Over two years have passed since Mark Schultz released his last album. But Chritian music's premier storyteller is back with a new album that is sure to secure Mark's place as one of contemporary Christian music's most valuable commodities. Stories and Songs picks up where the best-selling Song Cinema left off, delivering cozy melodies often punctuated with emotional twists that leave the listener both inspired and teary-eyed. Helmed by award-winning producer Brown Bannister (Amy Grant, Steven Curtis Chapman), the album highlights the prolific songwriting and artistry of Mark Schultz. As always, Schultz's soulful voice is front and center on these mostly piano-based tracks. Co-writers Cindy Morgan, Scott Krippayne, and Chris Eaton lend their skills on a few tracks; with Morgan's contribution to 'Letters From War' making it one of the standout songs on the album. All said, Stories and Songs is Schultz's best offering to date - a welcome return from one of the great new voices in Christian music. Word Records, CD.