Tim Menzies “His Way of Loving Me” Album Review

As soon as the first note of Tim Menzies' "His Way of Loving Me" strikes, you know you have been transported into a new world of charming altruism and glowing holiness.  It's a world where no scales would hinder our eyes from seeing Jesus even when life's road comes to a dead end.  It's a culture where fathers rely more on prayer than their own ingenuity when it comes to raising their own kids.  It's a society where people do not believe in the lies of Satan and uphold to God's moral truths.  It's a time when respect, morality and spirituality are still the fibre of that constitutes a family.  In short, Menzies is helping us discover God's vision of what a society that is brought under His reign looks like through these songs.  And through the deft use of stories and Menzies' understated balladry acoustic backings, these truths are communicated in ways that move the heart and refreshes the soul. 

The reason why Tim Mensies (also known as Tim Mensy) has such an acerbic pen that shades life into his sketches of truths is because he has been a prolific writer for years. Other than penning the songs of three of his previous albums (two of which were major label releases), Menzies has written songs for Reba McEntire, Kenny Rogers, Trisha Yearwood, Joe Diffie, Shelby Lynne and even Toby Keith.  He's one of the few elites to have had been able to duet with the late great George Jones on the Menzies' self-penned "I've Been There."  "His Way of Loving Me" is Menzies first foray into Christian music. This is also Menzies' much anticipated album in over a decade. And it features three of Menzies' songs formerly recorded by other artists, two hymns and six newly released originals. 

Let's start with Menzies' covers.  "Mama Knows" was a no.5 hit for country group Shenandoah.  Here Menzies delivers a more subdued version vis a vis the original cut, on what is a touching ballad about a mother's unconditional love. Formerly cut by Patty Loveless (and was criminally sloughed as just one of her album cuts), "The Grandpa That I Need" is top of the drawer material.  You could almost feel the tears welling up your eyes as Menzie recalls a visit to his grandfather's funeral.  The last of the triad of covers is "I'm Working on a Building" of which Trace Adkins, Marty Raybon, T. Graham Bown and Jimmy Forture had the privileged of cutting a few years back.  Giving the balladry format a recess, "I'm Working on A Building' has a chugging rootsy bluegrass that allows Menzies to exhibit his Southern twang in spades.

As for the newly composed paeans, be sure to have your ears glued to "I Was There." Flashed with diary-like vignettes of how Jesus is present in life's happenstances, this moving ballad gives tangibility to the whole notion of Christ's omnipresence.  "One Father to Another" recalls those moving ballads Menzies used to write in the 90s.  Using the heart as his palette, Menzies paints for all fathers about how seeking our heavenly Father is the best resource in parenting.  Given that it is such a rare treat Menzies would grace us with a new record, one is a little disappointed that he has stuffed the record with two hymns ("Swing Low, Sweet Chariot" and "I Surrender All") instead of his own stellar works.  Nevertheless, if you are looking for an excursion where you can soak yourself in God's truth clothed in the unfolding of life's stories, "His Way of Loving Me" is worth a tour.  But beware: these values as communicated through these songs are so alluring you might even end up embracing them at the end of the day. 

To purchase this album or to find out more about Tim Menzies, go to http://www.timmenzies.com/wp/

Tags : Tim Menzies Singer/Songwriter His Way of Loving Me Tim Mensy