CD REVIEWS: GREAT LIFE BY SOUL'D OUT QUARTET
CD REVIEW:
Great Life- Soul'd Out Quartet (Summer 2014)
Label: Horizon Records/Crossroads
Producer: Jeff Collins
Group Members: Dusty Barrett (Tenor), Bryan Hutson (Lead/Baritone), Matt Rankin (Lead/Baritone), Ian Owens (Bass), and Michael Howard (Piano)
Song List:
Lord You're So Good- Ft. Dusty Barrett
God's Grace Is Never Ending-Ft. Bryan Hutson
He's The One- Ft. Ensemble, Matt Rankin
If You Only Knew- Ft. Ian Owens
There Is A Love- Ft. Bryan Hutson
Holy Spirit Come- Ft. Dusty Barrett
Hey Everybody- Ft. Ian Owens
I Just Want You To Know Who Jesus Is- Ft. Matt Rankin
What A Great Life- Ft. Bryan Hutson
The Answer Is The Cross- Ft. Matt Rankin
Thoughts:
Soul'd Out Quartet has always produced solid records that stay true to the message of the Gospel and this one is no different!! This is quite possibly their best record in my personal opinion!! This is the group's first mainstream record in a few years. Matt Rankin, the group's founder and now baritone vocalist, is an incredible song writer and his talent can be heard in every song on this record. Dusty Barrett continues to shine as the tenor vocalist on tracks such as the opening mid-tempo song Lord You're So Good. This easy going song expresses the overflowing gratitude we have for the Jesus who set us free from sin. His other standout performance, Holy Spirit Come, is an invitation for worship and puts into perspective our purpose in life. Bryan Hutson continues to give stellar performances alternating between lead and baritone. He has many standouts throughout this record such as the up-tempo track God's Grace Is Never Ending and the swinging title track What A Great Life. This song also praises the Lord for His blessings and His faithfulness in our lives. Matt Rankin is featured on two powerful ballads that clearly present the Good News. The first simply says I Want You To Know Who Jesus Is. He died so that you could live!! The song describes someone bringing people to Christ in the most beautiful way. The second ballad, The Answer Is The Cross, is more of an anthem that emphatically says the answer to all the confusion and questions in this life is the cross of Christ. Christ has made a way for us. "To all who believe, the answer is the cross" as the lyric says. Bass vocalist Ian Owens continues to prove that he is one of the best young bass singers in the business today. Owens is let loose on the cd's first single: the groovy Hey Everybody which asks: Are you going to Heaven? He is also featured on the beautifully written ballad If You Only Knew which showcases his upper register. This song serves as an invitation to come to Christ and stresses the ultimate truth the Christ died for all and His love knows no bounds. The chorus: "You would run to him as fast as you could/you would fall down on your knees/ and cry out to Him Oh I know you would /you would lift your voice and sing/you'd confess even your smallest sin/oh you would learn to love Him, if you knew Him." This is an incredibly moving lyric that expresses the love that Christ has for us and we can experience this love if we KNOW Him!! We have hope because He gave us hope!! Now that is powerful stuff!!!!
This record truly makes a statement that Christ is the answer, He gives us hope, we are blessed every day we trust in Him. I look forward to many more cds from this lineup that blends so well together. Once again, a 5 start recording!!