SPOTLIGHT CD REVIEW: THE ESSENTIAL POET VOICES- I AM REDEEMED-POET VOICES
SOUTHERN GOSPEL SPOTLIGHT PRESENTS:
CD REVIEW:
THE ESSENTIAL POET VOICES- I AM REDEEMED
POET VOICES
RELEASE DATE: JANUARY 2018
PRODUCER: PHIL CROSS
GROUP MEMBERS: PHIL CROSS (LEAD), DONNY HENDERSON (BARITONE), NIC HOLLAND (TENOR, AND BRANDON BARRY (BASS)
SONG LIST:
Wedding Music
Champion Of Love
Grace & Glory
One Holy Lamb
Yes I Am
My Redeemer Lives
Over & Over
Miracle In Me
When I Get Carried Away
I Am Redeemed
Glorious City Of God
Jesus Built A Bridge
The Key
Hold On
THOUGHTS:
Celebrating their return to Southern Gospel Music as a quartet, Poet Voices has collected fourteen of their most popular songs and given them new life with fresh tracks and vocals. This essential collection features tight harmonies, great music, and the incredible songwriting of Phil Cross. This album opens with the Poet Voices arrangement of the classic “Wedding Music,” which features Nic Holland and Brandon Barry. Phil Cross is featured on a rousing rendition of the beloved anthem “Champion Of Love.” “Grace And Glory,” one of the group’s #1 hits is given an updated arrangement and features great step-out lines from each member. Nic Holland shines on the beautiful ballad “One Holy Lamb,” also recorded by Tribute Quartet. Holland impressed me with his crystal clear tenor and vocal power. “Yes I Am,” is fun, uptempo tune that looks toward Heaven. The group’s version is on par with the popular Hoppers arrangement. “My Redeemer Lives,” another Nic Holland feature, is an powerful anthem that proclaims our Savior is alive!! Brandon Barry takes the lead on the country styled “Over And Over,” that was originally recorded with bass singer Mike Allen. Barry does justice to the original and his smooth bass fits the song perfectly. The mid-tempo track “Miracle In Me,” features Phil Cross and Nic Holland and simply says we are living miracles. “I have never seen Him raise the dead. But I know when he lifted me!” The group’s version of “When I Get Carried Away,” doesn’t stray too far from the Gold City version aside from having tenor Nic Holland take the verses. “I Am Redeemed,” another of the group’s hit songs, is a powerful ballad that proclaims our freedom from sin and death through Christ’s Love and Sacrifice. He loosed the chains and set me free!! “Glorious City of God,” is another fun quartet song that was also recorded by Tribute Quartet with the same arrangement. Perhaps the group’s most popular song, “Jesus Built A Bridge,” tells of Christ’s Master Plan. Jesus built a bridge to Heaven so that we can have a way to Him. With a rugged cross, He built a bridge. The current lineup gives a stellar performance on this classic. “The Key,” originally recorded on This Changes Everything in 2001, simply says Jesus is the key to Eternal Life. “I can swing wide the doorway up to Heaven, all because the Key was hung on a nail!” Donny Henderson shines on this powerful song of praise. This musical memory lane closes with a tender version of “Hold On.”
FINAL THOUGHTS:
THIS IS MUST BUY AND IS A GREAT COMPANION PIECE TO THEIR OTHER NEW RELEASE EXTRAORDINARY. GREAT SONGS, GREAT VOCALS, AND GREAT PRODUCTION QUALITY. EACH VOCALIST SHINES ON THIS COLLECTION OF CLASSIC POET VOICES SONGS. HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE: NIC HOLLAND ON “ONE HOLY LAMB,” BRANDON BARRY ON “OVER & OVER,” “I AM REDEEMED,” AND “CHAMPION OF LOVE.” THIS LINEUP IS FANTASTIC AND I AM EXCITED TO SEE WHERE THEY GO FROM HERE.
5 OUT OF 5 STARS
FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT: www.poetvoices.net