Saints and Sinners is the fourth studio album from Matt Maher. Essential Records released the project on March 17, 2015.
Critical reception
Designating the album a four star release at CCM Magazine, Andy Argyrakis depicts, "Maher gives listeners yet another collection split between personal and worshipful morsels." Mark D. Geil, mentioning in a four star review from Jesus Freak Hideout, responds, "Saints and Sinners finds him in his stride, and adding a unique concept that is, for the most part, quite well executed." Specifying in a four and a half star review by Worship Leader, Jeremy Armstrong responds, "the result is a litany of gutsy, profound, and beautiful worship songs" that "cements Maher’s already-stalwart position as one of today’s most important worship songwriters." Tony Cummings, giving the album a nine out of ten rating for Cross Rhythms, writes, "this album is a work of inspiring craftsmanship." Former CCM Magazine editor, Lindsay Williams, rating the album five out of five stars for The Sound Opinion, recognizes, "Saints & Sinners positions Maher as more than a songwriter content to sit in someone else’s shadow... He's found his unique artistic voice, and this album proves he's not afraid to use it." Indicating in a review by BREATHEcast, Jeannie Law realizes, "Overall it's evident that Maher really put his heart and soul into the making of the entire record." Kevin Davis, signaling in a five star review by New Release Tuesday, describes, "This album provides listeners with eleven tracks of vertical offerings to God that you can sing in any circumstance, and this is my album of the year." Awarding the album three and a half stars for Louder Than the Music, Philip Aldis writes, "there are more gourmet moments than sprouts left on the side, and the centre-pieces are enhanced by intimate production at just the right moments." Rating the album a 4.3 out of five from Christian Music Review, Laura Chambers says, "Saints and Sinners pulls us off the beaten path for a humility lesson, before turning us loose again to use our newly opened eyes to change hearts and the world." Rebekah Joy, awarding the album nine out of ten stars for Jesus Wired, writes, "Saints and Sinners is a great album."
Accolades This album was No. 6, on the Worship Leader'''s Top 20 Albums of 2015 list.
The song, "Because He Lives (Amen)", was No. 1, on the Worship Leaders Top 20 Songs of 2015 list.
Track listing
Personnel Matt Maher – vocals, acoustic piano, synthesizers, programming, acoustic guitar Jason Ingram – programming Jonathan Smith – programming Tim Lauer – acoustic piano, synthesizers, Hammond B3 organ, programming Paul Moak – acoustic piano, synthesizers, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, pedal steel guitar, percussion, backing vocals Jacob Sooter – keyboards Ed Cash – programming, acoustic guitar, backing vocals Hank Bentley – electric guitar Kris Donegan – acoustic guitar, electric guitar, slide guitar Gabe Scott – acoustic guitar Matt Pierson – bass Matthew Melton – bass Paul Mabury – drums Richard Scott – drums, percussion Callie Cryer – backing vocals Phoebe Cryer – backing vocals Morgan Harper-Nichols – backing vocals Leslie Jordan – vocals (4) David Leonard – vocals (4) Jon Foreman – vocals (8)Choir''' Blaine Barcus, Brenton Brown, Kat Davis, Janice Gaines, Katie Haskell, Nicole Koester, Matt Maher, Paul Moak, Jake Neumar, Calvin Nowell, Diane Sheets, Keithon Stribling, Jill Tomalty, Nina Williams and Luke Woodard
Production Blaine Barcus – A&R Jason Root – A&R Matt Maher – producer Jason Ingram – producer Paul Moak – producer, engineer Ed Cash – producer Buckley Miller – engineer Devin Vaughan – engineer Stephen Leiweke – engineer Ernesto Olvera-Lapier – assistant engineer Brendan St Gelais – assistant engineer Zack Zinck – assistant engineer Sean Moffitt – mixing Warren David – mix assistant Tom Coyne – mastering at Sterling Sound (New York City, New York) Beth Lee – art direction Tim Parker – art direction, design Amy Dickerson – photography
Charts In its first week of release, the album sold 8,000 copies in the U.S.
Chart (2015)Peakposition
References