Customer Reviews

Feels Good

5 star:		(23)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Take 6 fans the wait is over, and it was well worth it! All you a capella purist will be delighted to know, I only counted the use of one instrument; guitar on "I'll Never Turn Back Again." Unless I miscalculated? This new release is like the Take 6 sound of 18 years ago. And then again, these guys don't stand still when it comes to innovation. Listening to my favorite track "More Than Ever", you'll hear what I mean. So 21st Century. A blending of the old and new in a capella, as only Take 6 can do it. With vocals that still astound the listener's ears, "Feels Good" and Take 6 once again have hit the bulls-eye.

I have almost every album Take 6 has made. Compared to their most recent projects, "Feels Good" feels like coming out of a dark tunnel and back into the sunlight and fresh air.

I'm guessing that it's not a coincidence that this stunning project came about after they formed their own record label. On much of their later albums, it has seemed like they were trying to take their unique sound and gospel message and squeeze it to fit into a run-of-the-mill mainstream pop mold. It was like forcing Superman to live as Clark Kent permanently. If that was the result of corporate influence, I'm so glad they broke away.

Every track on "Feels Good" would merit at least 3 stars or better on its own. They do some of their very best work on "More Than Ever" and "Just in Time". I was dancing out of my seat on "Come On" and "This Is Another Day" (if Andre Crouch had written that song just today, he probably would have sent it straight to Take 6 instead of recording it himself). But the stand-out and defining songs here are "Family of Love" and especially "Lamb of God". Fabulous harmonies, beautiful arrangements, and the undisguised Christian expression almost brought me to tears. Would they have ever been able to do this song while they were with their old label? It feels like they finally have the freedom to be who they really are and do what God put them on this planet to do.

I completely agree with what everyone else is saying. Take 6 is back!

In 1989 and 1990, after listening repeatedly to the original Take 6 release on Reprise and "So Much 2 Say" on Warner Alliance, I was thoroughly blown away. I still think those are the two finest a capella albums ever made. The mix of gospel, jazz, soul and r & b simply was unparalleled, and the sound these 6 made was just unreal.

Then, in 1994, starting with "Join the Band", these 6 devout Christians began to stray from the formula that made them so uniquely good, and forayed into a more commercial, pop-oriented groove. That album was so disappointing to me that I stopped listening to them. And from what I've read in the All Music Guide to Jazz, the follow-ups ("Brothers" and "So Cool") likewise did not reach the dizzying heights of the first two c.d.'s.

If your reactions were like mine, I'm here to announce: ignore no more. The Boys are Back in Town. And they've returned to a program of (mostly) a capella Christian songs, and that's what inspires them. Inspired musicians make great music, and that's what we have here.

This album is every bit as good as the first two. Listening to this confirms a point not often enough made:

For as great as all 6 voices in the group are (and they are sensational, no doubt about it), the guy who makes this group go is the bass, Alvin Chea. I sincerely believe Mr. Chea to have the finest bass voice on the planet--and that includes the opera basso profundos I've heard. Because he can ring the lowest of the low notes so loudly, he makes this group sound like a vocal orchestra of more than 6 voices. He also very effectively sings bassline counterpoint accompaniments and creates percussive sounds simultaneously, which (again) make this group sound as sonorous as any big band out there.

These guys also have a sense of humor. The one standard here is Jule Styne's "Just in Time", which they do as though played on an old RCA radio as the song might have been heard when it first came out in the '50's, before the 21st century sound kicks in. And then, in the middle of the song, one of the singers riffs on "As Time Goes By." Totally cool.

This is one of the best of the year, and the fact that Take 6 has returned to its roots is one of the biggest musical reasons to celebrate 2006. RC

Man, when i listen to this album, all that I hear is the fun that they must've had while recording it. It sounds like they kicked it in the studio, And, this album just feels good, too. Plus, they just sound phenominal together. This album, in my opinion, is their best album. I would be listening to it right now, but I let my dad borrow it and I ain't seen it since. Shoot, I can't even blame him. I mean, I like genres like hiphop, r&b, neosoul, smooth jazz, etc., but I have got to say that this album is topping all the other albums I have in my collection. Man, I love this album!!!

This album has gotten more play in my mp3 player than anything in recent memory. It is infectious!

If you are like me, you might think that Take 6 has never been able to top their first three albums: Take 6 (self-titled), So Much 2 Say, and He Is Christmas. If so, you've been waiting fifteen years for this album and you're going to love it!

Don't get me wrong, their accompanied stuff was good for what it was, but lots of groups can do that. They did pepper their accompanied albums with a few smokin' acappella tracks (like "I've Got Life" on Join The Band) but this album is a major return to their signature acappella sound.

After several years of exploring accompanied R&B with Claude's brother Brian McKnight (who, in addition to his own solo career, also worked extensively as a producer with Boyz II Men), this album successfully incorporates their R&B experiences into their gospel jazz roots.

10 of the 12 tracks are just incredible. The only weak points are the two short tracks "Vinterlude" and "I'll Never Turn Back No More", just because they are under-developed.

My favorite tracks are "Feels Good" & "Lamb of God" & "You Can Make It."

The Take 6 boys did it with this latest release! They never cease to amaze! Just when you think that they have reached total perfection..they come up with something new to blow your mind all over again. Untouchable vocals, arrangements, writing & production is what you will find in this album. You will play it over and over, enjoying it each time as much as the first. I highly recommend that if you haven't picked this CD up yet, you should! It will not be a disappointment, of course with Take 6 it never is!

I thoroughly enjoyed this CD. Not a bad track in the album. For fans, the quality of this album rivals their Debut album and So Cool. If there was any criticism, it would be that the CD is too short for my taste -- just under 40 minutes of EXCELLENT music distributed over 12 tracks. It is rare to hear music of this quality, so I wanted to hear more.

What is different about this CD is a consistent God message. Not saying that any of the previous albums weren't consistent, but in listening to these tracks, it is evident that GOD is the source of their singing, exhortation, and redemption. Even the selections of the songs they covered/re-made (This Is Another Day, Just In Time, Lamb of God) were excellent choices. Too many good things to put in this review. But, I'll categorize my favorites like this --- if you want to be:

-inspired, listen to "Come On", "Feels Good" and "Set U Free"
-thankful, listen to "This is Another Day"
-reflective of a reliance on God, listen to "More than Ever"
-encouraged, listen to "You can Make It"
-redeemed in relationships, listen to "Wait for the Sunshine"

I'm Take 6 fan since 1990 when the first LP arrived at my country, Brazil.
If you don't know Take 6, they are the best vocal group in the world. Six voices joined in perfect harmonies and vocal textures. I think it's time to know their work.
If you already know Take 6, you must know too that they are Grammy Award and Dove Award winning. I think you have to buy this item now because "Feels Good" is the one of the best Take 6 albums. My prefered songs are "This is Another Day", a song of Andrae Crouch with a great arrangement by Mark Kibble, "Just in Time", a powerful song remembering a kind of Big Band, "Lamb of God" and "Family of Love", with wonderful arrangements by Cedric Dent.
I know I'm suspect to tell about Take 6 and this album because I'm Take 6 fan. But I have to do it here:
If you like Gospel Music and Vocal Groups, it's a essential Cd to be in your Sound System.
Hugs,

If you buy just ONE gospel CD this year, buy this one. Great a cappella from a masterful group that's been doing it for a very long time. Track 6 is amazing! This is a music lover's CD.

For me, a hard-core Take 6 fan, this is their best work since their original album. It might be their best work, period. I have it on my ipod and cannot stop playing it. They've enhanced their unique acapella stylings with updated arrangements (see "More Than Ever"). The range and intensity of this album makes it a classic. There is no better vocal group in the world. I defy anyone to listen to the title cut and not be uplifted.