Shawn McDonald – Scattered Pieces: Live

CD REVIEW

A smalltime drug-dealer before he found his faith, Shawn McDonald sings about the joys and pains of life and of God’s influence with an authenticity that is not always conveyed so purely in contemporary Christian music.

For the Seattle-born singer, it isn’t enough to point out that God is great and needed and worshipped—he tells us exactly why this is so in thoughtful lyrics.

On this 17-track live album—a collection of on-stage recordings rather than a full concert—McDonald introduces five new songs, the rest coming from his two studio albums, Ripen and Simply Nothing. It’s all original material, except a version of “Amazing Grace” which breathes new life into the overused old hymn.

McDonald’s acoustic sound recalls the likes of John Mayer and especially Damien Rice (without the Irish singer’s overwrought theatrics), particularly on “Pride”, “I Am Nothing” the striking closer “Beautiful”.

This is a mellow and engaging album which communicates the faith message not by means of rousing choruses but through a singer exposing his inner life.

Listen to: I Am Nothing; Beautiful; Home; Here I Am; Don’t Walk Away.