SPOTLIGHT CD REVIEWS: 2022 CATCH-UP SPECIAL PART TWO
SOUTHERN GOSPEL SPOTLIGHT PRESENTS:
2022 CATCH- UP SPECIAL PART TWO:
WELCOME READERS TO ANOTHER INSTALLMENT OF MY REVIEW CATCH-UP SERIES. IN THIS SECOND PART, I WILL GIVE MY THOUGHTS ON THE LATEST PROJECTS FROM THE INSPIRATIONS, THE DOWN EAST BOYS, HEBRON ROAD, LYNDA RANDLE, AND SUNDAY DRIVE.
A PIONEER LEGACY
THE INSPIRATIONS
LABEL: HORIZON RECORDS
PRODUCER: JEFF COLLINS AND THE INSPIRATIONS
RELEASE DATE: APRIL 22, 2022
GROUP MEMBERS: ROLAND KESTERSON (LEAD), LUKE VAUGHT (BARITONE & PIANIST), WYATT AUSTIN (BASS), AND ISAAC MOORE (TENOR)
SONG LIST:
Ark Of Grace (Ray Scarbrough)
O What A Day (Luther G. Presley)
Come To Me (Ila Knight)
What A Morning (Ila Knight)
I Have God To Thanks For Everything (Rebecca Peck)
I’m Gonna Tell It (L. Mikles)
Hallelujah I’m Heaven Bound (Eugene H. Whitt)
It’ll Be Alright With Me (Dennis Bradley)
We Shall Rise (Eugene Wright, J.R. Baxter)
Just As Long As Eternity Rolls (W.H. Bazemore, A/B Sebren)
THOUGHTS:
A Pioneer Legacy is quite a fitting title for the latest project from the legendary Inspirations. In 2020, longtime group members Archie Watkins, Marlin Shubert, and Eddie Dietz came off the road due to the Covid-19 Pandemic and passed the torch to the younger members. Roland Kesterson, Luke Vaught, Wyatt Austin, and Isaac Moore carry on the rich legacy of this quartet complete with the classic tight harmonies and great songs the group for which the group is known. This project features ten classic style quartet songs full of hope. Isaac Moore’s soaring tenor shines on “I’m Gonna Tell It” which tells of the uncontainable joy of the Lord. Several times throughout this recording, I thought I was listening to the older members. Moore’s tenor is very much like that of Archie Watkins. Wyatt Austin’s classic sounding bass voice shines throughout this project most notably on the up-tempo “We Shall Rise,” the bouncy “O What A Day,” “Come To Me,” and the Ila Knight penned “What A Morning.” Austin is an incredible young bass singer that is doing a fine job carrying on in the legacy of Mike Holcomb and Marlin Shubert among others. Roland Kesterson takes the lead on the Rebecca Peck penned tune “I Have God To Thank For Everything,” which simply praises Christ for His many blessings upon us.
FINAL THOUGHTS:
STELLAR VOCALS, GREAT SONGS, AND TOP NOTCH MUSICIANSHIP! THE INSPIRATIONS DELIVER YET ANOTHER FANTASTIC RECORD! THIS LINEUP OF YOUNG SINGERS ARE KEEPING THAT CLASSIC SOUND ALIVE.
5 OUT OF 5 STARS!
FOR MORE INFORMATION: www.theinspirations.com
THE STORIES WE TELL
DOWN EAST BOYS
PRODUCER: JEFF COLLINS
LABEL: SONLITE RECORDS
RELEASE DATE: MAY 6, 2022
GROUP MEMBERS: RICKY CARDEN (LEAD), DARYL PASCHAL (BARITONE), DOUG PITTMAN (TENOR), AND ALEX UTECH (BASS)
SONG LIST:
1. “Good In The Good Times” (Barbara Huffman, Joel Lindsey)
2. “The Altar” (Chris Binion, Ricky Carden)
3. “Before The Cross” (Debbie Davis, Tammie Herring)
4. “Don’t Want A Maybe So” (Tery Wilkins, Lori Kelly Woods)
5. “Your Sins Are Forgiven” (Riley Harrison Clark, Wendy Ferguson, Wayne Haun)
6. “The Story They Tell” (Chris Binion, Nathan Woodard)
7. “Ready To Leave” (Joel Hemphill)
THOUGHTS:
The Stories We Tell is yet another stellar recording from The Down East Boys. This is the first record to feature new bass Alex Utech. Utech’s smooth bass voice is featured on the catchy, uptempo “Don’t Want A Maybe So.” This fun song tells of the real and sure thing that is Christ. Doug Pittman’s stellar tenor is featured on the opening track “Good In The Good Times,” which praises Christ for His Faithfulness. God is good in the good times and better in the bad. He is unchanging and always there. Pittman also shines on the powerful mid-tempo track “Your Sins Are Forgiven” which reminds listeners that no matter how far you stray, there is forgiveness in Christ. Ricky Carden takes the lead on “The Story They Tell,” a beautiful ballad that focuses on the legacy we leave behind. He also shines on the powerful track “The Altar” which tells of the saving power of Jesus Christ. I’ll never get over what I found at the altar! Daryl Paschal’s smooth baritone is featured on the moving ballad “Before The Cross.” This incredible song simply says: “Before the Cross, I was broken and empty. All my hopes were forsaken and lost. But something happened the day I met Jesus. My life was changed before the cross.” This stellar album closes with the upbeat Joel Hemphill classic “Ready To Leave.”
FINAL THOUGHTS:
ANOTHER INCREDIBLE RECORDING FROM THE DOWN EAST BOYS. GREAT SONGS, POWERHOUSE VOCALS, AND TOP NOTCH PRODUCTION QUALITY. MY ONLY CRITICISM OF THIS ALBUM IS ITS LENGTH. I WOULD HAVE LIKED A FEW MORE SONGS TO ROUND IT OUT. THIS DOES NOT, HOWEVER, TAKE AWAY FROM MY ENJOYMENT OF THIS RECORD. ALEX UTECH’S IMPRESSIVE BASS VOICE FITS WITH THE GROUP PERFECTLY. I LOOK FORWARD TO MORE FROM THIS EXCITING LINEUP. ONE OF MY FAVORITE ALBUMS OF THE YEAR!
5 OUT OF 5 STARS!
FOR MORE INFORMATION: www.downeastboys.com
IN A MOMENT
HEBRON ROAD
LABEL: STOWTOWN RECORDS
PRODUCER:KEITH EVERETTE SMITH
RELEASE DATE: March 2022
SONG LIST:
Every Other Throne
You Say
In A Moment
All My Hope
Beauty Of The Cross
Strong Love
He Walks With Me (In The Garden)
THOUGHTS:
Hebron Road makes their debut with In A Moment featuring seven inspirational songs. Alan Monk and Rick Briscoe have been singing together for years. As a trio with Monk’s son Jarrod, they have performed at various events in Texas as well as served as worship leaders. Now, this exciting new trio release their first EP on StowTown Records. The soaring tenor vocals of each member shine on the worshipful title track “In A Moment,” the powerful anthem “Every Other Throne”, and the popular Lauren Daigle anthem “You Say.” The trio also puts their stamp on the popular tune “All My Hope,” recently covered by Gold City. “Beauty Of The Cross” is a well crafted worship anthem about the redeeming power of Christ. “Strong Love” is an upbeat tune that thanks Christ for His life giving Love. The album closes with a creative take on the classic hymn “In The Garden.”
FINAL THOUGHTS:
A FANTASTIC DEBUT ALBUM! STELLAR VOCALS, IMPRESSIVE HARMONIES, GREAT SONGS, AND TOP NOTCH MUSICIANSHIP. HOWEVER, I WOULD’VE LIKED A FEW MORE UPBEAT SONGS TO BALANCE THE RECORDING A BIT MORE. HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE: “YOU SAY,” “HE WALKS WITH ME,” AND “STRONG LOVE.”
4 OUT OF 5 STARS!
FOR MORE INFORMATION: www.hebronroad.com
PILGRIM JOURNEY
LYNDA RANDLE
LABEL: GAITHER MUSIC GROUP
PRODUCER: CINDY MORGAN
RELEASE DATE: FEBRUARY 11, 2022
SONG LIST:
Oh, Lord Prologue (Part 1)
I Want Jesus To Walk With Me - featuring Tommy Sims
Can You Hear Me Praying? (Part 2)
My Feet May Be Tired
My Soul Is Troubled (Part 3)
Plenty Good Room
Give Me Jesus - featuring Kimberly Schlapman
Arms Strong And Mighty (Part 4)
Motherless Child Medley: Motherless Child; If I Could Hear My Mother Pray Again
Freedom Medley: Nobody Knows The Trouble I've Seen; Steal Away; Oh, Freedom
Oh, Lord
THOUGHTS:
Pilgrim Journey is pure Gospel music and features Lynda Randle at her best. Her smooth, tender vocals shine on a powerful selection of songs that paint a picture of the Christian walk. From the bluesy and prayerful “I Want Jesus To Walk With Me” (featuring Tommy Sims) to the haunting “Motherless Child Medley,” Randle takes listeners on a moving journey. Our feet may be tired and our souls may be troubled, but God hears our prayers. He is always faithful. Little Big Town’s Kimberly Shlappman joins Lynda on a powerful cover of “Give Me Jesus,” which simply says: you can have this world, but give me Jesus. Another standout track is the haunting and prayerful “Oh, Lord.” Each of the short songs on this recording (which are placed throughout) are combined in this powerful song.
FINAL THOUGHTS:
I MUST ADMIT THAT THIS IS THE FIRST ALBUM FROM LYNDA RANDLE THAT I HAVE LISTENED TO IN TOTALITY. I HAVE BEEN A FAN OF HERS HAVING SEEN HER ON MANY GAITHER HOMECOMING VIDEOS, BUT NEVER LISTENED TO HER SOLO WORK. THIS ALBUM WAS SIMPLY FANTASTIC. POWERFUL SONGS, TOP NOTCH VOCALS, AND BRILLIANT MUSICIANSHIP.
4.5 OUT OF 5 STARS!
FOR MORE INFORMATION: www.lyndarandle.com
BREAKING BOUNDARIES
SUNDAY DRIVE
LABEL: STOWTOWN RECORDS
PRODUCER: WAYNE HAUN
RELEASE DATE:
GROUP MEMBERS: JEFF TREECE, MISTY TREECE, AND DUSTY TREECE
SONG LIST:
Grace And Goodness
In The Meantime
God Will Always Be God
Breaking Boundaries
If I’d Never Been Broken
Shine Down On Me
There’s Always A Place At The Table
My God
Worth It When He Says Well Done
THOUGHTS:
There is nothing like rich family harmonies. Sunday Drive’s latest release Breaking Boundaries showcases the stellar harmonies of the Treece family. Misty takes the lead on most of the selections with Jeff and Dusty rounding out the trio. This exciting album opens with the uptempo “Grace And Goodness” which thanks Christ for His Grace and Goodness. He is our rock and foundation. His Love follows me day and night. “In The Meantime” is a mid-tempo tune penned by Scotty Inman, Lee Black, and Tony Wood. This song reminds us to make the most of our lives here (while we wait for Heaven) by spreading the Word and Love of Christ. We need to live to be a light. “God Will Always Be God” is a sweet and tender song that reminds us of Christ’s faithfulness and unchanging nature. We may falter, but God will always be God. “Breaking Boundaries,” penned by Jeff Treece, is a country styled tune that simply says: In Christ, anything is possible. “If I’d Never Been Broken” is a powerful ballad that says: If I’d never been broken, I would have never known the Healer. Jeff and Misty share verses on the fun up-tempo tune “Shine Down On Me,” which asks God to shine down His Light and Love on us. The trio covers the beautiful ballad “There’s Always A Place At The Table.” This version doesn’t stray too far from the version made popular by the Gaither Vocal Band. Misty’s lead vocal shines on this moving lyric. The groovy “My God” features each member and praises Christ for His provisions. My God is the Lord Almighty! He is more than able to do what I need. This stellar recording closes with “Worth It When He Says Well Done.” This powerful ballad reminds us that our trials will be worth it when we experience the joy of Heaven.
FINAL THOUGHTS:
SUNDAY DRIVE DELIVER ANOTHER STELLAR RECORDING. TOP NOTCH VOCALS AND WELL CRAFTED SONGS. HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE: “MY GOD,” IF I’D NEVER BEEN BROKEN,” AND “BREAKING BOUNDARIES.”
4.5 OUT OF 5 STARS!
FOR MORE INFORMATION: www.sundaydrivemusic.com
STAY TUNED FOR ANOTHER SET OF REVIEWS!
-JUSTIN GILMORE