Genita Pugh – My Purpose

Genita Pugh
My Purpose
Eternity Records Company (2011)
www.genitapugh.com

By Bob Marovich for The Black Gospel Blog.

Pastor Genita Pugh of Laurel, Mississippi is making waves in the gospel community with her newest release, My Purpose. As of this writing, the album, released by Eternity Records Company, is gracing the top twenty of Billboard’s Top Gospel Albums.

Although I found Pugh’s 2010 single “Holy to the Lamb” more to my taste for its fiery, pulse-pounding intensity, My Purpose is an admittedly pleasant listen, a different kind of experience, more like pulling on a familiar pair of comfortable jeans than putting on shouting shoes. Pugh’s voice is warm and calming, a blend of pop, gospel and R&B. It washes over you with cleansing power, even on the album’s up-tempo churchy numbers such as “All the Ways of You.”

The current single, “Can’t Live,” is a gospelization of R. Kelly’s “Can’t Sleep.” As a simple, quiet worship ballad, “Can’t Live” sets the mood for the album, which has many simple and understated worship ballads to offer. “Open My Eyes,” for example, finds Pugh weaving her legato vocals in a similar manner to “Can’t Live.” A bonus instrumental track of “Open My Eyes” seems to telegraph that it is slated to be a single.

“All for Love” is a smooth R&B-style ballad that teams Pugh with the effective singer Tionne Williams, and “In the Presence of the Lord” has a slowly-simmering intensity that brings congregations to their feet, arms waving.

It would have been helpful to include in the CD booklet a listing of the musicians and their respective instruments, because the pianist on “I Love You” did an exceptionally marvelous job, but I have no idea who it is. Nevertheless, My Purpose is produced with panache by James Roberson (JDI Records). He establishes the proper mood for Pastor Pugh to express her gentle and direct emotions.

Four of Five Stars

Picks: “Can’t Live,” “In the Presence of the Lord.”