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Album Review
Local Catholic musician releases new album
By Rebecca Bostic, rbostic@catholicsun.org
April 17, 2008
Over the past decade Matt Maher has become somewhat of a household name among local Catholics.
The music-minister-turned songwriter found success throughout the years as nationally known Christian artists such as Kathy Troccoli and Chris Tomlin performed songs he wrote. Although Maher has released three albums, it is his fourth, “Empty & Beautiful,” that shows the fruit of years of dedication to his art and passion.
His first record with Essential — a prominent Christian music label — “Empty & Beautiful” is the best of Matt Maher. A powerful collection of rock-toned worship songs, the album is his most fully developed and solid effort yet.
“Jesus invites us to pick up our cross and follow Him. You really can’t do that when your hands are full or when you’re holding on to something else,” Maher said of the album title. “The invitation to surrender is really at the heart of Christian worship.”
Maher points to the words of Mother Teresa of Calcutta on the beauty of emptiness as further proof of his precept.
“God cannot fill what is full. He can only fill emptiness, deep poverty and your ‘Yes’ is the beginning of being or becoming empty,” the artist quoted Mother Teresa.
“God takes what’s empty and fills it with His very self,” he said. “That’s at the core of eucharistic spirituality, and that is the heart behind ‘Empty & Beautiful.’”
The album is comprised primarily of upbeat worship songs that touch on grace, the Magnificat and the Lord’s Prayer. The rock sound that permeates the majority of the album is balanced by a handful of slower, meditative songs and even a country vibe in “Great Things.”
“‘Great Things’ was inspired by taking the Magnificat and Pauline theology,” Maher said. “We’re called to be evangelists — but that is in echoing the ‘yes’ of Mary — the first to receive Christ into her being, carrying Him to term, until it is time to bring forth Christ, manifesting Him to the world — to announce His presence.”
Similarly, Maher wrote “Empty & Beautiful” after contemplating Paul’s thoughts from prison — about his success in fighting the fight and finishing the race.
Paul had confidence in Christ. Maher believes that “we too can have that same confidence living through the sacramental life.”
A native of Newfoundland, Canada, the musician has lived and worked in the Phoenix area for more than 10 years. Still currently serving as part of the worship team at St. Timothy Parish in Mesa, Maher believes it is important to stay rooted in what he considers to be his Christian community.
Maher’s music, which won two Unity Awards from the United Catholic Music and Video Association, is sung in Catholic and Christian churches throughout the country.
The quality of Maher’s work is what makes him stand out in the crowded arena of Christian music. With an album that has strong tracks from start to finish, the word “empty” will be used to identify, but certainly not describe this album.
Other than touring, Maher plans to “just see what God has in store,” he said. If his latest effort is anything to go by, God probably has a lot in store for him.
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