SPOTLIGHT CD REVIEW: GOLDEN ROAD- PROMISEDLAND QUARTET
SOUTHERN GOSPEL SPOTLIGHT PRESENTS:
GOLDEN ROAD
PROMISEDLAND QUARTET
LABEL: STOWTOWN RECORDS
RELEASE DATE: SEPTEMBER 8, 2023
GROUP MEMBERS: GENE HAMMAN (LEAD), JOEY WILSON (TENOR), AARON SWAIN (BARITONE), AND STEVE BARNETT (BASS)
SONG LIST:
Golden Road (Lee Black, Sue C. Smith, Scotty Inman)
Leave It In The Water (Carolyn Cross, Jonathan Denney, Jaclynn Huse)
The Hour I First Believed (Wayne Haun, Zane King, Sue C. Smith)
Back In The Grave (Chris Binion, Rhonda Frye, Daryl Williams)
Weight Of The World (Ernie Haase, Wayne Haun, Joel Lindsey)
The Invitation (Matt Armstrong, Scotty Inman, Tony Wood)
My Promised Land (Wayne Haun, Dixie Phillips, Daryl Williams)
Good Tears (Dave Clark, Rodney Griffin)
What The Lord Loves (Mike Harland, Don Koch)
Gone On Before (Ronnie Bowman, Larry Cordle)
THOUGHTS:
PromisedLand Quartet’s exciting new album Golden Road is the group’s debut record on StowTown Records. This stellar quartet is not new to Southern Gospel however. PromiseLand Quartet was formed in 2000 by lead singer Gene Hamman. The rest of the lineup features original member and tenor singer Joey Wilson, baritone Aaron Swain, and bass Steve Barnett. Swain and Barnett joined the group in 2015 and 2022 respectively.
This incredible album opens with the energy filled title track that looks forward to the day we will walk the golden streets of Heaven! “Leave It In The Water” is a groovy, country style tune that features Steve Barnett’s smooth bass vocals. This fun song encourages listeners to let Jesus wash your sins away and leave your guilt and pain in the water. The powerful mid-tempo anthem “The Hour I First Believed,” featuring lead singer Gene Hamman, simply tells of giving your life to Christ and the freedom that comes with that decision. Aaron Swain and Joey Wilson shine on the verses of the fun, up-tempo tune “Back In The Grave,” which simply says: Christ is God and He Lives. They can say anything that they want to say, but they can’t put Him back in the grave. Steve Barnett is featured again on a song written by Ernie Haase, Wayne Haun, and Joel Lindsey called “Weight Of The World.” This tender mid-tempo track reminds us that God is always there to lean on in the hard times. “The Invitation” is a rousing worship anthem that asks listeners: Are you saved? Aaron Swain shines on the tender ballad “My Promised Land.” This beautiful song tells of putting trust in Christ that this trial leads to my promised land. “Good Tears” is a beautiful, tender ballad that features Joey Wilson’s powerful tenor vocals. Wilson shines on this song that talks about crying good tears when words aren’t enough to praise Him. “What The Lord Loves” is a fun song once again featuring Joey Wilson. It simply says: I want to love what the Lord loves and be like Him everyday. This incredible album closes with a powerful ballad entitled “Gone On Before.” This beautiful song features Gene Hamman and says: I’m not really gone, just gone on before. I’m not dead, but alive forevermore.
FINAL THOUGHTS:
PROMISEDLAND QUARTET HAS GAINED A NEW FAN IN ME. THEY’VE BEEN ON MY RADAR BEFORE, BUT I MUST ADMIT I NEVER LISTENED TO THEM ALL THAT OFTEN. THIS ALBUM IS INCREDIBLE. GREAT SONGS, STELLAR VOCALS, AND TOP NOTCH MUSICIANSHIP. HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE: “GONE ON BEFORE,” “LEAVE IT IN THE WATER,” “BACK IN THE GRAVE,” “GOLDEN ROAD,” AND “GOOD TEARS.”
THIS LINEUP BLENDS PERFECTLY TOGETHER. STEVE BARNETT IS GREAT ADDITION IN THE BASS POSITION.
GO GET THIS CD ASAP!
5 OUT 5 STARS!
FORM MORE INFORMATION: www.promisedlandquartet.com