" was already acoustic driven, so having a stripped down take doesn't offer anything different. The other two tracks work better, especially "Wait," but given that "Words of Life" also has a uke version makes it a little superfluous to also get the acoustic treatment.

Michael Hughes Watson is a worship leader walking a unique line. He could easily find airplay on the radio, but he also gives more introspective content than other worship artists. The songs on his Wait EP are heartfelt, emotional, and stirring. The choruses are catchy and can be sung along to on the second or third listen. Overall, it is a meditative experience with a few hiccups in the additional tracks but plenty of substance in the main songs.

- Review date: 5/15/19, written by John Underdown of Jesusfreakhideout.com



(JFH Sponsor Spot)

Get the new FREE JFH MP3 compilation -- Vol. 14!

 

. Record Label: None
. Album length: 10 tracks: 47 minutes, 9 seconds
. Street Date: May 17, 2019
. Buy It: iTunes
. Buy It: Amazon Music

  1. Hanging onto Every Word That You Say (4:49)
  2. Words of Life (4:50)
  3. Wait (4:34)
  4. Hanging onto Every Word That You Say (Acoustic) (4:22)
  5. Words of Life (Acoustic) (4:49)
  6. Wait (Acoustic) (4:42)
  7. Hanging onto Every Word That You Say (Instrumental) (4:49)
  8. Words of Life (Instrumental) (4:50)
  9. Wait (Instrumental) (4:35)
  10. Words of Life (Uke Version) (4:49)

 

 

 

go to main Indie review page
go to Indie Review Index

 

                 
Get the new FREE JFH MP3 compilation -- Vol. 14!

Search JFH



This Wednesday, October 22, 2025
SINGLES
Phil Wickham Fear Has No Power - Single [Fair Trade]

This 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]
Latter Day Exploits Within Consumed (Expanded Edition) [Charon Collective]
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]
Jamie Macdonald You Can't Take My Song - Single [Capitol CMG]
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]

Next Friday, October 31, 2025
ALBUMS
Hope Deferred Darkness Remains [The Charon Collective]
Testimony of Apocalypse Agony in the Garden [Roxx Records]

SINGLES
Dreamers My Heart His Home - Single [DREAM]
Roxanne Grace Try Again - Single [DREAM]
Lock & Chi Do To Me - Single (independent)
John Long Simple Pursuit - Single (independent)
Warren Zeiders How Great Thou Art - Single [Warner]


For all release dates, click here!
 

Purchase Original Art Prints, Drawings, Stickers, Bookmarks and more from JFH's own John DiBiase!
Need proofreading and editing help? We've got you covered! Click here to learn more
Check out depositphotos for royalty free images