The pride of Greenville, Texas, MercyMe return with a decided musical and lyrical shift from 2012's The Hurt and the Healer, a lyrically dark and pensive effort inspired in part by a death in frontman Bart Millard's family. Along with the more upbeat, positive tone of melodic rockers—like the title track and the first single, "Shake"—Welcome to the New is a more varied and pop-oriented affair, thanks in part to songwriting help from former Family Force 5 frontman Solomon Olds.