Bart Millard, best known as the lead singer of the multi-platinum band MercyMe, is having a great week. On the heels of wrapping a national promo tour, his second solo effort, Hymned Again, just entered the Christian SoundScan charts at No. 9.

Last week, Millard hit the road on a promo tour that took him to Dallas where he spent time with K-LOVE morning show hosts, Jon and Sherry Rivers, KCBI and God Tube, as well as Tucson, AZ (Family Life Communications) and Las Vegas (S.O.S radio), Sacramento (K-LOVE/Air 1) and ultimately Chicago where local radio and media joined Millard at Wrigley Field for a Chicago Cubs game. Baseball is one of Millard’s favourite pastimes, and is something he posts many video blogs about at mercyme.org.

On top of that, MercyMe’s latest single, “You Reign”, just hit No.1 on both the R&R AC-Monitored and CRW AC charts, also retaining its No. 1 at Soft AC/Inspirational. The single is also currently riding high at No. 7 on CRW’s CHR chart and #16 R&R’s CHR chart.

While Hymned, Millard’s 2005 debut solo project, was named one of Billboard and ChristianMusicToday.com’s Top Ten albums of 2005, Hymned Again, has also received its share of critical acclaim:

• ”... excellent and one of the better hymn albums you’ll find. Millard sounds great as usual, Bannister’s production is typically flawless, and the recording is teeming with great musicianship… I just hope it’s not the last, because there are too many beloved church standards and too many creative ways to perform them for Millard to wrap up a series with so much potential, or for that matter, to repeat himself musically from one Hymned to another.” **** (4 out of 5 stars)
  Christianity Today.com

• “Shuffling through 10 historic gems and one original tune, Hymned Again is a dazzling departure from MercyMe’s more pensive pop/rock fare. Flinging the door wide open for interpretation, Hymned Again brilliantly stylizes its classic catalog with western swing, brassy big band, finger pickin’ Dixieland, simple acoustic and waltzy blues and jazz Hymned Again is an unusual and oh so wonderful blend of melody, music and history that is unfortunately rare in today’s capitalistic musical commerce.” **** (4 stars)
  CCMmagazine.com

• “The man is like a diamond—with more facets than you could ever guess. It seems that music runs so deeply into Bart Millard’s soul that we’ll have to get several more installments of the Hymned series before we can do more than just scratch the surface.”
  About.com

• “The musical styles on this collection may not appeal to everyone, but those who have a fondness for church classics or folk, country or blues music will surely enjoy this album. Warning: Spontaneous swaying, toe-tapping or head-bobbing likely to occur while being Hymned Again.”
  Charisma

• “Millard’s vocal versatility shines, though, as there’s not a single moment where you think he shouldn’t be tackling a style, be it blues, bluegrass, jazz or balladry. He’s just that good”
  TuneInMusicCity.com/Tennessean

Millard currently wrapped a full summer schedule with MercyMe supporting their latest hit project, All That Is Within Me. The band will be touring this fall as well, dates for which are available on mercyme.org. Millard also just taped a special Hymned Again episode of the Gospel Music Channel’s Kitchen Sink program which is scheduled to air on September 27th.

Check out the story behind Hymned Again and audio snippets for songs on the entire album on Millard’s YMZ artist page.

« Return to Previous Page