Following 2021's Inhale (Exhale), stalwart CCM combo MercyMe offer up the poignant Always Only Jesus, their 11th album overall. Active since the mid-'90s, the Oklahoma-bred group found mainstream success when their song "I Can Only Imagine" became a crossover pop hit in the early 2000s, setting them on a career path that included a string of chart-topping albums, numerous GMA Dove Awards, and a massive fan base. Recording again at their own Imagine Cabin studio facility outside of Nashville, MercyMe turn in another well-made set of uplifting faith-based anthems like piano ballad "Then Christ Came" and the rousing, folk-rock single "Better Days Coming." Working in a similar fashion to their previous release, the group brought back the crack production team of Brown Bannister, Tedd T, and Jordan Mohilowski to help create this tight, ten-song set. ~ Timothy Monger