Jonathan McReynolds Challenges Hearts and Minds with My Truth
I don’t know about most but when I need a relatable song for what I’m going through I cannot just hear anyone. I need to be reminded of what my parents jammed to, that “cleaning in the house on Sunday mornings” type of music. Or just maybe I need a change of scenery to bring clarity to my situation and remind me of who I my back then and who holds my hand. Jonathan McReynolds has the ability to handle all of that and leave you wanting more.
Jonathan McReynolds is a force to be reckoned with in today’s gospel scene. 5x Grammy-nominated artist, it’s a name that’s hard to sleep on. Crooning with tunes that ebbed and flowed in 2012, his breakout album Life Music held the number three spot on the Billboard Charts. The releases of Life Music: Stage Two in 2015 and Make Room in 2018 climbed the charts to number one. It’s understandable that when you hear his voice, the words alone make his appeal, his love, and his representation of God becomes clear.
His latest album, My Truth, released this February, is one that I had the pleasure of listening to, and I must say that it is more than meets the eye. From the first listen it’s clear that this album intends to hit with a more thought-provoking sound, with a message that one would say dares you to look in the mirror and speak and live your truth when living for God or just getting to know him.
The first track titled “Detail” perfectly sums up that all-encompassing acknowledgment to what God is and all that He stands for—a nice walk in the park tune. In the first verse, Jonathan croons “Lord it really blows my mind, I see your hands on my life, in the simplest things. Nothing really goes unplanned, nothing’s really happenstance, when it comes to me.” It’s a clear call back to us and how we can often take life for granted but to also be in awe of how God does not let a single thing that we go through, be seen as worthless because it will shape us for his purpose.
Focusing on the production quality alone, McReynolds signature acoustic guitar takes a backseat for a couple of tracks on this album, that denote a studio feel and not that live-in-concert feeling that his works have the pleasure of ministering to your ears. But that is not a bad thing. From “All Along” introduces more of an Afrocentric beat and flow, bubbly pop accents on “Your World” and “Your World Remix”, to hip-hop flows and attitude on the deliveries on “Smooth” & “All True”, with the ending of the entire album heavy on the classical waltz style that My Truth represents. These sound changes never shy away from the overall message. At the same time the sounds are challenging Jonathan’s vocal ability, songwriting skills with help from other artists and range as an artist to make one undoubtedly “throw your shoe” in excitement at the way he can transition his runs and ad-libs into the bridge or choruses quite effortlessly.
All in all, I found this album very enjoyable and I would recommend this to the most hardcore battle rappers or even timid bubbly pop fans. This album has the ability to challenge your ideology as a Christian music fan. It also has the ability to bring in people who just want a true relatable song that cannot deny is not biased but true to what the purpose is without trying to please the masses.