Hey SG,
I think the first two albums (not familiar with post recordings) are valid and very moving to listen to.
Generally speaking, if someone, chas veshalom, goes off the derech, do their merits prior to that still count for them, especially when they return again?
Incidentally, someone once said no one should take another Jew’s cheshbon.
In Matisyahu’s case, as in all BT’s cases, there are always strong pulls to previous life and habits, which are not always seen by us as being totally worthless or even uncomfortable. It is easy to slip.
ALSO, along the way, some well-intentioned people can turn off a BT by being too controlling and dominating and smothering, extinguishing the very light that motivated the BT in the first place.
For me, I have made up my mind that no one person is going to interfere with my relationship with Hashem. But I can see how many BTs can get turned off.
Matisyahu “saw the light”, I am sure he is not so far off as one may think. I would bet he is going through something, which is his business, and will be back, iy’H.
Bottom line: Matiyahu wrote the most beautiful Jewish music I have ever heard. Bottom line: He received a lot of hatred from his people. Bottom line: I know this because everytime I mentioned I saw him in concert or like his music, you would not believe the backlash of criticism I heard from yidden about him, and from those who never saw him in concert or heard his music. They just parroted the motzei shem rah, not knowing what they were talking about.
I bet that lead to him falling off.