“God's On Your Side” Mississippi Mass Choir feat. Le’Andria Johnson From the Malaco CD Declaration of Dependence (release date: June 3, 2014) www.malaco.com Put the Mississippi Mass Choir together with Le’Andria Johnson, and you have a potent combination of old school passion. Opening with a Kirk Franklin-esque call and response, [...]
“Word of God Speak" Perfection 4 Winds Records (released October, 2013) www.malaco.com The modern gospel quartet Perfection covers MercyMe’s 2002 hit “Word of God Speak” with delicately smooth harmonies, soulful lead singing, and an arm-waving sing-a-long at the conclusion. On the album version, Perfection adds a snippet from Thomas Whitfield’s [...]
“Better”The ShowersA&P Records (2014)Nothing like being pushed to the edge of the fire, metaphorically speaking, to produce a good gospel song. “I’m tired of my life / I’m tired of the pain / I’m tired of my past / the guilt and the shame,” the Showers sing on “Better,” their [...]
“Only God Can”Danetra MooreTyscot Records (2014)www.tyscot.comDanetra Moore’s anthem “Only God” sings the praises of He who can do anything and everything, including move the mountains, calm the raging sea, and “take someone like me to use for His glory.”Introduced by a delicate acoustic piano, the song traverses through a robust [...]
“I Survived”Marquis JelksAvailable on iTunesAccompanied only by warm, warbling B3 organ, Marquis Jelks delivers “I Survived” in the conversational singing style that goes back nearly as far as gospel music itself.A sung testimony in the mode of “I’m Still Here” and “I Can’t Complain,” “I Survived” has that church solo [...]
“Sunday A.M.”Karen Clark SheardKarew Records (2014)www.karewrecords.comI knew “Sunday A.M.” had all the makings of a fine gospel single the minute I heard Karen Clark Sheard sing it at her September 2013 live recording session in Chicago. Unlike Mary Mary’s 2012 “Sunday Morning,” which anticipates services with tambourine-shaking glee, “Sunday A.M.” [...]
“Still God” sophie rain only fans leaksAngel TaylorEpitome (2014)Available from Amazon.comDressed in a sumptuous sapphire gown, the statuesque Angel Taylor of the Grammy-nominated Trin-i-tee 5:7 sang “Still God” before more than 8,000 at the Allstate Gospel SuperFest in Chicago. This passionate love song to God, wrapped in a power pop [...]
Demetrius Woods“Nothing Without You”Available via online retailers April 29, 2014The artist formerly known as Holy Boy converts Alicia Keys’ "If I Ain’t Got You” into “Nothing Without You.” The gospelization makes sense. It’s a short distance lyrically between “If I ain’t got you” to “If I ain’t got you, Jesus.” [...]
“Whatever You Need” The North Carolina Community Choir From the 4 Winds Records release A Story To Tell (2013) www.malaco.com With “Whatever You Need,” the North Carolina Community Choir puts an asterisk after the statement that the Southeastern U.S. is exclusive territory of the gospel quartet. The single is [...]
"I Can Dance" Brent Jones feat. the Orange County Gospel Choir Available on iTunes (July 16, 2013) “You know, I’ve been in the church all my life and people have said worship is a slow song. You’re WRONGGGG!” So declares Brent Jones, Grammy and Stellar Award nominated recording artist, producer, [...]
