1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great Southern Gospel, June 14, 2008
This review is from: Passion for the Mission (Audio CD)
I got the CD in the mail Saturday, and finally had the chance to listen to it Sunday afternoon. Here's where I'll point out that, I HATE Christian music magazines. HATE'EM!!!!!!! The reason I hate them is because, when you read an album review, all they talk about is the message in each song. My thinking is, it's a Christian music CD. I KNOW what the ultimate message is in each song! I want to read about what it SOUNDS like. Uptempo or slow? Thick harmonies or one guy wailing at the top of his lungs? Power chords or intricate picking? Christian music magazines are RIPOFFS when it comes to music reviews, because I have yet to see a review of a Christian artist in which the artist EVER got less than 4 out of 5 stars. The magazines disregard everything else about the album, regardless of how bad it may sound, and grade it based solely on the fact that it has a positive message. C'mon. It's a Christian CD. OF COURSE it has a positive message!
Fortunately for you, the reader, I don't work for a Christian music magazine. I work for me. "DG's Music Review". "DG's Make-It or Break-It". "DG's Trash-It or Smash-It". I haven't settled on a company name yet, but I'll get around to that later. For now, we're talking about 'Passion for the Mission'. On the old 1-10, my honest, unbiased rating for this album would be an 8. I LOVED IT!!!!!!!!!!!! Here's why, track by track.
"Things are Looking Different" - This first track really kind of sets the tone for the whole album. It's a mid-tempo, easy-flowing, windows-down, driving down the road on a sunny day kind of song. With secular lyrics, it could slide easily into top 40 country radio today, or even top 40 country radio from 20 years ago.
"In My Shoes" - A slowed-down number here. Slowed-down ain't my bag, but this one picks up a little on into the song. Lyrically, it's kind of a toned-down version of the recent country song by Rodney Atkins (I think) about the little boy who learns everything he knows by watching his dad (both good and bad).
"Heaven's Mine" - Now we get into some hardcore, old-school, Stinky Creek First Congregational Methodist Church of the Holy Ghost, Sunday afternoon, no holds barred, sweatin' bullets, old-time religion, gospel SANGIN'!!!!!!! Seriously, this song is CLASSIC!!!!!! Especially the chorus.
"Amazing Love/My Savior's Love" - This one starts out as a yawner, but picks up, and then goes into one of my favorite old hymns, "My Savior's Love". I liked the drumrolls during "My Savior's Love", but would have liked it better at regular speed. Or faster. Very nice background harmonies.
"Count It All Joy" - Back to something a little hotter with this one. Travs Tritt called. He wants his song back. I can SO see Travis Tritt doing this song. Matter of fact, I double checked to see who wrote it, just to be sure. Of course, Shiloh's vocals are much cleaner than Travis Tritt's, but still, the vibe of Travis Tritt is all over this one. A classic country stomper.
"He Used to Play Basketball" - Another slow one. A good story, and the vocals are great here, as they are on every track, it just drug too much for me personally.
"Don't Ever Miss the Chance" - This is another slow one, but I noticed something on this one. The first time I listened to this album, I couldn't figure out who the vocals were reminding me of. When I got to this track, it hit me: England Dan and John Ford Coley. It didn't sound as prominent in the other songs. The others have more of a straight country sound, with a little England Dan & Coley peppered in there occassionally. But this one really reminded me of their harmonies on "I'd Really Love to See You Tonight" or more specifically, "Nights are Forever Without You". Later in the key change, England Dan & Coley sound as if they're being joined by Kenny Loggins and Dan Fogelberg. I liked the vocals, the song was just too slow for me.
"That's When I Got Saved" - I don't know who is singing lead on this one, but they're NAILING it. And the background vocals are dead-on. This is a slow one, but the harmonies are so good, I didn't mind it being slow. Might be the best harmony vocals on the album.
"Freed" - The most "out-of-the-box" song on the album. Has a more contemporary gospel sound to it, with very little country influence. This one can hang with anything else getting played on contemporary Christian radio today. I'll let you decide if that's a compliment or not. I like it because, in the context of the whole album, it's surprisingly different from the rest of the album.
"Finish Strong" - I don't really like the Dave Matthews Band, and the intro and verses to this one are straight out of Matthews' playbook. It has a very "What Would You Say" kind of vibe at the beginning. For the record, "What Would You Say" is one of three Dave Matthews songs on my iPod, so obviously I at least like that song to some degree. Then the chorus kicks in, and the album ends on a high note, very similar to how the album started. After hearing the chorus one time, it's easy for me to forget about the Dave Matthews vibe, and really like the song overall.
Like I said, I was really surprised by how much I liked this album. I've now listened to it 4 times all the way through. I RARELY do that with any album of any genre. But the vocals on this album are so smooth, clean, and together, it's just an easy and enjoyable album to listen to.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
