ALBUM REVIEW

Dustin Smith:
My Reward

Dustin Smith is a worship pastor at the World Revival Church in Kansas City. My Reward is his debut album.

"What??" That's the first reaction to Track One, the choir-led anthem We Will Shout It. Shout it they do. It's an odd choice to lead off an album unless you're doing a Christian rock musical. Not that the choir is off; they aren't. It's just that this isn't representative of the rest of the album. It feels repetitive long before the 4:45 is over. It's probably good in concert as it lets the excellent musicians (especially James Galbraith's guitars) have a little chance to shine. This might have been a good closer for the album, but as an opener, it doesn't work.

The worship song The Great I Am is a lot more characteristic of Dustin's music. It has a very good hook, and the lyrics are true to the Word. At 4:57, if this were cut down a bit it would be great for radio, but you can easily see this one sung over and over again in church.

Overshadowed begins with a beautiful bare piano and acoustic guitar. That timbre continues throughout and gives it a soulful, heartfelt feel. The lead vocal occasionally sacrifices perfection for emotion, especially when it comes out of a ballad into rock and roll. This is a song that could be turned into something really special with the right producer.

Every "first CD learning curve instance" is quickly forgotten when you listen to the inspired "My Reward." This is one of those songs that you're longing to have been in the studio when it was recorded. The Holy Spirit is surely all over this. The emotional and honest vocal takes center stage, with great guitars and piano parts behind it. Though this is the longest song on the album, there's a natural division at 4:05 lending it to radio play, with the longer version perfect for live performance. You'll find yourself singing along with it, putting in your own parts. Absolutely beautiful song.

Fill Me Again opens with a Casting Crowns-ish vocal over acoustic guitars. It sets a good mood for some heartfelt lyrics. It's pleasant, and could do well as a praise chorus. The smooth and easy Our Desire is next. Just don't get too comfortable with the beginning. Midway through the jazzy piano ballad, it turns into a rock song. It's almost two songs. The first 3:20 to be sung in church, and the last 2+ minutes a tag for youth concerts.

There seems to be a conflict going on between a dream of being a rock star and embracing a God-given talent for pop-praise. As a rock singer, Dustin isn't playing to his strengths as evidenced by All of Me. He just doesn't have a rock voice in his middle range and the vocal is mismatched with the music behind it. On the other hand, as a pop-praise musician, he shows considerable talent. The strength and power of his upper range is very impressive, and he is especially expressive on the longing ballads such as the congregationally-friendly Take Me Over. This is a beautiful, heartfelt song in his power range.

Take Me Over bleeds right into The Experience of You, a song that's similar enough to the previous one to make the blend work. Dustin drops to his middle register here, and it lacks the emotional depth of the previous cut. There are, however, some excellent background vocals here. Usually a woman's voice in the background serves to soften the lead, but here her smoky harmonies give him a little needed edge.

As Experience ends, we come right into Breathe Again. The lack of an intro is surprising, and not in a good way. It feels as if there's something missing. Dustin oversings the verses and the ad libs are nearly shouted. The lyrics and the music behind the vocal might be better served slowed down into a ballad and sung with the same conviction as the next song in the lineup.

He comes back to his strength on All I Want and Need, another song easily adaptable to a worship leader and church. There are straightforward lyrics and a catchy chorus whose tempo and key change keep it from getting repetitive. It's ready to be sung in churches across the nation, and it would be great to have the sheet music available. It's uncomplicated enough for a large congregation, yet there is enough going on for serious musicians to appreciate it.

One of the prettiest songs on the album, Hannah's Prayer, follows. There's a lot going on in the background subtleties here, and Hannah's longing for her barren womb to be opened is felt not only in the lyrics, but in the cello and piano behind the lead. The marriage of ballad and rock actually works here because it feels like a natural progression rather than a dichotomy. It has a 80's progressive rock feel to the guitars with a high vocal that drops down just as the instruments drop out. An excellent song to listen to with the volume up high.

Fire Consuming Me is a little gem tucked way back at the end of the album. It needs a little polish, and gets repetitive once Dustin gets into the heavier part of the vocal, but if you like rock music, you'll appreciate the musicianship here. Drummer Jeremy Weedman gets a chance to show his skills, and there are again some great guitars.

My Reward often has a live feel to it; enjoyable (mostly) to listen to, but missing the polish and critical ear that a professional producer gives. Dustin's songwriting abilities and voice are evident on this debut album, but they're overshadowed by an undefined style. Versatility can be a great thing, but not when it leaves you not knowing where to go. There is wonderful talent here, in the voice, songwriting, and musicianship. It just needs to be channeled into one direction. Dustin Smith could one day be as prolific as Chris Tomlin, if he sticks to praise and worship. The Lord will use this talent and his follow-up CD should have wide distribution with all the right pieces in place.