Wayne Watson fits into a certain category of Christian songwriters, the idea writers…Bob Bennett, Bob Ayala, Don Francisco and others. As is very evident in New Lives for Old (Milk & Honey MH-1039), Watson has the ability to set down quality music lines with lyrics that not only minister but actually tax the gray matter with originality. The two most obvious examples of this are the first cuts on each side of this new album. "All the King's Horses" opens the LP with the story of Humpty Dumpty transferred to our own lives. All the King's Horses and all the King's men are not going to be able to put us back together again after a fall, unless we look to the King. "New Lives for Old" is a marvelous description of a carnival man who stops selling the side show to share the Gospel. His new midway cheer is:

"Jesus, Take All of Me" is a sincere, sensitive plea while "Never Give In" is a strong statement on faith. "In Those eyes" says what all of us who were raised by born-again moms would like to say. "Offer Up the Sacrifice" and "C'mon" add variety to this project and show the depth in Watson's well of talent. The album ends with the very positive, deliberate "You are The Light of the World."

Overall, the production and performance quality of New Lives for Old is excellent. The follow-through from concept to vinyl is well done here with a minimum of excessive overdubbing. The result is a clean, simple statement, yet it still has the artistic integrity that places Watson in that narrow band of artists who can describe the Gospel in a truly creative way. - Jim Coye