Southern Gospel MySpace Update

Here are a few more notable myspaces for all to enjoy (BTW, I am not putting personal myspace pages of notable SG artists out for all to see - just the group and ministry pages):

Crabb Family's MySpace
The Kingsmen's MySpace
Safe Harbor's MySpace
The Coble Family's MySpace
Kim McLean's MySpace
Paul & Rachel Rice's MySpace
Shane Dunlap's MySpace

And two new ones from the SSE branch:

Southern Spin Entertainment's MySpace
Southern Spin Radio's MySpace

American Idol Update - 3/8/06

My thoughts...

The ladies:

A tad better this week than last, but not by much. Mandisa was the best performer of the night, but even she hit a couple of bad notes. Paris disappointed, but only slightly. I've never been a fan of Katharine, but this week she did bring it, and was definitely in the Top 3. Lisa, Ayla, and Kellie all need to go. They are out of their leagues. I absolutely love Melissa's voice, but I don't think she has much of a shot to make the Top 12. Kinnick should have no problem being the least vote getter.

In order of best performance:

1. Mandisa
2. Paris
3. Katharine
4. Melissa
5. Lisa
6. Ayla
7. Kellie
8. Kinnick

Going home: Melissa and Kinnick. (If this is true, than my original top 6 girl predictions will be correct)

The guys:

Once again - for a third week in a row - the guys absolutely outdid the girls. Gedeon, Elliott, Chris, and Ace continue to have great nights, and even Kevin and Bucky pulled out pretty decent performances. Taylor absolutely stole the show though. Despite his spastic stage presence, his vocals were spot on. First time since the Hollywood auditions that I was thoroughly impressed with his vocals. Will was easily the worst of the night - but he was still on pitch and did better than the majority of the girls.

In order of best performance:

1. Taylor
2. Elliott
3. Gedeon
4. Chris
5. Ace
6. Kevin
7. Bucky
8. Will

Going home: Bucky & Will.

American Idol update

Thoughts from Tuesday night:

I have to really agree with the judges that song selection really hurt a lot of artists. They were officially smoking crack on Ayla. That performance was horrible - probably the worst of the night. Katharine finally showed that she's not all that - like I've been saying for a while.

Melissa was just plain on tonight. She nailed her performance. Also, Paris, Mandisa, and Kelly also had great performances.

Here are my rankings:

1. Melissa
2. Mandisa
3. Paris
4. Kelly
5. Kinnick
6. Katharine
7. Lisa
8. Brenna
9. Heather
10. Ayla

Bottom Two: Heather & Brenna

Thoughts from tonight:

Man, again the guys just blew away the ladies tonight. Very solid performances from most of the guys.

Elliott just absolutely NAILED his performance. I mean, really NAILED it. Elliott is quickly becoming my favorite contestant this year. He even could be a darkhorse to win this thing. Chris was also extremely good tonight. Both of these guys should be shoe ins for the Top 12.

Ace disappointed big time tonight. It was like he never even practiced the song at all this week. Gedeon did very well, though I'm still not much of a fan. Kevin also pulled a pretty decent performance this week - much better than last week. Will was decent, but nowhere good enough to stay in the competition. Bucky's performance was much stronger this week than last, but still not that great. David just needs to go home - and I think he just might. Sway was horrible tonight. I'm beginning to lose all confidence in this guy.

Taylor - though strong - disappointed for a second week. While he's still my favorite guy - his mannerisms are really starting to get on my nerves.

My Rankings of tonight's performances:

1. Elliott
2. Chris
3. Gedeon
4. Kevin
5. Taylor
6. Bucky
7. Ace
8. Will
9. David
10. Sway

Who's going home? This is really hard, because I really think it's going to be between David, Will, Bucky, and Sway. My initial thoughts are David and Will, but part of me really thinks that both of these guys have some strong support behind him. So, I think it will be Bucky and Sway tomorrow night.

Another SG MySpace update

A couple more groups have now joined the MySpace craze. Check out these MySpace pages from SG artists:

Gaither Vocal Band's MySpace
Valor's MySpace
The Imperials' MySpace
Arise's MySpace
Reed Family's MySpace
Providence's MySpace

Quality with all of these artists is subjective, but at least they're trying something new.

Singing News Fan Award Ballot

I'm copying the oh-so-popular David Bruce Murray and letting everyone know who I am voting for in the 2006 Singing News Fan Awards:

Favorite Female Singer: Kim Lord (LordSong)
Favorite Male Singer: McCray Dove (Dove Brothers Quartet)
Favorite Young Artist: Jessica Harrison (Hope's Call)
Favorite Artist Web Site: theimperials.com
Favorite SG DJ (Large Market): Jeremy Sweat, WBOZ, Nashville, TN
Favorite SG DJ (Small Market): Rob Patz, SGM Radio, Bellingham, WA
Favorite Alto Singer: Kim Lord (LordSong)
Favorite Soprano Singer: Karen Peck Gooch (Karen Peck & New River)
Favorite Album of the Year: Anything But Ordinary...Everything But Typical (Dove Brothers Quartet)
Favorite Pianist: Anthony Burger
Favorite Musician: Doug Riley (Gold City)
Horizon Individual: Lance Jeffrey (Dove Brothers Quartet)
Horizon Group: Embrace
Favorite First Tenor: Jerry Martin (Dove Brothers Quartet)
Favorite Lead: Jonathan Wilburn (Gold City)
Favorite Baritone: Daniel Riley (Gold City)
Favorite Bass: Bill Lawrence (Gold City)
Favorite Band: Isaacs
Favorite Songwriter: Rebecca J. Peck
Favorite Song: "He Saw It All" (Booth Brothers)
Favorite Traditional Quartet: Gold City
Favorite Mixed Quartet/Group: Crabb Family
Favorite Trio: Hope's Call
Favorite Soloist: Jonathan White

I agree with DBM, everyone please vote for Anthony Burger and Doug Riley in those categories.

MySpace Update

Sunday Edition is no longer the sole Southern Gospel artist on MySpace.com. Hope's Call and The Allens have both signed on. Lets see if we can get more than just these three now.

Hope's Call's MySpace
The Allens' MySpace

Be sure and add these fine groups as your friends!

Another Recommendation

So let me echoe David Bruce Murray's sentiments on the new Brian Free & Assurance album, It's So God. This is one of the finest quartet recordings that I have heard in a very long while. Way to go BF&A!

First Impressions - Gaither Vocal Band

I hope to try and do some updating based on my first impressions on albums that I hear. This will literally be a walk through the recording and highlighting each track. Likes and dislikes. My first album to do is Gaither Vocal Band's Give It Away.

1. Bread Upon the Water - This is easily one of my favorite tracks on the record. They interpret the song beautifully, and their unison is fantastic. (Though I believe GVB has always had a stellar unison - look at "Alpha & Omega" for an example.) Very nice song. Should do very well on radio if given the chance.

2. I Catch 'Em, God Cleans 'Em - Man, hearing this song by the GVB just doesn't do the song justice (who would've ever thought that would be possible?). I don't know - maybe it was the fact that I loved the original version by piano-phenom Gordon Mote. Something's just missing here. This probably makes a fantastic song for the Gaither tour - but - in the immortal words of American Idol's Simon Cowell - it's just not working for me.

3. Jesus Loves Me - The first real shining moment on the CD - though "Bread Upon the Water" was a nice opener, the album really doesn't start to show off until this track. This sounds like it could've just been an on the spur of the moment spot in the studio. Marshall sounds dynamite on this song. This should be a song that fans will probably be coming back to year after year.

4. I'll Tell It Wherever I Go - I love ya Wes, but don't mess with my favorite song ever by the GVB. Anyone that knows me knows that Jonathan Pierce is one of my absolute favorite vocalist, and he recorded the song first with the GVB on Lovin' God & Lovin' Each Other. They didn't even make a new track - same on as the old version. You do great Wes, but I'll take my Jonathan version.

5. My Journey to the Sky - Very traditional southern track here with Marshall on the first verse. Guy takes over on the chorus. This song seems very forgettable. It's a nice song, and the group performs it nicely, but I'm already wanting to hit the "skip" button. Nice unison again on the second verse, but still not wanting me to keep listening to this track. Wes at times recalls David Phelps on his higher notes.

6. Through - Eh. That's about all I can think of to describe this song. The track is gorgeous, and the song is executed very well, but I just can't see myself coming back for more of this track unlike "Jesus Loves Me" or even "Bread Upon the Water". The verse is dragging a bit, and I find my mind wandering a bit. The lyrics are wonderful for this track, and I'm sure in concert crowds eat it up, but it is just dragging way to much for a recorded version.

7. Glorious Impossible - A definite album highlight here. This ain't your grandma's SG folks. This is a very vertical oriented number with a slight celtic feel to it. The 6/8 beat is a nice change of pace, and Guy interprets the song well. Marshall picks up on the second verse, and he is in fine form here as well. Very nice lyrical topic here - reaching and worshiping a God that should be impossible to communion with, yet is as close as a brother. The choir throws me off a bit towards the end. That wasn't really needed to enhance the song that much. I'm willing to forgive it for an otherwise fantastic song.

8. Worthy the Lamb - This is probably the highlight ballad on the new album. Though Bill sings the first verse, once you get past his usual vocal delivery, the song really kicks it up a notch. Beautiful ballad that I'm sure they will be singing for years to come.

9. Eagle Song - This is a nice enough cover of another Imperials song. The guys perform it well enough, but I'm not sure it will be as memorable as "Bread Upon the Water". It should do well on radio though. I'm not at all familiar with this song - but from what I'm told - the words are a bit off from the original.

10. Love Can Turn the World - This is a really fun track, but I could see how it might become old after a while. Its got a caribbean feel with some African influences thrown in to. and features guests the African Childrens Choir. There is no way on earth that that is Bill singing the bass part on this track. Sorry, I'm not gonna buy it. Very fun track, but I'm not sure its gonna go down as a GVB classic.

11. You're Looking at a Child Forgiven - I like this one. It has a really strong "I'm Gonna Sing" kind of feel to it. It should do very well on radio, because radio seems to like Guy's country flare. This would've made a great album opener, but due to the real lack of upbeat numbers, I can see the need to put it in middle of the recording.

12. Why Me? - I guess this is a nice enough tune. Again, Guy gives a good enough performance, but ultimately I feel like it is a big "forgettable" like a lot of these tracks. Guy seems much more emotional on this track than I've ever seen. I can see this working well in a live setting - but I don't think it translates well in a recorded setting.

13. I Will Go On - From what I've heard this is the first single, and a poor choice for one in my humble opinion. I mean, the GVB really can't record a bad song, but like "Why Me?", "Through" or "My Journey to the Sky", this just seems very disposable. Wes does a great job introducing himself to the SG world - but it's just kind of there.

14. Place Called Hope - Marshall leads the first verse on this song with a really nice piano accompianment. Its yet another ballad to add to the mix. Guy jumps in on the second verse, where it almost feels to drag at this point. Its at this point in the recording that it dawns on me that Bill's mixed so low that it really does sound like a trio - especially on this song. Again - pretty song, executed extremely well, but just not memorable. The verses especially drag this song out due to tempo changes.

15. Give It Away - This is probably my favorite track on this recording. Tempo changes, stylistic nuances thrown around, blending is phenominal. While I wouldn't say that it is tailor made for radio (quite the opposite in fact) - I think this would be a welcome change of pace for a radio programmer. Marshall sounds fantastic on this song - not quite as strong as "Jesus Loves Me", but very good nonetheless. The horns just really make this track. Nice piano interlude to throw you off just when you think you've figured the song out. Wow. Just a wonderful song all the way around.

Overview: Besides a few key tracks on this recording ("Give It Away", "Jesus Loves Me", "Glorious Impossible", "Bread Upon the Water", and "Worthy the Lamb"), I don't see this album as being a huge highlight for the Gaither Vocal Band's career. This is more of a transitioning album - and there's nothing wrong with that - it just happens. I was actually shocked that there weren't more numbers featuring Wes. This seemed more like a Guy and Marshall show, and I would've figured they would have wanted to feature more of Wes to get the fans acquainted with him. This is a fine album, and I'm sure most GVB fans will eat it up. However, if you're just a casual fan, you might want to hold off until a new album is available.

What’s playing?

Here's a look at what has been rotating in and out of CD player the last couple of weeks:

Brian Free & Assurance, It's So God
Mike Bowling, Influenced & Inspiried: Remembering Kenny Hinson
Carrie Underwood, Some Hearts
Spring Hill Worship, Beautiful Wounds
Atoned, Atoned
Josh Turner, Your Man
Kelly Clarkson, Breakaway
4th Avenue Jones, Stereo: The Evolution of hiprocksoul
Mary Mary, Mary Mary
Cindy Morgan, Postcards
Karen Peck & New River, Good to Be Free
Delirious?, The Mission Bell
Tree63, Worship Vol. 1: I Stand For You
Gaither Vocal Band, Give It Away
JBIF, Come Ride With Me

Caleb Rowden - new Spring Hill/Slanted Records artist

I highly recommend all of these recordings.

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