Mo Soul Music – Terry Newsome with Praiz People

Terry Newsome with Praiz People
Mo Soul Music
Soul Music Records 2007
www.sonicbids.com/terrynewsome

“Jesus Cool” is the title of Track 2 on gospel singer-songwriter Terry Newsome’s third project, Mo Soul Music.

The song, featuring Take 6-like harmonic complexity, is also an apt description of Newsome and Praiz People’s unflappable rhythm and praise style.

On Mo Soul Music, the Hinesville, Georgia-based artist and his coterie of background vocalists and musicians piece together a modern vibe behind lyrics that stress the importance of a personal relationship with Jesus. Despite the frailties of humanity, Newsome argues in his songs, Jesus is cool, a “friend always around” who “never tells nobody’s business.” Jesus is not so much a robed icon to worship from afar, but a loving best friend in a comfortable-fitting jersey and blue jeans who has your back, no matter how bad of a friend you happen to be at the time.

Of the thirteen cuts on the album, “You Mean More” is the most popular with Newsome’s fan base. Its introduction features dense atmospheric overtones and rich, lovely harmonies suitable for ringing off cathedral walls. Newsome’s warmly emotional solo on “More” turns into a preacher’s gentle altar call as Praiz People supports him with a steady, breathy cadence.

The project’s emotional apex is “Mama Smile,” a touching, reflective piece about watching mother transition to her final reward. In a manner not unlike the hip-hopera rhythms of Dave Hollister, Newsome delivers an RnB recitative about the lady who lays dying, telling Jesus “she loved you to death.”

But Newsome is not down for long. A bonus track “Just Praiz” celebrates a “jumping, screaming and shouting” kind of praise, while the beats come down harder than anywhere else on the album.

Newsome notes that his songs are more than just words and melodies, but testimonies. This certainly rings true, as Mo Soul Music seems to be more about the message than about a bouncy melody or clever hook.

Nevertheless, the album is an appealing and enjoyable listen from an artist who was named Grand Prize Winner of the hit TV series “CATS” (Christian Artist Talent Search) on the Inspiration Network, and of the “Gospel Superfest New Artist Showcase” on TBN’s “Backstage Pass.”

Three of Four Stars