Through Songs I Was First Undone

Through Songs I Was First Undone draws upon material from outside the Christian music world to reveal God’s presence in unlikely places. McRoberts unites his diverse batch of material with an acoustic-centered sound while paying close attention to the meaning of the lyrics. He probes the emotional wounds of Aimee Mann’s “Save Me,” finds the empathetic core within Howard Jones’ “No One Is To Blame,” and turns the Smiths’ “Please, Please, Please, Let Me Get What I Want” into a dreamy, hymn-like cry of longing. McRoberts stretches out vocally, delivering a particularly intense performance on a vigorous reworking of the Rolling Stones’ “You Can’t Always Get What You Want.” The desolate tone of Tom Waits’ “Georgia Lee” and Trent Reznor’s “Head Like A Hole” is balanced by the warmth of George Michael’s “Freedom 90” and Tom Petty’s “Wildflowers.” McRoberts treats these tunes with respect while bringing something personal to each interpretation. Both on musical and spiritual levels, this is an engaging album that commends itself to Christian and secular listeners alike.