Customer Reviews

It's Not Over

5 star:		(48)
4 star:		(10)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

Karen Clark Sheard always stands the test of time. In a world where people mimic and copy, Karen comes back with something refreshing and truly "her." I have been a Clark Sisters fan 4ever, and can say that their voices are the best!

The anointing is all over this project. There is just a sensing of Karen's perspective on worship. Worship is literally becoming the focal point of many recordings today.

My favorite cuts are "I Never Will (You Brought The Sunshine) and "Favor."

This project will go far!!!!!!!

THIS IS TRULY KAREN'S SEASON. I WAS SO MOVED AND BLESSED BY THIS CD. SHE SOUNDS LIKE HER OL'SELF AGAIN. THIS PROJECT PUTS ME IN THE MIND OF FINALLY...KAREN CLARK SHEARD LIVE IN CONCERT. IT'S NOT OVER IS A HEAVY HITTER PROJECT. IT'S SO FRESH AND VIVACIOUS. I THINK IT IS MAGNIFICIENT HOW SHE NOR HER VOICE SEEMS NOT TO AGE AT ALL. NOW THAT'S FAVOR. IT'S LIKE SHE'S AT A STAND STILL, YET SHE EXCEEDS OUR IMAGINATION. I LOVE HER LIVE PORTION BUT THERE'S SOMETHING TO THOSE PAJAM STUDIO TRACKS THAT JUST GETS ME GOIN. I GUESS IT'S THEIR PASSION FOR YOUTH THAT RELATES TO THIS DAY AND AGE. I DON'T EVEN KNOW HER AND IT SEEMS AS IF I DO. KCS & PAJAM IS AIGHT WIT ME. KEEP UP THA KINGDOM WORK!

BE BLESSED,
BE SURE,

STEVOY

PS. MY FAV' TRACKS ARE "FAVOR" & "BE BLESSED"

Now ladies and gentlemen, I'm not a big Karen Clark-Sheard fan. I love her voice, but I was never really crazy about the material she was given to perform from her record companies or even of her own choice, especially her cousin. However, I will admit that while I was very reluctant to purchase this CD, I'm so glad that I spent the money. This is the first time where I found a CD of hers where there was only ONE song I didn't like. The rest I have repeated and repeated and repeated since I bought it. I've been listening to it at home, while running, at work, on the train, I must say I LOVE this album.

Karen has taken a risk, reinventing herself and it worked! It really worked! The album is exciting and refreshing, different even from her most popular release "Finally Karen." It sets her aside because she chose the right production team who sought to revitalize her abilities. The girl sang from start to finish, even on her studio tracks. Of course, I was teased by that HOTTER THAN LIFE flashback to "You Brought the Sunshine."

In all honesty, I believe that this album may finally get her above her first CD! Anyone who is a gospel fan should definitely purchase this album. It encourages, it ministers to you, it excites you, it brings tears to your eyes, it innovates and inspires you, it feels so good to listen to. It's a great example of true inspirational music blending well with true gospel music: no compromising or diluting. Anyone who reads this, GO GET THAT ALBUM! It's really NOT OVER!

My favorite song: Authority

I have been a fan of all of the Clark Sisters and have all of the cd's.....This is the very best from Karen,,,I listen to it over and over and over...Authority, Favor, You Showed Me etc...WOW...Israel Haughton has done a great job again

Now I gotta admit that I wasn't too too fond of Karen's last project The Heavens Are Telling, but I will say that this album is a TRUE gem for the Gospel community. Karen's anointing on this album blew my mind. I couldn't believe how well produced this project is!

WOW!!!

I enjoy Karen's ministry a lot and will support any project on the strength of her voice alone. If I hear she's coming out with something -- it's on my must-have list. Period.

I'm not a huge fan of the whole Praise and Worship style, but Israel Houghton is my favorite artist in that genre. He is very gifted and talented, to say the least. So when I heard about the sync-up with him and our Mocha Marvel, I was expecting something great.

What I got was something very good. Karen was in superb voice and you can tell she was into the service. That makes a difference, because we know that everybody that tosses out Hallelujah's and He's Worthy's is not feeling them. Israel's material is top-notch, also. As far as the P&W genre is concerned, these songs are as close to perfection as you can get (though maybe not as close as what you find on his own projects).

So what keeps me from getting as excited as everyone else seems to be about this project? I think that it's because Karen's artistry doesn't mesh as well with this style of music as it has with other styles she's had over the years ... at least to my ears. Most praise and worship artists/singers are more straightforward in their approach and work within the musical framework of the songs; that's a trademark of P&W. But Karen is a proactive SANGER and there ain't nothin' straightforward about her approach. She is very creative in her vocals and phrasing and she works around, within, and through the music -- like a musician -- which is exactly why we all love her. But it's also why in my opinion it never quite comes together well enough with the P&W thing to make this her best project ever, as some people here feel.

Also, the production is not quite what I thought it would be for the live stuff. When I think "Medley" I think of one flowing piece of music. Why are there gaps between each of the songs in this "medley," even if the songs themselves are good? I realize that's nitpicking but hey: call it what it is, and this is NOT a medley. Maybe it was when it happened live, but what we CD buyers got is not a medley, lol.

That said -- this album has some really terrific moments. "I Never Will" is terrific; the redux of "It's Not Over" is awesome and made me think "now THIS is what I was waiting for;" and the PAJAM cuts are of course a perfect fit for Karen's voice and she does everything we love her for. In fact, these two cuts are my favorites of the whole set (but then, "SECOND CHANCE" is my favorite of Karen's projects). J. Moss' lyrics and production are as together as they always are, and the notes that Karen hits are mind-boggling. I literally stood up out of my computer chair during one part in "You Showed Me;" you all know which part I'm talking about, I'm sure. Finally, "A Living Testimony" sounds like the producer listens to a whole lot of Fred Hammond, but it's all good -- it closes this album on an upbeat and thrilling note. In fact, I wish the outro lasted at least a minute longer.

"IT'S NOT OVER" is a solid set that reaffirms Mrs. Karen Clark-Sheard as being one of the greatest singers of our time. And while you won't hear me raving like the other peeps here that it slew me and put me into a Holy Ghost coma for hours, let's put it this way: it's a lot closer to being a masterpiece than it is to being average. Go, KAREN!

Karen Clark Sheard is one of 'dem bad sangers with an instrument that can rip music to shreds. I was first introduced to her as a very young child in the late 80s when my mom would repeatedly listen to the Clark Sisters. As I got older, I would hear more people talking about Karen and the power that she harnesses. I bought this CD in January 2006 when it came out, but I've just gotten the chance to listen to it about a month ago. The first thing I noticed about the CD is that it presents Karen in a more Praise&Worship mode and so she's a little more laidback than usual. With Israel Houghton and Aaron Lindsey lending much of the production, that's a given.

REJOICE AND BE GLAD--As the opener, you can already tell that this is going to be a different Karen musical experience. It has that trademark "Israel" sound with Karen's vocals attached. The song is live, and the backing choir fits the song well. It has a celebratory feel to it through and through. A-

I NEVER WILL/YOU BOUGHT THE SUNSHINE--This probably would've served as a stronger opening cut. She shows on this song her vocal prowress as she slays the listener with exhortations to the King of Kings. She's even more menacing when she brings in her old Clark Sisters' cut Sunshine. This song is great. It's a good song. A

Authority--Another Israel-produced cut. It has that sound to it. The song speaks to the authority of God that some people forget about, so call on and trust in that authority. I like the vocal knife-cutting she does at the end with the scats. I saw her perform this live and she ripped it. A

FAVOR--This 10 minute song beautifully follows the previous song of Authority because it speaks of the favor of God which is unmerited and is not something that someone just gets. It's in line with God's will and His authority. It's a praise&worship song that is strong, and she sounds a little winded at times because she's letting her soul and voice minister to this cut. My favorite part is when she does the echoes. That's worth the price of the CD and it's a Karen vocal trademark. A+

SHOW ME YOUR GLORY--A true worship slower song that talks about God showing His true and uninhbited glory. It's a beautiful song that you have to be in a worship mode or just a natural praiser to truly appreciate its message. A

OH THE GLORY OF HIS PRESENCE--This follows the theme of the previous song and it's now that the listener has realized God's authority, witnessed His favor through the Word and through personal experience, have asked to transcend to another spirit state seeing His glory and now can feel the glory of His presence. God blesses her instrument as she minsisters in this song. A

THE LORD'S PRAYER/FOREVER--This is just true unadulterated praise as Karen takes it there praising the greatness of God starting off with part of The Lord's Prayer and then going into forever. She lets out some power notes here. I love this song even though it's short. A+

HALLELUJAH--A drum-led praise song that has the trademark 2-stepping dance that people in the church does. Here is trademark Karen again.

IT'S NOT OVER--I enjoy this song that speaks to it not being over. She lets the listener have it with some growls, riffs and just a good message.

The last 3 songs are all produced by Karen's close cousin, PAJAM, J. Moss. It's truly a different sound than the P&W of the former cuts, and I prefer Karen in that mold than this sleek, polished, same-sounding productions of PAJAM. In YOU SHOWED ME, she lets out a breathtaking power note that's astonishing.

Overall, this is a nice CD to showcase Karen's talent in a different mold. She handles the material well, and while at some points, she seems like she's vocally adjusting/finding her way, she still shows her talent by letting God minister and not just her voice. It's a good CD. It's a must-have for P&W aficionados, for Gospel enthusiasts and for Karen Clark Sheard fans.

I received this song as part of a collaborative CD so I can only rate "You Showed Me". I love it! "You Showed Me" gives praise, honor, and glory to God for everything He shows us through His unconditional love. I wholeheartedly recommend it for worship. You will be blessed by this song.

This cd was off the chain. my favorites are I never will and favor and i can`t forget It`s not over this cd was nothing short of mind blowing. This cd should have more than 5 stars because this cd was really good. I highly reccomend this song to people who are looking for karen clark to hit nothing but the notes this cd was amazing even know this cd was`nt the best i personally prefer karen second alblum but overall this cd was really good, these songs really ministred to me espcially You showed me that song was a very uplifting song. I hope whoever pick this alblum up u be blessed because this cd was so good and i am looking forward for more of miss karen clark sheard because that woman is truly a woman of god!

Yessss!!! it is definitely what I am looking for. Karen Clark Sheard is just a great songstress for God. The songs on this cd are empowering. My favorites so far are Rejoice, I Never, Show Me Your Glory, Authority and You Showed Me. I love what this woman does with any song!!!! Hey Go Get This CD!!! TODAY!!!