Family Prayer – The Murrills (tbgb review)

Family Prayer
The Murrills
QuietWater Entertainment/Verity/Zomba Gospel 2008
www.zombalabelgroup.com

Speaking of singing families, here’s another: the Murrills of North Carolina, fresh from their tenure in Donald Lawrence’s multi-talented Tri-City Singers. Darwin, Damion, Donnell, Andre, Roger and Arnetta dropped their first single as a solo group, “Family (There’s a Healing)” to gospel radio last December (TBGB reviewed it), and released their debut album, Family Prayer, last Tuesday (June 3).

Based on hearing the intimate, prayerful “Family,” I had anticipated a Praise and Worship sound from the Murrills, but they are equally comfortable with uptempo arrangements, of which the album has plenty. Arnetta – a featured lead vocalist with Tri-City – is clearly the family’s strongest singer, but the entire project has the feel of a praise party at which brothers and sisters take turns in front of the lead microphone.

Throughout this Donald Lawrence production, I couldn’t help thinking how much the Murrills remind me of the early Winans. Like the Detroit family, the Murrills experiment with a variety of contemporary styles, from moody introspection on the New Edition cover “Can You Stand the Rain?,” to the muscular vocals and beat of “Don’t Let Me Fall,” to the neo-seventies feel of “Better,” which befits the album cover’s retro design. By covering the Winans’ “Long Time Comin’ (Holdin’ On),” perhaps this emulation is not entirely coincidental.

Family Prayer opens and closes with “One Mo’ Time,” a track that unveils the Murrills’ southeastern pedigree. A bluesy harmonica introduces tight, country church harmonies from a family that grew up harmonizing with one another.

Lyrically, the Murrills are in touch with the concerns of the modern churchgoer, singing about the impact of domestic violence, depression, abuse, and marital dischord. It’s not your grandmother’s gospel, but then again, it’s not your grandmother’s world. Still, troubles are troubles, and the Murrills remind the listener that while the issues and beat may have changed, it’s still all about the one who never changes.

Three and a Half of Four Stars