Matthew West Keeps on Fighting the Good Fight on 11th Studio Album ‘Jesus Is King’
On his 11th studio effort, Matthew West delivers everything you would expect from one of Christian music’s most prolific artists: expertly crafted storytelling, earnest vocals and clean production. Sonically, the project embraces a country landscape — a direction his latest material has gradually taken and one that feels natural for the singer-songwriter, who began his career writing songs for country artists. Still, West retains a pop vocal, even amidst a more acoustic-grounded sound.
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Always a songwriter first and foremost, the in-demand lyricist limits his circle to longtime friend and collaborator AJ Pruis, with whom he penned 10 of the album’s dozen tracks. He embarks on a solo write for the two remaining selections.
While there are certainly some personal snapshots present, the majority of “Jesus Is King” centers around universal themes that point to the character of Christ. And like its predecessor, 2024’s “Don’t Stop Praying,” “Jesus Is King” launches a movement around bold declarations of faith.
“Jesus Is King” is only a concept record in the fact that it helps fill out a profile of exactly who Jesus is. Yet, all of these songs stand on their own as strong proclamations to sing over ourselves in moments of doubt, anxiety or disappointment.
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The title cut opens the collection with an anthem affirming God’s supreme sovereignty. It’s reprised at the end alongside a choir, nicely tying up the thesis. Chart-topping lead radio single “Good” explores how our value lies in God’s goodness not in our own worthiness. Meanwhile, cuts like the Prodigal Son-driven “Back To Jesus” and electric guitar-laced gem “Shame Is Not My Story,” continue to chip away at the lies we often believe like, “I’m too far gone” or “Guilt will always define me.” West has the uncanny ability to consistently dispel falsehoods and replace them with the truth of what God says about us.
“Heaven Will Tell” — a standout, rooted in Romans 8:28 and penned solely by West — reminds us we’re not the main character in our own story across a massive refrain that looks to eternity and the perspective that awaits — one where we’ll finally see in full the complete narrative arc.
Folk-flavored penultimate offering “Here And Heaven” serves up a similar sentiment as it explores the contradictions between the now and the not yet.
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On “Come Alive,” the husband and father of two questions our collective distraction as a culture, wondering aloud, “If Jesus passed me by, would I even know, or would I miss Him, ’cause I was busy looking at my phone?” It’s a convicting opening line that morphs into a call to wake up to the life right in front of us.
As precisely as West can bring a specific subject matter to life, his sweet spot lies in his unmatched talent as a storyteller. On “The Good Fight,” he somehow manages to beautifully convey two poignant stories in the first verse alone: a woman suffering from the effects of chemo; and a man battling generational alcoholism. The upbeat chorus encourages them to persevere, but it’s so much more than a motivational slogan — it’s West at his very best.
Deeper into the tracklisting, the three-time K-LOVE Fan Award winner offers a sentimental letter to his former self on “Younger Me” — a solo write and one of the project’s finest reflections. Starting at age 13, West walks through his whole life to date, encouraging his younger self at every milestone — getting saved and wrestling with his faith in light of being a preacher’s kid; suffering repeated rejection early in his career, meeting his wife Emily and having his two daughters. After all the ups and down, his advice is simple: Never give up. The story isn’t over. God’s plan for your life is so much bigger than you can imagine.
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West has never sounded better, and his warm vocal is suited for the country-inspired instrumentation that abounds on the project. At the same time, there’s absolutely zero crossover agenda. West remains a committed poster child for Christian music, a genre he sincerely loves and supports at every turn, including writing a slew of hits for others artists and championing emerging talent like Anne Wilson and Peter Burton, both of whom he manages.
Although it might not break new ground in terms of sonic risks, “Jesus Is King” employs West’s tried-and-true formula on repeat — a proven recipe that bucks current trends. Only one other person (Pruis) was present in the writing room with him — versus a revolving door of lyricists. And, in a world of high-profile guest turns, there’s not a single collaboration across the cohesive endeavor. Yet, these songs turn simple truths into lifelines.
The messages across “Jesus Is King” are crystal clear, and perhaps that’s what makes West such a brilliant communicator. There’s no superfluous ambiguity to wade through here. He tells the truth every single time, and with three simple words he’s, once again, helping us unearth a silver lining on the hard days: We don’t have to worry or have it all figured out, because Jesus is King.
