Todd Curry & Focus – Quit Playin’ Church

Todd Curry & Focus
Quit Playin’ Church
TLC Unlimited (2010)
www.quitplayinchurch.com

By Bob Marovich for The Black Gospel Blog.

“How can we speak in tongues and say we love one another;
By the time the service ends, can’t speak to our sister and brother?”

These lyrics contain the essence of what’s wrong with the church today, according to North Carolina’s Elder Todd Curry and his vocal ensemble Focus. On the title track of their CD Quit Playin’ Church, the group aims respectfully but insistently at those who have church but don’t really live the life. “May not get radio play,” they sing, “so I’ll shout it wherever I go.” And they do. Loudly.

But make no mistake: Quit Playin’ Church is not a one-song novelty project. It is packed to the rim with music from a male vocalist-led ensemble that possesses a clear and consistent sound and has depth on its solo bench. The dozen or so songs on the CD come from the pens of a variety of songwriters, including Curry, and are well suited to the group’s style.

The single is the tuneful and CCM-inspired “Lord Save Me” (which is likely to get radio play), but besides the title track, “Jesus is His Name” is the album’s primo moment. The Ricky Dillard classic is a knock-down church wrecker that I wish had gone on longer than its four minutes. The group also does a fine job covering C.L. Moody’s “Available to You,” recorded originally by the Thompson Community Singers. The gospel hymn “It Is Well With My Soul” gets a contemporary treatment and is led by a bluesy female gospel singer.

The liner notes contain plenty of information and would have been even better had they acknowledged the names of the lead singers for each song, as most were quite good.  Nevertheless, Quit Playin’ Church contains surprise after surprise of quality gospel performances. This group is not playin’.

Four of Five Stars

Picks: “Quit Playin’ Church,” “Jesus is His Name.”