5 star
CD Review: I’ll Take Your Place (The Spencers)
I think one of the biggest surprises lately has been how much I have enjoyed The Spencers’ CD, I’ll Take Your Place. I love Barbara’s voice and really enjoyed the Spencers with JB, Barbara, Wade & Kevin but, as I listen to them now, I find that the Spencer sound I remember and loved is still very much there. I don’t know how they did it but they have a full sound, causing me to forget that it is only JB and Barbara now.
Barbara wrote the title track as well as “Setting My House in Order,” “My Soul Has Wings” and “Home Free.” She also added a verse to the hymn, “Were You There?”
JB leads on “Bigger Than Any Mountain” and he sings Michael Comb’s song, “Drinking From My Saucer.” The first time I heard him sing that was in concert a month ago and it really didn’t hit me but, as I listen to it on the CD, it’s becoming one of my favorites on this project.
Barbara leads “Heaven Will Be Worth the Journey,” an uptempo bluegrass number. They also sing “I Never Shall Forget the Day” and “The Old Country Church,” which the Oak Ridge Boys sang years ago.
This is a CD which every Spencer fan will greatly enjoy.
CD Review: Canaan’s Crossing (Canaan’s Crossing)
A few months ago, I met Tina Miller who plays and sings in a group called Canaan’s Crossing. I’d never heard of them before but I’ve enjoyed becoming more familiar with them. They are bluegrass but 100% gospel.
Songs on this project are: “Rain Fallin’ Down” (an uptempo number), “Give Me a Song to Sing” (a song which I love due to the fact that God always does that for me),”Praying” (a song I grew up hearing and absolutely love; it’s a great reminder of the importance of prayer), “Battle Scarred Soldier” (which the Bishops recorded years ago), “Goin’ to Heaven,” “Leaving Despair” (an instrumental number), “Talk About Suffering,” “Palms of Victory,” “There’s a Man in Here,” “The Best is Yet to Come,” “I’m Going Over,” and “Glory Land,” which they sing a capella. The only group I’ve heard sing this is the Primitive Quartet but it’s a beautiful song with an encouraging message.
This group is good musically but my favorite part of the CD is their song selection–very strong lyrics which just happens to be accompanied by talented musicians. Other group members are Tim Maze, Drew Long, Andy Wilks, and Josh Palmer. If you like bluegrass, you will enjoy this group.
CD Review: When You Look at Me (The Kingdom Heirs)
I saw The Kingdom Heirs sing “He Locked the Gates” back in September and I knew right away that I had to have the CD containing that song. Well, this is it. Dianne Wilkinson wrote or co-wrote all but three songs on this recording, with one song written by Rodney Griffin, one by Joseph Habedank and Matthew Holt, and one by Daryl Petersheim. With a lineup like that and great arrangements performed by a great sounding group, you won’t be disappointed.
“On the Gloryland Way” gets it started as a fairly typical quartet song. Then they sing “Biblically Correct.” When I saw that title, I was very curious but Dianne did a great job telling how the Bible is accurate from beginning to end. Then comes “He Locked the Gates,” still my favorite on this project. It makes me want to shout every time I hear it.
“Help Me, Lord” is a mid-tempo song featuring Jeff Chapman with the quartet backing him up. “Fire Away” reminds pastors and those who have a platform to not “water it down … don’t modern it up. Let it say what it has to say” talking about the Bible. Other favorites include: “When the Story of My Life is Told,” “When You Look at Me,” and “The Empty Tomb Says it All.”
When I started this review, I’d planned to give it about 4 or 4 1/2 stars but as I listened from beginning to end, I decided it needed 5 stars due to the strong lyrical content. If you have unsaved loved ones who like Gospel music, this would be a good project to give them. And, while you’re at it, get a copy for yourself. I’m sure you will be encouraged as I’ve been.
