Hero

Kirk Franklin | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 4, 2005)
• Original Release Date: 2005
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Gospocentric
• ASIN: B000AOJ9XA
• In-Print Editions: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (176 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #14,646 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #42 in Music > Gospel > Urban & Contemporary

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

If you know anything about Kirk Franklin, you'll know he's not one to sit still. With an emphasis on his early career classic Gospel leanings, Franklin rang the bell with his magnificent Rebirth of Kirk Franklin (2002), a release widely awarded and one that helped make him the best-selling gospel artist of all time. But Franklin has once again shifted his musical landscape. Hero is a lengthy and revealing masterpiece unparalleled in Christian music. The Dallas native has crafted his own musical tapestry masterfully combining elements of 70s era soul, classic Gospel, and contemporary urban hip-hop. Hero is full of admissions of struggle and challenges but Franklin always weaves a message of hope and encouragement to take the focus off the negative. You want in-your-face confession? Try not to be moved while listening to Franklin laying sins down on the table like cards in "Let It Go" or Franklin teaming with Marvin Winans in the soul-shaking, roof-raising "Brokenhearted." The title track – featuring Dorinda Clark-Cole – along with "Imagine Me" are classic examples of how Franklin balances the hard realities of real life against the hard faith about which he so readily sings.

One is hard pressed to not remember the Love Unlimited Orchestra when hearing "Looking for You" and the 70s references are reinforced with Stevie Wonder's guest appearance on "Why." The latter track is classic Franklin as he challenges every Christian to stop worrying about building churches and start building people. It also includes a delightful harmonica touch at the end from the great Stevie Wonder. At 20 songs and more than an hour, Hero might seem overwhelming. But there is rarely a dull moment here and you'll be better for the time well spent. --Michael Lyttle

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

56 of 58 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars THE ULTIMATE "HERO", October 9, 2005

By 

Maurice - See all my reviews

This review is from: Hero (Audio CD)

Lavish production and superb writing are displayed on this new project, unlike anything I've heard from Kirk in the past, and he has a pretty impressive discography. Most of the 20 tracks on this cd feature a full orchestra, I'm talking cellos, violins, harps, horns etc. The first track, "Looking For You" is something both the youth and adults can enjoy with the "Haven't you heard" sample from Patrice Rushen is both old-school and fresh. The title track "Hero" is a beautiful ballad, inspirational vocals and a appearance by Dorinda-Clarke-Cole really set the tone. There are some movers and shakers, "let it go" is moving featuring the "tears for fears" sample "Shout", and the shaker is the highly energized "Could've been me" with Tye Tribett & J Moss, it makes you wanna clap & stomp! Other stand-outs include "Better" produced by Andre Harris and Vidal Davis, "Without You" the melodic "Keep Your Head" the extraordinary "WHY" with Stevie Wonder which I keep on repeat and the incredible "Sunshine" which sounds like it features Alvin & the chipmunks on the chorus. This is certainly one of Kirk's best production's thus far, I haven't stopped playing this uplifting cd since I purchased it. One interlude even features the sinner's prayer and although we live in a world of wars and devastation, Jesus is the ultimate "Hero" Kirk is just the messenger, and what a gifted messenger he is.

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Don't buy this if you care about the safety of your PC, November 7, 2005

By 

J. Smith - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Hero (Audio CD)

If you use this CD in your PC, Sony has created this CD to install a program on your computer that is impossible to remove, and renders your PC open to harmful programs. read more here: [...]

I love Kirk Franklin just like the next person, but I don't deserve to have my PC calling Sony to tell them every time I play, record, or whatever with this disc. Even if you don't illegaly share music, don't you feel entitled to your privacy? If Hackers use this rootkit to hack computers (Only a matter of time), who will be responsible for your busted computer? Sony? Kirk? You for buying the CD?

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Hero, March 15, 2006

By 

T. Winston - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Hero (Audio CD)

This was a very nice CD and had a different sound to it than Kirk's other work. These songs were very unique and Kirk is a very gifted man. The best songs were:
Looking For You -uptempo track, something you can dance to
Hero -lyrics were awesome
Imagine Me -one of my favorite songs, very beautiful, touches your spirit
Could've Been
Better -the beat is off the chain, I like the band in the background
Without You -its ok in the beginning(Kirk is singing), it gets better towards the middle of the song
Keep Your Head -I love the beat in the beginning, Kirk did a good job remaking it
Why
First Love -another favorite, melody is so beautiful, song is very encouraging
Sunshine -i like the beat, definately could have done without that interlude with the kid
I really believe this is one of Kirk Franklin's best albums. He has produced really good albums in the past but this one really stood out. The songs were just amazing and very unique. There was only one song I really didn't care for, "Afterwhile" featuring Yolanda Adams. This one was just too slow and boring. "The Appeal" is another slow song. It was okay and had all the group members singing a certain part. "Brokenhearted" was another slow song featuring M. Winans. It encouraged one to turn their life over to Christ. Overall this album was off the hook. The songs was just so nice to listen to. The CD had variety such as hip hop, traditional gospel and even a little rock. So I do recommend this album. It is different and Kirk did an excellent job.