CD Review: "Revival" (Karen Peck & New River)

What do redback hymnals, folding chairs, and a canvas tent in the open air have in common? According to Karen Peck & New River, revival! The opening title song of the group’s latest album kicks off in a minor key, lending the tune a somewhat eerie, lonely feel. This is the group’s latest single, and has already done well on radio.

Karen Peck & New River hardly needs an introduction. This successful mixed trio came on the scene in the early 1990’s. Current members are Karen Peck Gooch, Susan Jackson, and Jeff Hawes. Casual listeners are likely to recognize hits like "Four Days Late," "Last Night," and "Hey" among others. I can’t say I’ve heard much of their older music beyond a few singles. But their latest CD, Revival, made me their newest fan.

Obviously not content to produce an album full of fluff, KP&NR picked some of the best tunes to fill this new project. Along with "Revival," nearly every other song is worth hitting the repeat button on.

I particularly enjoyed the slower numbers on this CD. "Finish Well" is a soaring mega ballad and the best slow song on the CD. Led by Karen Peck Gooch, this song should be one of the top contenders for a second radio single. "Everybody’s Going Through Something" is a laidback slow song with a strong message about troubles and trials. The chorus says "So if everybody’s going through something, I’d rather go through something with him."

While the best songs on the album are mainly slow songs, there are several solid upbeat numbers too. "Revival" is the best, but other solid toe-tappers include "I’m Saved," a downright fun song, that, as best as I can tell was originally recorded in 1963 by Sons of Harmony, and "Dancing Like Lazarus," a Joseph Habedank/co-penned number led by Jeff Hawes.

Conclusion:
Everybody knows that KP&NR can sing! But this project is strong because of the large number of good songs. The album is mixed evenly with five up-tempo numbers and the same number of slow songs. Though I can’t compare Revival with past KP&NR projects, it is the strongest mixed group release that I’ve heard this year, and a definite must-buy.

CD Rating: 5 (out of 5) stars
Favorite Songs: Revival, Finish Well

Producer: Wayne Haun
Released by: Daywind Records
Available for download? Yes (iTunes)
Artist Website: www.karenpeckandnewriver.com/

CD Review: "Because of Love" (Crist Family)

I’m a new fan of the Crist Family. Several months ago, I wouldn’t have been able to name five of their songs. (I do recall hearing a couple of their songs like “The Rock” and “I Love Lovin’ Jesus” on the radio or at NQC) Though a new fan, I recently gave some of their recent mainline CDs a listen and have been really impressed by what I heard.

The group started part time in 1987 but switched to full time ministry in 2004 when they moved from the West Coast to TN. The current lineup consists of Rich, Lisa, Jackie, and Valerie Crist along with John and Tami Starkel. Their latest release is titled Because of Love.

Through the years they’ve adopted a progressive Southern Gospel/country feel for many of their faster songs, and a pretty traditional approach to their slow numbers.

For example, on this new album, most of the fast songs have a modern country sound. “Through the Roof” is my favorite upbeat song, and uses the seemingly unrelated story of the four men who lowered their friend through the roof to Jesus as a parallel to a unique perspective on worship.

“What a Ride” is a thought-provoking and interesting look at material possessions and what we’re to do with them. Instead of hoarding the things we own, the song says to:

Spend it all, use it up, lay it down, for the sake of love,
Holding nothing back so at the end of this life
I’ll arrive in glory, shouting “glory, what a ride!”

The title seems oddly out of place, but the song has a great message.

All of the fast songs are worth listening to on their own. Stylistically, several start to feel a little repetitive if you listen to them all in a row, but they’re spaced out with slower songs in between on the album.

“The Closer I Get to the Cross” is perhaps the best slow song on the album. It’s pretty laidback until the anthem-style chorus bridge. Particularly catching my attention were the lines:

The closer I get to the Cross, the more I clearly see
The Holiness of you, and the sinfulness of me.

“Live” is a beautiful slow song that speaks on living life to the fullest. It sounds more secular in nature than the average Southern Gospel song, although there are several lines that point to God as the giver of life. (examples: “every minute is given by the Father,” and “look up to Heaven, give

thanks, and live.”)

I enjoyed the modern country/progressive sounds that filled this album, and the two power ballad-style numbers were a special treat too. Because of Love is the strongest CD by the Crist Family that I’ve heard yet and a definite must-buy.

CD rating: 4.5 (out of 5) stars
Favorite Songs: Through the Roof, The Closer I Get to the Cross

Available for download: Yes (iTunes, Crossroads)
Artist website: www.cristfamilymusic.com

Review copy provided by Crossroads Records

CD Review: "All Things New" (Gordon Mote)

Gordon Mote, blind from birth, is one of Nashville’s most talented Gospel musicians. He’s a highly sought after pianist not only in Southern Gospel but also in secular country music. His latest CD, titled All Things New, showcases his abilities to sing and play in the country style, and proves that the style fits his voice perfectly.
Gordon secured an impressive list of musical groups and vocalists to back him up. Gospel fans will recognize names like Voices of Lee and the Gaither Vocal Band, and country fans will recognize Trace Adkins, Josh Turner, and others that made special appearances.

While no one would dispute the fact that Gordon is a talented musician, some may not realize that he’s also a songwriter. He co-wrote four of the songs on this project, including the upbeat country-style title track and the worship song "For You."

I’m not sure which songs have been sent to radio yet, but I think a great pick would be "Down By the River," a catchy, upbeat tune, featuring the Gaither Vocal Band and Trace Adkins.

Another good candidate for radio would be the song "Faith Like That." It tells the story of a grieving father who’s just lost his young son. Instead of being bitter or disillusioned, he chooses to keep his faith in God. The song is narrated by an amazed onlooker who reflects in the chorus:

I wanna have faith like that
Let it be who I am
I wanna see the bigger picture and trust it’s in God’s hands
I wanna have faith, I wanna have faith like that.

"God of New Beginnings" narrates a story that’s sadly common in today’s culture. A man and his wife, separated. A marriage that’s all but ended. The first verse is about the wife who’s been left to raise three kids alone. The second verse about the husband who’s sitting in a parking lot with a lot of regrets. It’s a beautiful message of redemption and reconciliation. It’s almost a five-star song if not for the chorus bridge which I think is a little cheesy.

"The Main Event" has to be the most unique song on the album. One blogger compared it to a Randy Newman song written for a Pixar film! It’s a fun, up-tempo, number that talks about how the "main attractions" of this world are hardly ever the "main events" that God has planned. The verses give a whole new perspective to the story about the women at the temple who gave all she had and to the story of Caesar who "built an empire from shore to shore."

There are a few moments from All Things New that fall a little flat. For example, "Sound a Dream Makes" is too sentimental for me. "Do You Believe in Love" also finds me hitting the skip button. But overall, the album is definitely a must-listen. From wild country-infused tunes and upbeat Southern Gospel classics to powerful anthems and tender worship songs, Gordon has proved through the years that he’s not limited to singing just one style. And this album proves that he can do country just as well as everything else. If you like country-style music, you’ll like All Things New.

CD Rating: 4 (out of 5) stars
Favorite Songs: Down By the River, Faith Like That, Broken Open

Producers: Gordon Mote, Wayne Haun, Frank Rogers
Released by: New Haven Records
Available for download? Yes (Amazon, iTunes)
Artist website: www.gordonmote.com

Review copy provided by New Haven Records

CD Review: "That's Why We're Here" (Whisnants)

The Whisnants have become somewhat of a mainstay in traditional Southern Gospel music. This well-established family group, started in 1970 out of Morganton, North Carolina, has produced ten #1 songs including “Even in the Valley,” and “What You Took From Me.” More recently, they’ve released radio hits such as “I’ll Pray For You,” “King Jesus is Coming,” and “All Is Well.” Recent discography includes Hymns and Harmony--a table project released last year--and More Than Enough, released in 2011. Current group members are husband and wife duo Jeff and Susan Whisnant, along with sons Austin and Ethan and Aaron Hise singing lead.

The group’s newest CD, released this month, is titled That’s Why We’re Here, and moves the group away from the huge, orchestrated Lari Goss-produced numbers that led their last mainline recording, and back to the style that brought them to the forefront on Southern Gospel radio.

Opening the album is the project’s first single, a song penned by Rodney Griffin and Jim Brady called “He Can Move That Stone.” An acoustic-flavored number with a touch of strings, this upbeat track reminds us that if God use a little rock to make a giant fall, if he can bring down Jericho’s mighty wall, if can move the rock sealing up the tomb, then “he can move that stone that troubles you.”

That’s Why We’re Here has its fair share of songs about Heaven, (arguably Southern Gospel’s most popular topic) including the second song “We’ll Meet Again,” (a Palmetto State Quartet cover) “Glorybound,” (a solid upbeat country-tinged song), “Press Along to Gloryland,” and “We’re Going Home.” The third song “I Will Live,” the closest song to a power ballad on this project, also talks about how we will live because Jesus died.

The songs don’t all exclusively deal with Heaven and eternal life though. The rest delve into other topics, such as the song “Because You Gave,” which is a preacher song--a tender tribute to pastors and the sacrifices they make. Led by Susan Whisnant, it follows somewhat in the tradition of her recent feature, “Burn the Boat.”

As with their past albums, the Whisnants have secured songs from some of our genre’s most prominent songwriters including Rodney Griffin, Jim Brady (they’ve had great success with the song “All is Well,” which was penned by Jim’s wife, Melissa), Dianne Wilkinson, Lee Black, Jason Cox, and Kenna West.

I believe the project could have been better with some more truly unforgettable slow songs, and the addition of a couple power ballads in the tradition of “All Is Well” and “I Will Glory in the Cross.” Of course this type of song can’t carry an album, but they usually are well received.

The strength of this album I believe lies mostly in its fast songs, though there are a couple good slow songs too (like “I’m Not Afraid to Trust Him”) that I believe will touch people in a positive way. The Whisnants have quite an impressive track record and I look forward to seeing how others respond to these new songs. That’s Why We’re Here is a worthy addition to the group’s music catalog, and fans won’t want to miss this new release.

Rating: 3.5/5 stars

Released By: Independent
Available for download? No
Artist website: www.whisnants.com

Review copy provided by artist.

CD Review: "Love Loud" (Browns)

The Browns are an up-and-coming family group which got its start in Iowa. Although, not a household name in Southern Gospel, many listeners will recognize their music. They’ve received national attention in the past several years, and performed on the NQC mainstage several times last week.

I’m a somewhat new fan of the group myself. I started listening in 2011 when I heard their single "Good Enough" on the radio and then tracked down their album Now. Since then I’ve also listened to the first volume in their Heritage Hymn Collection series. The music that I’ve heard, for the most part, has been rather traditional, a mix of Southern Gospel and hymns. That is until they released their newest CD, Love Loud, this month on the Stowtown Records label.

Stylistically, nearly half of the songs on Love Loud can be defined as moderately to very progressive. The opening title track for example is a fun, upbeat song driven by electric guitars. It encourages us to "love loud, love long" if we want to make a difference in people’s lives. "Street of Gold" is a hard-driving pop/rock-infused song which Joseph Habedank co-wrote with Wayne Haun and Adam Brown. "Everything Changes" has a pop-ish/contemporary feel, and "River in the Rain" almost sounds like something that Casting Crowns would do. I enjoy the new sound. The group is trying new things, but they haven’t abandoned the Southern Gospel sound that got them where they are.

There’s something for everyone on this album. While half of the recording is more-or-less progressive, the other half is distinctly more traditional.

"Rock and Redeemer," penned by Wayne Haun and Joel Lindsay is the group’s current radio single. It’s a solid upbeat tune led by banjos and guitars. A couple of the other up-tempo songs are more traditional as well.

Love Loud doesn’t have much in the way of slow songs. Only two out of the twelve tracks. The first one is "The One Who Still Works Miracles," a huge power ballad led by Shelley Brown. I wouldn’t be surprised if this became the group’s next single. The other slow song is "This I Know, " a nice acoustic tune that blends the classic "Jesus Loves Me" with a newer song penned by Wayne Haun and Sue C. Smith. It’s my favorite of the two ballads.

Besides their music, I was impressed by the fact that the Browns are talented songwriters and musicians as well as singers. They co-wrote five of the twelve songs on Love Loud, and the three kids--Adam, Andrew, and Michaela--played their fiddles on the last song, a medley of "All Hail the Power of Jesus’ Name" and "Crown Him With Many Crowns."

CONCLUSION:

I would definitely recommend Love Loud, but probably not to those who are strictly conservative with their music tastes. If you’re like that, then you probably won’t enjoy this project. Even though there are some traditional songs, you’ll probably come away feeling like the album was too progressive. But to those who enjoy musical diversity and like their albums to cover a broad range of styles I’d say this: Love Loud is definitely loud…and definitely fun.

CD Rating: 4/5 stars

Producer: Wayne Haun
Released by: Stowtown Records
Available for download? Yes
Artist website: www.thebrownsmusic.com


 

CD Review: "These Truths" (Old Paths Quartet)

Last year, the Old Paths Quartet created a stir in the Southern Gospel blogosphere with Right Now, their first album on the Crossroads Record label. After listening and liking what they heard, fans became anxious for a second release, to see whether the Old Paths could produce another great album, or whether the subsequent effort would be a "sophomore slump." Judging from the positive comments around the blogging world, I’d say These Truths is anything but a failure and that the Old Paths delivered exactly what their fans were hoping for.

This album has something for everyone. For those who like traditional quartet singing, there’s plenty of songs to choose from. And there’s even a couple mildly progressive numbers to satisfy those who prefer a more modern style.

Jeremy Peace is the group’s talented tenor singer. Fans who have been listening for a while will remember songs such as "He Chose the Tree" and "I of the Storm" where Peace’s range seemed to know no bounds. He delivers the same kind of treatment on his new song "God Said I Love You," a tender slow number that fits him well. I didn’t really care for the "note" as some are calling it--that is, the part in the song where Peace outrivals any of the traditional "high" singers in the industry--but regardless, it was quite a remarkable feat.

The group’s bass singer, Daniel Ashmore, seems to be rising through the ranks of bass singers. Still in his twenties, he is proving to be quite the capable soloist. He gets the chance to shine on a cover of "God’s Gonna Do the Same," the classic made popular by the Hinsons, as well as on a more recently-penned number titled "Enough and Then Some."

Douglas Roark is the group’s baritone singer, who founded the Old Paths Quartet with Wayne Rackley. He leads the song "If It Were Not For Grace," which is a slow, laidback number. Roark’s voice is reminiscent to me of Scott Howard from Legacy Five. He adds a nice, mellow touch to the song. He also leads the patriotic, mildly progressive "We Hold These Truths" which is one of my favorite upbeat songs on the album.

In my review of the Old Path’s last album, Right Now, I noted that one thing I would have liked to have heard was some orchestrated songs. Well, apparently, the guys thought so too. They pulled out all the stops for the huge power ballad "Long Live the King" which some are speculating may be the greatest song they have ever sung. Whether it stands head and shoulders above their previous songs or not I can’t say, but it’s definitely a five-star track. Lead singer Wayne Rackley does a tremendous job leading the song. Although some of the other group members may get more attention, Rackley is certainly no second-rate vocalist!

CONCLUSION:
Last year I reviewed Right Now, the Old Path’s first album with Crossroads Records. I really enjoyed the song selection and the group’s sound and gave the project a 4.5/5 star rating. It took me a little longer to warm up to These Truths. But I did warm up to it. And I guess that’s what matters.

Actually, my favorite of the two CDs is probably Right Now. But These Truths is just as good as it's predecessor and is certainly not a flop. The song selection is great, and vocally, the group is right on.

CD Rating: 4 stars
Favorite Songs: We Hold These Truths, Love Them to Jesus, Long Live the King

Producer: Danny Crawford
Released by: Sonlite Records/Crossroads
Available for download? Yes
Artist website: http://www.theoldpathsonline.com/

Digital review copy provided by Crossroads Records 

CD Review: "The Lord is Good" (Collingsworth Family)

Since their last CD release in 2011, fans of the Collingsworth Family have eagerly awaited a new project. At least this fan has. I wasn’t disappointed at all with The Lord is Good, the latest CD to be added to the excellent repertoire of this award-winning family of music.

With five upbeat songs, and seven slower tunes, there’s sure to be something for everyone. Stylistically, the music is more laid-back than some older songs that the family has sung.

The Collingsworth’s give a new treatment to the old song "Show a Little Bit of Love and Kindness." It’s an upbeat tune led by Olivia, the family’s youngest member. Olivia is proving to be quite the capable soloist, and I believe as she grows out of her teen years, she will improve even more, the same way her siblings have already done.

Phillip too, is singing better than ever, as showcased in the song "How Great His Love For Me," which may be the greatest power ballad--even, arguably, the greatest slow song--that the Collingsworth Family has ever done.

"If He Hung the Moon" is a beautifully-crafted slow song that’s sung by Kim and the two older girls, Brooklyn and Courtney. It’s a flashback to the time when the family found it necessary to create little subgroups (e.g. just the girls, the older kids, etc.) for the reason that not all the kids had yet matured vocally. Although it’s no longer necessary for the family to create these smaller "subgroups," it’s still a nice treat occasionally.

Campmeeting memories come flooding back when I listen to "I Could Never Outlove the Lord," a Gloria Gaither classic. Phil and Kim sing the verses together, and the whole family joins together on the chorus. It brings the family together nicely I think. I enjoy the organ too, I think it adds a nice "campmeeting" feel to the song.

Conclusion:
Song selection was excellent for The Lord is Good, lyrically, musically, as well as tempo-wise. The ratio of fast songs to slow songs is much better than last album--on the Collingsworth’s 2011 release, Part of the Family--which had only three upbeat songs in comparison with nine slower numbers. As I mentioned earlier, The Lord is Good has five fast songs in comparison with seven slow songs. This is a huge improvement, and should boost the album rating with a lot of people.

The Lord is Good is a definite must-buy. The Collingsworth Family has become one of the more popular groups in Southern Gospel music in recent years, and fans will find plenty to like on their latest effort. Although not every track is a five-star song, there are certainly enough for me to recommend it whole-heartedly.

CD Rating: 4 stars
Favorite Songs: Show a Little Bit of Love and Kindness, How Great His Love For Me

Produced by: Wayne Haun
Released by: Stowtown Records
Available for digital download? Yes
Artist Website: www.thecollingsworthfamily.com


Review copy not provided.
 

CD Review: "But For the Cross" (Lefevre Quartet)

But For the Cross - Sometimes you can tell that a song is going to be good before you even finish listening to the intro. That’s how this song is. It has a beautiful orchestral opening. It’s paced rather nicely I think - not slow enough to be thought of as a ballad, but not fast like a “barn burner.” The song has a great message, and asks the question “where would I be but for the cross?”

Come and See - This song recounts two of Jesus’ miracles. The first verse tells of his raising Jairus’s daughter from the dead and the second of Lazarus’s resurrection. The chorus is sung from first person view (first by the daughter, then by Lazarus obviously), and urges the listener to come and see what Jesus did instead of just taking their word as proof.

I’m So Saved - This song is, I believe, the first radio single from But For the Cross. It’s a fun up-tempo song that should be pretty successful both on the radio and in a concert setting.

The Wedding Song - There are a couple of Southern Gospel “wedding” songs that have been recorded over the years. “Wedding Music,” (Cathedrals and others) and “Here Comes the Bride” (Kingsmen) immediately come to my mind. “The Wedding Song” is a nice addition to the “wedding” song catalog. It’s the best song in this theme that I have heard so far. The music is what brought it to first place in my mind. It has a fast progressive style. 

Put It Right There - This song tells of a drug-addicted guy who comes to his father and confesses his addiction. His dad reaches for the drugs and says:

Put it right there in the palm of my hand, I know it’s gonna hurt but trust me to the end

You will be free and I will be there, together we will stand looking back at what you fear.

I’m reaching out my hand, I’ll do anything I can, put it right there.

The second verse is about Jesus being crucified. The words speculate on what Jesus said as the soldiers picked up the spikes to nail into his hands, and that naturally leads into the chorus. Electric guitars and a banjo create a strong country sound, while the drum track lends a bit of a contemporary feeling.

We Are the Church - This is another fun fast song, rather similar in tone to “Standing On the Daily Promises” and “I’m So Saved” in that it’s not a very “serious” song. It has more of a fun tone than some of the other songs. Also, I love the hymn bridge insertion of “The Solid Rock.” Some people may not care to hear “mini-hymns” put right in the middle of new songs, but I like them!

Saved By the Blood - The Old Paths Quartet recorded this previously on Wonderful Life. (2010) This version is better, in my opinion.

The Blessed Hope  - This song provides to the listener some relief from the fast tempo that dominates most of the CD. It’s not a stand-out song, but it’s not bad either.

I’ll Let You Lead Me - This is a fun, brassy,  mid-tempo number led by Paul Harkey. I think it sounds like a song that Ernie Haase & Signature Sound would do, at least stylistically.

Standing On the Daily Promises - I think this song will get overlooked. It’s a shame too, because it’s really a good fun song. It just doesn’t stand as tall as “Put It Right There” or “I’m So Saved.”

Comments:

I was expecting good things from this album ever since hearing several songs on Spotify. I got a little nervous the day my copy arrived, thinking “can this really be as good as I’m hoping?” I was not disappointed!

If there was a singular element that “made” this album, I’d say it would have to be the music. The album actually credits three producers, Tre’ Corley, Paul Corley, and Rick Sandidge. The orchestration was second to none as well as all the other instrumental elements.

Along with the great soundtrack, the group had a great song selection. The Lefevre Quartet isn’t a name that’s as widely known as say Legacy Five or the Gaithers, but I think they deserve a lot more attention, especially if they keep producing albums that are as good as this one was. 

 

But For the Cross is a five-star album deserving of a place in any Gospel music fan’s CD player.

CD Rating: 5/5 stars

Average Song Rating: 4/5 stars

Favorite Songs: “But For the Cross,” “The Wedding Song,” “We Are the Church,” “Put It Right There”

Review copy provided by Activate Records

CD Review: Mark Trammell Quartet "Lifetime"

Ever since reading the positive reviews of MTQ’s latest project, Lifetime, and since watching a video of the first song on the album, “Guide Me,  Oh Thou Great Jehovah” sung by the group at NQC, I’ve been anxious to hear the whole thing for myself. It’s as good and better than I expected it to be!

I’ve only heard one CD from the MTQ since they added their bass singer, Pat Barker, and became a quartet. Their first album, Testimony, was, in my opinion, okay but not great. There were some good songs on the CD, but it didn’t “grab me” like other projects have. I feel that Lifetime is just the opposite.

The project starts out with the old hymn “Guide Me, Oh Thou Great Jehovah.” Lari Goss, who produced Lifetime with Mark Trammell, pulled out all the stops for the orchestration in this song. Stylistically, it reminded me of Greater Vision’s Hymns of the Ages CD. The music fits the song very well giving a grand and majestic feeling. “I Sing the Mighty Power” has the same feeling, and I think it’s even better than “Guide Me, Oh Thou Great Jehovah.”

“Way Past Ready” is the second fast song on the CD. Penned by Rodney Griffin, it’s a jazzy and upbeat number led by Mark Trammell. Pat Barker takes the lead on “Wonderful Time Up There.” While they modernized the song a little bit by including a jazzy brass section, the song is still set in a Southern Gospel feel. “Meet Me Over on the Other Side” sounds more like classic Southern Gospel than any other song on the album. No one person is featured on the verses or on the chorus. The whole group blends their voices together to achieve classic quartet harmony.

Most of the slow songs are huge with beautiful orchestration backing up the group. “Golden City Tour Medley” is one of the stand-out ballads. It may be a little odd to hear “Touring That City” sung at such a slow pace, but it’s definitely a great version of the old Inspirations classic. “Too Much to Gain to Lose” is a song that I’ve never cared much for in the past. But on this CD, it’s one of my favorite power ballads! “The King is Coming Medley” includes the old Gaither classic, as well as another Gaither-penned song, the well-known “I’m Free.” “Tis So Sweet to Trust In Jesus” was pretty calm and quiet in comparison with the other ballads on Lifetime. It was paced a little too slowly for me, but when I concentrated on the words, it was very pretty.

I really enjoyed Lifetime. It was a great decision to have Lari Goss in charge of orchestration and in the role of producer. He did a tremendous job as always. I probably enjoy his orchestrations more than any other person’s with perhaps the exception of Don Marsh who does a tremendous job as well. I can easily see why this album was so popular on some of the other blogs. It’s good to see that people still enjoy this style of music. I certainly do. The MTQ created something wonderful here. Lifetime will be going on my end-of-the-year “Best Albums of 2012” list!

CD Rating: 5/5 stars
Average Song Rating: 4-4.5/5 stars
Favorite Songs: Guide Me, Oh Thou Great Jehovah, I Sing the Mighty Power, Wonderful Time Up There, Too Much to Gain to Lose

Review copy not provided

Produced by:
Lari Goss, Mark Trammell
Released By:
Daywind Records
Available for Download? No
Artist Website: http://www.marktrammellministries.com

CD Review: Perrys "Through the Night"

I Got a Hold of God This Morning - This is a great up-tempo number to start the album with. Penned by Kyla Rowland, it has a progressive edge, but it doesn’t stray too far from the fast Southern Gospel feeling. With the choice of instruments and electric guitars, it kind of reminds me of songs like “Dying Is a Day” and “This Old Sinner Testifies.”

Whosoever Will - This is a beautiful ballad that tells the story of a girl who runs away at 17 from a bad home. The second verse tells of a man who lived selfishly for 80 years, but as he neared his final days, he had a greater need than material possessions. The group really puts some energy and feeling into the bridge which sounds awesome! This song reminds me a lot of Ernie Haase & Signature Sound’s “You Are Welcome Here.”

Everywhere I Go - This song is not new to the Southern Gospel scene. The Browns recorded it on their album Now. The Liberty Quartet sang it as well as other groups too I’m sure. I think the song is pitched too low here, especially at the beginning. Libbi Stuffle helps bring it up a bit when she joins the others after the second verse.

Through the Night - The title song of this album, “Through the Night” is another beautiful ballad. It definitely fits in the “power ballad” category. The song talks about praising God “through the night, while this trial perseveres.” It’s a great testimony song to walking with God even when things are tough.

He Is Good to Me - This up-tempo tune was written by Wayne Haun and the Perry’s own Joseph Habedank . My favorite part is the verses. They have an interesting tune that’s fun to listen to.

Too Good to Not Be True - This song tells the story of the woman at the well. It offers a unique perspective that I’ve never really heard before. The first verse tells the story from her point of view and says that she tries to tell Jesus that he’s not supposed to talk to her, but he won’t give up. What a beautiful picture of God not giving up on us! This is a rather, quiet pretty song that may leave you thinking afterward.

The Blood and Its Power - This song has an interesting piano feature in the intro. It has almost a classical touch that doesn’t seem to quite fit with the rest of the song which is a medium tempo country-flavored tune. While I sometimes don’t enjoy medium-paced country-infused songs like this, I really enjoy this one. The tune and the words, as well as the unique intro combine to make a great song. I think part of the second verse is worth repeating, “It’s been removed [the blood] from many places, or watered down, but here’s a truth. It is how the lost are found.” Amen! :)

One of These Mornings - This is a great pick for the last up-tempo number. It starts big and doesn’t let up until the end where it goes out with a bang. For their last three albums, the Perrys have had at least one song, having a similar feel to this one, that had to do with Heaven, Death, or the Rapture. (“Dying Is a Day,” “Blue Skies Coming,” “One of These Mornings”) They’ve all made for great songs. This theme, as well as the style, works well for them.

Unspoken Request - This is a very unique song. Rather than try to explain it, I’ll just let you read the chorus:

“I was somebody’s unspoken request, the reason for their tears and pain. The saints joined together to lift me in prayer without even knowing my name. Laid on the altar and given to God, trusting the Father knows best. I stand here redeemed and an answer from Heaven, to someone’s unspoken request.”

When He Spoke - The first verse of this song pictures Mary as she meets Jesus for the first time after he had risen from the grave. This is the third and final power ballad on Through the Night. It’s another excellent slow song.

Comments:
Many groups have recorded projects that are good, even excellent. Some have even recorded several albums that are outstanding. But fewer groups have recorded at least three outstanding albums in a row. The Perrys are one of the few groups that have. The majority of the songs on at least their last four albums (Through the Night, Blue Skies Coming, Almost Morning) are not at all second rate! From song selection, to the musical styles they utilize, the Perrys continue to record excellent music. Through the Night is a wonderful addition to their already impressive catalog.

I think part of the reason I enjoy listening to the Perrys so much is largely due to the rich orchestrations many of their ballads, and even some of their up-tempo numbers (“I Know It Was the Blood,” “Blue Skies Coming”) hold. They also record mostly new songs from some of Southern Gospel’s top song writers. For example, on this album, I believe every single song with the exception of “Everywhere I Go” was a brand new song, never before sung by any group.

Through the Night is one of the best albums I’ve heard this year. I whole-heartedly recommend that you pick up a copy of this project as soon as you can!

CD Rating: 5 stars
Average Song Rating: 4 stars
Favorite Songs: “Whosoever Will,” “Through the Night,” “The Blood and Its Power,” “One of These Mornings”
Music Styles: Progressive Southern Gospel, Power Ballad

Produced by: Dottie Leonard Miller and Wayne Haun

Review copy not provided

CD Review: Tribute Quartet "Our Anthem"

God’s Gonna Send a Revival - Tribute starts out the album singing an accapella version of the classic hymn “Revive Us Again.” After about 23 seconds, the music kicks in, and the group launches into the upbeat title song, “God’s Gonna Send A Revival.” Instrumentally, the song bears several similarities to the song “I’ve Been Blessed” on Tribute’s 2009 release For This Time. This song is a lot faster though.

Thank the Lord - The tone of this song is a little softer, although the tempo is still pretty fast. I enjoyed the choice of instruments that were used. The strings provided a nice touch, keeping the song from being too jazzy, while preserving the quicker pace.

Good News From Jerusalem - This song received high praise from Daniel Mount on the Southern Gospel Blog. He felt that this is the song that Tribute needs to get people’s attention. It is an excellent track, although I don’t think I enjoyed it quite as much as he did. Stylistically, it reminds me of songs like “He’s Alive” by the Gaither Vocal Band or “ Worth of It All” by the Browns.

Homesick Angel - The concept of this song is rather interesting. It pictures our guardian angels being homesick for Heaven, and when we die we’ll sail away on their wings to “the master’s table,” and they’ll finally get to go home. The Daryl Williams Trio sang this several years ago on their 2007 release, Marching, which was also released on the Sonlite Records label. I’ve always enjoyed hearing this song, and hearing Tribute cover it was a nice surprise.

Leavin’ On My Mind - I know this is a pretty well-known Southern Gospel classic, but I believe this is the first time I’ve actually heard it. I have to be in the right mood to enjoy it as it’s a little slow and quiet for my tastes.

The Time Is Now - This song has an intro, part of which, is similar to Ernie Haase & Signature Sound’s song "I’ve Been Here Before." I say that to let you know the sound of the song. The styles are pretty similar. Basically, the message here is that there are lost people, and the time to go share the gospel with them is right now

With Just a Little - You know the kids song “God Makes a Lot of a Little”? Well, this is the Southern Gospel equivalent of that song. I don’t feel that this will be one of Tribute’s more popular songs. It’s about average as far as fast songs go, and they’ve done better. I do enjoy hearing the banjo and some of the other instruments that are featured though.

Through Me, the Cross Lives On - This is the only power ballad on this album. I think the project would have benefited from at least a couple more. As far as the music and the song itself goes, this track is great. But it’s basically a solo by Josh Singletary. It would have been a lot better with all the guys singing together more.

It Always Get the Darkest (Just Before Daylight) - This is another great up-tempo song, just as good as “God’s Gonna Send a Revival” or “Thank the Lord.” But I have to wonder what it would have sounded like as a big brassy number, like some of the songs that Brian Free & Assurance have. It’s definitely a great song as it is, but I just wonder if it could have been even better.

Better Farther On - Very slow, very quiet song. I hear piano, light drums, and acoustic guitar. I think it’s a nice song, but I could see a lot of people not particularly caring for it. I like it myself.

Comments:
I feel that the Tribute Quartet needs a stronger song selection for future albums. “Homecoming Day” was the main feature of their last album, The Waiting Is Over. This album provided a few standout songs, mainly “Good News From Jerusalem.” But it seems that albums like For This Time (2009) and Anticipation (2007) had songs that did better than some of the more recent ones. I don’t think people are going to say “wow, this song is totally amazing!” for most of the tracks. Still though, it’s a good CD and has a lot of up-tempo numbers that are fun to listen to. I’ll be looking forward to seeing what Tribute does next year.

CD Rating: 4 stars
Favorite Songs: “God’s Gonna Send a Revival,” “Thank the Lord,” “Good News From Jerusalem”
Main Styles: Southern Gospel

Review copy provided by Crossroads Records

CD Review: Canton Junction Debut Project

Note: As this is a two-disc project with 20 tracks in all, I decided not to review every song. A song list is included near the end of the post.

I Wouldn’t Take Nothing For My Journey Now - Yes, longtime SoGo fans are going to instantly recognize this Happy Goodman classic from days gone by. Big fans who know and listen to all the smaller gospel groups whose name wouldn’t sound familiar to a casual listener will probably remember that the LeFevre Quartet and the Perrys recorded it more recently. And now…Canton Junction. I’m going to use a term that I don’t use very often, but think is appropriate to describe the music. It rocks. I’m sure the piano was smoking by the time the song was done. Of course, we can’t forget about the guitars that lend a heavier sound to the song. Even the drum track shouldn’t be overlooked, especially on the chorus where it kicks into high gear.

Heaven Is - If I had to summarize this song in one sentence, I would probably say "country meets praise and worship." There are different aspects from each style infused into this song. It actually makes for a really interesting - and really good - song. It's not super fast, but it's not real slow either. It's definitely one of my favorite upper-tempo songs.

Who Am I - My biggest (and only) complaint about this song is that the tempo is undeniably, completely and without question way too slow. I don’t think the group should be singing along at 70 MPH because it’s not that kind of song. But it still is extremely slow which is a shame because otherwise, it’s a great song. The music starts out with a bluesy feeling, and turns into something more like a ballad near the end. Some great singing on the part of the group members, I must say.

Go Tell It On the Mountain - Yes, I know it’s not Christmas time. And hey, don’t try to deny it, when you saw the title, you thought something to the effect of “a Christmas song? Well, that’s different.” I was surprised to hear it. It sounded out of place. But it’s a great song, even if it’s coming a little early. I think it comes closer than any other version I’ve heard to satisfying my musical tastes. And I gotta say, I love the part at the end of the second verse where the whole group comes in to echo “that blessed Christmas morn.” That wasn’t the only time during the CD where I thought, “hey, they sound like the Gaither Vocal Band!”

Coming Home - This song is about completely the opposite of the last. It's very calm and peaceful. I personally like the chorus the best. A find that in a lot of songs, the chorus sticks out to me because of mainly the tune. This is one of those songs. The music has a bit of a lonely feeling. It sort of sounds like what you might hear in a movie. In a scene where the protagonist is out in the desert all alone contemplating life or resigning himself to the fact that he's hopelessly lost and is going to die. :D Sorry, that's the best I can do to describe the tone.

Softly and Tenderly - OK, I know a couple song reviews back I said that the group sounded like the GVB. Well, on this track I’m picking up Ernie Haase & Signature Sound. Not sure if anybody else heard these similarities or not. And yes, I know Tim Duncan used to be with EH&SS, but it’s not just him. This is a very soft, pretty song. I don’t think I’ve ever heard a gospel group sing this although I’m sure they have. It’s a nice change of pace from some of the faster upbeat tracks, though I enjoyed those immensely. Of course, this is a classic song for altar services and evangelistic pleas, so it’s a different tone from former said songs.

Disc 2:

Sweeter As the Days Go By - Many of my readers have probably already seen the video of this song. The song was recorded live so what you hear on the video is what you hear on the CD. Go see what you think. I loved hearing Tim Duncan take the second verse. Oh, and then whichever guy took off at the chorus probably deserves an accolade or two. :D The crowd just loved them!

What a Wonderful World - This song isn’t exactly Christian. It’s a secular song in that it never mentions God or Jesus or Heaven or anything religious. It just talks about different good things about the world. The tune is good, it’s an OK song.

Glorify - Three words to describe this song? Wow. Totally awesome. This could very well be the best slow song on this project, counting both CDs. I could see someone saying that it's too repetitive, especially on the chorus, but I don't mind that so much. It's a great tune, and the background music makes the song sound really good, particularly near the end.

Dig A Little Deeper - I don’t believe I’ve ever heard this song non-accapella style - or in other words without a soundtrack or background instruments - until now. I don’t like this song as well as some of the others that the group did. The chorus is good, but in my opinion, I think the guys need to calm down a little on the verse.

Since Jesus Came Into My Heart - This is another one of my favorite hymns to hear. It has a country flavor here. Nobody gets a solo on either verse. Pretty basic arrangement, and they go for an encore at the end. Not a particularly outstanding track, but good nonetheless.

Hold On - I could definitely see the Gaither Vocal Band doing this song pretty much exactly like Canton Junction. There is a lot of similarities between the groups here too. I don’t really care for this song. I think "Sweeter As the Days Go By" is definitely the best fast song on Disc 2.

Comments:
This CD is definitely a great start for Canton Junction. They seem to have taken on a country feel infused with a couple other genres such as blues, praise and worship, and western as their main style. It makes a very interesting CD. I would recommend this project pretty highly to those of you who are searching for some new music to add to your collection.

CD Rating: 4 stars
Favorite Songs: “Heaven Is,” “Glorify,” “I Wouldn’t Take Nothing For My Journey Now”
Main Styles: Mainly country

Song List: Disc 1: I Wouldn’t Take Nothing For My Journey Now, Show Me Your Way, Heaven Is, The Son Shines Down On Me, Who Am I, Go Tell It On the Mountain, Coming Home, Softly and Tenderly, The Inviting Christ, My Saviour’s Love Disc 2: Sweeter As the Days Go By, You Are So Beautiful, What a Wonderful World, Glorify, Dig a Little Deeper, Going Home, Since Jesus Came Into My Heart, In the Valley He Restoreth My Soul, Hold On, Smile

Review copy provided by Difference Media

CD Review: Brian Free & Assurance "Nothing But Love"

Nothing But Love - Fun and upbeat, this song speaks of the singer feeling love and grace when he thinks of the sins he has committed and how God forgave him. The organ adds a nice touch to a great beat and a nice brassy sound. 5 stars

It’s Quite a Valley - “It’s quite a valley, but nothing he won’t bring you through.” Written by Lee Black and Kenna Turner West, this song is pure awesomeness. :) It fits better into the contemporary christian category than Southern Gospel. It would be a great song for radio. 5 stars

If the Lord Says Do It - This is one of those fast, hard-driving songs that doesn’t let up until the very end. It reminds me a little of “I’m a Brand New Man” by the Kingdom Heirs. Jeremy Lile takes both verses, making the song even better. He’s a very talented singer, one of my favorite bass singers I think. 4.5 stars

CD Review: "Right Now" (Old Paths Quartet)

Battle Stand - Love the choice of instruments, particularly the banjo and drums. Not as fast as some of the others, but nearly as good. 5 stars

He's My Song - This is a very slow and peaceful song. I love the first part of the chorus that goes "He's my song, when I don't feel like singing." (words in italics indicate the rest of the group joining the soloist) 4.5 stars

Woke Up This Morning - Very fast and fun, great harmony, very smooth. The Old Paths have a talented bass singer. This song should bring down the house in a concert setting. 5 stars

Everlasting Yes - This is a good song, but I just wonder what it would sound like with a big orchestra. It could get a little draggy if you're not in the right mood. 4.5-5 stars

CD Review: Greg Howlett "Portraits of Hope"

Song Reviews:
“To God Be the Glory” starts the project out relatively fast, though it does slow down once in a while to highlight the piano.  Greg plays some fancy runs, but for the majority of the song stays relatively simple.  One feature of this song, that doesn’t appear on every track, is a choir that accompanies the instrumentation through parts of the hymn.

“The Savior Is Waiting” is a thoughtful, slow song.  The orchestration isn’t hugely complex.  Soft strings and violins are the main accompaniment.  The piano part isn’t that complex either.  It stays pretty basic, which is fine.  It’s a pretty song.

“Heaven Came Down” is a fun song that’s more “jazzy” than most of the other tracks.  Again, strings, for the most part, complement the piano.

CD Review: Poet Voices "Grace and Glory"

Grace and Glory - This song has a pretty distinct contemporary flavor, with a cool electric guitar track playing continuously in the background.  Even though I don’t like some progressive songs, I have to admit that this is a great one.  The other contender for first place in the “best fast song” category would be “Love of Christ.”

Get Away - Hearing the first part of the song, I wasn’t too impressed.  It has redeeming qualities though.  Not quite halfway through, the organ comes in, and then some other instruments (drums and more guitars mainly) join to harmonize with the electric guitar(s) that had previously carried the soundtrack.  The music really sounds like a soundtrack for a movie like Fireproof or Facing the Giants.

I Am Redeemed - This may be the strongest ballad on Grace and Glory.  The orchestration isn’t extremely heavy, though it does climax, especially toward the end.  The track has some great horn and string sounds.  I was elated…no, that’s too strong of a word…I was glad to hear the group sing part of another song near the end.  Another song titled “I Am Redeemed”:

I am redeemed by love divine, glory, glory Christ is mine, he’s mine!
All to him I now resign, Jesus loosed the chains of sin and set me free.


I’ll Fly Away - While I did enjoy “Grace and Glory” which had a contemporary flavor, I’m not wild over this one.  The beat, as well as the electric guitars, is a little heavy for me.  And the way they handled the verses…well, it’s just not my favorite style.  It’s okay, but not as good as the other up-tempo songs.

Jesus Built a Bridge - This isn’t a bad song, even though it may not get as much attention as some of the others.  When I listened to it for the first time, it reminded me of a part pamphlet, part book I read before.  The pamphlet depicted two cliffs, with a deep hole in between them.  On one cliff was Jesus, Salvation, eternal life, ect.  On the other side was a group that wanted to get to God.  How did they get over?  There was no bridge.  But the way to God was across the canyon (across = a cross).  A simple illustration?  Maybe, but that has stayed in my mind since I read it.  For some reason, the line that says “With only three nails and two pieces of wood”, along with the title of the song, reminded me of that pamphlet/book.

Love of Christ - This song is awesome!  I love the beat, the music, the chorus, the key change, everything!  I also enjoyed hearing part of the hymn “My Saviour’s Love,” even though the group only sang one or two lines.  It’s a great song with great lyrics.  One of the lines that caught my attention was this one:

It’s the unexplainable, uncontainable, wonderful love of Christ.


It’s the part of the song where they had to sing quickly to get everything in!

Comments:
I’ve never really listened to Poet Voices much.  Of course I’ve heard at least part of their popular song “Stepping Stones,” as well as two or three others, but for the most part I haven’t kept up with their music.  I’m glad I listened to this album though!

Even though there are only six songs, almost every one of them are awesome.  The exception, IMHO, would be “I’ll Fly Away.”  But, hey, five out six ain’t bad!  Three of them (Grace and Glory, I Am Redeemed, Love of Christ) are five-star material.  The other two (Get Away, Jesus Built a Bridge) will likely, for me at least, rate according to the mood I’m in.

If you have five extra dollars to spend, head on over to http://philcrossmusic.com/store/store-poet-voices/ and buy a digital download of Grace and Glory.

CD Rating: 5 stars
Favorite Songs: “Grace and Glory,” “I Am Redeemed,” “Love of Christ”
Main Styles: Progressive; Mild contemporary

Review copy provided by artist; a positive review was NOT required.

CD Review: Ernie Haase & Signature Sound "Here We Are Again"

Swing Low, Sweet Chariot - This song, based on the old negro-spiritual, that was originally written by Wallis Willis, comes to life with the sound of a whirring movie projector.  It’s kind of a weird rendition of the song, especially when the group switches to using “mouth instruments,” as Yankee Gospel Girl put it (read her review here).  The song goes out as it came in, with the spinning projector sound.

Singing in the Midnight Hour - The last song sounded rather like a traditional quartet song, but this one is the opposite.  The style is pretty progressive, and fast.  Doug Anderson lends his signature sound (no pun intended) to the verses.  I don’t really like the style he lends here.  He can do and has done better.  The song has a good beat, but I can’t get past the vocal work.

Here We Are Again - This first ballad (I use that term loosely) has a slow country swing to it.  The group sings very traditionally, unlike “Singing In the Midnight Hour.”  I usually don’t care for these types of songs, but this one isn’t half bad!  I like hearing Ian Owens sing the first verse.

I Believe - I don’t have much to say about this track.  It’s a fairly big ballad.  The orchestration becomes especially heavy toward the end.  I don’t really like the song itself.

I’ve Been Here Before - The intro here leads you to think that a fast number is coming (the piano takes off at a pretty fast pace).  But once we get a little ways into the introduction, that assumption proves to be wrong.  It’s actually more of a bluesy medium-tempo song, rather than a toe-tapping, barn burner.

You Are Welcome Here - This is by far the best ballad on Here We Are Again, and probably the best song altogether.  The verses speak of a man, addicted and defeated, and a girl who’s been rejected by her friends and family (they couldn’t bear the choices she had made).  The song doesn’t elaborate on the bad choices made by the two, but I think we could hazard some pretty good guesses.  The chorus says:

You are welcome here; you are precious in His sight
Whatever you’ve done wrong, His love can make it right
So leave behind your troubled past, your guilt, and all your fear
My child, you are welcome here

Love Carried the Cross - From reading other reviews of Here We Are Again, this seems to be the favorite ballad for most people.  It is a good song, but I like “You Are Welcome Here” better, perhaps since it’s a story song.  This is the biggest power number on the album.

Stand By Me - I liked the soundtrack that Signature Sound in their first version of this song better.  The chorus for this soundtrack has a great beat, but other than that, it isn’t outstanding.  It’s more traditional than most of the other fast songs.

Everytime - Ernie is like a Chihuahua on espresso during this foot-stomping, hand-clapping, head-swinger!   It’s too hyper-active for me.  Also I don’t usually like talking and screaming in songs, especially on recorded studio versions.  This song belongs more on a VeggieTales CD or DVD rather than on a Southern Gospel quartet album.  It did have some cool sound effects, like a car alarm-sounding bit, and (geese?).

Sometimes I Wonder - This medium-paced song is distinct from the others, in that it sounds very acoustic.  As I listen to it, I think of songs like “Knowing You’ll Be There” (Gaither Vocal Band) and “If You Only Knew.” (Inspirations)  The subject-matter deals with deceased friends, though the songs rarely elaborate on who the person is, whether they were a family member, spouse, ect.  This song deserves a second listen.

Thankful - The tune to this song reminds me so much of the song “We Are So Blessed” (sung by the Cathedrals and Greater Vision).  It will probably get overlooked, as it’s not a particularly outstanding song, but it is very good nonetheless.

Any Other Man - This is without argument the most progressive song that I have ever heard Signature Sound sing.  Some might argue that “Get Away Jordan” or “Singing In the Midnight Hour” would be more progressive than this one, but those are more fast and energetic than contemporary.

Comments:
It’s been over three years since Signature Sound released an album with all-new songs.  That’s not to say that haven’t had a strong album in that same number of years.  On the contrary, A Tribute to the Cathedral Quartet was very good and stayed true to the Southern Gospel style.  The last project, George Younce With EH&SS, was a disappointment though.  The group needed some strong material, especially being as popular as they are.

I am rather disappointed with Here We Are Again.  It definitely has some good songs, but the track list is rather hit and miss.  The group still needs some solid up-tempo numbers, and perhaps even a couple of more outstanding ballads.

I have to admit, there’s something for nearly everyone on this CD.  Southern Gospel fans may enjoy “Swing Low, Sweet Chariot” (I use the word “may” because as a fan of the style, I didn’t think the song was quite as “mainstream” as most quartet songs) and will like the ballads.  Contemporary and progressive fans will like “Any Other Man,” and “Singing In the Midnight Hour.”  Young fans and children should enjoy “Everytime.”

I personally have enjoyed other Signature Sound projects more, but I’ve also listened to CDs that rated about the same or worse.

If you haven't ordered the album yet, you can hear previews here to help you make up your mind.

Album Rating: 2.5-3 stars
Favorite Songs: “You Are Welcome Here,” “Thankful,” “Love Carried the Cross”
Main Styles: There are many different styles utilized during the album including Blues, Southern Gospel, Ballad, and Contemporary.  Traditional Southern Gospel fans will probably come away from the album feeling that it had a largely progressive feel.

Review copy provided by StowTown Records

Review: Collingsworth Family "Part of the Family"

Many of you may remember that I already reviewed Part of the Family back in September.  I wasn't satisfied with that post though.  It was very non-descriptive, boring, and bad all around.  So I decided to write the review again.  Hopefully, this will be better than the last.  ;)  I have some other reviews planned such as Tim Duncan's solo CD, and perhaps Libbi Perry Stuffle's Journey, but I haven't finished these yet.  Hopefully I can post them soon!

___

God’s Family - There are several songs on this CD that don’t really stand out. This Lanny Wolf number is one of them. It’s certainly better than say, "Nothing’s Worrying Me," or "Jesus Is All I Need," but it won’t be remembered as a classic. I wish that the producers had decided to include the chorus "Family of God" in this arrangement, but for some reason (perhaps partly due to time concerns) they left it out.

That’s the Place I’m Longing to Go - This song is for those that enjoy mellow, acoustic numbers. It’s sort of comforting, not fast or rocky in the least. It even showcases the family singing part of the chorus in accapella style. It’s maybe not the strongest ballad on the CD, but it’s good nonetheless.

Joy Unspeakable - Written by Bill and Gloria Gaither, this is a brassy up-tempo number. You could compare this to “Not the Same” on the 2007 release We Still Believe. This song isn’t incredibly well-done IMO, but it‘s not a bad song.

Jesus Is All I Need - I enjoyed this song better when I saw it performed live at a Collingsworth concert. When simply listening to it, it tends to drag on. It’s a very slow Caleb Collins/Wayne Haun melody. Kim is highlighted during most of the verses. Part of the song “He’s All I Need” is sung at the end.

Nothing’s Worrying Me - Brooklyn leads this jazzy number, and the family provides backup vocals. The lyrics could be loosely compared to those in “I Know” from the 2009 The Answer release. This song isn’t a very strong one. I don’t particularly like the style in which Brooklyn sings.

Tell the Mountain - Phillip takes the lead on this country-flavored number and is joined by his sisters for part of the second verse. Some great power singing is featured at the end of the second verse. This is the strongest up-tempo song on the CD with perhaps the exception of “Just Another Rainy Day.”

I Pray - This is another acoustic ballad, which showcases the youngest member of the family, Olivia. It’s already been said that Olivia has proven herself as a capable vocalist. This is a valid statement. Although her voice isn’t as mature as her sisters or her mom, she still is able to hold her own.

At Calvary - This is a beautiful rendition of the well-known hymn “At Calvary,” which was written by Marty Millikin. The music is pretty light at the beginning, but by the end turns into a power ballad. The first verse highlights what sounds like the whole family, the second verse showcases Kim and the older girls, the third is handled by Phillip (he’s joined by Brooklyn and Courtney), and the fourth is, again, the whole family. This is one of the best ballads on the CD, and will surely be enjoyed.  The soundtrack alternates between soft light music with minimal orchestration to huge power ballad.

I Found It All - Courtney leads this song, while Phillip and Brooklyn provide back-up singing. It’s another beautiful ballad that has softer music and a great message. The chorus says:

I found it all, when I lost everything and gave my life to serve a risen king
I found the truth that I’d been searching for, I found it all when I found the Lord

Just Another Rainy Day - This is probably the most fun up-tempo song on Part of the Family. This is also the Collingsworth’s most progressive, rocky song to date. Phillip sings the first verse, and his sisters take over for the second. I believe I’ve read that this was formerly sung by LordSong and the Crabb Family.

Praise You - This song has comparatively soft orchestration and moves along at a medium pace. If I remember correctly, it’s a relatively obscure Gaither melody, one that’s deserving of attention when sung by the Collingsworth Family. The only other recorded version of this song that I own was sung by the Reflection Trio on their The Anchor Holds album. This version is better, both musically and vocally.

Resurrection Morn - Once again the Collingsworth have come off with an excellent power ballad. “Resurrection Morn” is beautifully orchestrated and is arguably the best down-tempo number on Part of the Family. The family’s early ballads weren’t incredible, but somehow in their recent albums they have found a way to create multiple winners in the power ballad category.

Comments:
The Collingsworth Family is an excellent family group, IMO, one of the best groups in Southern Gospel music. Every one of the children, from Brooklyn to Olivia, have proven themselves as capable singers. They didn’t disappoint their fans with this release. While I do have a couple of criticisms after listening to the whole thing, it’s still an excellent album that has many outstanding songs.

I would have liked to see a stronger up-tempo number in place of “Joy Unspeakable,” and I also would have liked to hear at least one piano solo (I’m glad though that they didn’t have a lot of instrumentals though) As one blogger said, (and I paraphrase), “who wants to hear instrumentals when you have these kinds of voices?”

Although I really enjoyed a lot of the songs from the Collingsworth Family’s last CD The Answer, and might have to say that was a stronger album as a whole, I would recommend Part of the Family as one of the best CD releases of 2011. And when you see some of these songs performed live…well, it’s a wonderful experience.

CD Rating: 4-4.5 stars
Favorite Songs: Tell the Mountain, Just Another Rainy Day, I Found It All, Resurrection Morn, At Calvary

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

Review: Gold City "Somebody's Coming"

Peter, James, and John - This is the best song on the album (with “Lord of Life” coming in second probably) and is the perfect selection for radio single.  It has a nice country flavor, and the group really shines.  The only criticism I can see would be the ending,  It seems there should be more to it.  It doesn’t follow the chorus endings for the rest of the song.  It has different words and leaves you wishing for more.

I Get Down - The last song was excellent, this one is just the opposite.  Tim Riley leads the song.  It doesn’t do much for me.

Footprints on the Water - Don’t be surprised if you hear similarities to the last song, “I Get Down,” especially in the intro.  It’s a jazzy number, kind of fun, a little obnoxious with the electric guitars.

It Won’t Be Long - A note to Gold City: tone down!  Also, the music is a bit annoying with the loud percussion and electric guitars.  Some lyrics that stood out to me:

There’s no need standing up for the right, unless you’re gonna stand up against the wrong.


and:

You’d better make haste to meet your maker before you have to meet with the undertaker.


Good theology.  :)

Showers of Blessings - This song doesn’t sound much to me like Gold City.  The vocals sound like they’re sung by a different group (not one that I know, but a different group nonetheless)  The group had the perfect opportunity to at least sneak part of the old hymn into this track, but they missed their opportunity.  Nevertheless, “Showers of Blessings” is kind of a fun song.

Lord of Life - To me, this song would win second place on the album.  The first ballad, it starts out with fairly light music, and then kicks into high gear at the first chorus.  If you want a small sampling of the album, buy this song track, and “Peter, James, and John” on iTunes.

Somebody’s Coming - You’re sitting at an interminably long red light, bored out of your skull.  Suddenly, a sleek, red corvette pulls up next to you, rock music blasting from the radio.  The driver thinks he’s a “cool dude” complete with tattoos, muscle shirt, and tattoos.  You feel like opening your window and playing something from your car.  But, suddenly, you hear that the song he’s listening to is by Gold City!  And it’s called “Somebody’s Coming”!

OK, obviously, this will likely never happen.  But I’m telling you, minus the Christian words, this song would be absolutely perfect on a rock-n-roll or country station.  Well, if you like that kind of music, this song isn’t half bad, although it is very rocky.

Leave That Burden - This is ballad two of three.  It’s slightly slower than some down-tempo songs, but it’s certainly slower than most of the others on Somebody’s Coming.  I don’t think that the chorus is extremely well written.  It seems that there’s too many words stuffed into a small space.  The song is kind of country-flavored.  This seems to be the genre that most of the songs on the album would fit into.

I Have an Anchor - Sometimes it takes a few listens before I start to like a CD or song.  Second time through this one, and it’s improving, at least in my mind.  The group could have sang part of the song “Will Your Anchor Hold” (or perhaps called “We Have an Anchor”) in the old Praise and Worship hymnal that my church uses, but alas they didn’t.  So many old songs like this, that are in my hymnbook, never get sung by Southern Gospel groups.  Sometimes I can’t say that it would be a good idea to record some of those old songs though.  Not all of them are exactly well written.

Never Too Broken to Belong - Imagine piano and strings, because that’s what this song is.  It’s pretty (as in to a fairly large, noticeable, or reasonable extent) pretty. :)

Album Art: The cover is a work of art.  I really like it.  I’d like to say that the actual cover art is a bit different than the JPEG image above, mainly in and around the font.

Comments:
I have to say that most of the songs are not as good as some of the songs on Gold City’s last major release Moment of Truth, such as “What Children Believe,” and “By Your Grace, For Your Glory.”  There are a couple 4.5-5 star songs, and the rest range from 1.5-4 stars.  I can’t recommend paying $15 for the entire album, but I would recommend getting some of the songs on a digital download site, such as iTunes.

This album was very country influenced, with almost all of the songs, having at least a little bit, that country flavor.  I generally love country style Southern Gospel music, but I can’t say that about this album.  A lot of the songs are too loud for me.

Most likely, you’ll have a different view of the album than me.  Daniel J. Mount gave it a very favorable review.  If you liked Moment of Truth, then you’ll most likely like Somebody’s Coming.  If you didn’t like Moment of Truth, then don’t get Somebody’s Coming.

CD Rating: 2.5 stars
Favorite Songs: “Peter, James, and John,” “Lord of Life,” “Somebody’s Coming”

Review copy provided by New Haven Records