Wess Morgan - Look At Me Now

When one experiences trials and temptations, the result can often lead to a great blessing. This is what has happened to multi-talented artist Wess Morgan. He was raised as a preacher's kid, traveling around with his parents, who ministered wherever they went. Like many of us, Morgan struggled with outside pressures, despite growing up in a Christian home. He was soon abusing drugs and landed in jail before turning to God.

In an interview with Jewel Graham (CBN), Morgan explains: "It was the end of my rope, and I remember asking one of the correctional officers to get me a Bible. I grabbed that Bible, and I didn’t depart from that Bible for eight days solid. I kept that Bible right on me, and I knew that God was forcing me to make a decision."

That decision has led Morgan to fulfill his God-given calling: ministry. His experiences are expressed on his new album release 'Look At Me Now.' Realizing how far God has brought him through, Morgan sings his testimony on 'You Gave Me Hope.' The gentle ballad speaks of the hope and joy that is given after a storm. The words also recognize God's presence in the time of pain, hurt and loneliness. Similarly, the fast-paced, gospel-flavored 'He Brought Me Out,' featuring Daryl Coley, praises God for rescuing a sinner out of darkness. The lyrics are deep-spirited, drawing the listener into a worshipful experience. We have all lived through dark moments in our lives, yet there is a way out, the song conveys.

The liveliness and sincerity is exuberant on this album. What is most surprising is the level of combined talent and musical variety. With 15 musical tracks, Morgan does not run out of ways to worship and creatively speak of God's greatness and what He can do for the listener. The Latin-flavored ballad, Sing Unto The Lord compels the listener to lose themselves in God's presence: "He has given us a weapon in praise/Let your heart rejoice Oh Zion/There is no one like you Father/We commit to lift you higher/Higher than the heavens higher than the earth…" Morgan's powerful vocals carry the ballad, creating a unique sound.

Another outstanding track is the R&B influenced and emotional testimony on You May Not Know Me. The mid-tempo song speaks to Morgan's life and what he experienced during the times when he was abusing drugs. The lyrics speak directly to a drug user, yet uses encouraging words of wisdom by pointing the listener towards God. Written by Morgan, one line in the song repeats "I'll introduce to you a man who showed me what to do…" The only way upwards is through Christ and Christ alone, the lyrics suggest. You Keep On Givin' addresses the abundant theme of God's love. Once again, Morgan is singing about his life and how God has brought him out of his darkest moments. He takes a step forward by addressing how people react towards him, now that he has changed.

It is very hard not to admire an artist like Wess Morgan. This anointed minister is very honest with his listeners about his life, ministry and his relationship with God. He does not back away from addressing issues that are difficult to discuss openly, especially when one has lived through it. Instead, Morgan is open and is using his past to glorify God and encourage others. This is undeniably one of the best new releases to come out in 2008 from a new artist. Those who are seeking to develop a closer relationship with God will benefit from many tracks on the album for a long time.

For more on Wess Morgan, visit his website at www.wessmorgan.com