Review: Triumphant Quartet "Songs From the Heart"

Be of Good Cheer - This is a great starter to the album!  It’s an upbeat fast song, with a great variety of instrumentation.  I love the mix of strings and guitars.  This is the Triumphant Quartet at their best.  Eric Bennett and Kirk Talley created a winner here.

Thank You Lord - This is a little more serious-sounding song than the last, although the pace is still pretty fast.  I absolutely love the tune to the chorus.  Clayton Inman wrote this one.  Once again, I hear strings, as well as electric keyboard and regular piano.  I believe I also heard just a little bit of brass, but not much.

Praying For Me - This song is average.  Not awesome.

When It’s All Said and Done - I believe the first time I heard this song was on the Gospel Greats program with Paul Heil.  The Kingsmen were singing it, and I loved it.  When I finally obtained a copy of it, though, I didn’t care for it as much as I had when I heard it the first time.  I like the Triumphant Quartet’s arrangement much better than the Kingsmen version (from Missing People).  Everything from the music to the vocals is better.  It was written by Scotty Inman and Dustin Sweatman, and I’m glad they decided to include it on the project.

Streets of Gold - Written by Jeff Stice, this up-tempo track is fun and slightly jazzy.  These guys really know how to write good music for their lyrics.  The chorus is probably my favorite tune, although the verses are outstanding as well.

When the Rapture Comes My Way - No Christian should be afraid of the rapture, but they should have the attitude of “Let the rapture come my way” as this song says.  Of course there should be a sense of apprehension because of unsaved friends and family.  This is a great song as well.

God Works All Things For Good - This song, IMO, isn’t outstanding, but it’s all right.  It’s a lighter down-tempo ballad with guitars and violins making up a noticeable part of the soundtrack.  It’s really not a bad song, but it wouldn’t be the one that I would mention when recommending the CD.

Almost Home - While I can enjoy some rockier songs, this is not one of them.  It’s a little too loud and energetic for me.  It has the same type of backbeat that is used in songs like “That Little Baby” by the Kingdom Heirs. (I know, it was sung by Gold City as well)  It has some handclapping (which I don’t particularly care for usually in songs) and loud brass sections.

Goin’ Up to Heaven - This fits in with my musical preferences a little better than the last.  It’s still not as good as some of the other fast songs, but it’s good nonetheless.  It was written by Clayton Inman.

Let’s All Stand Up For America - This song is rather majestic sounding with big orchestration.  Once again, it’s not my favorite, but it’s not bad.

Comments:
Songs From the Heart is the Triumphant Quartet at their best.  It’s no wonder they’re so popular right now!  I was talking to a friend a little while back about them, and he was raving about them and their Love Came Calling CD.  I was like “nah, they’re OK, but not that good,” but I hold a different opinion now.  While Love Came Calling wasn’t as good as it could have been, I can’t see many ways that this project could be improved!  The ballads aren’t, IMHO, first class material, but most of the fast songs are exceptional.  I would whole-heartedly recommend this CD to any Southern Gospel fan.

I received this CD as a Christmas present, and the family member that got it for me purchased it on Springside.com.  I’ll go ahead and give them a little publicity right now.  They sent the package first-class, I believe, without any extra cost so it could arrive before Christmas.  While the CD prices are a little high (you can get some CDs for a cheaper price on ChristianBook.com), the shipping speed was terrific.  If you want outstanding service, buy from Springside.  Anyway, I was not paid or asked to say this, but I thought I’d throw it in anyway.

CD Rating: 4.5-5 stars
Favorite Songs: “Be of Good Cheer,” “Thank You Lord,” “Streets of Gold,” “When the Rapture Comes My Way,” “When It’s All Said and Done”

Review copy not provided

Who Sang These Christmas Songs?

I heard some interesting Christmas songs on the radio this year.  If you know these songs, or know who sang them, please let me know!  I’d like to possibly get copies of them.  I tried to Google a couple of these, but I couldn’t find them that way.

• You’re the Gift That Keeps on Giving (male quartet or trio maybe?)
• Will Santa Clause Be in Heaven (It’s a Mystery to Me)
• Snow Medley (I think this was a quartet song.  It had songs like “Let It Snow” and [“White Christmas”?] in it.  Possibly Mercy’s Well?  I’ll have to look that up.)
• There was at least one other one, but I forget it now.  It sounded sort of like the Crist Family to me.

Best Albums of 2011

Worth Buying:

• A Collection of Favorites Volume One - Gold City 

Well, perhaps not worth buying, but at least worth listening to.  There’s several songs that are especially hearing like “He Hideth My Soul,” “We’ll Soon Be Done.”  Also, don’t miss “Where the Roses Never Fade.”

• Grace Says - Kingsmen Quartet 

You may not want to listen to this album over and over again, but when you’re in the mood for it, it sure delivers!  “He’s Everything I Need (That’s All I Need)” and “If Not For the Love of Christ” are great songs.

• Let it Be Known - Booth Brothers

Even if you don’t want to buy this album, try to borrow it from a friend or find it online.  Great cover art, and good-message songs.  The fast songs weren’t as well done as some older ones like “Welcome to the Family” or “He Saw It All.”  The group made a very professional quality video with their radio single song, “She Still Remembers Jesus’ Name.”  “What About Now” is very good although it’s pretty long.

• More Than Enough - Whisnants 

Good artwork, with a lot of solid songs, make for a great album.  More Than Enough is no exception.  Two of my favorite songs are “I Will Glory In the Cross” and “Burn the Boat.”

• Part of the Family - Collingsworth Family 

There’s a lot of solid songs on this CD, although many of the fast songs could use improving.  I think The Answer was slightly better.  “Just Another Rainy Day” and “Resurrection Morn” were two of my favorite songs from this project.

• Precious Friend - Stetler Trio 

This is a fairly good CD, although you may not want to spend $15+ dollars for it.  It could have definitely been improved with more up-tempo numbers.  The best song, hands-down, goes to “Made Me Glad.”  “More Than Wonderful” could win second place, although it might have a bit of trouble competing with “Total Praise Medley.”

• Songs From the Heart - Triumphant Quartet

Probably the best CD of 2011 if I had to pick one.  Lots of excellent songs.  “Streets of Gold,” “Be of Good Cheer,” “When It’s All Said and Done,” “When the Rapture Comes My Way,” and “Thank You Lord.”

• The Only Way - Greater Vision 

Fans of this award-winning trio have seen better albums, but this is still not a project you’ll want to miss if you’re a fan.  I loved the song “Eternity’s About To Begin.”  “No Longer Chained” would probably take second place.  The CD could have used some big ballads.

• We Will Stand Our Ground - Kingdom Heirs 

This album should be considered when you cast your vote for best CD.  It’s packed with winners.  It could used more than one true ballad, though.  “I’m a Brand New Man” and “Just Preach Jesus” would get my support for best songs, though some of the others follow closely behind.

Worth Listening To:

• A Wonderful Life - Legacy Five

Legacy Five’s last major-label release with all-new material, Just Stand, was much better, IMO.  Still, if you’re a fan of L5, you won’t want to miss this album.  There are several note-worthy songs (not stupendous, note-worthy) such as Living In the Palace, and A Wonderful Life,

• Blue Skies Coming - Perrys 

Perrys fans will want to get at least one listen out of this album.  After several plays, you might not want to hear the CD anymore, but it does have some great songs like “Grace Doesn’t Remember” and “Every Time I Need Him.”

• Somebody’s Coming - Gold City

I know I gave this project a pretty low rating, but I think it a lot of people will like it better than I did.  “Peter, James, and John,” and “Lord of Life” were two very good songs.

• The Waiting Is Over -Tribute Quartet 

This album isn’t one to write home about, but you may want to at least hear it.
“Homecoming Day” wins first place, and several others, such as “More Than Able,” struggle for second.

Top 15 Songs of 2011

These are some of my favorite songs from 2011.

1. Resurrection Morn - Collingsworth Family (Part of the Family)
2. Eternity’s About to Begin - Greater Vision (The Only Way)
3. Family Ties - Wilburn & Wilburn (Family Ties)
4. Love Was in the Room - Ernie Haase & Signature Sound (George Younce With EH&SS)
5. I’m a Brand New Man - Kingdom Heirs (We Will Stand Our Ground)
6. Good Enough - Browns (Now)
7. Out of His Great Love - Faith Trio (Knowing You)
8. Made Me Glad - Stetler Trio (Precious Friend)
9. Amazing Grace (My Chains Fell Off) - Forgiven (Forgiven)
10. Peter, James, and John - Gold City (Somebody’s Coming)
11. He’s Everything I Need (That’s All I Need) - Kingsmen (Grace Says)  Back to Grace is pretty good too!
12. Burn the Boat - Whisnants (More Than Enough)
13. Only Here For a Little While - Doug Anderson (with Signature Sound on the album Dreamin’ Wide Awake)
14. I’m Still Amazed - Legacy Five (A Wonderful Life)
15. Celebrate Me Home - Perrys (Blue Skies Coming)

What are your favorites?

"Family Ties" Revisited

I’d like to revise some of my comments about the Wilburn & Wilburn CD Family Ties.

First off, I’d like to say that everything in this post is completely true.  I’ve always hated it when politicians would say something controversial, and then make a public apology for it when they got a lot of criticism.  So I don’t want my comments here to resemble something like that.  I did go back and relisten to the CD due to the large amount of negative comments I received on the post, however I am not lying when I say that I have changed my opinion on most of the songs.  With that being said, let us continue.

First of all, I left all the “constructive” part of out of my criticisms which was a big mistake.  I wasn’t taking into consideration that I was writing a review about a CD that was made by actual people, and that those people could someday read the post.  That should be a rule of thumb for me right there.  Don’t write something that you wouldn’t want the creator (or in this case, the musical artist) to read.  However, it’s too late for that.  I’m not going to remove my post, as one reader suggested I do.  But I would like to make an apology for being so…critical and mean-spirited.  Obviously there is a place for criticisms in a review, but I didn’t find the right balance in this one.

I believe there were a couple of reasons the review was so critical.  For one, I only listened to the CD once.  It didn’t fit into my preferred musical styles, so I immediately wrote bad things about it.  But as I’ve said before, sometimes it takes me a couple of listens before I start to really like a project.  Secondly, I was probably wanting the CD to be something that it simply wasn’t.  I’m a big fan of quartet music, and the mainline Southern Gospel sound.  But Wilburn & Wilburn isn’t a quartet.  And they had a different style than other groups.  I see now that there’s nothing wrong with that.  I just had to adjust my thinking a little.

I do hold the same opinion as before on a couple of the songs on Family Ties.  I still do not like “I Ain’t Giving Up On Jesus” or “Let’s All Go Down to the River.”  BUT, after listening to the rest of the CD a couple of times, I have come to enjoy most of the songs that I ranted about:

• It’s a Shore Thing - 4-4.5 stars
• Jesus Will - 4 stars
• Devil Be Gone - 3 stars
• Mama - 3.5 stars
• You’ll Still Be There - 2.5 stars
• A Cross Became My Saving Grace - 3 stars
• I John - 3.5 stars
• Things I’ve Never Done - 4 stars
• Family Ties - 5 stars 

Like I said earlier, I’m not just saying all this.  I really have come to enjoy the CD a lot more than I did when I first listened to it.  If I were to write the review again, I’d probably give Family Ties a 3.5-4 star rating, instead of just two.

So, do with this article what you want.  But I wanted to make it clear to my readers that I don’t think it’s terrible like I made it out to be.

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