SPOTLIGHT CD REVIEW: HOPE FOR ALL NATIONS- KAREN PECK & NEW RIVER
SOUTHERN GOSPEL SPOTLIGHT PRESENTS:
CD REVIEW:
HOPE FOR ALL NATIONS
KAREN PECK & NEW RIVER
RELEASE DATE: JUNE 23, 2017
LABEL: DAYWIND RECORDS
PRODUCER: WAYNE HAUN
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER: DOTTIE LEONARD MILLER
MEMBERS: KAREN PECK GOOCH (SOPRANO), SUSAN PECK JACKSON (ALTO), RICKY BRADDY (LEAD/TENOR), KARI GOOCH (2ND SOPRANO/ALTO), AND MATTHEW GOOCH (GUITAR)
SONG LIST:
Love Will Never Give Up- (Jeff Bumgardner, Karen Peck Gooch, Joel Lindsey)
Hope For All Nations- (Lee Black, Karen Peck Gooch, Benji Cowart)
Who He Is, What He Does- (Lee Black, Jason Cox, Kenna West)
The Reason- (Lee Black, Karen Peck Gooch, Wayne Haun)
Gotta Be Saved- (Karen Peck Gooch, Joseph Habedank, Wayne Haun)
I’ll Keep On Praying- (Karen Peck Gooch, Daniel Doss, Wayne Haun, Kenna West)
The River- (Dave Clark, Karen Peck Gooch, Michael Farren)
Victory Is Mine- (Lee Black, Gerald Crabb, Karen Peck Gooch)
God’s Got A Blessing- (Lee Black, Wayne Haun)
All You Need- (Tim Lovelace, Nathan Woodard)
I’ll Know I’ll Be There- (Dave Clark, Karen Peck Gooch, Wayne Haun)
I’m Gonna Love My Neighbor- (Karen Peck Gooch, Rodney Griffin)-ft. The Isaacs, Triumphant (StowTown Records), Greater Vision, Jeff & Sheri Easter, The Bowling Family, and The Whisnants
THOUGHTS:
Karen Peck & New River continue to delight listeners around the world with their sweet Southern Gospel harmonies. The group, celebrating their 26th anniversary, currently consists of Karen Peck Gooch, who has endeared herself to fans over the years with her powerful soprano voice, her sister Susan Peck Jackson whose tender alto blends seemlessly with the group, the smooth lead voice of Ricky Braddy (who joined in August 2015), and the sweet soprano harmonies of Kari Gooch (Karen’s daughter) rounding out the group. New River brings a great mix of traditional, progressive and country styles to their recordings and overall sound and Hope For All Nations is no different. This album is sure to delight listeners!
The record kicks off with the rousing “Love Will Never Give Up,” a country styled tune that showcases the classic New River sound. The song simply says that God will always love you no matter what the circumstance. Next, Karen Peck is featured on the title track which proclaims that Jesus Christ is Hope for all. He is hope for you, for your neighbor, for all people! This world is so divided, but He is the one who can unite! Ricky Braddy takes the lead on the bluesy “Who He Is What He Does,” which tells of the Lord who is always faithful. He is Love. He saves the lost! That’s who He is and what He does! Susan Peck Jackson shines on the tender ballad “The Reason,” which simply says that Jesus is the reason for my joy! He is my everlasting rock and I’ll trust Him always! He is the reason I have peace! “Gotta Be Saved,” is a mid-tempo track that has an old spiritual feel to it. This fun groove says trust Jesus come what may! You’ve gotta be washed in His blood! Don’t be left here when He returns! You gotta be saved! Karen’s daughter Kari takes the lead on “I’ll Keep On Praying,” a mid-tempo pop tune that simply says to keep praying because God is faithful and hears our cries. Braddy takes the second verse adding his soulful sound the duet. While not the strongest track on the record, it is still a pleasant listen. One of Karen Peck’s strongest features on the album is on the anthem “The River.” This well written, moving ballad encourages people to come to the River of Life. All who are thirsty come and be quenched forever! “Victory Is Mine,” the most traditional Southern Gospel sounding track on the record, features Ricky Braddy and praises God for the battle is won! Victory is Mine!! God’s Grace was sufficient! It is all said and done! “God’s Got A Blessing,” is classic New River. A fun up-tempo track in the same vein as the opening song. The message of the song is simple: we serve a good Lord. He has got a lot of great things in store for your life! “All You Need,” another mid-tempo ballad featuring Susan Peck Jackson, encourages listeners to be still and know He is God. If God is all you have, YOU HAVE ALL YOU NEED. Don’t give up! “I Know I’ll Be There,” is a powerful anthem that looks to Heaven and the Second Coming. Karen Peck delivers the lyric with her signature power and emotion. I know that I’m forgiven!! I know I’ll be there in the place that Jesus promised!! This great album closes with a mid-tempo groove called “I’m Gonna Love My Neighbor.” KPNR is joined by special guests: The Isaacs, Jeff & Sheri Easter, The Bowling Family, The Whisnants, Greater Vision, and Triumphant Quartet. This song perfectly captures the theme of the record: Love always prevails! WE NEED TO LOVE OUR NEIGHBOR AND SHOW THE LOVE OF CHRIST TO THIS WORLD THAT DESPERATELY NEEDS HIM.
FINAL THOUGHTS:
HOPE FOR ALL NATIONS IS ANOTHER GREAT ENTRY IN THE BELOVED KPNR DISCOGRAPHY. WHILE NOT AS STRONG AS THE PREVIOUS RELEASE (PRAY NOW), IT IS STILL A GREAT LISTEN AND CONTAINS A MUCH NEEDED MESSAGE! KAREN PECK GOOCH CONTINUES TO IMPRESS ME WITH HER INCREDIBLE VOCAL ABILITY AND RICKY BRADDY IS A NATURAL FIT FOR THE GROUP. OVERALL, THIS IS A MUST BUY AND IS ONE OF THE BETTER RECORDING OF 2017.
4.5 OUT OF 5 STARS!
FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT: www.karenpeckandnewriver.com