Forefront Records
Release Date: July 18th 2018
Reviewed by: Joshua Andre
TobyMac– Everything (Single) (Amazon mp3/iTunes)
Track Listing:
- Everything
Is there anything this guy can’t do? At a ripe young age of 53 (turning 54 this year!), and spawning multiple Grammy and Dove awards, not to mention tons of number 1 singles and hits, ranging from songs like “City On Our Knees”, “Made To Love”, “Lose My Soul”, “Tonight”, “Me Without You”, “Get Back Up”, and “Speak Life”, to “Love Broke Thru”, “Feel It”, “Beyond Me”, “Move (Keep Walkin’)”, “Burn For You”, “Gone” and “Atmosphere”; TobyMac– 1/3 of the highly respected and popular 90’s band dc Talk, is back with a surprise new single “Everything”, releasing today. Coming out of nowhere, this left-field electronic synth driven pop number has me very excited for Toby’s new album- and should have you all excited as well. With the song being very danceable and perfect for long drives with the windows down, we are challenged to look at all God has made, to see how Jesus is in everything.
The second single of a yet to be named album, set to release in 2018 (we reviewed “I Just Need U.”, which you can read here!); “Everything” reminds us all that all we need to do in order to see Jesus, is to look around at His creation, and to look around at everything around us. The song isn’t that preachy (a plus, as the song could go mainstream and big!), and still maintains that signature TobyMac sound (which isn’t really a genre, because Toby has at one time or another, encompassed many genres!), that we all have come to know and love, as Toby ardently expresses that every miniscule thing he encounters reminds him of The Creator, that ‘…I see You in everything, all day, ad every beat of my heart keeps reminding me I see You in every little thing, all day, no matter where I go I know Your love is finding me…’. So as we sit and ponder the meaning of life against the musical backdrop of the contagious, infectious and joyful ball of pop goodness that is “Everything”, let us remember that this isn’t just a happy-go-lucky melody for us to pass the time and not think about the deep things in life- in fact, Toby has crafted a simple yet effective work of art, as he eloquently expresses Jesus’ omnipotence, which is a hard point to grasp, but a point nonetheless that we all need to hear and come to terms with, as we understand more and more about our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
Even though Toby has time and time again released plenty of high quality albums- with This Is Not A Test, Eye On It, Tonight and Portable Sounds being the projects that have made it big for him (not to mention the live recordings of Alive & Transported and Hits Deep Live as well!); calls for TobyMac to stop doing solo music and reunite formally with dc Talk remain, and become louder by the day. Especially since dc talk reunited for their cruise in 2017, and will again in 2019- however as of this point, I believe Toby is doing what God has called him to do, and right now that’s solo music. In fact, I reckon Toby will keep doing music for the foreseeable future, and maybe longer. Musicians and artists do not retire, as each person still has much more to say; but rather they keep going until they feel and believe that they have said enough and don’t need to say anything else. For Toby though, in 2018; I reckon he’s got so much more to say. And I reckon that whenever his new album releases in 2018 or maybe early 2019, it’ll be big. Trust me- listen to “Everything” and tell me you’re not impressed! From this song and “I Just Need U.”, this may be the year that TobyMac propels to the greatest heights that only God can climb up with us! Well done Toby- I can’t wait to hear more of what God is doing in your life.
Score: 4/5
RIYL: Hillsong Y&F, 1GN, Lecrae, Building 429, Sanctus Real, Britt Nicole, Newsboys, Audio Adrenaline