Sisters Erica and Trecina Campbell are the Grammy- and Dove Award-winning duo Mary Mary, and the two are back with The Sound, their fifth album. On the surface it would seem there’s no breakout single here, but there are plenty of songs that come close. Even better, most of these tunes are interesting and offer plenty of throwback sounds. The title track is a fun, if uneven, song, best described as “Monster Mash” meets Tina Turner. “Forgiven Me” is a weird mixture of the Osmonds, Chicago and Abba; and “Boom” has some wonderful Jackson 5 moments and a musical bridge that channels Marvin Gaye. “I Worship” is a standard praise and worship ballad, “Dirt” is a decent—not great—pop song with urban influences, while “It Will All Be Worth It” is a somewhat monotonous gospel ballad with pop sensibilities. Although most of these songs lift off, they rarely, if ever, reach great heights. A gimmicky motif runs through the album, as a disc jockey—or sometimes jingles—creates the impression that one is listening to a radio station. These interruptions deserve to be banished, but most of this album doesn’t. The Sound is usually thoroughly enjoyable.
—CAMERON CONANT

 

If listeners already own Everyone Overcome by the Desperation Band—the house band at New Life Church in Colorado Springs, Colo.—they might find themselves scratching their heads while listening to Counting on God. That’s because this latest album from Ross Parsley and the New Life worship team is at points eerily similar to that 2007 live recording. But if praise and worship fans don’t own a New Life-originated recording, this would be a great time to start. That’s because the New Life worship team is one of the most underrated praise and worship groups around; in fact, the band actually compares quite favorably to giants such as Hillsong United. Counting on God is no exception as the New Lifers offer up a set of 12 live songs—two of which were recorded for the group’s last album—of mostly modern-rock tunes that boast strong musicianship and catchy hooks. “Solid Rock” is one of the better examples of this—an uplifting number with dirty guitars that doesn’t overstay its welcome. The best new tune here is either “Mighty King of Love”—soulful pop with some turntable scratching—or “Glorified,” a restrained, thoughtful pop ballad that serves as a counterbalance to the more ecstatic tunes here. This album has its low moments, but overall, Counting on God is another very good effort from New Life Worship that deserves a fan base as passionate as its big, energetic songs.
—CAMERON CONANT

 

Broken Walls, formed in 1995 by Jonathan Maracle, base their music on the ancient sounds of the First Nations People of North America. The Father’s Dance, which has been nominated in six categories for the 2008 Aboriginal Peoples Choice Music Awards, is a call to freedom and a message of restoration for the family. Broken Walls combines the musical sounds of rattles, the powwow drum and Mohawk wind flute with contemporary instruments. The CD opens with “Sing to the Mountains,” which was nominated for single of the year. This fast-paced track describes how creation displays our God. The title track declares freedom for all mankind and restoration of dignity, trust and hope. “Surrendered” is a graceful and peaceful instrumental track highlighting the flute. The chorus on “Everything to Me” is especially beautiful and poignant: “You are the hand extended / The calm at the heart of the storm / The voice that calls in the darkness / I know that I am not alone / I see Your face in the stars / I hear Your voice in the silence / I feel Your breath in the wind / You’re everything to me.” For those who like to experience new genres of music, The Father’s Dance is the perfect introduction into Native music. But all listeners can enjoy the spirit in which Broken Walls sings and worships the Lord.
—LEIGH DEVORE

 

Michael W. Smith, whose 25-year career has produced multiple pop-rock Dove and Grammy awards and a bevy of gold and platinum record sales, adds a global music flavor to A New Hallelujah, his 21st record and third worship CD. Inspired by Smith’s international travels last year to Europe and South Africa, Hallelujah was recorded live at Joel Osteen’s Lakewood Church in Houston with a 250-voice choir, several special guests and an audience of 12,000. Thematically Hallelujah joins Smith’s previous worship projects, 2001’s Worship and 2002’s Worship Again and could be the best of the three. Musically, it provides a fullorbed worship experience, mixing melody and mood in songs that express adoration, exhortation, reverence and joy. The African Children’s Choir of Uganda accompanies on the title track and on the rhythmically fluid and pop-draped “When I Think of You.” For the 19th-century hymn “I Surrender All,” Smith opts for a modern yet subdued arrangement, which provides the appropriate backdrop for the crystalline Spanish vocals of guest singer Coalo Zamorano. Contributing for “Help Is on the Way” is Israel Houghton. The more than 20 years that Smith, 51, has been a top Christian artist demonstrate that likeable music springs, if not effortlessly then continually, from him. Hallelujah is another creative expression drawn of that refreshing reserve.
—JIMMY STEWART