The Museum “What We Stand For” Album Review

Prime Cuts: Always Yes, I Will Love You, Stronger

For the Museum, music is more than just the stringing together of notes and melodies.  Rather, their paeans are statements of faith made from the heart propelling our feet and hands to live out the Gospel.  This has been the mettle the group has had embraced since its sui genesis.  Way before the band came to prominence, drummer Josh Kirk was on a tour in Romania.  While he was at the museum of the Romanian Revolution of 1989, Kirk was inspired by the story of how a group of Christians sparked a revolution that later led to the tumbling of Communism in Romania.  As a result, Kirk had adopted the titular "The Museum" for the group.  Ever since, such has been the mandate for the Museum.  Never satisfied with just causing a dent on the charts, they are more interested in causing a revolution through their songs.  Using Micah 5:2 as their album's fulcrum, these 11 newly recorded songs are here to push our faith envelopes so that we can get out of our couches and act justly, love mercy and walk humbly before God.  

"What We Stand For" is the third in a triumvirate of albums the Museum has had recorded under the BEC Recording imprint.  The title track "What We Stand For" sets the album's thematic precedence.  Larger than life, "What We Stand For" is the type of song that challenges to see that the Gospel is far greater than the comforts of our immediacy.  Challenging us to be the hands and feet of the Savior, the Museum allows us to perceive how our influences can be limitless.  Interweaving the prayer of St. Patrick ("Christ within me, Christ behind me and Christ before me"), "Forever Free" is a Jesus-besotted worship burner that triumphs on its catchy melody.  Speaking of St. Patrick, the mid-pacer "Take the World," a gorgeous declaration of commitment to Jesus through life's weal and woes, has a tinge of Celtic balladry that is particularly moving.

On an album that pushes us to faith's brink, "Always Yes" finds the Museum following suit.  Filled with the frenzied flourishes of the banjo over a jumping melody (that somehow reminds us of Rend Experiment's "My Lighthouse"), "Always Yes" is a ball of pure fun before the Lord.  While the stark plucking of the nylon strings of the acoustic guitar on the spartan "I Will Love You" becomes the perfect backdrop of intimacy between God and us on this beautifully gorgeous ode of love.  "Stronger" find the guys dabbling in the Hillsong folder; this time resurrecting one of the Australian church's worship favorites wrapped in a bluesy rock makeover.  

However, one finds it hard to be enthused about the album's lead "Saved My Soul;" though it's my no means a dud, it's a tad on the ordinary side making the Museum blend into the anonymous sea of Christian pop/rock acts out there.  A tad better is bombastic worship anthem "Forever and Ever" which finds its high point in weaving in the Doxology at the song's bridge.  Nevertheless, with its bold affirmations in Christ and its ability to push our faith's envelopes, "What We Stand" is indeed the perfect soundtrack for anyone who is gutsy enough to live out the call of our Savior.

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