Progressive
CD Report: Ever Faithful (Jim & Melissa Brady)
About a year ago, Jim & Melissa Brady released their first recording since becoming a duet, and it just might possibly be my favorite CD that Daywind released in 2021. Featuring all new songs co-written by Jim and/or Melissa, you will find this to be musically diverse. From progressive praise and worship to Great God of My Joy which has a black Gospel feel to it, everyone should find a song that they like.
Other songs include: To the King; Welcome; Jesus Stays; Good Things; He Will Carry You; Thunder, Ever Present, Ever Faithful; Covered; and When We All Get Home.
CD Report: Change Is Coming (Joseph Habedank)
Joseph Habedank just released another CD where he has once again co-written every song.
People will relate to Religion Isn’t Working. We don’t need “religion”; we need a relationship with Jesus Christ. “I wanna know my blessed Savior, and I wanna love Him like I never loved Him before.” Amen!
24 Hours is a song of hope for those who have someone they’ve prayed for forever and are still waiting to see a breakthrough. Sometimes these seem like nice ideas, but the fact is that God does still answer prayer. We must keep petitioning until we get our answer.
My favorite song on this project after first listen is Not Far From Home. The truth of this song becomes more real every day. We are not far from Home.
Other songs included are Thief in the Night, Change Is Coming, Jericho, Child of the King, Judas, Rebel With a Cause, and Rise Above Eden
CD Report: Make It Count (The Sound)
I really like the latest CD from The Sound. It’s progressive, but it’s a progressive sound that I don’t mind. A couple of older songs join mostly new songs to produce a CD that’s nice to listen to while working around the house. Well, that’s when I listen to music anyway, and this is upbeat enough to serve that purpose well.
As I write this, I’m listening to the song I Am Becoming. What a blessing to know that I’m not what I was but I’m not what I’ll be. I am becoming who God desires me to be!
Songs on this project include: City of Joy, It Was Grace, First Church of Mercy, Make It Count, Can I Get a Witness, On the Road to Emmaus, I Am Becoming, Great God Almighty, Something ‘Bout Love, and Rain.
CD Report: Who We Are (3 Heath Brothers)
I first heard this group by watching the National Quartet Convention’s live stream. People talk about family harmony, and I admit that there is not much that I like better.
Dream Small reminds us that it’s not only the big things that matter. Every little thing that you do for Christ counts in eternity.
If you’ve forgotten who you are in Christ, you need to listen to This Is Who I Am.
They included an a capella version of the hymn It Is Well.
Smell of Smoke compares the trials we go through to the deliverance of the Hebrew boys who “didn’t even smell of smoke.”
“It’s not about thinking less of yourself, but thinking of your Self Less.”
I Believe You is a timely song. No matter what anyone else says, we can cling to the words of our Father since every word He’s spoken is true.
Moms will appreciate the Mother’s Day Song.
We Choose Life is the first strongly pro-life song I’ve heard since Gold City recorded “Only God Knows.”
Other songs include: Give It to Jesus, No Matter What, and Shake in His Shoes.
CD Report: Dear Yesterday (Michael Booth)
This CD was released last year, but I figure it’s better to do a late report than none at all. Through every song on this recording, you will be encouraged. Whether directly praising God or being reminded that God is able and that He never gives up on His children, you will especially want to listen when you are having a rough time. Michael Booth has a smooth tenor voice that is easy to listen to.
Songs include: What Only God Can Do, Dear Yesterday, He Never Gives Up, Everyday (It Starts All Over Again), We Trust in the Name, This Side of Heaven, Glorious Unfolding, and Thy Will Be Done.
CD Report: 20/20 (The Crabb Family)
The Crabb Family reunited after eight years of not being in the studio together. Although most of the siblings have successful music ministries individually, they still enjoy singing together and, in my opinion, they sound as good as ever. Maybe even a little better. The songs on this CD are new to me except for Mountaintop for Me which is an old Gerald Crabb song that the group has brought back. If you too are a long-time Crabb Family fan, you will want to add this to your collection.
Other songs included are: I See Revival; Stones; Walk on Water; My King Is Known By Love; The Altar Still Calls; Never Been; Keep Me; If God Is For Me; and Sister, Play That Tambourine.
CD Report: Lift His Name (Karen Peck & New River)
I was reading verses on praise the other day so, when I pulled this CD off my shelf, I got excited by the title. Karen Peck Gooch co-wrote all but three songs, and there is quite a variety on here: fast and slow, encouraging and thought-provoking, songs on the crucifixion and the resurrection, and, yes, songs of praise and surrender. They even threw in a progressive version of Ain’t No Grave.
Other songs included are: The God I Serve; Made Right; I Know Jesus Lives; The Book; The Love of Jesus; Messiah Overcame; When I Lift Up the Name; and All About Yes.
CD Review: Loudest Praise (Lauren Talley)
Lauren Talley recently released a CD containing six hymns. Loudest Praise contains the songs, Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing, What a Friend We Have in Jesus, When God Dips His Love in My Heart, When I Survey the Wondrous Cross, Does Jesus Care, and His Eye Is On the Sparrow. As a fan of Lauren Talley and a lover of hymns, this is a CD I will enjoy for a long time.
CD Review: Deeper Oceans (Joseph Habedank)
Singing News readers just voted Joseph Habedank favorite artist again for 2019. It won’t take long to figure out why when you listen to his latest CD. His song Shame On Me has already made it to the #2 spot on the Singing News Top 20, but there is not a so-so song on this recording. Every song was co-written by Joseph and reflects This Grace that he has obviously found.
The last song on the CD, One More Reason, was dedicated to his grandma. Having lost my grandma earlier this year, this song especially resonates with me, and I think it will with a lot of people.
The music on this CD is very progressive so will be liked by a broad audience of old and young, southern gospel and contemporary fans.
CD Review: Our Story (Three Bridges)
I’m old enough to remember when Three Bridges first hit the radio and, to be honest, I didn’t care for their sound. Today, the group consists of original member Elliott McCoy, as well as Shannon Smith and Jeremie Hudson, and I am starting to enjoy listening to them.
Although most of their songs are progressive or have more of a black gospel feel, Down the Road to Damascus is the kind of song you would expect to find on a traditional Southern Gospel CD.
I like the message of Like Jesus Did as it talks about the desire to be more like Christ.
Faith Shines Brighter tells the story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.
Live the Gospel is another song with great lyrics.
Other songs include: Count It Victory, My Story, Good News Never Gets Old, God Did It, Nothing But, Gonna Keep Livin’ and The King of Love My Shepherd Is.
