IoS album review: Various artists, Mercyland: Hymns for the Rest of Us (Mercyland)

High-concept stuff – as in heavenly – in which the Nashville songwriter Phil Madeira co-opts a posse of notables into a project predicated on the idea that “God is love” (as opposed to the moralist of “crazy TV preachers”).

He wrote most of the songs, played on them and produced. It is mainly charming. Emmylou, the Carolina Chocolate Drops, Buddy Miller and the Civil Wars do their thing. The only face who doesn’t sing is John Scofield; but then, he is a jazz guitarist.