I’m On My Way – Gerald Hinton

Gerald Hinton
I’m On My Way
Davin Records 2009
http://geraldhinton.org

Stellar nominee Gerald Hinton, formerly of Gerald Hinton and the New Redeemers, has kicked around gospel quartets since he was a pre-teen. His apprenticeship is telling on his latest CD, I’m On My Way.

A traditional-leaning project, I’m On My Way features Hinton’s soulful southern drawl and Al Green-esque humming. Songs are uncomplicated and tuneful, and the groove smooth and relaxed. There’s plenty of vocal variety on the album, too; for example, the background singers sound like an African choir on the title track, and an uncredited female vocalist turns in a delightful performance on “Glad to Be Loved.”

Raising the album’s trad cred even further is guest artist Pastor Shirley Caesar, who duets with Hinton on the current single, “The Battle’s Not Over.” Hinton and Caesar work well together on this song of encouragement in the face of overwhelming troubles (the video depicts a man considering suicide).

A recurring theme on I’m On My Way is God’s omniscience. He is forever watching the bad and the good that we do. Despite our many imperfections, Hinton sings, God is always there to pick us up and dust us off. Hinton specifically addresses the failings of humanity on “You Were There” and “It’s Me, Oh Lord.” On the latter, the singer eschews Freudian psychology by declaring that when he approaches the gates of Heaven, he can’t blame his mother or his father for his failings, only himself.

Despite the heavy themes, I’m On My Way is in no way a gloomy album. Just the opposite: the music and messages focus on the eternal light at the end of the tunnel, the reasons to be optimistic, with love conquering all.

Four of Five Stars

gPod Picks: “The Battle’s Not Over,” “Glad to be Loved.”