TBGB Pick of the Week: May 20, 2013

“Just What He Said”

Joel Briley

Clark Music Group (2013)

Twenty-two-year-old Joel Briley may be a praise and worship singer for The Love Center Church in Dunn, North Carolina, but on “Just What He Said,” he demonstrates the vocal prowess of a hard quartet lead.

This single about God making a way out of the darkness is radio perfect, a joyous traditional-style hand-clapper with a purring B3 in the musician pit.  Melisma rolls from Briley’s high tenor as if he was a male member of the Clark Sisters.  Then, during the vamp, Briley charges ahead like a hard quartet lead-turned-squalling preacher as the steady background vocalists respond to his scorching declarations.  Incendiary!