Mark Williams, Becoming the Moon
Kristen Knox, July 4, 2002
There are a handful of CDs that I unreservedly recommend to everyone I know, regardless of their musical preferences or age or spiritual background. Mark Williams’ latest independent release, Becoming the Moon, is one of those chosen few. Having spent half a decade touring, writing, and producing since the release of his second CD, Journals of a Recovering Skeptic, Williams’ latest recording displays maturity, depth, and creativity alongside a true understanding of the earthiness of everyday life.
Becoming the Moon is the sort of CD people identify with and relate to, but the songs themselves are very personal. They reflect Williams’ various roles: husband, ruling elder and artist-in-residence at his local church, nerd, and most importantly, someone pursued by a gracious, loving God.
Some songs are confessional. “What Luther Said” deals with issues of pride and self-righteousness. I find myself singing louder and louder until I am practically drowning out my CD at the end of the bridge, belting, “I’m always bringing something / my works are all that’s left / that’s why I need some good news / just to save me from myself.” “Eventide” is written as a hymn, declaring God’s faithfulness to bring us home for eternity. “Impression” is about coming face to face with our Creator, “I am undone in the sight of the King / my songs are but words and my lips are unclean / this is your Holy Impression / on me.”
The fourth and fifth tracks on the album are a pair of love songs. The first, “Arizona” laments love lost, dealing with the pain of getting over someone you care about. Lucky for Williams, that wasn’t the end of the story. The next song is about the same woman, Christina, now his wife. Instead of having the slow, sultry tune of a love ballad straight from your favorite adult contemporary station, “Keeper of our Hearts” has a fun, more upbeat tune that matches the joyous nature of love. Two more tracks, “15″ and “Chasing Me,” describe God’s pursuit of Williams. Vivid imagery drives both songs, with lines like “I didn’t know I was thirsty /until you dragged me in your stream / I’d heard nothing about mercy / Until I felt your holy scream.”
What holds this album together is not merely good lyrics, but also music that serves each song well. The sound ranges from contemporary folk to rock, showcases several solid musicians local to Williams’ area and shows a variety of influences. But what impresses me most sonically is something you can’t notice from just listening. The basic tracks (lead vocal, acoustic guitar, bass and drums) were recorded live in the studio. The simple production betrays Williams’ vast talent and not the fiddling of a good producer or the result of a hundred takes.
Mark Williams is a Christian and a musician. But he doesn’t make the contemporary Christian music I tend to skip past on my radio dial. His innovation and honesty make Becoming the Moon unique and worth owning for yourself. And it makes a great gift.
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Kristen Knox wishes she were half as cool as Mark and Christina Williams. She encourages everyone to support independent musicians by buying their CDs directly from them instead of some middle man, and going out to see them if they ever play in your neck of the woods.