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Dave's Top Eight
1. Jerry Reed...Revisited by Darrell Toney (reviewed 6/07) (5 Stars) Click title to purchase at CBD.com...click artist name to read Dave's Review. A CD will automatically fall out of the Top Eight after twelve months if no CD surpasses it before then.
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Most Recent Articles
CD Review: Crabb Family (Blur The Lines)
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-----------May 25, 2006CD Review: Crystal River (Taking A Stand) RATING: 4 Stars Label: BSA World Records Producer: Glen Bates Website: www.crystalriveronline.net Song Titles: "In The Heat Of The Flames," "I'm Here Because Jesus Went There," "If There Had Never Been A Cross," "It's A Breeze," "When The Hammer Struck The Nails," "There's A Difference In The Difference," "Before The Teardrops Hit The Ground," "Mercy River," "He'll Come Walking On Your Water," "Star Of Heaven," and "Higher Ground" Crystal River put all their eggs in one basket with Taking A Stand and it seems to be working well for them. Since the mid-1990s, the Beckie Simmons Agency has provided booking services for many of the top names in Southern Gospel music, but this is BSA's first effort as a record label. It all began last year when the members of Crystal River met Simmons and her husband, Glen Bates. Ultimately, BSA became Crystal River's agent, fifty songs written by Bates were narrowed down to ten, Bates produced Taking A Stand, a live version of the hymn "Higher Ground" was added as a closing song, and BSA had its first recording artist. Taking A Stand opens with a happy song in a minor key titled "In The Heat Of The Flames." I've always enjoyed upbeat minor key songs. The group's first single from Taking A Stand is up next...a mid-tempo 6/8 gospel feel called "I'm Here Because Jesus Went There." The mood relaxes for "If There Had Never Been A Cross." There's a change in vocal quality when the melody drops to the B-flat and the C down in baritone territory. Keeping the melody up in those spots would have improved this otherwise excellent track. Up next is a rush of wind, thunder, and the intro to "It's A Breeze." Tenor singer Dusty Barrett's vocals stands out at the end of each chorus. Jeremy Lile's solo verse on "When The Hammer Struck The Nails" sounds deeper than he actually sings; his bottom note on the solo is a low C, but the attraction is his full, rich tone quality. "There's A Difference In The Difference" is a light hearted, traditional Southern Gospel song. "Before The Teardrops Hit The Ground" is a good lyrics, but the arrangement sounds way too much like "When The Hammer Struck The Nails"...same instrumentation, similar arrangement, and virtually the same melody. Nature sounds introduce "Mercy River" and continue in the background. This track is the best showcase on the CD for Lile. "He'll Come Walking On Your Water" is a stereotypical sounding island song. As with "It's A Breeze" and "Mercy River," "Star Of Heaven" opens with subtle sound effects...fireworks in this case. Songs that combine the Gospel message with an USA patriotic theme have been written before, but I really like the line in this one that goes, "The Star of heaven bore the stripes for me." The CD closes on a totally different note with an a cappella plus percussion live track of the hymn, "Higher Ground"...a nice change of pace I wasn't expecting. Are those percussion sounds produced by a human beatbox? Taking A Stand takes creativity by the horns in spots ("Mercy River," "I'm Here Because Jesus Went There," and "In The Heat Of The Flames"), and plays it totally safe in others ("He'll Come Walking On Your Water" and "There's A Difference In The Difference"). The influential hand of Bates both as a writer and producer gives a consistent flavor to the recording that should help it stand out from other CDs on the market. Taking A Stand confirms what I felt when I first heard the group sing "The First Time" and "What He's Done For Me" on a showcase at the 2005 National Quartet Convention...Crystal River is an exciting young quartet, and I believe that with the right breaks (which seem to be happening for them at the moment), they could have a bright future in Christian music. Labels: CD Review posted by David Bruce Murray @ 1:44:00 AM
 
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