Southern Gospel Review Blog

Happy Thanksgiving!

2013-11-28T11:53:00.000-05:00

Happy Thankgiving everyone! Sorry I haven't posted much recently. I've been busy, but I hope to get some Christmas CD reviews in soon. I have the privilege to sing in a +1000 voice choir backing up the Gaithers at the Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis this Saturday, so I'm definitely excited about that! Here's a song by Greater Vision in honor of Thanksgiving.

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

2013-10-28T00:00:00.000-04:00

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)

2013-10-21T01:09:00.000-04:00

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)

2013-10-14T19:35:00.003-04:00

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)

2013-09-30T18:31:00.001-04:00

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)

2013-09-16T00:00:00.002-04:00

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)

2013-09-09T00:00:00.000-04:00

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)

2013-09-01T23:59:00.000-04:00

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.

Best Albums of 2012

2012-12-29T16:13:00.004-05:00

Here are my favorite albums that were recorded in 2012. What were your favorites?

Brian Free & Assurance - Nothing But Love
Favorite Tracks: I Want to Be That Man, I Will Be Praying, Guard Your Heart, If the Lord Says Do It, It's Quite a Valley
Style: Contemporary, Progressive
Comments: Traditional SoGo fans probably won't like this album, but if you like musical diversity, Nothing But Love is a great project with a great selection of songs.

Legacy Five - Count Your Blessings
Favorite Tracks: Blood Washed Band, I Call You Faithful, It Is No Secret, Heaven Came Down
Style: Southern Gospel, Traditional
Comments: The audio quality on this CD was much better than the quality of L5's last album A Wonderful Life. On another note, although it will probably take long-time fans a while to get over Glenn Dustin's departure, Matt Fouch fits in just fine.

Lefevre Quartet - But For the Cross
Favorite Tracks: But For the Cross, I'm So Saved, The Wedding Song, Put It Right There
Style: Mixed (both progressive and Southern Gospel style songs)
Comments: This CD has something for everybody. I really enjoyed most of the songs, and I think this group deserves more attention.

Mark Trammell Quartet - Lifetime
Favorite Tracks: Guide Me, Oh Thou Great Jehovah, I Sing the Mighty Power, Meet Me Over On the Other Side
Style: Traditional, Southern Gospel
Comments: The huge orchestrations arranged by Lari Goss won me over to this project.

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

2012-12-10T19:34:00.000-05:00

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"

2012-10-18T11:05:00.001-04:00

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"

2012-09-20T14:01:00.001-04:00

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"

2012-09-04T20:42:00.000-04:00

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

2012-08-16T15:23:00.001-04:00

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

Concert Review: Brian Free & Assurance, the Perrys, and Jason Crabb

2012-08-04T06:00:00.001-04:00

A couple Saturday's ago, I was able to attend an outdoor concert where the Perrys, Brian Free and Assurance, and Jason Crabb were all featured artists. It was an awesome night, especially since I went with several people from my church and a friend from way out in New Mexico. The concert was held at the Bill Monroe Music Park in Bean Blossom, IN.

Perrys - The Perrys were the hosts for the event, and they sang first. They started out with "Every Time I Need Him," which is fun to hear both live and on a CD. Here's a list of some of the songs they sang:

Every Time I Need Him
His Love Lights the Way
Great Is Thy Faithfulness
I Know It Was the Blood
The Holy Hills of Heaven
He Will Hide Me
Blue Skies Coming (?)
Precious Jesus, Hold My Hand

Unfortunately, I can't think of the rest of the songs. I forgot to take paper to take notes. :) I was impressed though with the good spirit that was there during several of the Perry's songs.

Brian Free & Assurance - Brian Free & Assurance put on the best performance of the night in my opinion. They're an all-male quartet, which I think gives them an edge over other performers, plus they have a lot of upbeat songs that are really fun to listen to. Here's a list of the songs that I can remember. :)

First Day In Heaven
Go Tell the World
You Must Have Met Him
The Part Where You Come In
Guard Your Heart
Long As I Got King Jesus
I Want to Be That Man
Just a Little Talk With Jesus

There were others but I can't remember them all. ;)

I've never cared that much for BF&A in the past, but seeing them live and buying their new CD really improved my opinion of them. They're one of my favorite male quartets now. I think Jeremy Lile is one of the best bass singers in Gospel music. And of course everybody knows what Brian Free can do. The group sounds really good together right now, and I hope none of the current members leave anytime soon. :)

Jason Crabb - I know that Jason Crabb is a very popular soloist right now. I believe he won an award for being the best singer in all of Gospel music. I found it amusing that during intermission, the line for his table was very long, stretching well out of the shelter house, while the lines for the other tables (Singing News, BF&A, Perrys, and a local radio station, WYGS) were comparatively teensy.

With that being said, I have to say that I don't care for his style of music. I like him as a person (I haven't met him, but he was funny and has a cool personality), but I don't like his music or performance, one reason being that the style of music he does isn't really Southern Gospel, but more country gospel or contemporary Christian. Another reason is that I don't usually like soloists as well as groups.

On a sidenote, the live band gave him more flexibility than he would have had if he had just used soundtracks, but the music wasn't as complex. (the music consisted of drums, bass, keyboard [either piano or organ], and, on some songs, his guitar)

Comments:
Anyway, it was a great night. I bought BF&A's new CD, Nothing But Love, which I got autographed by all the guys in the group! :)

The winner of the talent search sang after intermission. It was a male soloist who sang a fast song that I didn't like, and then sang "These Are They" which was good. I think he won $500.

The next concert that I may get to attend (still unsure) is Saturday night of NQC! I'm very excited about this as I have never been to NQC before. They have a great lineup of artists on Saturday night. (Collingsworth Family, Kingdom Heirs, Kingsmen, ect.) Perhaps I'll see some of my readers there. ;)

Did You Support Chick-Fil-A Yesterday?

2012-08-02T14:54:00.001-04:00

Yesterday was amazing. Thousands of people across the country swamped their local Chick-Fil-A locations, some waiting for hours to get in, and others driving long distances so they could eat at the nearest location. Our local Chick-Fil-A, which is about 20-25 minutes from our house was packed when we arrived at lunch time. By the time we left, the crowd inside had started to subside, but the line for the drive through had not slowed. I heard reports later that they were busy throughout the rest of the day.

My aunt attends the Bible Methodist Church in Burlington, KY. They had a 15 minute service, and then went out to eat. :) My church bought chicken sandwiches for the kids at our Vacation Bible School that night.

This should be a message to Chick-Fil-A and the rest of the world. You don't have to give in to the demands of liberal homosexual activists to run a successful business. Just stand up for righteousness and God will bless you.

Greenwood, IN location

We should pray for Chick-Fil-A and the leaders though, as tomorrow gays will gather to kiss each other. I found it amusing though that there were 55 times more people at Appreciation Day then there are expected to be at "Kiss-In" tomorrow. (based on the Facebook invite list) Also keep praying that the leaders will not give in to the gay movement. I heard that one location is donating sandwiches to a gay pride parade. One manager seemed to be trying to distance himself from the company president's comments. He said that the kiss-in should be fun! Also I was a little disappointed in the statement released on Facebook. It said that Chick-Fil-A was going to leave the marriage debate to the political arena. It seemed like a copout to me. I just hope the leaders will continue to stand up for what is right...and remember the record breaking sales they enjoyed yesterday.

Website Redesign and Other Changes

2012-07-23T11:42:00.001-04:00

Well, as you've probably noticed, the Gospel Review Blog has received a completely new look. As well as a new template, there are several other changes that have been made as well. Here are the biggest changes that we've made to the blog:

A new logo
Slideshow
Inserting jump breaks into long posts so that you have to click to read more.

I really want to know what everybody thinks, so please take a moment to either leave a comment (which is a lot easier to do now thanks to the updated commenting system) or if you don't have that much time, just vote in the poll at the top. Seriously, this is helpful to me to know how you're liking the new design, and it only takes you about 5 seconds. (if even that!) You don't have to leave your name or anything, it's completely anonymous, just select your choice and push "Vote". You don't leave the page or anything.

New Look and Changes

2012-07-16T13:00:00.000-04:00

I'm experimenting with some different templates, trying to find a new look for the Gospel Review Blog. I realize that it's far from perfect, so please please patient as I work through some of the kinks. Please comment and let me know if you have any questions or suggestions, and make sure you vote in the poll in the sidebar. I'll be working on a logo to put at the top of the page as well.

Thanks. :)

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

2012-07-16T11:05:00.001-04:00

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

I Will Be Praying - This song is a little too rock-ish in my opinion. It’s kind of fun to listen to, but the beat is pretty heavy. I like the lyrics. 3.5 stars

Guard Your Heart - I first heard this song live, a couple of days after the group started selling Nothing But Love at their product table. It warns us to guard our heart, to lock the door and hide the key from the enemy. The strings are a nice touch as some of the other songs include guitars, a heavy beat, and synthesizers, but miss the more classical sound. 4 stars

There Is Power - Another song that leans heavily toward the contemporary sound. I did enjoy listening to it, and I liked that the group decided to sing the chorus to “There Is Power In the Blood.” 4.5 stars

Calvary’s Cry - I don’t have much to say about this song. I didn’t enjoy it as much as some of the others but it’s still good. This is for those that enjoy ballads that aren’t progressive. It sounds slightly synthesized, but not too much. 4 stars

You Can Be a Bridge - This song reminds me of some of the songs on the 2007 Real Faith project, songs like “Prayin’ Man,” “I Keep Looking Up,” “The Biggest Step,” and “You’ve Got to Pray.” It’s very rocky and will probably be a big concert hit. 2.5-3 stars

I Want to Be That Man - This is the other song from this project that I first heard live. I had to think of the Sherwood Pictures (christian) movie Courageous when I heard this. This would have been a perfect song to play for that. While it’s not overly contemporary, the synthesizer and drums lend some of that feeling. 4.5 stars

Revival - This song could almost feel out of place on this album. Up until now the songs have been mainly contemporary-ish, but this adds a touch of…something else. Not quite country, but something similar. The song pleads for revival, and says “let it start with me.” 3.5 stars.

Comments:
Up until a few days ago, I haven’t been a huge fan of Brian Free & Assurance. But seeing them live in concert really improved my opinion of the group.

Nothing But Love is a great album, and I’m glad I decided to go ahead and buy it. (I also got it autographed!!) I wouldn’t recommend it though for people who don’t enjoy a more contemporary feeling.

CD Rating: 4.5 stars
Favorite Songs: “It’s Quite a Valley,” “If the Lord Says Do It,” “Guard Your Heart,” “I Want to Be That Man”
Main Styles: Contemporary Christian

Review copy not provided.

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

2012-06-07T10:57:00.002-04:00

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

I Know My God Can Do It - Once again, very fast and fun. Great beat, lots of electric guitars. A bit more of a contemporary feel while still staying true to the Southern Gospel sound. 4 stars

I'm Saved - At first, I listened mainly to the fast songs on this album. But going back and re-listening to the whole thing so I could write this review, I was kind of surprised when I found that the slow songs were a LOT better than I had thought they were! I love the chorus on this song. "I'm saved, and from the rooftops I'll shout it, his grace has been sufficient for me..." 5 stars for the chorus

When It All Started Happening - Dedicated SoGo fans will remember this song from the album "Something's Happening" by Mercy's Mark. Both renditions are good, though the original probably is a bit better soundtrack-wise. I think MM's version was more brassy. I can understand a lot more of the lyrics in this version though! In the previous, I couldn't make out everything that was being sung. 4 stars

The Blood On My Hands - Once again, the chorus won me over for this song. Otherwise not quite as good as the others. 4-5 stars

God's Great - "God's been so good, but on second thought, God's been great." This is a nice medium-paced song with an interesting twist on an old message. 3.5 stars

Right Now - This song gets on my nerves. It's super fast, to the point of being annoying (IMHO). Some might even say that it seems to be teaching a prosperity gospel message. Right now if we believe, we'll have joy and peace, and lots of blessings. But of course, that's not always the case. While Christian's should have peace knowing that they're going to Heaven, life isn't always a big party with no sorrow or sadness. To be fair, the encore is a little fun, especially with the piano. 2 stars

Comments:
Wow. The Old Paths didn't disappoint with this album. They have an excellent sound as a quartet, and I think they're currently one of my favorite all-male groups. I've heard some individual songs from this group before ("He Chose the Tree," "He's the Foundation," ect.) but I think this is the first full project I've listened to.

They chose a country-ish/Southern Gospel feeling. I'm not sure if I heard any brass instruments. Despite the lack of orchestration, it was still an excellent album, but I think an orchestra could have added, especially to some of the slower songs. Just a note for the group to consider in the future.

There's only one or two songs that I didn't really like. I would strongly recommend this album (so far) as one of the best projects of 2012.

Rating: 4.5 stars
Favorite Songs: I liked nearly all of the songs. I did not like "Right Now." My other least favorites (though they were not bad) were "God's Great" and "I Know My God Can Do It."
Main Styles: Country, Southern Gospel

Review copy provided by Crossroads Records.

CD Review: Greg Howlett "Portraits of Hope"

2012-05-10T14:06:00.003-04:00

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.

“Tis So Sweet” is another fast, fun song. It’s not as jazzy as “Heaven Came Down” though. It’s softer and more meditative.

Comments:
I’ve previewed two other albums by Greg (Seasonal Spice and Quiet Place) and this is definitely on a larger scale considering the orchestral accompaniment. This can be a good thing, and I think it makes Portraits of Hope stand out from Greg’s other projects. However it seems that every once in a while the background music drowns out the pianist. This is especially noticeable on some of the faster songs like “To God Be the Glory.” It’s not a big deal, particularly since these times are few and far between, but it is something I picked up from listening to the project.

If you like to listen to hymns in a classical style, than I’d say you’d enjoy this album more than someone that regularly listens to rock and country music. I personally would have liked to see a broader range of styles. For example, country, jazz, big ballad, Southern Gospel, and blues. A classical style can be used very effectively in certain songs, but IMO it needs to be used alongside other styles like some of the ones I mentioned above.

Besides a broader range of styles, I would have enjoyed hearing a broader range of instruments, particularly a strong brass section and perhaps a drum track.

Needless to say, this CD is much different than a regular Southern Gospel project. I won’t attempt to compare the two musical formats as they are different as night and day. When deciding whether to purchase this album, keep in mind:

Greg is a talented pianist, and includes a small amount of fancy decorations such as fast runs, but for the most part, the music is rather simple.
The style of the album is very classical/traditional.

If you enjoy music that is meditative and worshipful, then you should like Portraits of Hope.

Website: http://www.greghowlett.com/

Review copy provided by artist

Eternal Security: What's Your Position?

2012-04-26T17:19:00.001-04:00

Do I have any Calvinist readers? If so, I’d encourage you to comment on this post. I’d be very interested to hear a persuading argument for the doctrine of eternal security.

An acquaintance of mine attends a Baptist church. He is very convinced that “once you’re saved, you’re always saved.” The funny thing is, whenever I broach the subject, he doesn’t want to argue about it. Something about not wanted to shake my beliefs. Suure... :) Anyway, I’ve never been able to get a persuading answer from him about why he (and other Calvinists) believe in this doctrine.

My church is Wesleyan Armenian. I believe the Bible gives ample evidence that a person can backslide. I know people who were saved and have backslidden. There’s a guy who recently spoke at out church. He was a Holiness preacher, but backslid and lived in sin for years. Finally he came back to the Lord in a camp meeting.

The book of 1st John is littered with verses that I believe support our view. 1st John 1:6 for example states:

If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:

1st John 2:1:

My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not...

Obviously we are born sinners. What I am addressing today is the willful act of “sinning in word, thought, and deed” every day. I’m not some wacko that thinks a person can live his whole life without committing a single sin. But to sin every day, willful acts of rebellion, and not repent of them?

1st John 2:3:

And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.

We know that we know Christ if we keep his commandments, or do what he says. 1st John 2:8 is really good:

He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.

He that sins is of the devil. God came to destroy sin. How is sin compatible with being saved?

I know some people say that Christians that sin will lose their reward but will still go to Heaven. But where does the Bible support this view?

There are other passages as well. I only listed a few here. Please, I’d welcome friendly discussion over this matter. To any Calvinists out there that would be willing to support their position, I’d really be interested in what you have to say.

All scripture references in this post are from the KJV. I don’t believe it’s wrong to use other versions though. Perhaps I’ll address that issue in a separate post. :)

Legacy Five "Ask Me Why" Concept Video

2012-04-23T01:13:00.002-04:00

Nashville, TN - After weeks of waiting, fans finally get the chance to see the official music video release of Legacy Five’s “Ask Me Why.” It is based on the true story of a woman named Patty and her daughter Hannah who converted to Christianity from Islam after accidentally showing up at a Legacy Five concert.

The video is already gaining buzz on YouTube with exponential growth in hits, comments, and shares on Facebook. L5 celebrates the release along with cover stories in both Singing News Magazine and SGN Scoops this month.

Patty Davenport Bahhur is actually featured in the video as a woman going through hardship and finding grace. Scott Fowler, lead singer, tells the story of how Patty stumbled upon the Celebration Event at the Grand Ole Opry with her daughter and looked to the group for answers. When she was given the wrong tickets to an event she thought would be the Opry show, she noticed something strikingly different about the concert. The people looked happy.

“She went on to tell me that her husband is a Muslim and that she was not accustomed to being around so many people who seemed so happy. She again said to me, ‘So you see...we're not supposed to be here. We are here by accident. This is not the Grand Ole Opry show and I don't understand why everyone around here is so happy. What is this music all about?’” Said Fowler, recalling Patty’s story, “It was then I realized that this was a divine appointment, and God was giving me an incredible opportunity to tell this lady and her daughter why we were all so ‘happy.’”

The video takes place at the Franklin Historic Presbyterian Church featuring a congregation comprised of L5 fans who volunteered to be extras. “Ask Me Why” was penned by Kenna Turner West, who made an appearance at the filming along with Jim Brady of The Booth Brothers and Les Butler of Singing News.

“L5 is great to work with,” said producer Scott Godsey of Godsey and Associates. “Throughout the filming process, I could tell that they got it. They are the real deal.”

Band members Scott Fowler, Scott Howard, Glenn Dustin, Gus Gaches, and Trey Ivies are featured at several locations throughout Franklin and Nashville, TN.

For more information about Legacy Five, visit www.legacyfive.com.

For more information about Godsey and Associates, visit www.godseyandassociates.com.

CD Review: Soul'd Out Quartet "What the World Doesn't Know"

2012-02-13T07:00:00.000-05:00

All Things Are Possible - I don’t know…the message here seems to be saying that all things will happen, instead of all things can happen. For example, part of the second verse says:

…You can ask, you can wish anything on your list, as long as you believe…

Obviously, just because we ask for something in faith doesn’t mean we will get it. God isn’t Santa Clause who gives us everything on our “list.” I’m probably being a bit too critical, but perhaps the message could be a bit clearer.

Go Out and Get Them - This song is a bit better than the last I think. The tune is catchy. The soundtrack is nice and has a good beat.

Since I’ve Been Saved - If you’ve always wanted to hear Southern Gospel in a classical style then this is for you. “Since I’ve Been Saved” is set at a medium-slow pace. It doesn’t have a whole lot of orchestration when compared to most SG numbers. Soft violins, a very light percussion track, and jazzy piano make up most of the soundtrack. I can just imagine hearing this music on an old movie like Mary Poppins or the Sound of Music.

That’ll Be a Great Day - We quickly move from classical to something half resembling a light rock song. The electric guitars are extremely prominent. We also hear a solid drum track. The song itself isn’t that incredible, but the soundtrack sort of redeems the lack of profoundness in the lyrics.

Worthy the Lamb Is He - The intro may lead you to think that a patriotic song is right around the corner. The percussion is the kind you’d hear in an army tune or the “Little Drummer Boy.” It’s a fairly light ballad that lasts for five minutes and twenty-one seconds. The chorus to “I Will Praise Him” makes for a nice bridge between choruses.

If You’ll Just Ask Him - This isn’t a particularly outstanding song. The soundtrack leaves behind, in my mind, the impression of being rather very light poppish/modern/techno even though it’s not very fast.

He Is There - Rather memorable of the last song, even though the tune is much better. The music has a pretty distinct acoustic sound.

When They Had Prayed - Finally! A truly fast song after an intermission of about three slower tracks (granted, “If You’ll Just Ask Him” was medium-fast, but it wasn’t a foot-stomping, classic SoGo). This is a fun song, definitely one of the strongest numbers on What the World Doesn’t Know. Soul’d Out has a lot of songs like this. A good number of their fast songs have a similarity to each other.

What the World Doesn’t Know - I was expecting a fast, contemporary song here, like some of the songs on Worth Every Mile. While the song does have a progressive feel, it’s pretty tame compared to some other songs. I was pretty surprised when I heard the words “Evolution is a myth” as the group was singing about various truths. I applaud Soul’d Out for having the courage to sing this. I’m sure they realize that many so-called “Christians” try to hold to the theory of evolution. These kind of people are called “theistic evolutionists” if I remember correctly.

Thank You Lord - You might think of Brian Free & Assurance when listening here. The song has a modern feeling during parts of the verses, due to an echoing effect. It reminded me of a futuristic/space colony sort of soundtrack.

Comments:
What the World Doesn’t Know is definitely better than Soul’d Out’s last album, Worth Every Mile. Still, I’m not so sure that it ranks higher than the project Blessed which had some great songs.

This is a good album, and several of the songs, especially, deserve to be heard.

CD Rating: 4 stars
Favorite Songs: What the World Doesn’t Know, When They Had Prayed
Main Styles: Modern Southern Gospel, Progressive

Digital review copy provided by Crossroads Music

CD Review: Poet Voices "Grace and Glory"

2012-02-02T16:09:00.002-05:00

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.