WL Quick Tip: John Mark McMillan is as indie—in both sound and heart—as ever. Poetic lyrics, nuanced imagery, and an indie-folk-rock sound make this one of the most authentic releases of late.
Economy is the major-label release with the indie heart and sound. When an artist like John Mark McMillan signs on to a label such as Integrity, you half expect everything you loved about his previous release, The Medicine—the uninhibited tone, poetic lyrics, rawness—to be swept away in over-production. But Economy stays true to what makes McMillan such an inspiring and authentic singer and songwriter. His slightly southern-rock and unpolished sound, made to match his forthright lyrics, only adds yet another layer of fidelity—like when he admits, “Cause I know that I love you, but sometimes I’m afraid.”
Immediately, the opening track begins indie-folk-rock fashion with McMillan’s Interpol-esque vocals guiding the listener through poetic imagery both dark and edgy, and bright and hopeful. As from the chorus of the opening track, “Sheet of Night,” McMillan sings, “But like diamonds we shine / Up against the sheet of night / The jet-black sheet of night / We overtake the cityscapes / We scale the heights / We break but we don’t die.”
Themes of darkness and light, of sin and brokenness, are painted with a hope that God’s “economy” can overcome all. He paid our debts, bled so that we may have life. Blood makes an appearance in over half the songs on the album, representing McMillan’s unabashed use of imagery and emphasis on atonement. Traces of The Medicine—an album greatly centered on resurrection—continue into Economy, and then beyond, in both theme and sound, pleasing old and new fans alike.
WL Playlist: “Sheet of Night,” “Daylight,” “Love Your Swore,” “Murdered Son,” “Economy”
Album: Economy
Artist: John Mark McMillan
Publisher: Integrity Music
thejohnmark.com
