Album Review
          Mitch McVicker
          Mitch McVicker
          Rhythm House
          From the February 2000 issue of CCM Magazine.
 

          Mitch McVicker may tire of living in the
          shadow of the legacy of Rich Mullins, but with
          the national re-issue of his indie project, he is
          going to have to wait a little longer to stand on
          his own merits. Co-produced by Mullins,
          before his death in 1997, and Ragamuffin Mark
          Robertson, Mitch McVickeris a solo effort,
          presenting the songs and voice of the
          singer/songwriter. But listeners will likely be
          enigmatically drawn to the songs where
          Mullins co-wrote, sang or played piano.

          There’s a crisp, folk/rock vibe throughout the
          project’s 10 tracks, plus a very different
          version of "My Deliverer," a song Mullins and
          McVicker co-wrote; the song was later
          recorded for The Jesus Record (Myrrh).

          Robertson plays bass, Kenny Greenberg gifts
          the record with his strong guitar presence, and
          McVicker sings with unexpected confidence
          and ease. His down-home storytelling style
          works with the easygoing tone of his songs.
          "Take Hold of Me" features McVicker on
          harmonica in a song that suggests the
          influence of Bruce Springsteen. There and
          throughout tracks like "Hope," "The Lemonade
          Song" and the lovely "New Mexico," McVicker
          does find his own space—indeed, his songs
          make their own space.
 

                                            —Brian Quincy Newcomb