Provident Label Group / Essential Records

Release Date: February 9th 2024

Reviewed by: Joshua Andre

Zach Williams – A Hundred Highways (Deluxe Edition) (Amazon mp3/iTunes)

Track Listing:

1. Big Tent Revival
2. Up There, Down Here
3. Sunday’s Comin’
4. Heart of God
5. Like a Billy Graham Revival
6. Jesus’s Fault (feat. Walker Hayes)
7. Praise Opens Prisons
8. Lookin’ For You
9. That’ll Preach
10. I Got You
11. Love is a Battleground
12. Holy Rollin’
13. Flesh & Bone (We Remember)
14. Far Too Good To A Man Like Me
15. Plan For Me
16. Lookin’ For You (feat. Dolly Parton)
17. Walls Fall Down (feat. Lee Brice)

Zach Williams, one of the most inspiring, thought-provoking, comforting, confronting and powerful CCM artists currently, is an artist that wears his heart on his sleeve. An incredibly honest and vulnerable artist; I wrote about Zach in my blog series about him a number of years ago, while we as a site have reviewed plenty of his albums. Zach’s big booming presence in the CCM industry is one of the bright spots and one of the more hard-hitting and poignant artists that I have heard within the past few years. And while you all can read my blog to know the ins and outs of how Zach came to fame and how he came to be in the Christian music industry; let me just say that with a discography that includes hit songs like “Chain Breaker”, “Rescue Story”, as well as the smash hit single and award winning “There Was Jesus” with Dolly Parton… Zach’s stardom will only rise, and rise further quite exponentially in my opinion. My brother Jon has reviewed Zach’s two albums Chain Breaker (here) and Rescue Story (here)– and so for me to divulge more into Zach’s history would be pointless in this ‘review’ of sorts. Zach also released his deluxe edition of Rescue Story as well as his Christmas album in 2021. An EP titled Survivor: Live From Harding Prison also released, full of songs and stories that have been recorded when Zach was invited to sing a few songs and share his testimony for people inside Harding Prison. Fast-forward to 2024, and Zach has indeed once again delivered yet another powerful album for us to listen to. The deluxe edition of his 2022 album A Hundred Highways finally unveiled in February this year (with a mere 2 tracks added!); and as Jon wrote his ‘review’ of A Hundred Highways in 2023 (around a year late!); there’s still no denying Zach’s immense heart for Jesus and his passion and zeal for life itself.

I do note, appreciate, and respect Zach’s ability to continuously create engaging and captivating music. Sure, I’m late to the party in terms of a ‘review’ for this album, but having said that, I’m still reminded through Zach’s latest record, that his level of maturity and skill keeps on being refined and impressive as each album release happens. This album, though on the long-ish side (15 tracks), is still great for any Zach Williams fan, or any fan of CCM and southern gospel music in general. Nominated for a Dove Award for Best Pop/Contemporary album of the year at this year’s Dove Awards; Zach’s newest stands tall amongst the plethora of albums released last year; and is continuing to be a powerhouse singer-songwriter in the music industry today. Let me just say that this isn’t really an album review. There’s publications like JesusFreakHideout.com; Worship Leader, The Christian Beat, and the Blues Town Music that have voiced their thoughts, and maybe, just maybe, one year out from the album actually being released, I dunno if anyone really wants to hear what I have to say about the album. But having said that, what I will say is this- whatever it is, this new album seemingly hasn’t captured the ‘magic’, ‘awe’ and ‘wonder’ that Zach’s first and second albums had- don’t get me wrong. I love and appreciate A Hundred Highways, and songs like ‘Heart of God’, ‘Jesus’s Fault’ and the album opener ‘Big Tent Revival’ are great standouts. But maybe it’s the bloated 15-track list that makes the album as a whole feel a little imposing compared to Zach’s previous albums. Maybe it’s because there’s a lack of radio presence for the album as a whole (aside from ‘Heart of God’ and ‘Jesus’s Fault’, no other song from this album has gone to radio…yet)), or maybe it’s because it’s been a year since the album release, and I haven’t felt the urge to review the album for this whole time. Whatever the case, A Hundred Highways hasn’t left a marking impression on myself as I thought it was gonna make. Despite this, the album is still recommended for any Zach Williams fans, or even any fans of southern gospel music on the whole. Where does that leave me? Maybe I’ll listen to the album once again after this little ‘review’- sure upon first listen, there’s songs like ‘Heart of God’, ‘Jesus’s Fault’ and ‘Big Tent Revival’ that shine through, but as I glance through the song list at a deeper level, there’re other songs, like ‘Sunday’s Comin’, ‘Praise Opens Prisons’, ‘Love is a Battleground’ and ‘Far Too Good to a Man Like Me’, that could also become standouts for me personally, if given another listen to again from start to finish. Whatever the case, this album, from what I’ve heard, is classic Zach to the tee, and maybe if the album as a whole was more promoted and songs went more to radio on a regular basis, then maybe, someone like me would become more interested in this album generally.

15 songs, in general, is too long for any album, and it shows on A Hundred Highways. Sure, these songs separately are good, and hearing these songs just in isolation is still good. But to hear this album in one ‘cohesive’ block? For me, it was a challenge, and still is. Nothing against Zach personally, but I felt (and still feel) connected more to his previous 2 albums compared to this. Then again, maybe I’ll change my mind in a few months after a few more listens. One thing I know is true- that Zach writes from the heart, and this is still evidently true on this album also. Kudos to Zach for creating this album, even if my enjoyability wasn’t as high as even I hoped it’d be.

Sadly, I agree with everything Jon has said in his review about the standard version of Zach Williams’s new album, and this deluxe edition is solid nonetheless, but probably pointless. There’s only 2 new songs after 1 and a half years- a duet with Dolly Parton on “Looking For You”, a track that’s ok but doesn’t hold a candle to “There Was Jesus”, and a country-esque nondescript track “Walls Fall Down” with Lee Brice that would fit well on country radio, but to me lacks any depth or engagement. With repetitive and cliched lyrics, it seems from the outside that Zach is going through the motions here, even when I know he isn’t. However, if this album resonates with you, then that’s more than fine- and perhaps cherry picking songs is best to do here in this scenario? And as I leave you all with this quote from my “Heart Of God” review, let us remember that ‘…I do love CCM as a whole, but Zach’s song from his upcoming studio album, gives us an extra kick, and the fact that it delivers a great and inspiring message is pretty cool, as well. For Zach Williams, the sky is the limit- and “Heart Of God” further solidifies his place in the CCM industry, and perhaps in mainstream media…’

5 songs to listen to: Heart of God, Jesus’s Fault, Big Tent Revival, Love Is A Battleground, Flesh And Bone

Score: 3/5

RIYL: Casting Crowns, needtobreathe, Third Day, Walker Hayes, Blake Shelton