I've been a bit discouraged with Christian music as of late. For those of you who watch the site closely, you know that I've only really posted one new review in the last few months. Finding entire albums that we heartily recommend has become harder and harder. It seems that, at times, the genre goes through long periods of drought. That's kind of how it's been from my perspective. Then, to end the drought, there's usually some fresh, new face that comes along and challenges the veterans to raise the bar. In terms of the drought... Shawn McDonald is the rain. His album, Simply Nothing, is pure, worshipful goodness. Now, I know what you're thinking... "Oh, a worship album. Who's not doing those?" That was my thought as well. Poor Shawn had an unfair strike against him on my slate before I ever even heard any of his music. I hope that gives you some idea of just how good his stuff really is... I've come full circle and am now recommending him.

Let me start by saving you the embarrassing mistake I made... I thought this CD was rap. I hate to admit the reason... it was the look that McDonald chose for the cover. He's (as you can see) kind of dimly lit, he has a hat on like Toby Mac would wear, cocked sideways... I thought he was just trying to be Toby Mac or Paul Wright. Let me just go ahead and dispel that rumor right away... Shawn McDonald is pure acoustic worship. (Although, as it turns out, Paul Wright did co-write some of the songs, but there's still a world of difference between Wright's folk-meets-rap and McDonald's acoustic worship.) Shawn's sound includes a wide range of soulful stuff, including the groovy track "Gravity," which could easily be mistaken for a Sting track. His voice reminds me a lot of, at times, Jack Johnson (the "bubble toes" guy) or worship leader Jason Upton. Before you think that McDonald just clones the sound of established artists, though, let me again spare you that embarrassment... this disc is its own creature. McDonald is himself also a deep well, as it turns out... if you go to his website, you find quotes from C.S. Lewis, a biography that reveals a rough (but redeemed) former life, and for my personal liberty, pictures of Shawn with his hat off. The cover does not match the book, for sure. If you were read the book, though (or listen to the CD) you discover a lot of stuff worth finding. I don't want to get too distracted with his story, though. It's incredible, but I gotta tell you about this music.

I think my favorite track has to be the heartfelt cry of "Beautiful." "What am I, what am I, That You might know me, my King. What am I, what am I, what am I?" The repetition of that verse sees to call out that McDonald has come a long way in his soul-searching to find himself where he is, and is as worshipful a song as I've ever heard. Throw in the funky "Take My Hand," as well as the sweet acoustics of "Take This Life" and "Here I Am," as well as, you know... the rest of the album... and you've got a great thing going.

I've stated that we don't put any albums on our review that we don't recommend... this one is no exception. It's so hard to nail down one song that's better than any of the others... the whole thing is that good. If acoustic music or acoustic worship are your flavor, this one needs to find its way into your CD player. Just make sure you don't go expecting Shawn to bust out some rap.