True Beauty [Enhanced]

Mandisa | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (July 31, 2007)
• Original Release Date: 2007
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Enhanced
• Label: Sparrow Records
• ASIN: B000R33QP6
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  MP3 Music
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (60 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #10,614 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Watched over by 30 million viewers weekly, Mandisa catapulted into instant fame with her winning smile and powerhouse vocals as she sang her way into the final rounds of American Idol Season 5. The critics agreed: "Entertainment Weekly" chimed in with praise ("its all about Madisa!"), claming Masisa turned American Idol into a one woman show. Her debut single "Only The World" is exploding at a Christian radio debuted at #19 in 2 weeks.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 19 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Great CD August 1, 2007

By Raven

Format:Audio CD

I love this CD. Many of the songs (God Speaking, Voice of a Savior, Love Somebody besides her first two singles) I loved from the first time I heard it. Some of the other songs I got to like after hearing them second time or so.
People who are putting her down because its a Christian cd is unfair. Fine you don't like Christian music thats your opinion and Mandisa wanted to sing Christian thats what she wants.

I loved her on Idol. But at least by NOT winning she can make the kind of music she wants. Go Mandisa!

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Great first CD July 31, 2007

By Lynn M. Hartsough

Format:Audio CD

Mandisa delivers a CD that did not disappoint. I love that fact that there are lots of styles of music on this CD. She delivers songs that are pop in their stlying such as "Only the World", "True Beauty" and "Steal My Joy". She then teams up with Toby Mac on "Love Somebody" for a fun hip-hop sound. She also does a fun dance song in "Shackles" and a great rendition of "Oh my Lord" which is more gospel in its styling. My favorite songs are the ballads like "God Speaking" and "He will Come", but the entire CD is one I know will gets lots of play in my house. It is rare that I find a CD that my entire family loves, but this one got rave reviews from all members of my family. It is a wonderfully encouraging CD and she allows us to see her struggles and where she turns for help with her struggles and that alone makes it a CD that many will connect with.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Truly beautiful gem of an album September 2, 2007

By Ganns Deen

Format:Audio CD

American Idol finalist and now Sparrow recording artist Mandisa Hundley has much to be thankful for, as do her fans. With the record-breaking release of "True Beauty," Mandisa becomes the first female artist in Billboard history to debut at #1 on the Billboard Christian and Gospel Albums charts with her debut album. With a #1 single ("Only the World," Billboard Hot Singles Sales charts, 5 weeks) and more than 31,000 albums sold in three weeks, Mandisa proves herself one of American Idol Season Five's more chartworthy contestants.

Sparrow Records certainly pulls out all the stops for "True Beauty." With a list of who's who producers, including Doubledutch, Christopher Stevens, Shaun Shankel, Drew & Shannon, and multiple Dove Award winner Brown Bannister, Mandisa finds herself in very capable hands, allowing her natural charisma and style to flow effortlessly through this 11-track stunner of an album. Mandisa's vocal skills are highlighted flawlessly throughout the album, with her stellar pipes ranging from a soft and gentle whisper (channel: "Most Holy Lord, You have my attention," from "Unrestrained") to a blasting furnace (several sections of her kick-[...] retouch of Mary Mary's "Shackles"); the various song styles show Mandisa's ability to adapt to a variety of musical genres, further cementing her skill as a singer and performer.

There is an adequate mix of fast and slow songs on "True Beauty," and the fast ones do not disappoint. Album opener Only "The World" is an obvious first-single choice, and for good reason. The Matthew West-penned toe-tapper has "hit" written all over it, with its catchy guitars and feel-good rhythm. (West also contributes "Voice of a Savior," a power ballad that speaks of unity and how people search for something to give meaning to their lives, and "Steal My Joy.") The track that follows it, True Beauty, is an ode to self-esteem and girl power, packaged in a head-bopping hiphop beat; Mandisa wrote the lyrics to the album's title track. After featuring her on "Lose My Soul," Christian rap-rock artist TobyMac returns the favor with his group Diverse City in the dancefloor nugget "Love Somebody," a catchy, disco-esque stomper of an album track if ever I've heard one.

Mary Mary's "Shackles (Praise You)" gets a synth horns-drenched uptempo remix, courtesy of Christopher Stevens, who deserves all the props for the rearrangement of this definitive Christian hit; Mandisa lets herself go all out on this stunning revival that can definitely have you headed straight for the dance floor. The Every Heartbeat-esque "(Never Gonna) Steal My Joy" is a poppy joyful track, while "Oh My Lord," which features the Fisk Jubilee Singers, of which Mandisa was once a member, channels old-school Afro-American church gospel rhythms.

"True Beauty" isn't short of ballads, however. The jewels of "True Beauty" are two worshipful ballads: "God Speaking" and "Unrestrained." "God Speaking," written by Ronnie Freeman, is a contemplative ballad that speaks of how God can reach out to us in infinite ways; "Unrestrained," on the other hand, is a truly worshipful song that takes its inspiration from the grace and forgiveness extended Mary Magdalene when she washed Jesus' feet with her hair, tears, and perfume. (Luke 7:36-50) Written by Tony Sutherland and Calvin Nowell, "Unrestrained" is taken to soaring new heights by Mandisa. Both must-have ballads are delivered, naturally, by the Clive Davis of the Christian music industry, Brown Bannister. Other ballads worth noticing include the aforementioned "Voice of a Savior" and album closer "He Will Come." As a matter of fact, the only real hiccup on the album is the rather forced upbeat track "Only You," a misstep for Shaun Shankel, who hit a home run with "Only The World."

Note: if you purchase "True Beauty" off Amazon.com, you will receive a special enhanced CD that allows you to enter a special section of Mandisa's website that gives you free downloads and behind the scenes videos. I got a remix of "Only The World" that was marginally good.

(This review appears on my personal blog as well.)