Almost There

1	I Worship You 3:07
2	Here Am I 4:20
3	On My Way to You 4:06
4	How Great Is Your Love 4:14
5	I Can Only Imagine 4:08
6	Bless Me Indeed 4:14
7	Cannot Say Enough 4:47
8	House of God 3:13
9	Call to Worship 4:51
10	All Fall Down 3:45
11	In You 4:17

Barnes & Noble

Five-member praise & worship group MercyMe distinguish themselves from all those other P&W bands out there with the rich, evocative production of their folk-pop. Songs such as "On My Way to You," "In You" and the edgier rock number "House of God" show MercyMe's knack for tight melodies and evocative arrangements. Lyrically, Almost There offers some truly poignant moments: "I Can Only Imagine" candidly wonders what it would be like one day to walk beside Jesus, and does so without a trace of sanctimony or treacle. The MercyMe guys are obviously crack songwriters -- rumor has it Amy Grant has recorded their "I Can Only Imagine" for an upcoming release. Almost There is the group's seventh release but its first for a major label, thus new fans may be delighted to find new versions of four previously released songs: "In You," "Call To Worship," "Cannot Say Enough," and "I Can Only Imagine." While the feel is largely light rock with some synth-pop elements thrown in, "House of God" shows these guys can rock too. Almost There? Sounds like MercyMe have arrived. Lisa Zhito

All Music Guide

After six independent releases, MercyMe strikes gold with their first national disc, entitled Almost There. While praise & worship music seems to be the trend, MercyMe offers a disc that tends to be the exception and not the norm. While lyrically sending vertical kudos, each cut is geared toward sending praise to the heavens. "I Worship You" kicks off the disc with a grand entrance; falling somewhere between adult contemporary and rock, the cut utilizes a swirling synth and acoustic guitars to weave a potent melody. "How Great Is Your Love" is a cut with an emotionally impressive chorus. Here, vocalist Bart Millard's delivers a compelling performance via effect-laden delays and a poignant delivery. "I Can Only Imagine" is a passionate piano-driven ballad. The tune begs the question what it would be like to be in the presence of God. Delivered with conviction, the song is emotionally compelling. Throughout the release, the guitar nuances of Mike Scheuchzer are reminiscent of U2's Edge, while keyboardist Jim Bryson places intense but subtle keyboard traces within the context of each tune. Almost There is a disc that holds power. It builds framework for the kingdom of God while lifting the souls of listeners along the way. ~ Steven Douglas Losey, All Music Guide