Customer Reviews

Life Changing

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This album is SUBURB. I thrroughly enjoyed his previous offerings, but this album is clearly his best work to date It is both inspiring and insightful. I tend to enjoy his slow songs. I don;t think he needs grand arrangements or tons of backing vocalist. His upbeat songs are inspiring and uplifting. this album is a contemporary work of art. he manages to be relevant and contemporary while staying true to his traditional roots and the word of God. I can honestly say that I like ever song. I have already purchased two additional copies as gifts. Totally uplifting and inspiring.

Smokie is awesomely anointed! I have greatly anticipated this CD after I heard the single "UM Good". Fulfilling my expecetations, it is accompanied by equally beautiful songs. This album stands right up there with the other Smokie Norful Albums.

I love Smokie's old school/new school flava. His music is enjoyed by all generations of my family. On the shout scale of 1-10 this is definitely a 10 (smile).

Smokie Norful is BACK with his 3rd full length CD and the return is PHENOMENAL. Smokie continues to surprise me with his masterfully woven songwritting and production--someway, SOMEHOW, he continues to put out albums that simply get BETTER! Very few artists are able to do this. Stand out tracks are "Celebrate", "Um Good", "In Time" & "Where Would I Be"<---I think I listened to this song a good 5 times in a row...it's incredible. And his remake of "Run To You" outdoes the Whitney Houston version!!

LIFE CHANGING is one of those CDs where the whole is even better than the parts, where the individual songs are consistently good, but together they are real good. Some Christian CDs have one or two standout tracks, with the rest mediocre, but not this soulful CD, no need to hit the skip track button.

The lyrics are not complex or theologically deep, but they convey authenticity, love and gratitude for the Lord, and are sung with that fluid Smokie Norful voice that draws the soul into the worship experience. The overall theme of the songs is that during good times or bad, with Christ we'll be alright and have victory worth praising and celebrating Him for.

Musically, all but about three songs are fairly mellow R&B (or "urban adult contemporary," some would say), one of which, "Run Til I Finish," highlights Norful's piano along with his voice (but it's strange to me that a song about running is so slow). "Put Your Hands Together" has a hint of funk. My favorites are the most upbeat songs, "Celebrate" and the peppy "Great and Mighty," that just leaves me smiling.

I have not heard Norful's other CD yet, and was led to this one after being introduced to Norful as one of the guest vocalists on Ramsey Lewis' excellent gospel/jazz piano CD, With One Voice. 4.5 stars.

This is the best CD I have listen to in a long time, I can't stop playing it. It makes me feel closer to God when I listen to the CD.

I enjoyed listen to Smokie. He is so spiritually filled and it shows in his music. His music is real and passionate to the soul.

`Life Changing' is Smokie Norful's third album since his formidable debut `I Need You Now' in 2002. If you have not yet heard him I recommend `Life Changing' to you as it is a faultless platform of his prowess. Smokie Norful's versatile vocal has a natural attractive gentle tone that is supported by experienced music production; the result is polished, direct in delivery and solidly planted in modern gospel genre.

It is rare to see genuine male solo artists appear that have the full package, possessing `the voice' yet confidently and uniquely interpreting songs emotionally and spiritually in a very audible way, potentially with significant longevity as a recording artist. I'd say that Smokie Norful fits the bill.

The matter of favourite tracks is subjective, of course. Tricky too, but I'd say `Celebrate' is a great introduction to the album, the slick trip `Great & Mighty', Smokie bares his heart and soul in `Run Til I Finish', the simple yet effective `More Than Anything', Smokie may doff his cap to Andrae Crouch with `In Time' and straight-ahead `Right Now'. Smokie rounds things up with a more than credible rendition of Whitney Houston's `Run To You'.

Though no track truly escapes the familiar modern gospel genre boundary, there are no weak or out of place ones here. You will repeatedly listen to `Life Changing' from start to finish without the reflex flick of the skip (or eject) button coming into play.

I bought the cd on the strength of 'Umm Good' and I have to say that I have been thoroughly pleased from beginning to end. Then entire cd is wonderful and my favorite besides the 'Umm Good' is 'Where Would I Be'. His lyrics are soothing and very thought provocative which instigates thanksgiving and praise!

Kudo's to you Smokie!!! Excellent piece of work!!!

Off the bat, this brother can sing, he is in full control of his vocals, sometimes smooth and sometime soaring, but he can deliver nonetheless, the awesome standout track "Ummm Good" is a fine praise & worship experience, that will leave you wanting to praise more. The cd opener is the upbeat "Celebrate" another great praise song. Great & Mighty a mid-tempo cut has an slight island feel to it with a bop your head ,tap your feet vibe. Smokie shines on 2 other tracks "In time" & More than anything, nice background arrangements as well. Another gem, the Whitney Houston remake "Run to you" is mesmerizing and definitely a far better renditon by Smokie, not only is it from a male point of view, but it's about the Lord, it doesn't get any better than that! The only low points on this cd is that there are mostly slow tempo songs, but if that's whatcha like, this is the cd for you...I enjoyed it as well.

Loved the CD. Bought it for myself first. Then I bought it for my mom as a birthday gift. She loves it also. Great pick!!